Scientology Régis Dericquebourg Professor, Sociology of Religion University of Lille III Lille, France I. IS SCIENTOLOGY A RELIGION?   THE DYNAMICS AND ETHICS      Scientology deals with the driving force of the universe and the meaning of existence.      The universe is motivated by a dynamic urge which is a force at the service of survival, the very principle of existence. It varies among individuals and races. It depends on physiology, environment and experience. It influences the persistence of Man towards life and the activity of intelligence considered as the ability of an individual, a group or a race to solve problems related to survival.      The morality of an individual is judged with regard to the actions which he accomplishes for survival. In such a perspective, goodness is what is constructive, badness what is against survival. One can see that Scientology ethics are not a set of recommendations (the Bergsonian idea of closed morals). They are the result of an understanding and interiorization of the meaning of life which acts as a personal compass. It would be an open moral system.      In Scientology as in spiritualist groups there is no “sin.” There are mistakes which are destructive actions against Man, family, society, God. Part of ethics is to spot and repair faults.      The dynamic drive becomes more complex as the organism becomes more complex. In a “normal” (unaberrated) man, it breaks down into eight areas, corresponding to objectives:      (1) The dynamic of self consists in a dynamic urge to survive as an individual, to obtain pleasure and to avoid pain. It deals with food, clothing, housing, personal ambition and the general objectives of the individual.      (2) The sex dynamic guides procreation.      (3) The group dynamic governs social life. It stimulates the conduct intended to maintain the survival of the group to which the individual belongs.      (4) The dynamic of humanity encompasses the survival of the species.      (5) The dynamic of life pushes the person to work for life in itself—i.e., all living things, both plant and animal.      (6) The dynamic of the physical universe is the individual drive to increase survival of matter, energy, space and time.      (7) The dynamic of thought is the individual urge to survive as thought and spiritual beings.      (8) The dynamic of universal thought is the urge to survive for the creator or Supreme Being.      The first four dynamics are connected with Dianetics. The others, added in the early 1950s, of metaphysical nature, are dealt with in Scientology (cf., difference below).      The follower is invited to be in accordance with all dynamics. Checklists of self-exploration enable him to take stock of his condition on each. With the help of a minister, he looks for means to remedy defective conditions.

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