Tuesday, October 07, 2008

The Scientology Code of Honor

I was reminded of The Code of Honor the other day and I thought I might share it with you guys. I've always found it a useful guide for living. So, here's The Code of Honor as given in Scientology 0-8 The Book of Basics:

"1. Never desert a comrade in need, in danger or in trouble.
"2. Never withdraw allegiance once granted.
"3. Never desert a group to which you owe your support.
"4. Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power.
"5. Never need praise, approval or sympathy.
"6. Never compromise with your own reality.
"7. Never permit your affinity to be alloyed.
"8. Do not give or receive communication unless you yourself desire it.
"9. Your self-determinism and your honor are more important than your immediate life.
"10. Your integrity to yourself is more important than your body.
"11. Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow.
"12. Never fear to hurt another in a just cause.
"13. Don't desire to be liked or admired.
"14. Be your own adviser, keep your own counsel and select your own decisions.
"15. Be true to your own goals."

The above code is considered an ethical code in Scientology, which means it's your decision whether or not you follow it.

I've always liked that about this code because for me (for example) I love #11 (Never regret yesterday...) because it's so freeing. I love the idea that I make my own tomorrow. However, #12 (Never fear to hurt...) I've never seen as necessary - because I have never run across a situation in which hurting another would be for a just cause. I can certainly see an example of a cause in which it's just to hurt another (someone trying to kill you, for example), but happily I've never had to deal with something like that.

One thing I love about this code, and really about Scientology, is that I've always been encouraged to make my own decisions. And from my point of view, that's extremely important.

Tell me what you think about the Scientology Code of Honor.

15 comments:

Grahame said...

The Code of Honor is great. I try to follow it in my life, and when I do, things seem to go better.

J.R. LeMar said...

Most of that sounds fine. However I don't quite agree with #2 & 3. Because sometimes you may need to withdraw allegiance to someone or some group if it turns out that they are doing something wrong. Even if they were good, or helped you before,
that doesn't mean you have to support them forever, whatever they do in the future.

Malcolm X owed much of his life to the Nation of Islam, and may have rotted in jail if it weren't for their initial guidance. But when he discovered that their leadership was corrupt, he broke from them and spoke out against them, because that was the right thing to do.

And I don't don't understand #6-7.
I don't understand about "your own reality." There's only one reality. You can choose to ignore reality, and pretend it's something else, but that doesn't make it so.

And what does alloying affinity even mean?

Madhatterr said...

How strange. I was just sitting down the other day and browsing through 0-8, refreshing the various charts and codes in my mind and spent some time contemplating the Code of Honor.

It is one of my favorite pieces of Scientology. A simple code that leads to an ethical life. It is one I have referred to often, finding it handy for resolving doubts in my own mind at times.

I love the new 0-8 as well, it is so much more complete and satifying to reference it now!

Christine said...

I am trying to change into a better person, I hate feeling guilty about everything I do, and palying the selfblame game I want and need a change

Julia said...

Hi Christine,
That's very cool that you want to be a better person. Playing the self-blame game and feeling guilty is no fun at all. If I can help you in any way, just let me know.
- Julia

Julia said...

Hi Madhatter,
We must both be on the same wavelength or something. It's a great code.

Julia said...

Hi JR,
Well, I can see what you mean on 2 and 3. I guess the point is that you should make an informed decision in the first place, then do your best to keep that group the way it should be.

On 6 and 7:

"6. Never compromise with your own reality"

Have there been times when someone says something that seems ridiculous to you and, after having looked at all the facts, it still seems ridiculous, but they hold fast to that belief? They have their own perception of reality and so do you. That's my understanding, anyway.

"7. Never permit your affinity to be alloyed"

Affinity is defined here as the feeling of affection or lack of it.

Alloyed is defined here as "Debase something: to detract from the quality, purity, or value of something by the addition of something inferior." The sample sentence is "principles alloyed with cynicism".

Does my defining those words make #7 make more sense?

Madhatterr said...

J.R.

In my opinion Julia has it right, but wanted to comment on #2.

The Code of Honor is that, you holding your own honor. It is not enforced in anyway, it is an ideal to hold to and to guide your decisions by.

When granting your allegiance to a group, or a nation, or anything, you should make an informed decision.

Things do change in life, we learn more, our perceptions can change, our knowledge can expand (or in other words we look at as YOUR reality changed, you find something new learn something and it changing your perception changes how you view the world) these things can lead to conflicts with #2. This also plays into #9 though, your self determinism is worth anything, so if you determine your allegiance was granted without full understanding or the situation has changed, then you should indeed change it.

Just to be clear, this is just my own opinion and I'm just sharing that alone!

Enjoy!

Julia said...

Thanks so much for the added info, Madhatter! You make an excellent point.

Also, as a note, everything on my comments and in my blog are opinion alone also... unless of course I'm quoting - then that's what someone else says. :)

Thanks again for enriching the conversation!

J.R. LeMar said...

Okay, so #7 is basically don't allow your affection to be debased? Well, it makes more sense when you put it like that.

Julia said...

I'm glad that helped. :) I had to clear that up too when I first read it.

SomethingNice said...

"Flash of Genius" is a good movie about someone who doesn't compromise with his reality - with what he knows to be true.

Julia said...

Thanks Somethingnice! That looks like a cool movie. I'll have to check it out.

Anonymous said...

You know, it's funny that you point out #12 "Never fear to hurt another in a just cause", as that phrase is one that has had a big impact on me.

I've never been in a position where I had to hurt another, in self defense or otherwise, but to me this point is challenging and empowering at the same time.

To me, it means, do not be afraid to stand up for yourself while at the same time challenging me to constantly evaluate the situations I am in.

Whereas before I might have defaulted to a submissive role ("Oh, someone's shouting at me, what did I do wrong?"), after reading the Code of Honor and integrating it with my life, I'm more likely to stop and assess the situation first: "Did I do something wrong? Are they shouting at me? Are they justified in their criticism? Should I change my actions?" and from there, either have the confidence to defend myself, or the awareness to receive communication.

Julia said...

I'm really glad you like it and it has an impact on you!
- Julia