89 International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation ■ Vol. 2, 2021
have paused in this paper to critically analyse
a key aspect of the religion that has recently
generated significant interest—even
fascination—from non-Scientologists.lxii The
billion-year contract can be thought of both
as far less than an instrument that has
deserved such media coverage, and as a
simple way for members of a religion to
signify and deepen their commitment to their
religion. Yet upon taking a closer look and
albeit for a different set of reasons, we can
think of it as far more than simply a contract.
The billion-year contract can be thought of as
an implicit yet significant affirmation of the
legitimacy and independence of the legal
system that exists within the Scientology
religion. It can be thought of as the rebellion
of Scientology to the outside world and the
legal system that regulates and defines it—a
legal system that legally also regulates
Scientology. The contract denies the primacy
of the mainstream legal system. It
appropriates a name from the traditional legal
system to an instrument that challenges it.lxiii
These points can be thought of as fortuitous
or intentional—or perhaps even as fortuitous
yet greatly significant. lxiv
In the introduction, I stated, “Before there
was a religion, there was commitment. And
before there was a commitment, there was a
contract.” The billion-year contract is a
fundamental part of the Scientology religion,
just as the Sea Organisation is a fundamental
part of the Scientology religion. The billion-
year contract defines and strengthens the
commitment of the religion’s most dedicated
members, just as the contract originally was
born as a result of great dedication. In many
ways and perhaps even more so since
Hubbard’s passing, the Sea Organisation is,
to a large part, Scientology. Unlike in other
religions, members of Church management
do not shape Scientology scripture or its
application. lxv Yet still unlike in other
religions, Church management is intimately
involved in a large portion of Church affairs
and operations.
Studying the billion-year contract offers a
microcosm for the many unique and universal
issues one is bound to face when studying
Scientology. How do we analyse aspects of a
religion that are confidential or that arise
from extremely obscure sources? How do we
tie Scientology and its rules and procedures
to existing frameworks where so little
research has been conducted? How do we
give a voice to the perspective of
Scientologists in a fair and balanced way,
especially when Scientologists have little
interest in grooming their own scholars and
establishing a field of research concerning
Scientology as a religion? How do we earn
and maintain the trust of Scientologists
without sacrificing the integrity of our
scholarly work? Although these issues may
make the field intimidating, neither courts
nor scholars can abdicate their responsibility
to contribute to public discourse regarding
Scientology. The issues are too complex and
their implications too significant for a
disinterested perspective to be absent.
Studying religions helps us understand
religious individuals whose religion is an
intimate and central part of their lives. As we
understand these individuals and what drives
them better, we also begin to also better
understand the human experience more
broadly—and its universal building blocks
referred to in the previous section.
Bibliography
Legislation
Act respecting labour standards, CQLR, c N-1.1.
CCQ.
Jurisprudence
Rose &Frank Co v JR Crompton &Bros Ltd, [1923] 2 KB 261
[1925] AC 445.
have paused in this paper to critically analyse
a key aspect of the religion that has recently
generated significant interest—even
fascination—from non-Scientologists.lxii The
billion-year contract can be thought of both
as far less than an instrument that has
deserved such media coverage, and as a
simple way for members of a religion to
signify and deepen their commitment to their
religion. Yet upon taking a closer look and
albeit for a different set of reasons, we can
think of it as far more than simply a contract.
The billion-year contract can be thought of as
an implicit yet significant affirmation of the
legitimacy and independence of the legal
system that exists within the Scientology
religion. It can be thought of as the rebellion
of Scientology to the outside world and the
legal system that regulates and defines it—a
legal system that legally also regulates
Scientology. The contract denies the primacy
of the mainstream legal system. It
appropriates a name from the traditional legal
system to an instrument that challenges it.lxiii
These points can be thought of as fortuitous
or intentional—or perhaps even as fortuitous
yet greatly significant. lxiv
In the introduction, I stated, “Before there
was a religion, there was commitment. And
before there was a commitment, there was a
contract.” The billion-year contract is a
fundamental part of the Scientology religion,
just as the Sea Organisation is a fundamental
part of the Scientology religion. The billion-
year contract defines and strengthens the
commitment of the religion’s most dedicated
members, just as the contract originally was
born as a result of great dedication. In many
ways and perhaps even more so since
Hubbard’s passing, the Sea Organisation is,
to a large part, Scientology. Unlike in other
religions, members of Church management
do not shape Scientology scripture or its
application. lxv Yet still unlike in other
religions, Church management is intimately
involved in a large portion of Church affairs
and operations.
Studying the billion-year contract offers a
microcosm for the many unique and universal
issues one is bound to face when studying
Scientology. How do we analyse aspects of a
religion that are confidential or that arise
from extremely obscure sources? How do we
tie Scientology and its rules and procedures
to existing frameworks where so little
research has been conducted? How do we
give a voice to the perspective of
Scientologists in a fair and balanced way,
especially when Scientologists have little
interest in grooming their own scholars and
establishing a field of research concerning
Scientology as a religion? How do we earn
and maintain the trust of Scientologists
without sacrificing the integrity of our
scholarly work? Although these issues may
make the field intimidating, neither courts
nor scholars can abdicate their responsibility
to contribute to public discourse regarding
Scientology. The issues are too complex and
their implications too significant for a
disinterested perspective to be absent.
Studying religions helps us understand
religious individuals whose religion is an
intimate and central part of their lives. As we
understand these individuals and what drives
them better, we also begin to also better
understand the human experience more
broadly—and its universal building blocks
referred to in the previous section.
Bibliography
Legislation
Act respecting labour standards, CQLR, c N-1.1.
CCQ.
Jurisprudence
Rose &Frank Co v JR Crompton &Bros Ltd, [1923] 2 KB 261
[1925] AC 445.
