Reason 5 of 10
The problem is sin, and only God forgives sin
In Scientology, what holds us back is the reactive mind and its engrams, and our "overts" (harmful acts) are handled in auditing. The Bible says our deepest problem is sin against God, and only God can forgive it.
What Scientology teaches
Scientology does talk about wrongdoing. It calls a harmful act an overt, and an undisclosed one a withhold. In auditing, often with an E-meter, a person is helped to find and tell these, and Scientology teaches that doing so lightens the person spiritually.
But the act is handled as a matter between the person, the auditor and the technique. The person never stands before a holy God who must be satisfied, and no one dies in their place.
What the Bible says
King David had wronged people terribly, yet he said to God: against you, you only, have I sinned. Every sin is first against God, because he made us and his law is good. That is why only God can forgive it, and why the crowds were shocked when Jesus forgave a man's sins.
Confession matters in the Bible too, but it is confession to God, and its power is not in the telling. It is in the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all sin.
3For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. 4Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
Psalms 51:3-4 (WEB) · context
5Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7“Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” 12He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2:5-12 (WEB) · context
7But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7-9 (WEB) · context
5But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6 (WEB) · context
Freedom from guilt, not just from its feelings
A technique can make a person feel lighter. Only forgiveness removes guilt itself. Jesus bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we could be free from them and live for righteousness.
24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.
1 Peter 2:24 (WEB) · context
1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 (WEB) · context
14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14 (WEB) · context
What Scientologists often say
Scientologists say confessing overts brings real relief and makes people more honest, and that this is not so different from Christian confession.
A Christian answer
Honesty is good, and relief is real. But the Bible's question is not only whether I feel lighter, but whether I am forgiven by the One I sinned against. Confession without a Saviour leaves the debt where it was. Confession to God through Christ cancels it.
Sources
- Scientology source L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950).
- Scientology source Church of Scientology, descriptions of auditing, overts and withholds (scientology.org).
- The Bible, World English Bible (public domain).