Yesterday I had some time to kill downtown, and I found myself in the big six-story Scientology church, out of curiosity.
Here are some quick observations, with an attempt to be non-judgmental:
- Wow, they have money! The first part of the entrance was an information center and self-guided tour, with state-of-the-art LCD touchscreens and comfy chairs. (I might have disagreed with the information of most of what I watched, but I have to admire the set-up, it was flawless.)
- In each church there's a replica of L. Ron Hubbard's office. It was shrine-like, and reminded me of ultra-Orthodox sects' deification of individual rabbis.
- There were things to buy laid out everywhere. And I didn't even go into the bookstore itself.
- According to my tour guide, the room called the "chapel" is used for "services" that consist of listening to and watching Hubbard's lectures. I asked her if there was a liturgy surrounding the lectures. She asked what liturgy was. I swallowed down my smile and said "prayers that are set, that you say the same every time." She said no, just the lectures.
- We talked about the "statement of faith," a Scientology creed, that to me seemed like placing oneself in the context of the individual, expanding throughout to one's place in the broader universe. I asked if this was considered exclusive to other religions, and she said no, that people can be other religions and Scientologist both.
Religion, cult, non-denominational worship arena? You pick. Either way, it was a very interesting visit.
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