Serie A brev No 59

Magazine Overview

This issue of Brevcirkel, titled 'Brevcirkel Nr. 59,' focuses on the phenomenon of Dianetics and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The cover headline, 'LÖSER DIANETIKEN SJÄLSLIVETS PROBLEM?' (Does Dianetics Solve the Problems of the Soul?), sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of this controversial subject.

L. Ron Hubbard and the Origins of Dianetics

The article begins by introducing L. Ron Hubbard and his 1950 bestseller, 'Dianetics: The Modern Science of Health.' Hubbard's sensational claim was that he had developed methods allowing anyone to access subconscious shock experiences dating back to birth and beyond, identifying and curing the 'hidden source of all psychosomatic illnesses and human abnormalities.'

Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was born in Nebraska in 1911. His early life included time on a ranch and extensive travel in the Orient, where he studied Eastern religions and philosophy. After returning from sea, he studied Sigmund Freud's theories under Commander Thompson. Despite claims to the contrary, Hubbard did not complete a degree at George Washington University, nor did he graduate from Princeton. He later obtained a doctorate in philosophy from Sequoia University, described as a diploma mill in California.

During World War II, Hubbard served in the U.S. Navy and commanded in the South Pacific. He began writing science fiction in the 1940s and is recognized as a prominent figure in the genre, also writing radio and film scripts.

Opinions on Hubbard's character are divided, with some viewing him as serious and honest, others as a great hoaxer, and some as fundamentally sincere but prone to psychopathic ideas.

Hubbard claimed to have discovered the fundamental axioms of Dianetics in 1938 and spent twelve years researching in secret. John Campbell Jr., editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later Analog), was an early proponent. Campbell, suffering from chronic sinusitis, was so impressed by Hubbard's treatment that he published the first public account of Dianetics in his magazine in May 1950. This led to science fiction readers becoming the first to show interest. When Hubbard's book was released by Hermitage House, it was an immediate success.

The Rise of Dianetics and its Core Concepts

Dianetics quickly became a cultural phenomenon, popular among actors and college students. Students engaged in 'Dianetic sessions' with each other. Professor Frederick L. Schuman of Political Science became an avid supporter, lecturing on the subject and writing letters to publications that published unfavorable reviews.

The core of Dianetics is the belief that all psychic disturbances—neuroses, psychoses, and psychosomatic illnesses—are caused by something Hubbard calls an 'engram.' The 'analytical mind' functions like a giant computer, but can be misdirected by incorrect data from the 'reactive mind.'

The 'reactive mind' is described as being aware even during sleep. When the analytical mind becomes unconscious or semi-conscious due to pain or discomfort, the reactive mind makes 'recordings' called engrams. These are likened to gramophone records that capture all sensory perceptions (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, bodily sensations, etc.) during the period of unconsciousness. These engrams, particularly those recorded before birth (prenatal engrams), are believed to cause all psychological problems.

The Dianetic therapy technique, known as 'auditing,' aims to 'erase' these engrams. Patients are seated comfortably and guided into a 'Dianetic dream state' by an auditor. During this state, patients are encouraged to 'go backward' along their 'time track' to recall past experiences. Yawning and stretching are considered signs of a successful session, indicating the reduction of an engram's harmful power. Physical aches and pains may also occur and then disappear, seen as the 'ghosts' of psychosomatic illnesses being expelled.

Approximately 30 hours of auditing are said to be needed to transform a inhibited patient into a 'cleared' individual, free from severe neuroses, a state Hubbard claimed was superior to psychoanalysis as it prevented relapses.

Further auditing leads to a 'pre-clear' and then a 'clear' state, where the individual is completely free from engrams. A 'clear' is described as being impervious to illness, healing faster, having better eyesight, and a higher IQ. Hubbard himself admitted he was not a 'clear' but dedicated himself to spreading Dianetics.

Key Figures and Controversies

Dr. Joseph Augustus Winter, a general practitioner in St. Joe, Michigan, was a prominent supporter of Dianetics among medical professionals. He found it more captivating than Alfred Korzybski's methods of treating neurotics through general semantics. Winter successfully used Dianetics to cure his six-year-old son's fear of the dark, which stemmed from a traumatic birth experience.

However, disagreements arose between Winter and Hubbard a year later. Winter resigned his position as medical director of the newly formed 'Dianetic Research Foundation' and opened his own practice with a modified version of Dianetics in Manhattan.

In 1948, Hubbard claimed to have 'left his body' for eight minutes during an operation due to injuries sustained in the Navy, miraculously returning to life. This event is linked to the myth-building around him, with some followers believing he received a divine message during this time.

He then wrote 'Excalibur,' a manuscript containing 'fundamental metaphysical secrets of the universe,' from which Dianetics was supposedly derived. A promotional prospect stated that four out of fifteen readers of 'Excalibur' went insane, leading Hubbard to withdraw the work. Copies were reportedly made available only to select readers for $1,500.

Myth-Making and Hubbard's Persona

A lively mythology surrounds Hubbard, including stories of his 'anchor points'—a bust in a Washington lecture hall that, when moved, caused him to become disoriented, requiring it to be returned to its original place immediately. This is explained as a tool for his orientation in the three-dimensional universe.

Another story from England suggests that extraterrestrial beings had bases in the Pyrenees, 'implanting' mental illnesses in humans. Hubbard reportedly disappeared for a few weeks to confront these 'implanting bases,' returning to state that they would no longer be a problem.

Hubbard himself has approached the 'O.T. (Operating Thetan)' stage, defined as a person with complete control over matter, energy, space, and time, capable of creating and dissolving universes with their will.

Scientology and Decline in Popularity

Following Dianetics, Hubbard founded 'The Hubbard Association of Scientologists,' and Scientology emerged as an extension of Dianetics, meaning 'the science of knowledge.' The movement publishes a monthly magazine called 'Ability.'

Dianetics experienced its peak popularity in the first half of the 1950s, after which interest steadily declined. Claims that the entire world would become Dianetics practitioners, Scientologists, and eventually 'clears' proved unfounded. Statistics show a significant drop in Scientology churches in the USA between 1953-1958 and 1964, with many central organizations closing.

Critiques and Legacy

Science fiction author A. E. van Vogt, like Dr. Winter, became involved with Dianetics through Korzybski's general semantics. Van Vogt observed that Dianetics' initial rocket-like rise in popularity had stalled because people were waiting for an authoritative figure to endorse it. He also noted that Dianetics received unfair, negative criticism from the press, which he attributed to typical commercial tactics aimed at mass audiences.

Van Vogt felt that Hubbard overestimated the intelligence of people and underestimated their deference to authority. He believed that the critical articles were formulaic, designed to satisfy the magazine's readership, and that the cited authorities had not even investigated Dianetics themselves.

The article concludes by questioning whether L. Ron Hubbard was a victim of his own subjective speculations about the mind or a genuine genius who made a significant discovery. Regardless, his bold approach has placed him in the realm of the unknown. Despite facing unfavorable and mocking publicity due to his sensational statements, Dianetics is not expected to disappear entirely, as many serious researchers have taken up its ideas, securing a place for them in the future.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the origins and theories of Dianetics, the personality and background of L. Ron Hubbard, the therapeutic techniques and claims of Dianetics, the subsequent development into Scientology, and the movement's fluctuating popularity and criticisms. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical examination, presenting Hubbard's claims and the movement's history while also incorporating critiques and questioning the ultimate validity and impact of Dianetics and Scientology.