The Religion of Scientology:
A Description

Training

Another fundamental practice of the Scientology religion is training — the study of Scientology principles. Many courses of training are available in the Scientology religion because a person can, as stated, use the truths found in Scientology to improve conditions in every area of life. However, the most important training courses are those through which one learns to become an auditor. That is because the overriding principle in all courses is that Scientology is an applied religious philosophy, and all training emphasizes application.

The spiritual path Scientologists follow through auditing and training is known as The Bridge. This embodies an ancient concept — a long-envisioned route across a chasm between man's present state and vastly higher levels of spiritual awareness. The Bridge is comprised of gradient steps so that spiritual gains are incremental, predictable and apparent.

There are two sides to this Bridge: on one side, by receiving auditing, one reaches the highest states of awareness as a spiritual being; on the other, one studies the axioms and principles of Scientology and learns to become an auditor, ultimately advancing to the highest levels of auditor skill. The spiritual freedom available through Scientology requires passage along both these paths. For while one becomes free through auditing, this must be augmented by knowledge of how to stay free. Knowing the mechanisms by which spiritual freedom can be lost is itself a freedom, and places one outside their influence. All told, then, The Bridge constitutes a route upward from the lowest states of human existence to hitherto unimagined spiritual heights. And in that respect, it represents a spiritual dream that is as old as man himself.

The Scientology religion is based exclusively upon L. Ron Hubbard's research, writings and recorded lectures — all of which constitute the Scriptures of the religion. These encompass more than 500,000 pages of writings, nearly 3,000 recorded lectures and more than 100 films. He is the only source of the religion, and he has no successor. A fundamental doctrine of the Scientology religion is that spiritual freedom can be attained only if the path outlined in these works is followed without deviation, for it is an intensively researched and workable route.

To comprehend Scientology as a religion, one must look past the parameters one might be familiar with, such as those of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and view the East. For instance, although, like the Judeo-Christian religions Scientology affirms the existence of a Supreme Being and places the Supreme Being at the apex of its cosmology, like many Eastern religions, salvation in Scientology is attained through personal spiritual enlightenment. This, then, is the essence of Scientology: The Bridge, the auditing and training that takes place every day of the year in every Church of Scientology in the world. The mission of Scientology is, after all, nothing less than the rehabilitation of the human spirit. And, four decades after the Church's birth, it is because of its ability to unerringly attain this age-old goal that men and women from all walks of life and diverse cultures in nations throughout the world continue to reach for the promise of the Scientology faith in ever-increasing numbers.