Scientology

Many professing Christians are familiar with Scientology: almost 70 percent of those involved in the religion come from a Christian background. But are Christianity and Scientology compatible?

Created in the 1950s, Scientology is a mixture of eastern religions, science fiction, psychology and science. The movement teaches that all humans are “thetans,” which are described as immortal spirits. Humans, though, have forgotten they are thetans, which, when combined with other forms of life, comprise the Scientologists’ supreme being. Scientology helps humans to realize their true identities and to achieve a higher state, that of “operating thetans.”

Upon examination, Christianity and Scientology are quite different and not compatible. The latter denies some of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. Scientologists do not accept Biblical teaching about a single all-powerful holy God, and sinful humans in desperate need of forgiveness from their creator. Apart from a right relationship with God through faith in His son Jesus Christ, heaven is not attainable.