Scientology and Science Fiction
Many people have heard of L. Ron Hubbard and the cult he formed, called Scientology. Not too long ago Spiritual Perspectives discussed their “Personality Test” and some of their teachings (May 26, June 2, and June 9, 2024). Recently, your congenial editor received a copy of a Holiday Catalog that came from Galaxy Press, Inc., located in a suite in Hollywood, California. However, the location of the postal permit was Las Vegas, Nevada, which is interesting. The catalog consists of 48 pages. Five of those pages comprise an order form.
Hubbard wrote a ten-volume series, each one containing about 350 to 450 pages, although the first one has 576. Some of the titles include, The Invaders Plan, Black Genesis, An Alien Affair, Death Quest, Voyage of Vengeance, and The Doomed Planet. But that’s just the Mission Earth series, touted as “sinister, satirical, and wickedly funny.” Some other fiction works include: Typewriter in the Sky, Buckskin Brigades, The Kingslayer, Old Doc Methuselah (narrated by Roddy McDowell), Black Towers to Danger, Destiny’s Drum, The Sky Devil, and The Red Dragon. The careful shopper will not want to overlook the detective series, including such thrillers as Brass Keys to Murder, Cargo of Coffins, Dead Men Kill, and Spy Killer. But wait. That’s not all. There’s the Wild West series as well: The Baron of Coyote River, Death Waits at Sundown, The Magic Quirt (Don’t ask me!), Shadows from Boot Hill, Tinhorn’s Daughter, and Under the Diehard Brand. Was it mentioned that Hubbard also has a Military and War collection of 14 books and a Historical Fiction set with 12 more books?
And even that doesn’t cover everything he penned. He wrote more books than most people will read in a lifetime—and still had time left over to be the head of a cult. No wonder he lacks a series of romance novels! Actually, he was married three times, the last marriage lasting 34 years. One thing is certain; he possessed a terrific imagination. Has anyone else written the volume of material that Hubbard produced? That’s not to say it is good or satisfying reading. The quantity of such voluminous writing may indicate poor quality, but such is not necessarily the case.
Without having read some of his fiction, one cannot make an accurate evaluation, although none of his literary efforts seems to have been nominated for a Nobel Prize in Literature. So, are we recommending any of these books? No, but Christians ought to be aware of the fact that Hubbard is trying to reach people on another level than his religion (Scientology). If he can capture people’s attention with his fiction, they might be interested in learning about his spiritual views (which, oddly enough seem to be fictitious as well). Tempting though it is to keep it, this Holiday Catalog will probably be pitched.