The Scientology Code of Honor is touted to be an ethical code rather than a moral code. Ethics in Scientology is supposed to be rationality. Morals are mere agreements to guarantee the survival of a group. We will analyze the rationality of this code here:
1. “Never desert a comrade in need, in danger or in trouble.”
Standing by one’s friends is generally considered the more honorable and sometimes heroic path. This rule serves to protect a group of two people who are bound by some agreement. The realities of life and living teach us that people can change and a comrade can turn into an enemy as in classic betrayal. The never is an absolute denying the very possibility of exceptions and could easily lead to irrational decisions. There may be situations where not deserting a comrade in danger, will lead to doubling the mortality. What if he went crazy? If the comrade is wounded and close to death and transport ain’t possible, to not desert the comrade maybe suicidal rather than rational.
2. “Never withdraw allegiance once granted.”
Allegiance historically meant the obligation of a feudal vassal to his liege lord and came to mean the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government, as in I pledge allegiance to my country. More generally it means devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause. This rule’s intention is obviously to safeguard the integrity of a group, organization or project.
But what if you came to realize that the organization you have been a member of for years, was not what it appeared to be? People frequently join clubs, political parties, fraternities, and religions without fully knowing what they’re getting into. Oftentimes, these groups’ purposes and policies aren’t made available to new newbies. Change of leadership, takeovers and other developments may necessitate that one abandons such groups.
3. “Never desert a group to which you owe your support.”
One may indeed have solemnly promised to support a particular group forever, but groups change and at some point one may have to ask whether the group is still worthy of support. In the absence of such alertness and regular re-evaluation one can easily get trapped. So, the ‘never’ is contra survival. Besides why would you owe your support? Is it because you signed a contract 15 years ago? The reasonable thing to do is to support a group as long as it is worth supporting. I had signed a Sea Org contract in 1972 and found out much later that that group no longer lived up to its principles as I had understood them, so I quit.
4. “Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power.”
That makes sense. The rule is expressed in the negative, better still would be a positive rule, for example always try to increase your understanding, strength and power.
5. “Never need praise, approval or sympathy.”
This may not be very workable in case you try to get support from others, for a project or enterprise. Let’s say you are an actor like Tom Cruise, you would not be very successful without the ingredients of praise and approval. The same goes for politicians and leaders in general. Especially the ‘never’ makes this an unworkable rule. A better positive rule would be: Always do your projects, so well that they only deserve praise and approval.
6. “Never compromise with your own reality.”
There is no such thing as your ‘own’ reality, things are either real or don’t exist. This is a scientology corruption of the concept of reality. Scientology considers reality, like maya just apparency. See axiom 11.
What is meant here in Scientology is ‘never compromise with your own conception of reality’. This is not very workable either as your conception of reality may be false or incomplete and in need of correction.
7. “Never permit your affinity to be alloyed.”
This is often being violated by Scientologists who disconnect from their children, parents or other family members or friends. I have not heard a word from two of my daughters, over the last 20 years, who disconnected from me, for no other reason than me publicly demanding a reformation of Scientology.
As a rule, it does not work for the very simple reason that affinity (emotion) is for a major part an automatic reaction and is not always under one’s control, thus it is not a matter of permission. I simply cannot help that my affinity for two of my daughters was greatly reduced, when they refused to talk to me.
8. “Do not give or receive communication unless you yourself desire it.”
If you are a member of a group or society you better stay in communication with the members of that group, if you wish to survive. Giving and receiving communication has nothing to do with your private desires or preferences. It is part of life; living is exchanging information. Communication is too important to make it dependent on personal desires.
“Children should be seen and not heard.” is the attempt by some parents to enforce this rule on children. If you are in business and a potential customer asks a difficult question you may not desire to answer that, but if you don’t, it is probably to your detriment. You may ignore the alarm bells going off as you do not desire to receive such communications.
When asked by the judge or official for an explanation or asked a question by a police officer you better ignore your desires and answer up. Your neighbor asks for help, you may not desire it but it is usually very pro-survival to extend a little help.
“It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Such a rule may also be used as a justification to withhold certain data, to not be found out, or to commit any sort of overt of omission. People unable to confront or being emotionally disturbed by certain communications could easily use such a rule to withdraw from certain situations they ought to confront. In short, the rule as stated is unworkable.
9. “Your self-determinism and your honor are more important than your immediate life.”
Many martyrs such as a Giordano Bruno have understood and heroically followed this principle.
A very literal interpretation though can lead to the following: there was a Jewish custom with regard to sandal straps. According to the Talmud, if the gentile authorities were to decree that Jews must change their practice and wear sandal straps like those worn by the gentiles, one would be obligated to give up his life rather than veer from the accepted custom.
10. “Your integrity to yourself is more important than your body.”
True! You and your body are two levels of existence, you in the spiritual and the body in the physical domain.
11. “Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow.”
Yes! Life is always, now.
12. “Never fear to hurt another in a just cause.”
Medical doctors and surgeons should not fear to do their job and neither should anybody else if hurting someone is the reasonable thing to do or the consequence thereof.
13. “Don’t desire to be liked or admired.”
This has nothing to do with honor. See under #5.
14. “Be your own adviser, keep your own counsel and select your own decisions.”
Yes, be self-determined. This omits the fact that it might be very helpful to listen to others’ advice and viewpoints.
15. “Be true to your own goals.”
Sure, all within reason.
See also https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientologys-code-of-honor/
The following is a tentative alternative. A code of honor based on theta=reason:
A Code of Honor – based on reason.
Honor: The state of being ethical, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; dignity.
Reason: ability to think and make judgments, reason implies self-determination, order and harmony. Rationality.
1.Know that everything happens for a reason.
2.Always try to find the actual reason, however difficult that may be.
3.Always ask why? how? what does it mean? and how do you know?
4.Don’t let your emotions overcome your reason, within reason.
5.Don’t under- or overestimate your own ability, strength or power.
6.Now is the only time you can change something.
7.Be autonomous and true to your own goals.
8.Always keep your information lines open.
9.Dare to state the truth regardless of consequences.
10.Support free speech and insist on the right to criticize unreason.
11.Integrate new information only after understanding.
12.Always aim for the highest level of truth.
13.Always be intolerant towards the intolerance of others.
14.Your self-determination and your honor are more important than your body.
15.Always aim for high quality in your life, achievements and performances.