Jump to content

Dianetics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RK (talk | contribs) at 19:30, 2 June 2003 (Explaining the link between Dianetics and Scientology. (All true, but something that Scientologists try to hide.)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Dianetics™ is the name given to a set of principles designed to explain the functioning of the human mind, and as a system for curing some forms of mental illness. Devised by L. Ron Hubbard, writer of western fiction, romance novels, screenplays, mystery, fantasy and science fiction, it was first publicized by a series of articles in Astounding Science Fiction. Later the principles were consolidated in the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, first published in 1950.

The book was a best-seller when it was first published, and it spawned a series of short-lived "Dianetics clubs" and Dianetics organizations. The phenomenon did not last long, however. After the popularity bubble burst, faced with increasing criticism from the mental health community and financial problems from decreasing sales, Hubbard turned to religion and integrated the principles of Dianetics into the primary dogma of Scientology.

Dianetics presents itself as a systemic method of identifying the causes of and relieving many of an individual's mental, emotional or (psychosomatically) physical problems. Fundamental to the system is the concept of the engram, which is defined as "a definite and permanent trace left by a stimulus on the protoplasm of a tissue.". Engrams are created during periods of psychological distress or trauma, and are at the root of all mental disorders.

Dianetics is often regarded as a pseudoscience, as it presents itself as a "scientific" system of knowledge, yet fails to meet the requirements of the scientific method. Many people also view dianetics as pure science fiction, and a practical joke, based upon testimony by witnesses that Hubbard stated he would create a science-fiction religion to make money.

Hubbard in Dianetics states: "[Dianetics is]...an organized science of thought built on definite axioms: statements of natural laws on the order of those of the physical sciences". Critics would argue that a 'definite axiom' is an oxymoron, and regardless, a science cannot be based on axioms, only on hypotheses based on experimental evidence.

Dianetics is the only the first level in a series of secret Scientology teachings; its higher level of teachings are kept secret from members who have not reached these levels. In the Church of Scientology vs. Fishman and Geertz case, former scientologist Steven Fishman introduced as evidence what appeared to be Hubbard's OT I through OT VIII documents, of which a small portion known as the Xenu story has received much media attention. Xenu, according to the documents, was an evil galactic overlord who oppressed free spirits with science fiction-like tactics in the Earth's distant past (at which time planet Earth was known as Teegeeack.) The Fishman affidavit became public domain as a court document, and contains confidential course materials sold at a high cost. The church subsequently dropped the case against Fishman and petitioned the court to seal the documents, without formally acknowledging their authenticity.

Dianetics is the seed from which the philosophical framework of Scientology grew, and on this basis the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health is often jokingly referred to as The Old Testament by Scientologists.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dianetics&oldid=990634"