Latest news with #Dianetics:TheModernScienceofMentalHealth
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Why is the Church of Scientology so controversial?
Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss are just some of the prominent Hollywood stars who have publicly associated themselves with the controversial religion of Scientology. The religion, which is often referred to as a cult, was founded by US author L. Ron Hubbard in 1953 after the author failed in his bid to mask his pseudoscientific ideas as a form of therapy. Some of the key beliefs of Scientologists include that humans are immortal spiritual beings and that they will be reincarnated. Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss are just some of the prominent Hollywood stars who have publicly associated themselves with the controversial religion of Scientology. Pic:for Paramount Pictures Here is just a touch of what the religious organisation is all about… L. Ron Hubbard was an American author and the eventual founder of Scientology. In 1950, the Nebraska native wrote Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, which led to him establishing organisations to promote and practice Dianetic techniques. These were a set of ideas and practices regarding the mind which were initially framed as a form of therapy or psychological treatment. The organisation went bankrupt, which led Hubbard to reframe his ideas as a religion. Hubbard coined the term Scientology, which is made up of the Latin word scientia (knowledge/skill) and would claim that Scientology meant 'knowing about knowing' or 'science of knowledge.' This photograph shows the headquarters of the Church of Scientology in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 21, 2025. Pic: Thomas SAMSON / AFP The core beliefs for Scientologists are the idea that humans are immortal spiritual beings called 'thetans' that reside in the physical body. Thetans have had numerous previous lives. Those within the religion also believe in reincarnation, where the thetans are reborn into various bodies. Scientology says: 'The thetan is immortal and has lived — and will continue to live — through countless lifetimes.' The core practice in Scientology is auditing, and this sees one Scientologist (the auditor) ask the other questions. This is said to improve the abilities of the subject, but it creates a dependency on the auditing subject. Auditing can be quite costly for Scientologists, with Hubbard writing in 1964 that the cost for a 25-hour block should be the equivalent of three months' pay. Scientology is widely criticized and seen to be a potentially harmful organisation as well as quite manipulative to its members. Pic:Scientology is widely criticised and seen to be a potentially harmful organisation as well as quite manipulative to its members. It is often argued that the movement is not a religion but a commercial enterprise masquerading as one, as a means of Hubbard avoiding prosecution following the collapse of Dianetics in the past. Many members have left the church and spoken out about the abuse within the organisation. In 2023, Saved By The Bell actress Leah Remini sued the Church of Scientology for what she said was years of 'psychological torture.' In a blistering statement, the actress said she had endured 17 years of 'psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation' which had 'significantly' impacted her life and career. In 2018, the church faced backlash for its so-called 'safe, healthy and thorough method of purging drugs from the body' at drug rehabilitation centres. Those attending the facility were said to be cut off from their addiction cold turkey, and given high doses of vitamins and minerals instead. The issue was brought to the Seanad by then Senator Ray Butler, who said it was 'brainwashing of the most vulnerable people.'
