Introduction
SCIENTOLOGY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt holds a copy of the document she tirelessly promoted.

The dream of making the world a better place has long been embraced by every religious movement. Indeed, it can be said that religion on the whole has served as the primary civilising influence on this planet.

The Aims of Scientology, first articulated in 1954 by the Scientology religion’s founder, author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, are:

“A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights....”

In pursuit of these aims, Scientologists seek to advance the pre-eminence of human thought and action so we will, as a people, bring about understanding, trust and lasting peace. Since the earliest days of the religion, Scientologists have shouldered the responsibility for the fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone. They know that selfishness will lead us nowhere as a society and firmly believe that a threat to the freedom of any one individual is a threat to the freedoms of all.

Although it is a new religious movement, Scientology is heir to the understanding of thinking men and women since the beginning of human history that the individual is a spiritual being who, through study and application, can improve his or her life.

Because Scientology places great importance on man’s freedom to pursue happiness and develop his full potential, it was only natural — indeed, inevitable — that members of Scientology churches would embrace the cause of human rights. Unlike other belief systems that consider the individual inherently tainted or corruptible, Scientology holds that man, though capable of doing evil, is basically good. Thus, Scientologists’ advocacy of human rights flows from the theological foundation of their religion. In fact, the defence of human rights is enshrined in the Church’s Creed.

Human rights are based on the principle of respect for the individual and his or her beliefs, the fundamental assumption that each individual is a moral and rational being who deserves to be treated with dignity, and the belief that the empowerment of the individual is a desirable social goal.

Scientologists’ advocacy of human rights flows from the theological foundation of their religion. In fact, the defence of human rights is enshrined in the Church’s Creed.

Although the support of human rights does not require recognition of an individual’s spiritual nature, a close kinship exists between the most brutal regimes of man’s history and the illusory premises of soulless materialism. In an essay entitled, “Religious Influence in Society,” L. Ron Hubbard wrote: “Convince a man that he is an animal, that his own dignity and self-respect are delusions, that there is no ‘beyond’ to aspire to, no higher potential self to achieve, and you have a slave...

“This philosophical position was very handy to militaristic and totalitarian governments and their advocates of the last hundred years who wished to justify their atrocities and subjugation of populaces.”

In its preamble, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the international community’s concern with human rights and fundamental freedoms as stemming from the concept that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

A similar axiom underpins the aims of Scientology. Although non-political, Scientology considers democracy an enlightened and workable form of government because it assumes a belief in the essential good intentions of men and women and their ability to devise rules of constructive and peaceful co-existence. Democracy postulates that individuals are capable and free to think and decide for the greatest good and that government is the servant of the people, not its master. Thus, it offers an ideological home for human rights and a platform for their advancement that is not paralleled by other systems of government.

The Church of Scientology embraces the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is fully committed to help create a societal climate in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration can be realised.

In pursuit of these aims, Scientologists seek to advance the pre-eminence of human thought and action so we will, as a people, bring about understanding, trust and lasting peace.

This web site is an account of how the Church has turned commitment into accomplishment through half a century of dedicated effort to remedy many different kinds of human rights violations and to raise public understanding of the importance of human rights. While the text includes, of course, the Church’s numerous efforts to advance commonly known human rights such as freedom of speech and religion, it also shows how Scientologists have focused public attention on abuses that most people may not at first recognise as, in fact, human rights violations. The mandatory drugging of millions of European and American schoolchildren who have been falsely labelled as suffering from a behavioural disorder is one such abuse. In fact, it violates no less than three articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Another is the violation of copyrights in creative works (Article 27). Thus, the work of the Church, described in the following pages, challenges complacency. It shows that human rights violations do not just occur far away under repressive regimes, but take place daily in our own backyards and directly affect our own lives and futures.

As its history has shown, and the Church’s own experience has confirmed, standing up for human rights can make one the target of scorn and derision. Yet, we know there is no other option and that freedom has its price. We are willing to pay it and invite you to join us.