Another new and dangerous cult has recently set up headquarters in England. It is called Scientology. In a court action in London before Lord Denning brought against the Home Secretary by two so-called students of Scientology, some information regarding this cult was made known.
Lord Denning said: “At Saint Hill Manor, near East Grinstead, there is an establishment which calls itself the Hubbard College of Scientology of California. It is owned by an American Corporation called the Church of Scientology of California. Scientology is a word which has recently been invented. It finds no place in the English dictionaries. Its proponents say that Scientology is a religion: and that this religion, its faith and belief, its teaching and practices are taught to students at the college at East Grinstead.”
His Lordship also quoted from a statement by the Minister of Health, made in the House of Commons about Scientology. The statement said: “Scientology is a pseudo-philosophical cult introduced into this country some years ago from the United States and has its world headquarters in East Grinstead. It has been described by its founder, Mr L. Ron Hubbard, as ‘the world’s largest mental health organisation’ . . . The Government are satisfied, having reviewed all the available evidence, that Scientology is socially harmful. It alienates members of families from each other and attributes squalid and disgraceful motives to all who oppose it: its authoritarian principles and practice are a potential menace to the personality and well-being of those so deluded as to become its followers; above all, its methods can be a serious danger to the health of those who submit to them. There is evidence that children are now being indoctrinated. There is no power under existing law to prohibit the practice of Scientology; but the Government have concluded that it is so objectionable that it would be right to take all steps within their powers to curb its growth.”
It was also stated in the Court, that the Minister of Health referred to an investigation which had been held in the State of Victoria, Australia, into Scientology, and “found it to be an evil.”
This information is surely sufficient to reveal that this cult is another instrument of the devil, conceived in America, to deceive and ruin precious souls in as many parts of the world as possible. Without tending to anything of the nature of a persecuting spirit toward our fellow-men, surely if a cult is proved to be a new social evil and has its original headquarters in another nation, it should not be permitted to establish and spread in Britain. Seldom do our Government come out so seriously against any evil; and when it does, as in this case, then Scientology must be a dangerous organisation indeed.
Of course, Britain has been plagued for years now by other cults which are more fully known to us as to their beliefs and practices and are equally dangerous to the spiritual wellbeing of the people of this country. The devil is not content to war against the true faith of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with few weapons. It appears that today he is inventing many new devices to beguile and ruin men. The device which will entangle some may not appeal to others; and so his satanic work proceeds apace devising new and subtle — and sometimes not so subtle — methods to keep sinners in his dark kingdom.
Last February we gave a public lecture in Glasgow, and mentioned that people today who were turning away from the Truth of God, were turning to fables. Fables were found with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons and other cults, including Scientology. At the end of March last, we received a letter from the “Legal Chief” of what is called on official notepaper, “The Church of Scientology of California”, East Grinstead, England. We were charged with a lack of sensible judgment and also that our statement was untrue. We were requested to write an apology to the Press where a report of our lecture appeared and to submit such an apology to the above legal representative before it was printed. This letter will of course remain unanswered as far as “Grinstead” is concerned. This brief article will suffice for our answer.
There has also come into our hands a circular letter from the Hubbard College of Scientology, addressed to a medical practitioner whom we know. Along with this letter there was attached a six page printed “bulletin” purporting to contain data of interest to doctors with a glossary of the terms used by Scientology. The letter itself is signed by a man who designates himself “Deputy Chaplain”. It is made clear in these documents that this cult is actively seeking to engage the interest of the medical profession in their strange cult. We should not think any sensible doctor will be gulled by the strange theories and the questionable practices of this cult.
That these deluded people do not remain in California constitutes a grave danger to the people of Britain. Poor Britain! back-sliding Britain! Our land has become an area of activity for every anti-Christian organisation, originating in America. And when the enemy is thus coming in like a flood, we need now, at this present time, that the Spirit of the Lord would lift up a standard against the enemy — and that standard is the truth. “It is time for thee Lord to work.”