Boulder Church of Scientology Mission on Pearl Street

The Church of Scientology Mission in Boulder is reaching out to the public by offering free courses and working to help members learn how to be in control of their futures, according to their website.

Robert Anderson, head of the Church of Scientology Mission in Boulder, said Scientology has helped him come to terms with the tough times he experienced growing up and to look to his future.

The deaths of both his parents and a strained relationship with his uncle left him depressed, Anderson said, and Scientology has helped him move ahead.

“It helps you get over the things that have affected you in the past and helps get you out of those moments of grief,” Anderson said.

He said he’s using Scientology to try and help others.

“We are here to help the able people become more able,” he said. “There are lots of able people who are having a rough time and could use a bit of help.”

By “able” people, Anderson said he is referring to those trying to live accomplished lives and trying to help other people.

If newcomers were to walk into the church looking for help, Anderson said he would quickly give them a personality test.

“I’ll see what they want to change. If they want to study better, then we would do a study course; if they were dealing with great ups and downs in their lives, then we would do the Overcoming Ups and Downs in Life course,” he said.

The Church of Scientology Mission in Boulder is located at 1021 Pearl Street. A typical course costs $50 and the price does not vary with the length of time an individual takes to complete it, Anderson said.

“Some might take six nights, some a few weeks and some might take a couple of months to finish a course,” he said.

According to scientology.org, “Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being.”

According to the website, Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, started the religion in the early 1950s. The Creed of the Church of Scientology can be found at ultimatescientology.org.

Many Scientology volunteers have helped with various humanitarian causes, such as Hurricane Katrina and Ground Zero relief efforts. Anderson said he helped with the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004.

He said each person should make up his or her own mind about Scientology.

“If you are skeptical, you should look for yourself, think for yourself and decide for yourself,” he said.

The Church of Scientology of Colorado, located in Denver at 3385 S. Bannock St. in Englewood, is offering free introductory classes for those interested in learning more about the religion, said Susan Gaut, director of special affairs at the church.

Gaut said many lies are written about Scientology online, and an easy way to find better information is to check out one of Scientology’s basic books from a library.

Tiffannie Taylor, a junior sociology major, said she is skeptical of Scientology.

“The creator seems to be full of crap, and I don’t have any money for courses, and I’m an atheist,” Taylor said.

Taylor said that if a church were to offer free courses, she might go to listen, but she would not pay any money.

Zach Weinstein, a senior philosophy major, said he is also skeptical of Scientology.

“I have a negative impression from all I’ve heard about it, but I have no first-hand knowledge,” Weinstein said. “I’ve heard bad word-of-mouth and bad public relations type stuff.”

Weinstein once worked across from a Church of Scientology.

“There were protests all the time with some degree of animosity,” he said.

He said he would not be interested in attending a free Scientology class.

“I think, even if it was pitched to me as a self-help class, I still wouldn’t go,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of different churches, but for that institution I don’t know of any real artistic expression in their worship, and that’s what I go for. When I think of a Scientology service, I think more of a lecture.”

Gaut said those who are skeptical about Scientology don’t need to join the church.

He said, “If it isn’t true for you, then it isn’t true.”

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jon Tattum at Jonathan.tattum@colorado.edu.