Scientology cross

The Scientology cross is one of the principal symbols of Scientology. It is most often used to represent the Church of Scientology.

The cross closely resembles the Christian cross, but differs from it with the addition of four diagonal rays between the conventional horizontal and vertical arms. The eight points of the cross represent the eight dynamics in Scientology:

# The Self
# Creativity, sex, and procreation (family)
# Group, society, community
# Species survival (humankind)
# Life forms in general
# Matter
# Spirit
# Infinity or Supreme being [ [http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsscientologycross.htm Scientology cross] at About.com]

The Church of Scientology says that "the horizontal bar represents the material universe, and the vertical bar represents the spirit. Thus, the spirit is seen to be rising triumphantly, ultimately transcending the turmoil of the physical universe to achieve salvation." [" [http://www.scripturalscientology.org/page13.htm Scientology Cross] ", Church of Scientology International. Accessed 2007-07-03.]

The Scientology cross apparently dates back to the mid-1950s. Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote in 1955 that "the model of the cross came from a very ancient Spanish mission in Arizona, a sand casting which [Hubbard] dug up" ["Ability" magazine issue 14, 1955] He also occasionally referred to it as the "sunburst cross". [Hubbard, "Operational Bulletin No. 5", November 1955] Hubbard was based in Phoenix, Arizona for a substantial part of 1952, though it is not clear whether his asserted discovery of the cross dates from this period.

Critics of Scientology have noted other possible derivations from occult sources. The Scientology cross is similar to the Rosicrucian or Rosy cross and the "crossed-out cross" of Aleister Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientis. Hubbard was briefly a member of the Rosicrucians and was involved in OTO "magical workings" in Pasadena, California some years before founding Scientology. [ [http://www.religio.de/atack/occ3.html Factnet Report: Hubbard and the Occult, pt. 3] , by Jon Atack]

The practice of prominently displaying the cross in Scientology centers was instituted in 1969 following hostile press coverage in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, when Scientology's status as a legitimate religion was being questioned. In response, Hubbard ordered that "Any staff who are trained at any level as auditors (but not in A [dvanced] O [rganization] s) are to be clothed in the traditioned ministerial black suit, black vest white collar silver cross for ordinary org wear." [Hubbard, "Religion", HCO Policy Letter of 12 February 1969]

Some critics of Scientologywho have accused the Church Of Scientology of using the symbol's similarity to the Christian cross to make people unconsciously associate it with religion, and help dispel accusations of Scientology's being a business or a cult.

See also

* Christian cross
* Crucifix

References