God is Alive and Well in America

This article on the Pew Research Center says it all:

by David Masci and Gregory A. Smith
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
April 4, 2006

Forty years ago this month, Time magazine published one of its most famous and controversial covers. Splashed in bold red print across a black background was a short, simple and yet intensely provocative question: "Is God Dead?"

Without providing a definitive answer, the authors of the piece, dated April 8, 1966, seemed to imply that the idea of an omnipotent creator could be heading for history's dustbin. The spread of communism, they pointed out, meant that nearly half of the world's population lived "in thralldom to a brand of totalitarianism that condemns religion," while "in the traditional citadels of Christendom, grey Gothic cathedrals stand empty, mute witnesses to a rejected faith." Even in the United States -- where, the authors acknowledged, "faith in God seems to be as secure as it was in medieval France" -- many theologians were openly concerned about "the quality and character of contemporary belief." As the eminent historian Martin Marty observed at the time, "too many pews are filled on Sunday with practical atheists -- disguised nonbelievers who behave during the rest of the week as if God did not exist."

But four decades after the Time article was first published -- and nearly 125 years after the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche first famously declared that "God is dead" -- reports of the Almighty's demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated. For although religious faith and observance certainly have declined sharply in Europe, belief in God as well as attendance at religious services have remained strong in the United States and much of the rest of the world.

In fact, the existence of God is one of the few things almost all Americans consistently agree on. Recent polling by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 96% of the public says they believe in God or some form of Supreme Being, roughly the same number as in a 1965 survey cited in the Time piece.

This is not to suggest that religious belief and observance in the United States were unaffected by the decay of organized religion noted in the Time piece. The number of Americans who think of themselves as "secular" has grown noticeably in the past 40 years. According to the General Social Survey (GSS), which has been asking Americans about their religious preferences since 1972, the number of those expressing no religious preference has doubled, from just under 7% in the 1970s to just over 14% at the beginning of the 21st century. And the number of Americans who report attending religious services only once a year or less has increased as well, from 34% in the 1970s to nearly 40% by the turn of the millennium.>> continued

Prayer for Total Freedom, by L. Ron Hubbard

posted on the eve of International Peace Day, 2006

May the author of the universe enable all men to reach an understanding of their spiritual nature.

May awareness and understanding of life expand, so that all may come to know the author of the universe.

And may others also reach this understanding which brings Total Freedom.

At this time, we think of those whose liberty is threatened; of those who have suffered imprisonment for their beliefs; of those who are enslaved or martyred, and for all those who are brutalised, trapped or attacked.

We pray that human rights will be preserved so that all people may believe and worship freely, so that freedom will once again be seen in our land.

Freedom from war, and poverty, and want; freedom to be; freedom to do and freedom to have.

Freedom to use and understand man’s potential — a potential that is God-given and Godlike.

And freedom to achieve that understanding and awareness that is Total Freedom.

May God let it be so.

A Religion for Our Times

The 21st Century have every potential to be a truly enlightened era.

However, in his article called Religious Influence in Society, written in the 1970's, L. Ron Hubbard warned of the deterioration of society from the denigration of the religious influence in it.

"In early 20th century philosopher spoke of the impending decline of the West. Today we are witnessing that decline and since we are involved in it, it is of utmost importance to us. At stake are whether the ideals we cherish will survive or some new abhorrent set of values win the day.

"These are not idle statements. We are today at a watershed of history and our actions today will decide whether the world goes up from here or continues to slide into some new dark age.

"It is important to understand bad conditions don’t just happen. The cultural decay we see around us isn’t haphazard. It was caused. Unless one understands this he won’t be able to defend himself or reach out into the society with effectiveness.

"A society is capable of surviving for thousands of years unless it is attacked from within or without by hostile forces. Where such an attack occurs, primary targets are its religious and national gods and heroes, its potential of leadership and the self-respect and integrity of its members.

"Religion is the first sense of community. Your sense of community occurs by reason of mutual experience with others. Where the religious sense of community and with it real trust and integrity can be destroyed then that society is like a sand castle unable to defend itself against the inexorable sea.

"For the last hundred years or so religion has been beset with a relentless attack. You have been told it’s the “opiate of the masses,” that it’s unscientific, that it is primitive; in short, that it is a delusion.

"But beneath all these attacks on organized religion there was a more fundamental target: the spirituality of man, your own basic spiritual nature, self-respect and peace of mind. This black propaganda may have been so successful that maybe you no longer believe you have a spiritual nature but I assure you you do."

The past 40 years have seen Mr. Hubbard's prediction come true. The deterioration of the culture is evident no matter where you look. Pornography and drugs are two of the most lucrative industries of our time. Stories of business corruption are so commonplace as to be ordinary.

If we want a better culture we have to create it.

Scientology has the tools to do this.

That's why I call it the 21st Century religion -- because it is a religious FOR the 21st Century.

Alec Baldwin Defends Scientology

Alec Baldwin has spoken out in defense of fellow screen star Tom Cruise's Scientology beliefs, insisting followers of his controversial faith are not nearly as worrying as those who "drove planes into the World Trade Center."

The actor believes that, until Scientologists are found to be responsible for atrocities such as the 9/11 attacks, the media should leave Cruise alone.

He tells PageSix.com, "I think what's been done to Tom is kind of silly. I don't really understand Tom's religious beliefs; nor do I want to. All I know is I don't see people who are disciples of Tom's faith driving planes into the World Trade Center. When Scientologists start crashing planes into the Pentagon, then I think we should sit Tom down and have a grand jury talk to him. In the meantime, let's just leave him alone."

This is a photo of a seminar, delivered at the L. Ron Hubbard Traveling Exhibit in Warsaw, Poland.

In his article on 21st Century religion, Alexander Penman says:

"A theology based on this "law of love," concludes that all faith is valid, and that "love is all you need", where love is defined as the act of "caring." With an understanding of this theology it can be understood that all philosophies and religions that promote mercy and/or compassion are a part of God's overall plan. This knowledge might just contribute to a more spiritually peaceful society in the 21st Century."

Scientology is a pan-denominational religion, respecting the religious beliefs of all people and helping them accomplish their spiritual goals with an effective technology that helps them do so.

Religious Influence in Society

In 1976, L. Ron Hubbard observed a general decline in spirituality in the culture and developed the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program to counteract this destructive trend.

The Scientology Handbook was compiled from Mr. Hubbard's works to provide basic Scientology technology people could use to improve their lives, and this is the text that Scientology Volunteer Ministers study and use.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers are now 70,000-strong and it is a true grassroots movement with VMs located all over the world, helping their neighbors and friends and providing relief in times of disaster.

As the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard’s discoveries on the subjects of man, the mind and spirit have helped people all over the world to better understand themselves and others.

“To know life,” he once wrote, “you’ve got to be part of life. You must get down there and look, you must get into the nooks and crannies of existence, and you must rub elbows with all kinds and types of men before you can finally establish what man is.”

That is one reason Scientology has grown as fast as it has -- it is a practical religion.