Worksheet 1.4: Respectful Scientology Conversation and Source Review

Purpose

This worksheet helps you prepare for respectful Christian ministry with someone who is current, questioning, disaffiliating, or formerly involved in Scientology.

Topic 1 emphasizes source literacy, accurate representation, avoidance of caricature, recognition of Scientologists as image-bearers, and permission-based ministry.

Complete this worksheet before beginning a planned comparative religion or gospel conversation.

Part 1: Examine Your Ministry Posture

Answer each question honestly.

1. What is motivating me to have this conversation?

Check all that apply:

☐ Genuine love for the person
☐ Concern for the person’s spiritual well-being
☐ A desire to understand the person’s beliefs
☐ A desire to explain the Christian gospel
☐ Curiosity about Scientology
☐ A desire to prove that I am right
☐ Anger toward Scientology
☐ Interest in hearing sensational information
☐ A desire to rescue or control the person
☐ Another motivation:

2. What do I already know about this person apart from Scientology?

Consider the person’s:

• family

• work

• friendships

• health

• responsibilities

• interests

• spiritual longings

• hopes

• fears

• present needs

Write what you know:

3. Am I treating this person as a whole person or mainly as a religious project?

4. How will I continue to treat this person if the person disagrees with me?

Part 2: Identify What You Actually Know

Choose one Scientology belief, term, practice, or claim that may arise in the conversation.

Scientology term or subject:

Examples may include:

• thetan

• reactive mind

• engram

• auditing

• E-Meter

• Clear

• Operating Thetan

• spiritual freedom

• survival

• ARC Triangle

• Tone Scale

Write the definition in your own words:

Where did this definition come from?

☐ Official Scientology source
☐ Academic study
☐ Current Scientologist
☐ Former Scientologist
☐ News report
☐ Legal record
☐ Christian ministry source
☐ Social media
☐ Other:

What question can this source responsibly answer?

What can this source not establish by itself?

Have you confirmed the claim through another responsible source?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Not yet

Second source:

Part 3: Separate Teaching, Interpretation, and Experience

Write one statement in each category.

Official Scientology Teaching

What does Scientology officially claim or teach?

Independent Interpretation

How has an academic researcher or other responsible analyst interpreted the teaching?

Personal Experience

How has a current or former Scientologist described experiencing the belief or practice?

Why should these three categories not be treated as identical?

Part 4: Caricature Check

Review the statements you may use in conversation.

Mark each statement as accurate, uncertain, exaggerated, or unfair.

Rewrite one statement that could sound exaggerated or unfair.

Original statement:

Respectful and accurate revision:

Part 5: Recognize the Human Longing

Identify a genuine longing addressed by the Scientology belief or practice.

☐ Freedom
☐ Healing from painful experiences
☐ Clearer thinking
☐ Spiritual identity
☐ Greater personal ability
☐ Responsibility
☐ Improved relationships
☐ Meaning and purpose
☐ Belonging
☐ Survival
☐ Immortality
☐ Hope
☐ Other:

How might this longing appear in the person’s life?

What truthful or helpful observation might the Scientology teaching contain?

What does the teaching reduce, overlook, exaggerate, or make absolute?

How does Christian philosophy offer a fuller understanding?

How does Christian theology answer this longing through God’s work in Christ?

Part 6: Clarify Shared Words

Choose three words that Christians and Scientologists may use differently.

Word 1:

What might the word mean within Scientology?

What does the word mean within Christianity?

A respectful clarifying question:

Word 2:

What might the word mean within Scientology?

What does the word mean within Christianity?

A respectful clarifying question:

Word 3:

What might the word mean within Scientology?

What does the word mean within Christianity?

A respectful clarifying question:

Part 7: Prepare Permission-Based Questions

Write one question for each movement.

Welcome

How will you communicate genuine interest in the person?

Ask

What open-ended question will invite the person to describe personal beliefs or experiences?

Listen

What will help you listen without interrupting or preparing an immediate rebuttal?

Clarify

What important term or belief needs clarification?

Request Permission

Write a sentence asking permission to offer a Christian comparison.

Compare

Write one clear difference between Scientology and Christianity without mocking Scientology.

Invite

Write one patient invitation that does not pressure an immediate decision.

Part 8: Prepare a Christian Gospel Bridge

Complete the following statements.

Creation

God created human beings as:

Human Brokenness

The human problem includes:

Jesus Christ

Jesus is:

Cross

Through his death, Jesus:

Resurrection

The bodily resurrection of Jesus means:

Grace

Salvation is received:

Christian Hope

The Christian’s final hope is:

Part 9: Write a One-Minute Christian Explanation

Write a brief explanation that includes:

• embodied human identity

• sin and suffering

• Jesus Christ

• the cross

• bodily resurrection

• salvation by grace

• an invitation without pressure

Part 10: Protect Freedom and Privacy

Before the conversation, answer yes or no.

Freedom of Conscience

Will the person be free to disagree?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Will the person be free to decline prayer?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Will the person be free to end the conversation?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Will you clearly identify your Christian beliefs and intentions?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Privacy

Are you asking for information that is truly necessary?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Will you avoid pressuring the person to disclose confidential experiences?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Will you obtain permission before sharing the person’s story?

☐ Yes
☐ No

Could sharing identifying information create relational, vocational, financial, emotional, or legal harm?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Uncertain

What information should remain private?

Part 11: Ministry Boundary Review

This conversation is not:

☐ Psychotherapy
☐ Trauma treatment
☐ Medical diagnosis
☐ Legal investigation
☐ Crisis intervention
☐ Deprogramming
☐ An interrogation
☐ A search for secret information
☐ A substitute for qualified professional care

Are there needs beyond your training or ministry role?

☐ No
☐ Medical care may be needed
☐ Mental-health care may be needed
☐ Legal assistance may be needed
☐ Crisis support may be needed
☐ Housing or employment assistance may be needed
☐ Church leadership support may be needed
☐ Another referral may be needed:

What is one appropriate referral or support option?

Part 12: Conversation Practice

Respond to the following statement:

“Scientology has helped me become more confident, responsible, and spiritually aware. I do not understand why Christians think I need salvation.”

Acknowledge the Person’s Experience

Ask a Clarifying Question

Clarify the Meaning of Salvation

Request Permission to Compare

Present the Christian Difference

Offer a Patient Invitation

Part 13: After-Conversation Reflection

Complete this section after the conversation.

What did I learn about the person?

What did I learn about the person’s understanding of Scientology?

Did I make any assumptions that proved inaccurate?

Did I listen more than I spoke?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ About equally

Did I clearly explain the Christian gospel?

☐ Yes
☐ Partly
☐ No
☐ The conversation did not reach that point

Did the person feel free to disagree?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Uncertain

Did I remain within appropriate ministry boundaries?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Uncertain

Is any follow-up appropriate?

What must I entrust to the Holy Spirit?

Personal Ministry Covenant

Complete and sign the following statement:

I commit to studying Scientology responsibly, representing its teachings accurately, and distinguishing official teaching from academic analysis and personal testimony.

I will not mock, pressure, manipulate, diagnose, expose, or reduce a person to a religious label.

I will treat current, questioning, disaffiliating, and former Scientologists as whole persons created in the image of God.

I will identify my Christian intentions honestly, ask permission before offering comparisons or prayer, protect privacy, maintain appropriate boundaries, present Jesus Christ clearly, and trust the Holy Spirit with the outcome.

Name: _________________________________________________

Signature: _____________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________