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O.K. The parents of -these children will bring them front and center. (Speaking to the child): This is Mr. and this is Mrs. I'm introducing to the audience right now. And ________ and ________ have decided to be godfather and godmother, so we're all set. Here we go. (To the child): How are you? All right. Now your name is _________ You got that? Good. There you are. Did that upset you? Now, do you realize that you're a member of the HASI (Hubbard Association of Scientologists, International)? Pretty good, huh? All right. Now I want to introduce you to your father. This is Mr. (To the parent): Come over here. (To the child): And here's your mother. And now, in case you get into trouble and want to borrow some quarters here's Mr. See him? He's your godfather. Now, take a look at him. That s right. And here's in case you want some real good auditing: she's your godmother. Got it? Now you are suitably christened. Don't worry about it, it could be worse. O.K. Thank you very much. They'll treat you all right.

In a Scientology church service, the booklet explains, "we do not use prayers, attitudes of piety, or threats of damnation. We use the facts, the truths, the understandings that have been discovered in the science of Scientology. We do not read from the Bible (or the Koran or the Torah or the Vedic Hymns, for that matter) and say to people … 'Now this is something you have got to believe.'" Music is selected for the service to be "pleasant to listen to and not strongly associated with the wrath of the gods or the helpless dependence on the whim of an unknown being." The sermon "is ALWAYS on Scientology and how it can be of use to those present." A taped lecture by L. Ron Hubbard is suggested as appropriate for this purpose.In the December 1968 issue of the New Zealand Methodist there appeared a discussion between Sir James Hort, a minister in the Church of Scientology, and three Protestant clergymen. The following excerpt is instructive:

Hort: The eighth dynamic is not inquired into. It is left to individual people to understand for themselves in time.Ramage [the Reverend I.C.E.]: Before you reach the eighth dynamic, you wouldn't feel that God has any part in your progress through the other stages?Hort: I think the answer is no. This is somewhere where the Christian religion and ours would differ.

In an earlier comment, Hort had observed (regarding Scientology church services), "if an atheist or agnostic comes into Scientology, then our service is there for him." Continued on next pagePart one of this article originally appeared in the November 7, 1969, issue of Christianity Today. It was continued in the November 21, 1969, issue.

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September (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44