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.

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”

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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.