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.