Associated Press
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Scientology Network Illuminates the Life and Legacy of L. Ron Hubbard
LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 20, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) –- L. Ron Hubbard's life is one of endless remarkable achievements. A bestselling author, his groundbreaking book ' Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health ' became the first definitive explanation of human thinking and behavior. His further discoveries on the subject of the human mind and spirit led to his founding of Scientology, the world's youngest major religion. Scientology Network features programs that celebrate his life and legacy including: To learn more about L. Ron Hubbard, go to Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018, launched by David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. Since then, Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists, showing the Church as a global organization and presenting its Social Betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting communities. Scientology Network's innovative content has been recognized with more than 125 industry awards, including Tellys, Communitas and Hermes Creative Awards. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM and AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. LEARN MORE: VIDEO: IMAGE link for media: PHOTO CAPTION: L. Ron Hubbard © 2025 Church of Scientology International. All Rights Reserved. TAGS: #ScientologyNetwork #LRonHubbard NEWS SOURCE: Church of Scientology International Keywords: Religion and Churches, Scientology Network, L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics, LRH, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Church of Scientology International) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P124871 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why a proclamation for Scientology founder's book was read in Portage
PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Portage has explained its process for public proclamations at City Council meetings after one received more attention than usual. signed Tuesday recognized the 75th anniversary of the publishing of L. Ron Hubbard's book 'Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.' Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology and Dianetics is one of the principles included in the belief system. 'I really want to say my appreciation to Portage and the council members for their diversity and willingness to recognize different groups,' the presenter of the proclamation said during public comment. 'This book describes Dianetics as new science. They go on to say there is a single source of problems and suffering. These are clear signs of pseudoscience,' one local mental health care clinician said. 'There is no single cause of mental health concerns nor depression. The psych science is clear it is a multi-faceted problem.' 'This is an insult to everybody who has a friend or family member that has mental illness,' another public commenter added. 'I've known many, and they deserve better than this.' Speaking with News 8 Wednesday, Portage City Manager Pat McGinnis acknowledged the city may have missed the mark on this one. 'We don't subscribe to Dianetics or Scientology or any of that doctrine, whatever it is, whatever you want to call it,' McGinnis said. 'We do understand the concern of the people that have spoken up and we take that seriously.' He added that over the course of the day Wednesday, he spoke in person with two of the people who had critical comments during Tuesday night's meeting. McGinnis also defended the city's process for proclamations. Typically, a group that wants to be recognized sends in a request via email. It is sent to the city manager and city clerk for an initial check. They ask if the group can supply someone local that has ties to the proclamation to read it at the council meeting. If they do, it is typically added to the agenda and then reviewed for content. 'What happened in the current case is we received the request to present a very specific proclamation,' McGinnis explained. 'We placed it on the agenda, which is a common placeholder, just to get it on there. After reading it, we decided it was a little overly committed to this particular philosophy or school of thought, so we backed off.' Comparing the text of the original draft to the published proclamation, the first version is more effusive in its praise of Hubbard. McGinnis also clarified that the 'recital' portions that are read by the local stakeholder are not technically part of the mayor's proclamation. There was a similar proclamation read and decried in Deltona, Florida, in February and in New Jersey last year. News 8 contacted the City of Kalamazoo and City of Battle Creek to see if their city councils received a similar proclamation request. Both responded that they had not. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
On This Day, Feb. 18: Snow falls in Sahara for 1st known time
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1841, the first filibuster in the U.S. Senate began. It ended March 11. In 1865, after a long Civil War siege, Union naval forces captured Charleston, S.C. In 1930, dwarf planet Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. In 1954, the Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles. L. Ron Hubbard, who founded the church based on his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, died in 1986. In 1967, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," died in Princeton, N.J., at the age of 62. In 1979, snow fell in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the first known time. It fell a second time in 2016 and a third time in 2018. In 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr., stock-car racing's top driver, was killed in a crash in the final turn of the final lap of the Daytona 500. He was 49. In 2003, nearly 200 people died and scores were injured in a South Korea subway fire set by a man authorities said apparently was upset at his doctors. In 2004, 40 chemical and fuel-laden runaway rail cars derailed near Nishapur in northeastern Iran, producing an explosion that killed at least 300 people and injured hundreds of others. In 2006, 16 people died in rioting in Nigeria over published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that enraged Muslims around the world. In 2008, two of four masterpieces stolen from the Zurich museum a week earlier, a Monet and a van Gogh, were found in perfect condition in the back seat of an unlocked car in Zurich. In 2013, eight men disguised as police disabled a security fence, drove two vehicles onto a Brussels airport tarmac and stole diamonds worth $50 million. In 2014, violence erupted between protesters and security forces in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, eventually resulting in 98 dead with an estimated 15,000 injured and 100 believed missing. In 2021, NASA's Mars rover Perseverance made a robotic landing on Mars, starting a high-tech mission to hunt for signs of life in an ancient lakebed. In 2024, Fifty-five people died following an ambush in Papua New Guinea's remote Highlands region amid a years-long series of clashes among warring tribes.
