The goal of a Scientologist is to become clear and rediscover the powers of his soul.
Thetans are something unique to the belief of Scientology. Official documentation from the Church of Scientology website suggests that it is the human soul, but it also states that because the term has been watered down by other religions, the use of the term does not equate directly. A practicing Scientologists starts on what the organization itself calls the “working track” and achieves Operating Thetan levels as they progress through the ranks of the church.
Understanding the Thetans
The South Park episode dealing with Scientology and Operation Clambake stated that Scientologists believe that the thetans were forcibly transported to Earth by an evil galactic dictator named Lord Xenu. Once the thetans were dropped off on Earth, Xenu killed them all with hydrogen bombs. The thetans wrap themselves around humans and this is what causes human suffering. Neither South Park nor Operation Clambake are objective sources, and the former is a work of fiction.
The process of becoming an operating thetan starts with a controversial process known as auditing. The purpose of auditing is to aid a prospective member of the church of Scientology in becoming clear. When a Scientologist becomes clear, he is free from moral guilt and starts to break free from the cycle of death and rebirth and can aid in relieving human suffering.
Critics of the Church of Scientology claim that the auditing process and progressing through the ranks of Scientology can cost a member several hundred thousand dollars and has caused the Church of Scientology to be labeled as a “cult of greed.”
Operating Thetan Levels
Operation Clambake, which claims to be leading the fight against Scientology on the Net, states there are eight levels levels of Operating thetan. The Church of Scientology's official web site confirms this and shows that a member can where when he reaches OT VII. The process of becoming an operating thetan is one of showing steady commitment to self-improvement.
The operating thetan levels are a way of measuring the progress of a member of the Church of Scientology. The cost for a Scientologist to achieve higher operating thetan levels after he undergoes the auditing process can range into several hundred thousand dollars. The prohibitive cost turns off many people, although many celebrities are high-ranking Scinetologists. Prominent celebrities who are members of the churhc of Scientology include Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and the voice of chef on South Park, Isaac Hayes.
Sources:
Operation Clambake – What the Scientologists Won't Tell You
