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Scientology, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, presents a unique cosmology that blends elements of spirituality, psychology, and extraterrestrial lore. At the heart of its advanced teachings lies a narrative often referred to as the “creation story” or “Incident II,” which explains the origins of human suffering and the spiritual entities known as thetans. This story, revealed in the confidential Operating Thetan Level III (OT III) materials, involves a galactic overlord named Xenu and a cataclysmic event that occurred approximately 75 million years ago. 0 While Scientology’s public doctrines emphasize self-improvement through auditing and the concept of the immortal thetan (the soul or spirit), the Xenu narrative is considered sacred and is only disclosed to high-level members who have progressed through the church’s hierarchical structure.

The Galactic Confederation and the Overpopulation Crisis

According to the teachings, Xenu (sometimes pronounced “Zee-new”) was the tyrannical ruler of the Galactic Confederation, a vast alliance comprising 76 planets, including Earth—then known as Teegeeack. 1 This interstellar empire faced a severe overpopulation problem, with billions of inhabitants straining its resources. Xenu, as the head of this confederacy, devised a ruthless solution to alleviate the crisis. He conspired with psychiatrists and other officials—figures often vilified in Scientology doctrine for their supposed role in suppressing spiritual freedom—to round up billions of people under the guise of tax audits or medical examinations. 4

These individuals were then paralyzed with injections of a mixture of alcohol and glycol, frozen, and transported to Earth in spacecraft resembling DC-8 airplanes. 7 Upon arrival, they were stacked around the bases of volcanoes across the planet, including sites in Hawaii and Las Palmas. Xenu’s forces then detonated hydrogen bombs inside these volcanoes, vaporizing the bodies and releasing the immortal thetans into the atmosphere.

The Aftermath: Body Thetans and Human Enslavement

The explosions were not the end of the ordeal. The freed thetans, disoriented and traumatized, were captured using electronic traps and subjected to 36 days of hypnotic “implanting.” During this process, they were bombarded with false memories and confusing images, including concepts from future religions like Christianity (such as the crucifixion), to disorient them further. 0 Many of these thetans clustered together and attached themselves to the surviving human inhabitants of Earth, becoming what Scientologists call “body thetans”—parasitic spiritual entities that cling to individuals and cause psychological and physical ailments.

This event, according to Hubbard’s writings, is the root cause of much of humanity’s spiritual degradation. Thetans, originally powerful and immortal beings, became trapped in cycles of reincarnation (known as the “MEST” universe—matter, energy, space, and time) due to these implants and attachments. 5 Scientology’s advanced practices, particularly at OT levels, aim to “clear” these body thetans through auditing sessions, allowing practitioners to regain their full spiritual potential and achieve states of “Operating Thetan,” where one can control matter, energy, space, and time without a body.

Significance Within Scientology

The Xenu story is not merely a mythological tale but a foundational element of Scientology’s soteriology—the path to spiritual salvation. It explains why humans experience engrams (traumatic memories) and reactive minds, concepts central to Dianetics, Hubbard’s precursor to Scientology. Reaching OT III and learning this narrative is a milestone for dedicated Scientologists, often requiring years of study and significant financial investment in church courses. 3 Hubbard himself described it as a “space opera” event in humanity’s past, drawing from his background in pulp science fiction.

However, the church maintains strict confidentiality around these materials, warning that premature exposure could cause physical harm, such as pneumonia, to those not spiritually prepared. 6 Officially, Scientology leaders have downplayed or denied the Xenu story in public, dismissing it as a distortion by critics or ex-members.

Controversies and Criticisms

The Xenu narrative has been a flashpoint for controversy since its details were leaked in the 1980s by former high-ranking Scientologists. 8 Critics, including ex-members like Aaron Smith-Levin, argue that it resembles Hubbard’s science fiction writings, such as his novel Battlefield Earth, and question its literal truth. 2 Organizations like the Church of Scientology have pursued legal action to suppress its dissemination, viewing it as copyrighted religious scripture.

From a broader perspective, the story highlights tensions between Scientology and mainstream science. Articles in outlets like Scientific American have critiqued it as pseudoscience, noting parallels to ancient myths but lacking empirical evidence. 7 Supporters, however, see it as a profound revelation that empowers individuals to overcome spiritual barriers. Discussions on platforms like Reddit reveal a divide: some view Xenu as a metaphorical or symbolic teaching, while others take it literally as part of the faith’s cosmology. 4

In conclusion, the Scientology creation story of Xenu and the thetans offers a dramatic explanation for the human condition, blending cosmic drama with personal redemption. Whether interpreted as literal history, allegory, or fiction, it remains a cornerstone of the religion’s esoteric teachings, fueling both devotion and debate in equal measure. For those interested in exploring further, Hubbard’s original writings and church-approved materials provide the primary source, though they are guarded closely within the organization.