Editing Operating Thetan (section)

== Description ==

[[File:Freewinds logo.jpg|thumb|upright|The OT symbol is incorporated into the middle of the ''[[Freewinds]]'' ship logo, among several other [[List of symbols of Scientology|Scientology symbols]]]]
The OT levels are the upper part of "[[The Bridge to Total Freedom]]", which is the set of levels within Scientology. After having removed one's own "[[reactive mind]]" and thus attaining the state of "[[Clear (Scientology)|Clear]]", Scientologists may then go on to the OT levels.{{r|thebridge}} Scientology doctrine defines OT as the "highest state there is".{{r|hubbard-techdict|page=283}} Operating Thetan is represented by a symbol consisting of the letters OT with the T inside the O and each of the points of the T ending at the O's circumference.{{r|hubbard-techdict|page=280}}

An Operating Thetan (OT) is described within Scientology as a state of godliness, and Scientologists are taught they will have godlike control over "matter, energy, space and time" (known in Scientology jargon as [[MEST (Scientology)|MEST]]).<ref name="Westbrook 2017">{{cite book |last=Westbrook |first=Donald A. |editor1-last=Lewis |editor1-first=James R. |editor2-last=Hellesoy |editor2-first=Kjersti |year=2017 |title=Handbook of Scientology |chapter=Researching Scientology and Scientologists in the United States: Methods and Conclusions |volume=Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion |publisher=Brill |isbn=9789004330542|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dfzDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA30|pages=30–31|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> Hubbard claimed that thetans were once tricked into following religions, which prevented them from using their own power to create and destroy universes.{{r|urban|pages=81–82}} The Church claims that an OT is not dependent on the physical universe, and Scientologists who have attained the highest Operating Thetan level claim that they have control over their lives and can "go exterior" from their bodies.<ref name=tampa>{{cite web |date=31 December 2009|title=Climbing The Bridge: A journey to 'Operating Thetan' |website=tampabay.com |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/climbing-the-bridge-a-journey-to-operating-thetan/1062094 |access-date=5 April 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617115559/http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/climbing-the-bridge-a-journey-to-operating-thetan/1062094 |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |first=Thomas C |last=Tobin}}</ref>

According to religious scholar [[J. Gordon Melton]], "[The OT levels are] basically a variation of the [[Gnosticism|Gnostic myth]] about souls falling into matter and the encumbrances that come with that. ... In the OT [levels], you're finding out that you're a [[thetan]], that you've come into bodies before. Part of what you're trying to learn is [[exteriorization]] — how to get out of your body. You also learn that you carry a lot of encumbrances from [[Reincarnation#Scientology|past lives]]."<ref>{{cite news |last=Verini |first=James |date=2005-06-28 |title=Missionary Man: Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology |work=[[Salon.com]] |publisher=[[Spiegel Online]] |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,362731,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=2008-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705083529/https://www.spiegel.de/international/missionary-man-tom-cruise-and-the-church-of-scientology-a-362731.html |archive-date=2012-07-05}}</ref>

While there are fifteen OT levels listed on Scientology's Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart, the Church only offers eight.{{r|thebridge}}<ref name=tampa /> According to former Scientologist and critic of the Church [[Mike Rinder]], the promise of new levels has been used for decades to motivate church members to donate or repeat courses they have already taken in preparation. Rinder has said he doesn't believe these courses exist.<ref name="closer" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jancelewicz |first1=Chris |title=Leah Remini reveals what happens when you reach the top of Scientology – National {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3721663/leah-remini-scientology-bridge-total-freedom/ |access-date=7 March 2019 |work=globalnews.ca |date=6 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref>