“We Can Lift This World While Quarantined”: Scientology and the 2020 Pandemic
New religious movements are rarely given credit for their humanitarian work. A case in point is the Church of Scientology during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Opponents used the epidemic as an opportunity to accuse Scientology of spreading conspiracy theories and n...
| Published in: | The journal of CESNUR |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
[2020]
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| In: |
The journal of CESNUR
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
COVID-19 (Disease)
/ Pandemic
/ Scientology
/ Medicine, Preventive
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| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AZ New religious movements ZA Social sciences |
| Further subjects: | B
L. Ron Hubbard
B Scientology B Religions andCOVID-19 B Church of Scientology B Scientology Volunteer Ministers B Scientology and COVID-19 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | New religious movements are rarely given credit for their humanitarian work. A case in point is the Church of Scientology during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Opponents used the epidemic as an opportunity to accuse Scientology of spreading conspiracy theories and not respecting anti-virus precautions. In fact, while interpreting the epidemic through L. Ron Hubbard’s theory of “dangerous environments,” Scientologists rapidly adopted state-of-the-art precautions and distributed millions of booklets teaching how to effectively protect hygiene and use masks, gloves, and disinfectants. Scientology’s Volunteer Ministers organized massive humanitarian activities, which were praised by majors and other authorities in several countries. By doing this, they were persuaded that they were not only helping fellow human beings, but moving decisively towards a better, “restored” planet. |
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| ISSN: | 2532-2990 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of CESNUR
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.26338/tjoc.2020.4.4.1 |