Scientology differs from Christianity

RECENTLY, I was asked whether a Christian could also at the same time be affiliated with scientology.
“Certainly not, since scientology is nowadays a religion with beliefs and practices in clear contrast with Christian teaching and ethics.”
Scientology was not considered a religion when in 1950 its founder – the American writer Lafayette Donald Hubbard (1911-1986) – published the book Dianetics: The modern science of mental health.
In fact, the book presents a sort of “behaviour therapy” for people who would like to use the suggested techniques in order to acquire mental health. Hubbard developed his own vocabulary based on his vision of the human mind and its mechanisms.
The book was highly successful in spite of much criticism on the part of psychologist and psychiatrists..
Hubbard, however, did not stop his theory at the psychological level but elevated it to the levels of philosophy and theology by introducing the concept of Thetans, a sort of immortal spirits with potentially limitless powers over matter, energy, space and time. Thetans have allegedly existed for trillions of years and are the actual creators of the universe.
Unfortunately, they are united with bodily creatures (both human and non-human) and, in the course of time, lost both their limitless powers and the conscience of their pure spiritual identity.
Since that process of unification with bodily creatures, called assumption, has continued for trillion of years, thetans have been reborn in an almost infinite number of creatures and were exposed to an almost infinite number of both positive and negative experiences, which were all registered in their spiritual mind. 
If thetans want to be restored to their original powerful state, they have to get rid of all the destructive experiences accumulated in the past (called engrams) through specific teachings and techniques provided by scientology.
This process of purification passes through different stages of teaching and training, in which the candidate form a pre-clear initial stage is raised to an over more enlighten one until he/she reaches the state of operating thetan, which is comparable to the state of godhood. All stages of the purification process have to be paid for by the candidate and the costs rise with the rising of stage.
It is clear from the above brief presentation that the theological theory which supports scientology has no biblical base whatsoever.
In the course of time, scientology has assumed other characteristics of a religion, like the rituals of child naming, weddings and funerals, the ordination of ministers, and the establishment of a three-tiered hierarchical structure (lay practitioners, staff, and the top hierarchy).
From the very beginning, scientology has been a “missionary movement”, reaching into countries of virtually every continent. It has also been involved in charitable undertakings, like the rehabilitation of drug addicts and criminals by using scientology technology.
The leaders of scientology have been fighting a long battle in order to have their system recognised as a religion and to enjoy the benefits of that recognition like tax exemption. Religion recognition for legal purposes has been granted so far, among others, by the following states: USA, Italy, Sweden, Portugal Croatia and Hungary. Other states, notably Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Greece and Belgium have so far refused to grant scientology religious recognition.
Often recognition was granted after long legal and even physical battles. Since its inception, in fact, scientology came into conflict with government and police forces in several countries, like USA, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Australia.
Scientology has been one of the most litigious religious movements in modern history, filing countless law suits against governments, organisations, and individuals.
The contact person for the Catholic church in PNG and Solomon Islands regarding the topic of scientology is Fr Franco Zocca SVD at the Melanesian Institute in Goroka.

Bishop Francesco Panfilo
President Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG & SI