Mormonism and Scientology

Word(s) of God(s)

Joseph Smith Jr.

• President and first prophet of LDS

• Spoke for God, revelations

• Second Great Awakening...religious change/confusion

• Wrote Book of Mormon at age 24 over the course of 7 years or so: theology and history

– An American story

– The Doctrine & Covenants (revelations)

• Convicted money digger/ “glass looker”

• Ran for US president

• Avid polygamist; 40+ wives

LDS Church

• Tied to Christian beliefs, but not considered Christian by Christians

– People can communicate with god, can be or become god

– Baptized in

• 141 temples or holy buildings of worship; Wards/Branches; non-profit

• 15 million adherents globally

– US (6.1M), Mexico (1.2M), Brazil (1.1M)

– Missionaries, proselytizing?

• No consumption of addictive substances

• Temple garment or “magic” underwear, chastity

• God speaks to his children and answers their prayers

“All About Mormons” (2000)

• Explored Mormonism in Orgazmo (1997)

• Semi-accurate story behind Smith and Book of Mormon with embellishment/omission

• Parker's Family Home Evening experience

• Seer stones

• Stan represents cultural skepticism

– Faith v. empirical evidence...religion requires faith

– “Dum dum dum dum dum”

• Value of the book?... “Red Hot Catholic Love”

The Book of Mormon

Under the Banner of Heaven

• Ideas by Joseph Smith Jr. in 1820s, incorporated in 1830 in Palymra, NY

• Mainstream LDS v. Fundamentalist LDS

• Nephites in United States=caucasians; Lamanites=Indigenous

• Pioneer Brigham Young, first governor of Utah

• Settled Utah in 1847, after Missouri War, Illinois War, and Utah War

• Schism in LDS and most violence over polygamy or “plural marriage” (“celestial marriage” est. by Smith Jr.)

– Religious freedom? Banned by gov. in 1862 and by Church in 1890/1904

– Still practiced by fundamentalist sects

“Tithing” and Finances

• By commandment of God, pay a “tithe” (1838)

– 10% of income, not “required” by LDS but God

– Temple Building Fund

– Fast Offering: fast for a day and donate money to church

– Similar commandments in other religions, but this is often criticized by Gentiles

• Brigham Young University; 34K students (98% LDS)

• Desert Management Corporation (LDS for-profit)

– Owns radio stations, newspapers, book publishers, bookstores, real estate companies

– Beneficial Financial Group; $3.1B insurance/finance company

Church of Scientology

• Based in LA and Riverside; Clearwater, Florida

• Incorporated in 1953/54; non-profit status in 1993

• 25K-8million adherents; Churches/Missions=franchises

• CSI: Church of Scientology International

• RTC: Religious Technology Center

– Controls trademarks, copyrights and licenses

• Sea Org: monastic group; naval force

• 8 Celebrity Centres: open to public but for people with celebrity; recruiting spaces

L. Ron Hubbard

• Prophet of church and science fiction writer

• Dianetics...mind and body...releasing engrams

• Discrepancies over life story

• The way to get rich is to found a religion?

• 1955 Project Celebrity

• Audit...pre-clear/clear...Operating Thetans

– Self help, getting rid of negative emotions

– “Alternative psychology”

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Issues w/ Scientology

• Anti-psychiatry

• Pay for auditing counseling; place in hierarchy (OT levels) commensurate with wealth

• Large number of Hollywood and entertainment industry adherents

• Known for using IP law, defamation law to protect religious freedom

– Often use lawsuits to harass critics

– Fair Game; Ethics Technology; Knowledge Reports

– OSA=Office of Special Affairs

– RPF=Rehabilitation Project Force (for Sea Org members)

• First Amendment irony here?

“Trapped in the Closet” (2005)

• Previous parodies “The Gauntlet” (2000) and “Blaintology” cult

• Religious satire/Parody of Scientology(ists)

• Tom Cruise joke...John Travolta

• Semi-accurate depiction of beliefs

• Pay for faith?

– "to really be a church, they can't charge money to help"~Stan

– Money v. message/faith

• Satire on litigious nature of church: “We'll sue you buddy”

“Closetgate”

Chef Leaves

• "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins. Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored.” ~ Isaac Hayes

• Never had an issue with other religious satires

• “The Return of Chef” (2006)

Cults

• Groups with new or deviant beliefs from traditional beliefs

– Manipulate, exploit, and control its members

– Often use brainwashing

• Has taken on pejorative meaning

• Christian “cults”: LDS, Jehova's Witnesses

• Scientology often labeled a cult

• What differentiates a cult from a religion?

• Joseph Smith? Xenu? Jesus? Non-rational faith

9, Blasphemy and Morality

• Blasphemy for comic effect

• Utilitarianism: potential positive and negative consequences of acting in a situation (John Stuart Mill)

– Morally right decision promotes balance between +/- consequences

– The greatest happiness of the people

• From this perspective is blasphemy morally acceptable?

Blasphemous Humor

• Blasphemous Humor: to be funny something sacred portrayed in a disrespectful manner

Applying Utilitarianism

• Looking at everyone affected equally

– Happiness v. unhappiness

– South Park w/ and w/out blasphemy

– Direct consequences (offending believers; making people laugh)

– Indirect consequences (intolerance, desensitization; make people think)

• Blasphemous humor means more discourse, exchange of ideas, and a happier more balance society

• Remember, must be + consequences to offset - ones

10, Naive/Arrogant Fundamentalism

• “Fixation of belief”: inability to change beliefs. The “only” logical answer

• South Park exposes believing as naive/arrogant approach to God, the world, and being human

• Fundamentalists see world via unquestionable beliefs (i.e. dogma)

• Interpretation of text as true meaning (naive); arrogance is wrapped up in this naivety

• The issue is not the beliefs, but the way of holding them...confusing YOUR will as God's will.