Introduction
Church of Scientology is a controversial religious institution that was founded in 1965. The institution has its origins in America but has now spread to other states in the world. The institution is defined as being controversial since there are regions that fail to recognize it as a religion.
There is a controversy in the way Scientology operates since its values fail to match ethical beliefs or considerations upheld by other religions. The essay will focus on outlining various aspects through which Scientology raises ethical concerns in public. Different definitions and theories that are used in the comprehension of ethical considerations in a religious setup will be presented.
Background information
Church of Scientology has its headquarters in the City of Manhattan. The seven-story building creates an expression of esteem in society. Scientology has been ranked as the fastest growing religion in the world. The term ‘Scientology’ means studying the truth and Scientologists interpret their religion as the source of spiritual knowledge. There are regions that associate Scientology with devil worship.
As a result, religion is exposed to many critics, and there are legal investigations that are directed towards its activities. Scientology is a money-driven institution that attempts to maximize its global profits. The total value of Scientology is approximately in millions of dollars and has more than a hundred churches (Reitman 10).
Ethical aspects
Consequentiality Point of View
Commoditization or commercial gain is one of the ethical concerns associated with Scientology. Commercialization can be interpreted as an expected consequence, which is being maximized, in the case of Scientology. Scientology tends to incline so much on the financial gains that come along with the provision of services to others. Scientology sells all services and products that are meant to foster purity and immortality in human beings. Scientology operates in a principle that is against the one held by most religions (Reitman 12).
Expense of Consequences
Duty of motive is an ethical aspect that also emerges in the issue of Scientology. According to sociologists, a moral act is that which is done from duty. According to Scientology, the world deserves help and cleansing, which should not be given for free. Morally, help is given to those who are in need because it is right to do so.
It should, however, be noted that an act of help that is given due to the reward that comes along with it, is not moral worth. In this regard, the form of help given by Scientology in the spiritual cleansing process is profit oriented. Focus is on the reward or profit gain that Scientology will get after its act of help (Reitman 13)
Deontological point of view
Contradiction in Conception
According to the case study, the maxim will be ‘to make money; religions will swindle people.’ If this maxim were to be universalized and applied in a world of thought, no religion would be able to make money from swindling. People would be aware of the intention by religions and would avoid them. In this regard, all attempts by religions to swindle people would be fruitless. The reason why Scientology successfully swindles people is that it exempts itself from this maxim.
Scientology builds on the fact that religions do not swindle people to make money. This is the reason why people part with money in their first visit to Scientology church. According to the test of contradiction, if the law of swindling were to be conceived, it would not work.
Money can only be made from swindling if only practiced by some religions and not all. In this regard, it is wrong for religions to make money by swindling people. Since there is a contradiction in the conceiving the law of swindling, it is not right for religions to make money by swindling people.
Contradiction in Will
According to the case study, the maxim will be ‘for religions to remain rich; they will not help those in need.’ If this maxim were to be universalized, no religion would be rich in this world of thought. It should be noted that religions consist of people from society. Members contribute to the construction and development of their religions. One of the reasons why members provide financial and social support is that they expect the religion to help those who need.
However, in a world where religions do not value the act of help, members would not provide a financial contribution. As a result, religions would even be poorer, since members would not provide financial support to them. Most religions would collapse due to lack of support.
According to this test of contradiction, Scientology accumulates wealth by not offering help to people in need freely, because they exempt themselves from this maxim. In this regard, Scientology depends on help in the form of financial contribution from society but does not want to help others. There is a contradiction in the will of the law not to help others. In this regard, the act of not helping others is forbidden, which means that it is morally right for religions to help those in need.
Humanity Formula
Scientology uses society as a means, rather than as an end. The numerous counseling sessions that advance with money increment are meant to maximize the profit of Scientology. Scientologists do not believe in offering help freely. It should be noted that Scientology’s help is not sincere since it inclines so much on growth and profits. People who join Scientology end up losing their money, while the religion benefits.
Scientology uses people as a means to realize the end goal of profitability. Scientologists entangle you into their system, where you spend so much money in the process of becoming pure. In this regard, Scientologists make a person spend money so that they can benefit. Advancement of the spiritual cleansing is proportional to a service fee (Reitman 13).
Scientology is associated with unethical behavior due to selective information that it gives to the public concerning its principles. In this regard, Scientology is not interested in its impacts on society, but rather what society has to give. Scientology lures people and makes them feel that there is no other choice rather than joining it. The process is deceitful since they give an attractive offer to people who end up in their traps (Reitman 11).
Moral Luck
According to the case study, there are blames or praises assigned to agents for actions they are not in control. Circumstantial moral luck is present in the case of Scientology. Models and attractive executives who pose in streets and give free stress tests can be blamed by a person who ends up spending a lot of money in counseling sessions organized by the religion. It should be noted that the models have no control over the consequences of the simple act of making people go to the church of Scientology.
Resultant moral luck also applies in the case scenario. Scientologists are not fully responsible for the amount of money that a person spends in the planned sessions. Even though Scientologists use implicative force, a member has the choice of spending money or not. For instance, Scientologists do not force one to spend money on their services. Members choose to spend after they decide to proceed with the process of becoming pure. In this regard, Scientologists and members who engage in the process of counseling and other processes deserve equal blame.
Constitutive moral luck is also evident in the case of Scientology since it is blamed for profit inclination. With changes in the economic situation, religions require funds to be able to operate their activities. Even though this does not mean that religions should swindle money from people, change in the economy is one reason why Scientology offers help at a cost. Constitutive moral luck attempts to shift moral blame to fashion transition that increases the desire to engage in income-generating activities.
Points Against Scientology
Scientology is morally wrong as far as its principles and values are concerned. The impression that is created after entrance into the Church of Scientology is different from that perceived in other religious structures. Focus is on material beauty as opposed to divinity. There is a display of works by Scientology founders in the highlighted parts of the building. There is a mention that the image of Tom Cruise is highly highlighted, but one cannot get to hear his speech. In this regard, Scientology is so reserved as far as giving out its information to the world is concerned. Ethics require religions to publicly proclaim their faith to all people and not only give it to members. One can only get to know about Scientology if he becomes a member. Most of those who join Scientology are introduced by their family members and friends. The church of Scientology is associated with many scandals and has ongoing investigations in many regions (Reitman 12).
Even though Scientology is associated with many unethical issues, it also faces many challenges. Scientology should reduce the level of rejection by embracing the ethical approach. Most religions disregard principles by Scientology since they do not understand them. The act of rejection is unethical since every society or institution should be free to express and practice its principles. Public denouncements that are directed towards Scientology are unethical as well.
It should be noted that ethics should not be one-sided but rather apply to all parties involved. Australian prominent politician publicly regarded Scientology as a criminal organization, which was an unethical act (Reitman 12). It is unethical to associate religion with devil worship simply because one does not understand the principles and values it holds. In this regard, Scientology is not supposed to be rejected by other religions as far as ethics is concerned. It should also be noted that international law supports freedom of worship. Complicating conditions in some regions where the church of Scientology operates is discriminative and unethical.
Conclusion
Church of Scientology raises ethical concerns in many ways. Concerns are based on the fact that the church fails to possess qualities that are possessed by other religions. Scientology commercializes its operations, a practice that is not advocated in other churches. In this regard, help that Scientology claims to give to the society is done at a cost. Ethically, help should be given to those in need because it is morally right to do so and not because of the expected gain.
Works Cited
Reitman, Janet. “Inside Scientology: An Introduction, The World’s Fastest-Growing Religion.” New York Times. 21 July 2011: 10-13. Print.