Why trust the Bible over L. Ron Hubbard?
Because the Bible's central claim can be tested in public history: Jesus' death and resurrection, proclaimed while eyewitnesses lived. Hubbard's central claims were private and did not hold up when tested.
The Bible was written by many authors over many centuries and is open to everyone, free. Its centre is a public event: Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate and rose again, and Paul listed living witnesses. Hubbard's Dianetics was presented as a science; its claims about engrams and the reactive mind were not confirmed by research, and Scientology's highest teaching is confidential.
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (WEB) · context
1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Luke 1:1-4 (WEB) · context
16For we didn’t follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2 Peter 1:16 (WEB) · context
Reason 10: Test every teacher: Hubbard's claims did not hold Reason 8: God's truth is open, not locked in secret levels