P.A.B. No. 32

PROFESSIONAL AUDITOR'S BULLETIN

From L. RON HUBBARD

Via Hubbard Communications Office

163 Holland Park Avenue, London W.11

7 August 1954

WHY DOCTOR OF DIVINITY?

There has been some stir amongst auditors concerning the fact that Scientology has allied itself with the "Church" of American Science, why a "Church" of Scientology has come into existence and why auditors qualified by training and personal attainments are applying for and have received ordination as ministers in these "church"es.

To some this seems mere opportunism, to some it would seem that Scientology is simply making itself bulletproof in the eyes of the law, and to some it might appear that any association with "religion" is a reduction of the ethics and purposes of Scientology itself. The broad majority of those interested have accepted this step, but not all have entirely understood it.

.....

You are left to conclude what you will concerning the actual foundation of "religion" on this planet and of the factual structure underlying Christian "church"es. Our only concern here is with the fact that "religion" is basically a philosophic teaching designed to better the civilization into which it is taught. Backed fully by the precedent of all the ages concerning teachings, a Scientologist has a better right to call himself a priest, a minister, a missionary, a doctor of divinity, a faith healer or a preacher than any other man who bears the insignia of "religion" of the Western world. And remember that it is precedent which masters the opinion of multitudes and nations.

Why should Scientology ally itself with "religion" or use the word "religion" in connection with its philosophy?

There are many, many reasons. Amongst them is that a society accords to men of the "church" an access not given to others. Prisons, hospitals, and institutions, and those

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who manage them, cannot do otherwise than welcome men of the "church".

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But we have more than a message. We have more than a handful of axioms or explanations of behavior. We have in this year of 1954 processes which, even when worked upon groups, produce en masse a state of beingness which 2500 years ago was being groped for by the select few. We have more command over the phenomena of life than any have ever had before.

Were we to accept our rightful role, were we to accomplish our teachings and deliver to our culture this bestered state of beingness, we would have changed at least the entire pattern of the Western world.

..........

If we can accomplish psychotherapy, this does not mean that we are psychotherapists. If we can accomplish better communications in business, this does not mean we are business specialists. It may be that we could conceive ourselves as emissaries to a barbarism grown lawless in the possession of weapons too powerful for the understanding of their wielders.

In another time, in another place, those men (the Buddhas) responsible for what Western culture calls their "religion", called themselves priests. I do not see, then, any inconsistency of any kind im the issuance to those well- schooled and well-skilled in Scientology the degree of Doctor of Divinity as a passport into those areas where they are needed. Only a barbaric minister is a "Man of God." In all enlightened "religion"s such men are called "Men of Wisdom. ..........

No door need be closed to you, nor need you apologize should you accept through the "Church" of American Science or the "Church" of Scientology any degree or title for which you are qualified. Western civilization is engaged in a worship of superstition, the supernatural and the miraculous even as other nations long ago. Its only other worship is that of the machine. Where else could men and women of compassion and skill serve better, and what else should they call themselves but Teachers of Wisdom?

L. RON HUBBARD

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"If I saw a man beating a tied up horse, I could not prove it was wrong, but I'd know it was wrong." - Mark Twain

Cheerful Charlie

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