Mormonism and Scientology. Word(s) of God(s) Joseph Smith Jr. President and first prophet of LDS Spoke for God, revelations Second Great Awakening...religious.
Post on 20-Jan-2016
215 Views
Preview:
Transcript
Mormonism and Scientology
Word(s) of God(s)
Joseph Smith Jr.
• President and first prophet of LDS
• Spoke for God, revelations
• Second Great Awakening...religious change/confusion
• Wrote Book of Mormon at age 24 over the course of 7 years or so: theology and history
– An American story
– The Doctrine & Covenants (revelations)
• Convicted money digger/ “glass looker”
• Ran for US president
• Avid polygamist; 40+ wives
LDS Church
• Tied to Christian beliefs, but not considered Christian by Christians
– People can communicate with god, can be or become god
– Baptized in
• 141 temples or holy buildings of worship; Wards/Branches; non-profit
• 15 million adherents globally
– US (6.1M), Mexico (1.2M), Brazil (1.1M)
– Missionaries, proselytizing?
• No consumption of addictive substances
• Temple garment or “magic” underwear, chastity
• God speaks to his children and answers their prayers
“All About Mormons” (2000)
• Explored Mormonism in Orgazmo (1997)
• Semi-accurate story behind Smith and Book of Mormon with embellishment/omission
• Parker's Family Home Evening experience
• Seer stones
• Stan represents cultural skepticism
– Faith v. empirical evidence...religion requires faith
– “Dum dum dum dum dum”
• Value of the book?... “Red Hot Catholic Love”
The Book of Mormon
Under the Banner of Heaven
• Ideas by Joseph Smith Jr. in 1820s, incorporated in 1830 in Palymra, NY
• Mainstream LDS v. Fundamentalist LDS
• Nephites in United States=caucasians; Lamanites=Indigenous
• Pioneer Brigham Young, first governor of Utah
• Settled Utah in 1847, after Missouri War, Illinois War, and Utah War
• Schism in LDS and most violence over polygamy or “plural marriage” (“celestial marriage” est. by Smith Jr.)
– Religious freedom? Banned by gov. in 1862 and by Church in 1890/1904
– Still practiced by fundamentalist sects
“Tithing” and Finances
• By commandment of God, pay a “tithe” (1838)
– 10% of income, not “required” by LDS but God
– Temple Building Fund
– Fast Offering: fast for a day and donate money to church
– Similar commandments in other religions, but this is often criticized by Gentiles
• Brigham Young University; 34K students (98% LDS)
• Desert Management Corporation (LDS for-profit)
– Owns radio stations, newspapers, book publishers, bookstores, real estate companies
– Beneficial Financial Group; $3.1B insurance/finance company
Church of Scientology
• Based in LA and Riverside; Clearwater, Florida
• Incorporated in 1953/54; non-profit status in 1993
• 25K-8million adherents; Churches/Missions=franchises
• CSI: Church of Scientology International
• RTC: Religious Technology Center
– Controls trademarks, copyrights and licenses
• Sea Org: monastic group; naval force
• 8 Celebrity Centres: open to public but for people with celebrity; recruiting spaces
L. Ron Hubbard
• Prophet of church and science fiction writer
• Dianetics...mind and body...releasing engrams
• Discrepancies over life story
• The way to get rich is to found a religion?
• 1955 Project Celebrity
• Audit...pre-clear/clear...Operating Thetans
– Self help, getting rid of negative emotions
– “Alternative psychology”
x
Issues w/ Scientology
• Anti-psychiatry
• Pay for auditing counseling; place in hierarchy (OT levels) commensurate with wealth
• Large number of Hollywood and entertainment industry adherents
• Known for using IP law, defamation law to protect religious freedom
– Often use lawsuits to harass critics
– Fair Game; Ethics Technology; Knowledge Reports
– OSA=Office of Special Affairs
– RPF=Rehabilitation Project Force (for Sea Org members)
• First Amendment irony here?
“Trapped in the Closet” (2005)
• Previous parodies “The Gauntlet” (2000) and “Blaintology” cult
• Religious satire/Parody of Scientology(ists)
• Tom Cruise joke...John Travolta
• Semi-accurate depiction of beliefs
• Pay for faith?
– "to really be a church, they can't charge money to help"~Stan
– Money v. message/faith
• Satire on litigious nature of church: “We'll sue you buddy”
“Closetgate”
Chef Leaves
• "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins. Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored.” ~ Isaac Hayes
• Never had an issue with other religious satires
• “The Return of Chef” (2006)
Cults
• Groups with new or deviant beliefs from traditional beliefs
– Manipulate, exploit, and control its members
– Often use brainwashing
• Has taken on pejorative meaning
• Christian “cults”: LDS, Jehova's Witnesses
• Scientology often labeled a cult
• What differentiates a cult from a religion?
• Joseph Smith? Xenu? Jesus? Non-rational faith
9, Blasphemy and Morality
• Blasphemy for comic effect
• Utilitarianism: potential positive and negative consequences of acting in a situation (John Stuart Mill)
– Morally right decision promotes balance between +/- consequences
– The greatest happiness of the people
• From this perspective is blasphemy morally acceptable?
Blasphemous Humor
• Blasphemous Humor: to be funny something sacred portrayed in a disrespectful manner
Applying Utilitarianism
• Looking at everyone affected equally
– Happiness v. unhappiness
– South Park w/ and w/out blasphemy
– Direct consequences (offending believers; making people laugh)
– Indirect consequences (intolerance, desensitization; make people think)
• Blasphemous humor means more discourse, exchange of ideas, and a happier more balance society
• Remember, must be + consequences to offset - ones
10, Naive/Arrogant Fundamentalism
• “Fixation of belief”: inability to change beliefs. The “only” logical answer
• South Park exposes believing as naive/arrogant approach to God, the world, and being human
• Fundamentalists see world via unquestionable beliefs (i.e. dogma)
• Interpretation of text as true meaning (naive); arrogance is wrapped up in this naivety
• The issue is not the beliefs, but the way of holding them...confusing YOUR will as God's will.
top related