Editing Xenu (section)

== Scientology doctrine ==
Within Scientology, the Xenu story is referred to as "The Wall of Fire" or "Incident II".<ref name="savino" /><ref name="lamont49">{{Harvnb|Lamont|1986|pp=49–50}}</ref> Hubbard attached tremendous importance to it, saying that it constituted "the secrets of a disaster which resulted in the decay of life as we know it in this sector of the galaxy".<ref name="miller266"/> The broad outlines of the story—that 75 million years ago a great catastrophe happened in this sector of the galaxy which caused profoundly negative effects for everyone since then—are told to lower-level Scientologists; but the details are kept strictly confidential.

The OT III document asserts that Hubbard entered the Wall of Fire but emerged alive ("probably the only one ever to do so in 75,000,000 years").<ref name="corydon1987" /> He first publicly announced his "breakthrough" in ''Ron's Journal 67'' (''RJ67''), a taped lecture recorded on September 20, 1967, to be sent to all Scientologists.<ref name="nightline" /> According to Hubbard, his research was achieved at the cost of a broken back, knee, and arm. OT III contains a warning that the R6 implant is "calculated to kill (by pneumonia etc.) anyone who attempts to solve it".<ref name="koff1988" /><ref name="corydon1987" />  Hubbard claimed that his "tech development"—i.e. his OT materials—had neutralized this threat, creating a safe path to redemption.<ref name="lamont49" /><ref name="corydon364" />

The Church of Scientology forbids individuals from reading the OT III Xenu [[cosmogony]] without first having taken prerequisite courses.<ref name="browne">{{cite journal | last = Browne  | first = Michael | title = Should Germany Stop Worrying and Love the Octopus? Freedom of Religion and the Church of Scientology in Germany and the United States  | journal = Indiana International & Comparative Law Review  | volume = 9 | pages = 155–202 | publisher = Trustees of Indiana University  | location = [[Indiana University]]  | year = 1998 | issue = 1 | id = 9 Ind. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 155 | doi = 10.18060/17460 }}</ref> Scientologists warn that reading the Xenu story without proper authorization could cause pneumonia.<ref name="browne" /><ref name="allen">{{cite news  | last = Allen  | first = Mike  | title = Internet Gospel: Scientology's Expensive Wisdom Now Comes Free  | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date = August 20, 1995 }}</ref>

In ''RJ67'',<ref name="nightline" /> Hubbard alludes to the devastating effect of Xenu's purported [[genocide]]:

{{Blockquote|And it is very true that a great catastrophe occurred on this planet and in the other 75 planets which formed this [Galactic] Confederacy 75 million years ago. It has since that time been a desert, and it has been the lot of just a handful to try to push its technology up to a level where someone might adventure forward, penetrate the catastrophe, and undo it. We're well on our way to making this occur.}}

OT III also deals with ''Incident I'', set four [[1,000,000,000,000,000|quadrillion]]<ref>Four thousand billion in [[Long and short scales|Long Scale]].</ref> years ago. (Scientific consensus places the [[age of the universe]] at approximately 13.8 billion years old.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.space.com/universe-age-14-billion-years-old | title=Astronomers reevaluate the age of the universe | website=[[Space.com]] | date=January 8, 2021 }}</ref>) In ''Incident I'', the unsuspecting thetan was subjected to a loud snapping noise followed by a flood of luminescence, then saw a [[chariot]] followed by a trumpeting [[cherub]]. After a loud set of snaps, the thetan was overwhelmed by darkness. It is described that these traumatic memories alone separate thetans from their static (natural, godlike) state.<ref name="wright">{{cite book |last=Wright |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Wright |title=Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]] |year=2013 |isbn=9780307700667 |ol=25424776M |title-link=Going Clear (book) |page=104}}</ref>

Hubbard uses the existence of body thetans to explain many of the physical and mental ailments of humanity which, he says, prevent people from achieving their highest spiritual levels.<ref name="lamont49" /> OT III tells the Scientologist to locate body thetans and release them from the effects of Incidents I and II.<ref name="lamont49" /> This is accomplished in solo auditing, where the Scientologist holds both cans of an [[E-meter]] in one hand and asks questions as an auditor. The Scientologist is directed to find a cluster of body thetans, address it [[telepathy|telepathically]] as a cluster, and take first the cluster, then each individual member, through Incident II, then Incident I if needed.<ref name="lamont49" /> Hubbard warns that this is a painstaking procedure, and that OT levels IV to VII are necessary to continue dealing with one's body thetans.

The Church of Scientology has objected to the Xenu story being used to paint Scientology as [[space opera in Scientology|science fiction fantasy]].<ref name="Observer 2004">{{cite news| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1217884,00.html| publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|work=The Observer |location=UK| title=Lure of the celebrity sect: During an exclusive tour of Scientology's Celebrity Centre, Jamie Doward quizzed personnel about the church's teachings|date=May 16, 2004|access-date=December 3, 2008| first=Jamie| last= Doward}}</ref> Hubbard's statements concerning the R6 implant have been a source of contention. Critics and some Christians state that Hubbard's statements regarding R6 prove that Scientology doctrine is incompatible with Christianity,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/010/8.93.html| work=Christianity Today|publisher=Christianity Today International|title=Why Christians Object to Scientology: Craig Branch of the Apologetics Resource Center notes Clear differences| first= Jody| last= Veenker | date= September 4, 2000| access-date=December 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url= http://www.watchman.org/sci/hubrel03.htm |journal= The Watchman Expositor |publisher= [[Watchman Fellowship|Watchman Fellowship ministry]] |volume= 13 |issue= 2 |year= 1996 |title= Hubbard's Religion |first= Craig |last= Branch |access-date= December 3, 2008 }}</ref> despite the Church<!-- only once per sentence: of Scientology-->'s statements to the contrary.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scientology-detroit.org/ans3.htm| publisher=Church of Scientology of Michigan| title=Scientology and Other Practices| access-date=December 3, 2008| year=2007| quote=Scientology does not conflict with other religions or other religious practices.| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202153820/http://www.scientology-detroit.org/ans3.htm| archive-date=February 2, 2009| df=mdy-all}}</ref> In "Assists", Hubbard says:<ref name="assists" />

{{Blockquote|[[Everyman]] is then shown to have been crucified so don't think that it's an accident that this crucifixion, they found out that this applied. Somebody somewhere on this planet, back about 600 BC, found some pieces of R6, and I don't know how they found it, either by watching madmen or something, but since that time they have used it and it became what is known as Christianity. The man on the Cross. There was no Christ. But the man on the cross is shown as Everyman.}}