Scientology has gained popularity due to the rich and famous celebrities who have embraced it such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Reporter John Sweeney’s initial BBC Panorama investigation into the Church of Scientology resulted in him exploding with anger in a confrontation with church officials. The follow-up program has one of those officials turning whistle-blower to help him reveal the dark tactics employed to provoke and intimidate opponents.

Scientology may call itself a Church but it is not Christian. It may call itself a religion but it has all the marks of a dangerous commercial cult. The fact that it has been either been banned or not recognised as a religion/charity in several countries that normally allow religious freedom, should cause us to sit up and take notice. I checked online. It is countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Finland. From a Christian point of view there are things that don’t measure up:-

1. Origin

Scientology was founded in 1953 by fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, just four years after he made the statement, “I’d like to start a religion—that’s where the money is.” That is where he found wealth as he became a multi-millionaire. The church bases its beliefs on the books and revelations of Hubbard which reads just like a science-fiction story in a Hollywood movie. The Xenu story is just part of the secret revelations that are revealed to members who reach a high enough level – by paying enough money for the privilege.

2. Scriptures

The Bible is not seen as an inspired revelation from God. Other revelations are put ahead of it that contradict the plain teachings of the Bible. This is a common feature of all cults that some “fresher” revelation since the Bible takes precedence over the Bible itself. Those that add or take away from God’s Word will miss out on eternal life.

“For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book”. Revelation 22:18-19.

3. God

Scientology believes that there are multiple gods and that some gods are above other gods. Biblical Christianity, on the other hand, recognises the one and only true God who revealed Himself to us in the Bible and through Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Him cannot believe the false concept of God as taught in Scientology.

4. Jesus

Like other cults, Scientology denies the deity of Christ. Instead of having a biblical view of who Christ is and what He did, they assign to Him the characteristics of some sort of lesser god who has obtained legendary status over the years. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was God in the flesh and through His incarnation He could act as a sacrifice for our sins. It is through Christ’s death and resurrection that we can have the hope of eternal life with God.

5. Sin

Scientology believes in the inherent goodness of man and teaches that it is despicable and utterly beneath contempt to tell a man he must repent or that he is evil. On the other hand, the Bible teaches in many verses that man is a sinner and the only hope for him is that he receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalms 51:5.

“The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.” Psalms 58:3.

“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20.

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.” Romans 3:10-11.

6. Salvation

Scientology believes in reincarnation and that personal salvation in one’s lifetime is freedom from the cycle of birth and death associated with reincarnation. They believe that religious practise of all faiths is the universal way to wisdom, understanding, and salvation. In contrast, the Bible teaches that there is only one way of salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me”. Why else did Jesus come and die on the cross and be resurrected into glory? If he were just a man then He was a liar or lunatic. If He come as God in the flesh to save mankind from sin, then Jesus is Lord! There is no salvation with any other person. Man cannot save himself with good works alone. Our good works, morality, status, or brilliance will not get us an inch toward heaven.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. Ephesians 2:8-10.

Categories: Apologetics