Spirituality and 'Memes'

I had an idea this morning to track the number of articles in each Google alert I receive. Two alerts are for my music/creativity blog and one is for this blog. And I got to thinking about my fascination with trendwatching, trendsetting and why, in the savvier sectors of the blogosphere, it is considered repetitive and boring to write about the same stuff as other people.

This led me to further thinking about what 'memes', or ideas and concepts are "hot topics" in the realm of spirituality...

My brief research tallied up Goddess and Women's spirituality as being the biggest thing right now at around 7 articles (and I had a LONG list of spirituality alerts in one email digest!) and at 2 articles each, the topics of spirituality-vs-religion and spirituality-and-celebrities were dead last.

Topics in the middle (at around 4 articles) were about the environment, children and politics.

I understand perfectly why Goddess Spirituality and Women's issues are tight friends and why they're such a big deal. I'm a part of that movement myself. Not so much as a Starhawk fan, as I think she takes it a tad too far, IMO. But rather as a woman who seeks to be in balance with the male gender.

Ergo, it's more interesting to read and write about such a thing. But spirituality and celebrities or the argument of spirituality-vs-religion? Either people are bored with hearing about celebrities flaunting their beliefs and bored with the spirituality-vs-religion debate, or nobody is taking a deeper look into things, preferring to be superficial in their thinking and reporting.

So, I see it as a challenge...why do certain celebrities choose the paths they choose and do they change spiritualities like they change spouses/partners? If not, what makes them stick to the path they're into? Or are they choosing a specific path just for the sake of being controversial?

And the spirituality-vs-religion debate is still something of a fascination, as it seems to be a spin-off of the science-vs-religion debate...

So...maybe I can turn some things on their head...and create a 'meme' of my own: that of actually thinking deeply about topics people think are boring, and giving them a twist--which is exactly what blogging, and writing itself, are about.

BB,
Kat ^.^

Scientology Part II-B: Further Information on Beliefs

This is Article III of the Scientology article series.

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Scientology Part II-B: Further Information on Scientology Beliefs

Continuing the information on Scientology beliefs, let’s recap in a single sentence what Scientologists, particularly the Church of Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, believed about the mind. According to Hubbard, the mind is a bank of mental images, and Dianetics itself deals with the reactive mind, the place where negative images or “engrams” are held.

The Two Triangles and the Tone Scale

Parts of the Scientology symbol are two triangles, one on top of the other. The bottom triangle stands for ARC, or Affinity (emotions), Reality (agreeing on what is real) and Communication. The top triangle stands for KRC, or Knowledge, Responsibility and Control. Scientologists believe that improving one aspect of the bottom triangle increases the levels of the other two.

As regards the top triangle, many auditing processes and training routines are centered on the aim of increasing an individual’s ability to have knowledge of, take responsibility for, and control external elements.

The tone scale characterizes mood and emotion by showing various emotional positions on the scale. The number range is from -40 (considered “total failure”), to +40 (“Serenity of Being”). Again, position on the scale usually indicates mood, but Hubbard said it could also indicate things like health, mating behavior and even the ability to deal with the truth. The essence of this measuring device is that the higher the tone, the better the person’s communication is, and the lower the tone, the worse the communication is.

Dynamics, Morals and Ethics

There are eight Dynamics of survival according to Scientology, and they are eight in number, ranging from Self, to Humanity to the Infinite. The Dynamics, as represented by the cross of Scientology (looks a bit like the Christian cross, except for four extra “spokes” in the middle, pointing outward) must be considered in equal measure.

Concerning morals and ethics within Scientology, there are three key points. The first is that Scientologists follow what is called “The Way to Happiness.” This “Way to Happiness” defines morals as a code of good conduct laid out as a yardstick for individuals and groups, but also cautions that morals can become outdated and outworn, thus inciting revolt and rebellion. The second point is that there is no absolute right or wrong in the sense that most people think of it, but rather there is a gradient of right to wrong.


If any such sense of “absolutes” regarding right or wrong exist for Scientologists, it is solely within the concept that “absolute wrong” is extinction of the universe and of humanity, and “absolute right” is the immortality of the individual, his friends and children and the Universe. Ethics are defined by Scientology as reason, and ethics in this case consist of rationality towards survival across the eight dynamics. It is then considered that reason is humanity’s greatest weapon.

Past Lives, “Secret Levels” and ET’s.

To recap and add to what was mentioned earlier, Hubbard believed that the mind contains past traumas called engrams, but Hubbard also believed that some of these traumas occurred in previous lives. Some of these previous traumas, according to Hubbard were deliberately inflicted by malevolent extraterrestrial dictatorships in the form of “implants” in order to brainwash and control the human populace.

Getting back to Scientology symbols, there is a big “Church of Spiritual Technology” symbol carved on the grounds of Scientology’s Trementina base. This can be seen from the air, and according to former Scientologists, the symbol marks a return point so devoted staff can find the founder’s works upon returning to Earth from other points in the Universe.

Regarding the “Secret Levels,” Scientologists who have reached the state of “Clear” may continue on into the levels of Upper or Operating Thetan. Such levels are only conferred after an evaluation of the person’s ethics, character and contribution to Scientology. Individuals who have reached these levels and read the corresponding materials may not disclose the information they have acquired, for to do so would jeopardize their standing within Scientology.

There are presently eight levels of Operating Thetan, the last of which is only conferred at sea, for the reason that being at sea provides a safe, aesthetic and distraction-free environment. The Church of Scientology enforces strict confidentiality in these matters, especially after Scientology materials were presented as evidence in court proceedings, therefore becoming a matter of public record.

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MY THOUGHTS : Now that I've researched further, I understand more about this topic. It still feels something like a system from one of Hubbard's sci-fi books or similar movies that I've seen that might have fringe-y ideas and symbols, but there's a path for everyone. I still don't understand the point of secrecy and confidentiality with some stuff, however, because if these ideas of Hubbard's are so dang cool and would improve society, why all the hush-hush and the secret levels? I have the same grievance towards the uber-traditional Mystery Schools, such as Gardnerian Wicca and other secrecy-oriented practices.