Apr
21
LDS (Mormonism) and Scientology: A Brief Theological Comparison
Filed Under LDS, New Religious Movements, Scientology
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.
Comments
7 Responses to “LDS (Mormonism) and Scientology: A Brief Theological Comparison”
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dear Michael,
why are a spiritual pre-existense before coming to Earth and reincarnation listed as similarities? also, what was your main thesis of this post? i feel it is a thinly-veiled attempt to group the LDS church with a group that is now popular to ridicule, as were the mormons in the past. if you’re trying to make the point that there is no difference between the two groups, i disagree with your statement. please explain this idea more if you had a different reason for writing this piece.
your brother in Christ,
josh
Josh,
Thanks for posting a comment. I put the LDS and Scientology views under the heading of “pre-existence of humanity” because they both teach that people had an existence before this current life on earth. I was not trying to equate the LDS belief with reincarnation. Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and many others believe that people had an existence previous to the one they are living. This is a common feature in many religious traditions around the world.
I did not have a thesis for the post; it was simply a list of observations. My intent was not to group LDS with a group which is “popular to ridicule.” Also, I hope you saw that I was not trying to make the point that “there is no difference between the two groups” since I listed six major differences between the two groups.
As a student of world religions and new religious movements, it is often helpful to compare and contrast different religious traditions in order to better understand them. This helps identify unique features in the various traditions. I had done some research on this as I was preparing for my comprehensive exams and thought that it would be helpful to people who want to better understand the theology of LDS and Scientology.
Thanks again for your post.
Michael
So, one quick question. Do the mormons believe that they are saved and salvation comes through their church, or Jesus Christ?
Both. On the one hand, they would say that salvation is through Christ. On the other hand, exaltation (highest heaven) is only possible for those who are part of their church.
As a Member of the LDS (Mormon) church I figured I’d give a few comments here.
First of all, If one is of a faith tradition of any sort I’d be very wary of making these sorts of lists because if one put ones own faith on such a list one would get basically the exact same results. if you are truly making this list for a religions class as you suggest than this objection is of course not relevant.
I wanted to comment on Michael’s comment about salvation in the church. We believe that salvation comes wholly through and due to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. However, we also believe that just as in the parable of the talents in the book of Matthew that we will be judged for how we make good on our time on this earth and magnify our callings and gifts. Our temples allow us to make additional covenants which give us additional responsibilities and also increased risk if we fall away from the straight and narrow path. As we climb we also have a greater risk of falling down to the depth bellow. That is why we keep the temple so sacred and set apart from the world. If one takes on himself covenants without being prepared one will suffer for that decision and fall away from growth.
Daniel,
Thanks for your comments. I am not sure what you mean by “one would get basically the exact same results.” No conclusions where made, only observations about similarities and differences. All religions, no matter which ones you compare, are bound to have some similarities and differences.
If I misrepresented LDS beliefs please let me know. In reference to your salvation in the church comment, what I put down about exaltation I got from an LDS publication, Gospel Principles. I put salvation in quotes because I was refering to the LDS teaching of exaltation. My observation was that exaltation is not possible for those outside of the LDS church. This is similar to the soteriology found in Scientology.
As an evangelical Christian, I believe that the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ saves sinners from God’s wrath (ie. hell) through his death and resurrection. In love, Jesus took on God’s wrath and punishment that sinners deserve on the cross. On the cross, we see God’s holiness and hatred of sin, but also his great love and grace towards undeserving sinners. Those who repent (turn away) of their sins and place their faith in Christ (trust him as their Savior and Lord) are forgiven of their sins and are adopted into the family of God. They are no longer enemies of God, but rather beloved children. They enjoy fellowship with God in this life and will spend eternity in God’s presence.
Hello All:
My comment is not directly concerned with Mormonism, nor Scientology. Rather, I have just finished listening to Hugh Hewitt’s “A Mormon In The White House?” Whatever you feel about Mormonism as a religion, I would hope you would not use this as a reason for denying a Mormon public office in the U.S. This would be neither a Christian nor a Constitutionally correct belief. I am a Christian, and I believe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will keep His people, whatever happens on earth, for eternity in His bosom. And that is really what matters.
Thank you.
Jim