if you look at the other options, you got a guy in sandals turning water in to wine (cool), a 50 yo Pedro who said god gave him Baggies on 25%of the worlds women or Scientology where you get to meet very rich people and have nice parties.....HELLLOOOO.
For the same reason people convert to the Abrahamic religions when their founders were uneducated middle-eastern sheep herders. They're irrational and illogical.
At least L. Ron Hubbard was educated, though.
Well... think about it this way. Why do people convert to Islam when the founder was an illiterate farmer? Why do people convert to Christianity when their primary holy text is little more then a confused Misha-mash of middle-eastern folklore and unsubstantiated legend? Why do people convert to Buddhism when its founder started life as an overfed, ignorant nobleman?
It's not about who the founder was or even where the texts came from, it's about their content. If you find meaning in the content, the religion has meaning.
Think of it this way, if you want an easy answer, consider that perhaps this "fiction" writer was as divinely inspired as Mohamed and Moses are said to have been. Would it change things for you if Hubbard were the fifth coming of Christ or a holy prophet?
-Scarlet
I didn't know he was a Science Fiction writer when I joined up. I was interested in Scientology itself and couldn't care less what he did for a living. But eventually I did find out and was pleasantly surprised. I like reading Science fiction myself and it was good to discover another author I could read in my spare time.
Amusing question. Did you know that Science Fiction is only about 17% of his fiction works? Truth.
Why then do you suppose that someone would hang up on just this genre for him as a writer? Think about it.
In the meantime, here's some data that you didn't have:
'What is generally missed,? Mr. Hubbard once remarked, ?is that my writing financed my research.? And although more broadly known for what finally came from that research, his novels and stories will never be forgotten. Having published a full 15 million words between 1927 and 1941, the name L. Ron Hubbard had been virtually synonymous with popular fiction through the 1930s?or as friend and fellow author Frederik Pohl had proclaimed, ?The instant his stories appeared on the newsstands, they became part of every fan?s cultural heritage.? And given the volume of his work through these years?more than two hundred stories and novels spanning all popular genres: Mystery, Western, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction and even Romance?that cultural heritage was indeed rich. '
from http://www.lronhubbard.org/profile/auth.htm
That's just his fiction works.
'All told, L. Ron Hubbard?s works on Dianetics and Scientology comprise the largest cohesive statement on the human mind and spirit?more than 5,000 writings and 3,000 recorded lectures. Contained therein are answers to life?s most profound mysteries: the enigma of existence, the riddle of death, the realization of states not even described in earlier literature. Also from these works come Scientology technologies to rear children, repair families, educate, organize and provide relief in times of illness or suffering.
So that all may avail themselves of these technologies, L. Ron Hubbard directed the rise of Scientology Churches all over the world and thus, the birth of a worldwide religion. It is a practical religion. It is applicable to every aspect of human existence and it is religion for the here and now. But at its core and within every Church of Scientology lies this enduring invitation from its Founder: ?We are extending to you the precious gift of freedom and immortality? factually, honestly.?'
From http://www.scientology.org/l-ron-hubbard.html
Why do people convert to Scientology when the founder was a science fiction writer?
