Dianetics Center opens in downtown Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A new storefront in downtown Columbia officially opened Oct. 14 as part of an expansion of Dianetics and Scientology throughout Missouri and the Midwest.
The Dianetics Center of Missouri is operating along Ninth Street near Alley A in the former site of the Speckled Frog Toys and Books. The storefront no longer has a sign and only sells one book by the name of “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health” by L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard is the founder of Scientology.
On the Dianetics website, the theology is defined as “a proven, practical guide to help eliminate your negative emotions, insecurities and daily stress and anxiety—for good.”
In a statement to ABC 17 News, Church of Scientology International spokesman David Bloomberg confirmed the store’s opening, stating “The center in Columbia is a new Dianetics group, providing the local community with access to Dianetics and Scientology books and introductory services.”
Professional Engineer Vaughn Prost, of Columbia, filed Articles of Incorporation of a Nonprofit Corporation with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday, Oct. 14 for the Dianetics Center of Missouri. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins approved its nonprofit status that same day.
The filing identifies the center’s mission as “educating the public on the mind and how to increase their abilities.” It goes on to say “this is done by selling Church of Scientology, Dianetics and other Scientology books, delivering mental and spiritual counseling services to the public and delivering Dianetics seminars to the public.”
ABC 17 News has reached out to Prost but has not heard back.
Mark Oppenheimer, a professor of practice in the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University, describes Dianetics as the “ritual practice” in the Scientology Religion.
”Just like you could see someone going to confession or being baptized as the ritual practices of Christianity,” Oppenheimer said. “Dianetics is a practice of Scientology and it involves something called ‘auditing.'”
An ABC 17 News reporter visited the store on Oct. 13 before it closed for the day, where an employee would not confirm the Scientology connection, and only referred to the location as a bookstore. The employee provided flyers for a “Personality Test,” an article called ‘The Dianetics of Grief’ and another article called “What is Dianetics: Part Two.” The employee also referred ABC 17 News to the Life Improvement Center in Jefferson City, but would not provide more information about what services the center provides.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, ABC 17 News returned to the store and a reporter was immediately offered an E-Meter test. The employee did not explain what the machine was or what the test was for.
According to Oppenheimer, the E-Meter machine is linked to the auditing process.
“Practitioners go into a church and they are hooked up to a little machine with a couple of electrode-typed things and then are asked questions about their lives,” Oppenheimer said.
Oppenheimer also explained Hubbard’s theory tells followers of Scientology that with an experienced guide, you can “unblock” certain traumas from your past by being asked various questions. This process is believed by its followers to yield benefits like success in the workplace, etc. As people continue to engage in Dianetics practices, like auditing, they move up the ranks with the end goal of becoming “clear”, according to Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer said one of the main differences of Scientology and Dianetics from other religious practices like Christianity or Judaism is the costs associated.
”They are doing something a lot of religions do, which is greet you with literature,” Oppenheimer said. “But in Scientology, that initial encounter will very likely lead to requests that you sign up for a class that costs money.”
ABC 17 News reached out to the LLC on Oct. 14, but did not hear back. On the Dianetics website, more than 100 Dianetics Centers are listed and associated with various churches of Scientology. However, the Life Improvement Center in Jefferson City was not listed, nor was the unnamed storefront in downtown Columbia.
Blomberg said thousands of local Dianetics and Scientology groups operate worldwide and some groups are not always individually listed in that directory.
In Missouri, there were two Dianetics Centers identified in Kansas City and St. Louis, both connected to the area-based Scientology churches. Bloomberg said the Ideal Church of Scientology of Kansas City had its grand opening in November 2019.
Oppenheimer said the college-town atmosphere of Columbia can be appealing to Scientology and other religious organizations.
”Students are often not yet connected to other houses of worship,” Oppenheimer said. “Of course every religion does want to have young people because if you become a geriatric church, if all of your members are 50, 60 or 70 [years old], you’re going to die out.”
Oppenheimer urged anyone interested in exploring Dianetics or Scientology to ask as many questions as possible to know fully what you are committing to. The Church of Scientology International said more than 70 Ideal Churches of Scientology have opened over the past two decades.
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