Clear (Scientology)

Clear (Scientology)
DescriptionA condition in which Scientologists say a person is free of the influence of unwanted emotions and memories of trauma
Early proponentsL. Ron Hubbard
Key textsHubbard's Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950)
SubjectReligion

In Dianetics and Scientology, Clear is a status afforded to followers by the Scientology organization, or by other Scientologists, after they complete certain activities. It is one of the major ostensible "states" practitioners strive to reach on their way up what the Scientologists call the Bridge to Total Freedom. Scientology followers are given the status of Clear when a person is deemed to be free of the influence of engrams – supposed unwanted emotions or painful traumas which Scientology claims are not readily available to the conscious mind. Scientologists believe that human beings accumulate anxieties, psychosomatic illnesses, and aberration due to receiving engrams throughout their current or past lives, and that by applying Dianetics, every single person can obtain the status of Clear.[1]

A Clear is defined by the Church of Scientology as a person who no longer has a "reactive mind" (a pseudoscientific subdivision of the mind), and is therefore free from negative effects purported to be produced by the "reactive mind". A Clear is said to be "at cause over" (that is, in control of) their "mental energy" (their thoughts), and able to think clearly even when faced with the very situations that in earlier times caused them difficulty. The next level of spiritual development is that of an Operating Thetan. A person who has not reached a state of Clear is called a preclear.[2]: 92 

Dianetics claims that a person's awareness is influenced by the stimulus-response nature of the "reactive mind". Achieving the state of Clear means a person has supposedly overcome the "reactive mind" and is in complete control of their analytical mind. According to Hubbard: "A Clear is a being who no longer has his own reactive mind, and therefore suffers none of the ill effects the reactive mind can cause. The Clear has no engrams which, when restimulated, throw out the correctness of his computations by entering hidden and false data."[3] Sociologist Roy Wallis noted, “Being Clear meant being able to do all those things which one could currently not do, and to which one aspired so desperately.”[4] It is estimated that the cost of reaching the Clear state in Scientology is $128,000.[5]

  1. ^ Goldstein, Laurie. "Defectors Say Church of Scientology Hides Abuse", The New York Times, March 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Bromley, David G. (2009). "Making Sense of Scientology: Prophetic, Contractual Religion". In Lewis, James R. (ed.). Scientology. Oxford University Press. pp. 83–102. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.003.0005. ISBN 9780199852321. OL 16943235M.
  3. ^ What is Scientology web site
  4. ^ Urban, Hugh B. (2011). The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion. Princeton University Press. church of scientology.
  5. ^ "How Much Does Scientology Cost?". Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2010.