In the field of anthropology the definition of religion considered most classical is that of Sir Edward Tylor who characterizes it as “the belief in spiritual beings.” (Evans-Pritchard 1976:14-15) In relation to this definition and as already stated, the central belief of Scientology is that man is a thetan, that is to say, a spiritual being. In this respect the Manual of Scientology says to its readers:

“You are a thetan, a spiritual being. Not your eyes, your brain, but you. You do not have a thetan, something you keep apart from yourself, you are a thetan. You would not speak of my thetan; you would speak of me. Although much of what Scientology holds true may be echoed in many great philosophic teachings, what it offers is entirely new: An exact route through which anyone can regain the truth and simplicity of his spiritual self. ...” (The Scientology Handbook, 1994:iii)

Alejandro Frigerio