Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

Q. What is Dianetics?
A. Dianetics spiritual healing technology can help alleviate such ailments as unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses (illness caused or aggravated by mental stress). The word Dianetics comes from the Greek words dia, meaning “through” and nous, “soul”. The full and proper definition of Dianetics is what the soul is doing to the body through the mind.

Before L.Ron Hubbard published the fundamentals of Dianetics in 1950, prevailing scientific thought held that man’s mind was his brain, nothing more than a collection of cells and neurons. IQ was considered unimprovable and personality fixed. Dianetics technology changed all that. Its effectiveness, astonishing in many cases, has been documented in a multitude of case histories over nearly half a century of application.

Dianetics uncovers the source of unwanted sensations and emotions, accidents, injuries and psychosomatic illnesses, and sets forth effective handlings for these conditions. Further research into the spiritual aspects of Dianetics led to the discovery of Scientology.

Scientology, on the other hand, is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, to universes and to other life. Through the practice of Scientology, one can increase his spiritual awareness and ability, and realize his own immortality.

Q. What is auditing?
A. Auditing is the term given to the spiritual counseling that is the central practice of Dianetics and Scientology. It is delivered by an auditor (from the Latin word audire, meaning to “listen”), a person trained and expert in the exact techniques of Dianetics and Scientology.

The goal of auditing is to restore individual ability. It is a thoroughly codified activity with precise procedures. An auditor uses exact sets of questions asked to help a person find out things about himself and improve his condition. An unlimited number of questions could, of course, be asked, which might or might not help a person.

The accomplishment in Dianetics and Scientology is that L. Ron Hubbard isolated the precise questions and directions to invariably improve a person’s ability, and remove the impediments to his or her spiritual growth.

An auditor does not engage in some vague form of mental exploration, nor does an auditor offer solutions, advice or evaluation. One of the fundamental principles of the Scientology religion is that an individual can improve his conditions only if he is allowed to find his own answers to life’s problems. Scientology auditors help individuals to accomplish this goal by guiding them to examine their existence through a carefully structured series of steps that Mr. Hubbard developed. By following this gradient process, individuals can improve their ability to face what they are and where they are.

The period of time during which the auditor delivers spiritual counseling is called an auditing session. During a session, an auditor asks questions to assist the individual. The auditor does not offer solutions. He or she listens, precisely what the word auditor suggests. The individual thereby finds answers by examining his own existence. This improves his ability to face and handle the problems of life.

There is a vast difference between auditing and other forms of counseling. There is no use of hypnosis or drugs during auditing, because they limit a person’s awareness and self-determinism. Auditing is not something done to a person. Its benefits can only be gained through active and willing participation of the individual being audited. The person receiving auditing is completely aware of everything that happens.

Auditing is done in a gradient series of steps, which improve the individual’s ability to confront and handle more and more parts of his existence and achieve higher levels of spiritual awareness and well being. Through auditing, the individual handles those conditions that are hindering his survival and gains the ability to control them rather than being controlled by them.

Q. What is a thetan?
A. In the Scientology religion, man is held to consist of three parts: thetan, mind and body. The thetan is the spiritual being, the individual. One is a thetan who has a mind and who occupies a body. As is explained more fully below, the thetan is that which animates the body and uses the mind.

One of the most basic tenets of Scientology is that man is an immortal spiritual being whose experience extends well beyond a single lifetime and whose capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized. The term is taken from the Greek letter theta for “thought” or “life” or the “spirit”. It is used to avoid confusion with previous concepts of the soul.

For further information, contact the St. Louis Church of Scientology at 314-727-3747.