These days just about anyone can tell you a thing or two about Scientology. Most of the public exposure to the church of Scientology has come from Leah Remini’s documentary series on Netflix. Even though the average person knows the church, few understand exactly what it does or from where it came. Scientology’s members’ secrecy and financial actions have led most to label it a cult. It is a label that is fitting. Despite this fact, followers hail the founder for his revolutionary new way of thinking. Against all odds, and despite any accreditation, L Ron Hubbard managed to found his own religion. An endeavor that made him very wealthy.
L Ron Hubbard’s Formation
In 1930, Hubbard began studying engineering at George Washington University. Unfortunately, he had little interest in the study. His academic endeavors were more for his father than they were for himself. So it’s unsurprising that in 1932 he dropped out after spending time on academic probation. In a scramble to restore some semblance of a life for his son, L Ron’s father signed him up for a Red Cross trip to Puerto Rico. However, upon learning of the possibility of gold in the Caribbean, Hubbard abandoned the Red Cross and searched for gold. He never found any and eventually went home. These sorts of distractions would become commonplace in the life of Hubbard.
Prolific Writing Career
After his failed Caribbean gold rush, L Ron Hubbard moved to Washington D.C. to begin a writing career. He got his start writing short stories in magazines. Eventually, he scaled his operation to write entire science fiction novels. He wrote for the rest of his life and earned himself the title of the most published author of all time, with over 1,000 credited titles in print. The quality of his literature is, however, less acclaimed. Despite having multiple New York Times Best Sellers in his library, many critics assert that Scientologists have purchased extra books to inflate sales numbers and earn the ranking.
Scientology
Speaking of Scientology, L Ron Hubbard started it. After a failed attempt to organize a psychological school of thought, L Ron rethought his strategy and created a religion. The religion in question had almost everything in common with the psychological effort that failed due to the lack of buy-in from the psychiatric community. The only difference was the end goal, spiritual growth, and freedom instead of psychiatric treatment.
L Ron Hubbard built a religion that preys on the wealthy and promises more than it can provide. Its followers pay to ascend to higher levels of mental clarity in hopes that religious leadership might bestow a hidden knowledge upon them. Unfortunately, the people who chase the clarity have been tricked into believing that it is what they want. By the time they realize that they don’t want or need it, they are trapped, making it incredibly difficult for people to find freedom.
Conclusion
Hubbard’s life is one of constant distraction and poor behavior. He seemed to be in pursuit of more constantly. Eventually, he learned that the career path that would make him the most wealthy would be rather uncommon; religion design. His religion has become world-famous, but for all the wrong reasons.
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