Apr

21

LDS (Mormonism) and Scientology: A Brief Theological Comparison

Filed Under LDS, New Religious Movements, Scientology | 7 Comments

Similarities:

1. Pre-existence of humanity:
LDS: All humans pre-existed in the spirit world before being born on earth.
Scientology: People were thetans in past lives + belief in reincarnation.

2. Unlimited potential for humans:
LDS: Heavenly Father (God) is an exalted man and LDS men may become gods with omnipotence and omniscience.
Scientology: People may become thetans again, regaining their freedom from matter, energy, space, and time (MEST).

3. “Salvation” only through their Church:
LDS: Exaltation and godhood only through the LDS Church.
Scientology: Recovering one’s thetanhood only possible through Church of Scientology.

Differences:

1. Religious terminology:
LDS: Use of biblical and Christian terminology.
Scientology: Develops own terminology; appealing to science, technology, eastern religions, and the New Age.

2. Knowledge of truth:
LDS: Divine revelation received by Joseph Smith and later LDS prophets.
Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard’s findings through his own studies.

3. God and gods:
LDS: Worship of Heavenly Father, but belief in the existence of multiple gods.
Scientology: Minimal reference to God; not the focus in Scientology.

4. Spirit and matter:
LDS: A physical body is necessary for exaltation to godhood. Heavenly Father has a body with flesh and bones.
Scientology: Being trapped in matter is the problem; the goal is to be set free from a physical body.

5. Attaining “salvation:”
LDS: Faith in Jesus Christ, baptism into the LDS Church, receive Holy Ghost, receive temple endowment, be married in a LDS temple, and follow LDS teachings.
Scientology: Through auditing sessions one’s engrams are erased, making one “clear,” and then by taking additional classes one can become an “Operating Thetan.”

6. The final goal:
LDS: Exaltation to godhood with wife and children.
Scientology: Returning to thetanhood as a disembodied powerful being.