L. Ron Hubbard’s Church of Scientology

Your series on Scientology shows how tyrants emerge. We see in Scientology many of the elements of far more powerful dictatorships: Cults of personality, with strong emphasis on the “sacred writings” of the leader. Enrichment of a select few at the top. Disregard of normal standards of public decency, with critics being denounced as enemies and hounded or attacked without mercy. A mind-set that exalts supporters as superior to the rest of humanity. And permeating all, a vindictive self-righteousness that seeks to turn ordinary people into mere fodder for the use of The Movement.

In America, our laws and traditions of liberty put bounds on the growth of Scientology and its like, and limit the harm they do. But in nations ruled by dictators, similar cults or movements break all such bounds, raising quite ordinary people--akin in their way to Hubbard--to the status of gods. Every society has its people, troubled or naive, who are susceptible to the blandishments of people such as Hubbard. That is why they continue to come forth. But in such movements, we see the early beginnings--fortunately well-controlled--of processes that in other lands have led to Ayatollah Khomeini and Tian An Men Square.

T.A. HEPPENHEIMER

Fountain Valley