Cybernetic Influence on the Origins of the Scientological Understanding of Self
Rachel L. Rosenthal Boehm
Nova Religio The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions October 27, 2026 DOI: 10.1353/nvr.2026.a1004616 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the Scientological doctrine of the "thetan" and the experience of "exteriorization" derive partly from early Information Age ideas popularized by cybernetics founder Norbert Wiener, in addition to the widely accepted influences of popular psychology, science fiction, and twentieth-century esotericism. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT: This article examines the Scientological understanding of the self as a spiritual being, or "thetan," by looking closely at the origins of the doctrine that underlies both this term and the related mystical experience called "exteriorization," an out-of-body religious experience that, for many Scientologists, confirms the validity of belief in their spiritual existence as a thetan. The article also demonstrates that, in his creation of Scientology doctrine, L. Ron Hubbard was not only influenced by ideas from popular psychology, science-fiction, and various strains of twentieth-century esotericism, as is widely accepted, but also and substantially by early Information Age ideas popularized by the founding father of cybernetics, Norbert Wiener.