Kha Khan
Patron Meritorious
Unlike many, if not most, religions, Scientology makes testable, verifiable, and falsifiable hypothesis and predictions of fact. [Or at least hypothesis and predictions of fact that do not: (a) concern what radioactive carbon dating and the fossil record may reveal about the past; or (b) first require dying in order to test the existence of reincarnation, heaven or hell.]
Many, including the outcomes of training and auditing, while technically verifiable and falsifiable are, like the outcomes of psychological therapy and psychiatric treatment, as a practical matter difficult to evaluate because of problems concerning the placebo effect, control groups, objective evaluation of what it means to be "better," self-reporting of subjective psychological states, etc.
Others, however, are not difficult to evaluate. One such testable, verifiable, and falsifiable hypothesis and prediction of fact made by Scientology is that thoughts, or more precisely "mental energy" and "mental image pictures," have mass and weight that can be weighed on a scale.
In the most recent edition of the book Scientology - The Fundamentals of Thought, author L. Ron Hubbard explains:
Thus, it is clear that scientists can ask the Church of Scientology for reports and records of the tests that have "actually been made" that demonstrate that "an increase of as much as thirty pounds (actually measured on scales) has been added to and subtracted from a body by creating mental energy."
Moreover, because Mr. Hubbard established both that "mental energy" has mass and the protocol for adding, subtracting, and most importantly weighing such "mental mass," the Church of Scientology should be able to repeat such tests and experiments under scientific observation.
I will note that the 2007 edition of Scientology - The Fundamentals of Thought quoted above was published as part of the Scientology Golden Age of Knowledge (GAK).
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Personal Addendum: Some may recall that in an earlier post, The Day I Changed Scientology Forever, I referred to an almost identical passage in the 1982 edition of the Scientology book Understanding The E-Meter that was deleted from later editions after I brought the passage to the attention of Scientology management. I then asked the question, "Had I changed the Church of Scientology forever?" As it turns out, the answer to that question is, "Actually no, you really didn't."
Many, including the outcomes of training and auditing, while technically verifiable and falsifiable are, like the outcomes of psychological therapy and psychiatric treatment, as a practical matter difficult to evaluate because of problems concerning the placebo effect, control groups, objective evaluation of what it means to be "better," self-reporting of subjective psychological states, etc.
Others, however, are not difficult to evaluate. One such testable, verifiable, and falsifiable hypothesis and prediction of fact made by Scientology is that thoughts, or more precisely "mental energy" and "mental image pictures," have mass and weight that can be weighed on a scale.
In the most recent edition of the book Scientology - The Fundamentals of Thought, author L. Ron Hubbard explains:
L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology - The Fundamentals of Thought, (c) 2007 L. Ron Hubbard Library, at pg. 72 (emphasis added). (The Scientology term "thetan" is roughly equivalent to the word "soul." The difference is that in Christianity, for example, one would say that you have a soul. In Scientology one would say you are a thetan who happens to possess a body.)Whether the facsimile in the mind is received while the thetan is awake or unconscious, the resulting mass of the "energy picture" is energy -- just as you see energy in an electric bulb or from the flames of a fire. At one time it was considered that "mental energy" was different from "physical energy." In Scientology it has been discovered that mental energy is simply a finer, higher-level physical energy.
The test of this is conclusive in that a thetan, mocking-up (creating) mental image pictures and thrusting them into the body, can increase the body mass. And, by casting them away again, can decrease the body mass. This test has actually been made and an increase of as much as thirty pounds (actually measured on scales) has been added to and subtracted from a body by creating mental energy.
Thus, it is clear that scientists can ask the Church of Scientology for reports and records of the tests that have "actually been made" that demonstrate that "an increase of as much as thirty pounds (actually measured on scales) has been added to and subtracted from a body by creating mental energy."
Moreover, because Mr. Hubbard established both that "mental energy" has mass and the protocol for adding, subtracting, and most importantly weighing such "mental mass," the Church of Scientology should be able to repeat such tests and experiments under scientific observation.
I will note that the 2007 edition of Scientology - The Fundamentals of Thought quoted above was published as part of the Scientology Golden Age of Knowledge (GAK).
**********
Personal Addendum: Some may recall that in an earlier post, The Day I Changed Scientology Forever, I referred to an almost identical passage in the 1982 edition of the Scientology book Understanding The E-Meter that was deleted from later editions after I brought the passage to the attention of Scientology management. I then asked the question, "Had I changed the Church of Scientology forever?" As it turns out, the answer to that question is, "Actually no, you really didn't."
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