Why Does the Church of Scientology Have a Cross?

For any Christian, the cross is more than a mere symbol. It is the sacred emblem of a faith built on the ultimate sacrifice and boundless love of Jesus Christ. It represents the hope of salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and the promise of eternal life. To see this powerful symbol displayed on a building or worn around the neck of a minister is to see a familiar signpost of one’s deepest beliefs. It is therefore understandable that seeing a cross—one that looks strikingly similar to the Christian cross—used prominently by the Church of Scientology can cause deep confusion, concern, and even a sense of offense.

This feeling is not misplaced. It comes from a place of reverence for what the cross truly signifies. The questions that arise are not just about curiosity; they are moral and spiritual. What does this symbol mean to Scientologists? How did they come to use it? And most importantly for a person of Christian faith, are the beliefs represented by the Scientology cross in any way compatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ?

This report seeks to bring clarity to these vital questions. It will guide the reader on a journey from the public, official explanations offered by the Church of Scientology to the more complex and often hidden history behind its symbols. We will explore the stark theological differences between the two crosses, examine the troubling historical context of the symbol’s adoption, and shed light on its potential occult origins. Finally, by considering the stance of the Christian church and listening to the powerful testimonies of those who have left Scientology, we will arrive at a clear and unambiguous answer, allowing the Christian reader to understand not just what the Scientology cross is what it represents in the starkest contrast to the cross of Calvary.

What Does the Church of Scientology Say Its Cross Means?

When asked about its most prominent religious emblem, the Church of Scientology provides an explanation that is rooted not in ancient scripture or divine revelation in the 20th-century writings of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. According to the organization, the Scientology cross was first conceived by Hubbard in 1954.¹ It is an eight-pointed cross, visually distinct from the traditional Christian cross due to four additional diagonal rays that emanate from the center, creating what Hubbard sometimes called a “sunburst” effect.²

The official meaning of this symbol is tied directly to a core concept in Scientology known as the “Eight Dynamics of Survival”.² Each of the eight points on the cross represents one of these dynamics, which are described as the fundamental urges or drives that encompass all aspects of life. The Church teaches that the ultimate goal is to achieve survival and harmony across all eight of these spheres.¹

The Eight Dynamics are presented as a comprehensive framework for existence, moving from the individual outward to the infinite:

1. The First Dynamic: Self. This is the most basic urge: the drive to survive as an individual, to be oneself, and to reach the fullest potential of one’s own existence.²
2. The Second Dynamic: Creativity and Family. This dynamic encompasses the urge to survive through creativity, which includes the creation of a family, the act of procreation, and the raising of children.²
3. The Third Dynamic: Group Survival. This represents the urge to survive as part of a group, whether it be a community, a society, a company, or a nation.²
4. The Fourth Dynamic: Mankind. This is the drive to survive as and for all of humanity. It represents the survival of the entire human species.²
5. The Fifth Dynamic: Life Forms. This dynamic expands the urge for survival to include all living things, such as animals, plants, and any other form of life.²
6. The Sixth Dynamic: The Physical Universe. This represents the urge for the survival of the physical universe itself, which Scientology defines as MEST: Matter, Energy, Space, and Time.²
7. The Seventh Dynamic: The Spiritual Dynamic. This is the urge toward existence as spirit or spiritual beings. It encompasses the spiritual dimension of life, with or without a personal identity.²
8. The Eighth Dynamic: Infinity or the Supreme Being. This is the final and ultimate dynamic, representing the urge toward existence as infinity. Scientology identifies this with the concept of a Supreme Being or the “allness of all”.²

The Church of Scientology presents this framework as a path to a more fulfilling life. The cross, in their official view, is a symbol of this path—a visual representation of the ability to live happily and in harmony with oneself, one’s family, one’s community, and the universe at large.¹

It is noteworthy that the language used to describe these dynamics is deliberately broad and accessible. Terms like “survival,” “harmony,” “potential,” and “creativity” are drawn more from the lexicon of modern self-help and psychology than from traditional religious discourse. This framing presents Scientology not as a system of faith to be accepted as a practical “technology” for personal improvement. The concept of a “Supreme Being” is placed last in this hierarchy of survival urges and is defined in vague, impersonal terms like “infinity,” making the entire system initially palatable to a secular, modern audience that might be wary of traditional dogma.⁶ This approach is a key part of its public-facing strategy, designed to attract newcomers by appealing to a universal desire for self-betterment.

How Is the Scientology Cross Different From the Christian Cross?

While a passing glance might suggest a kinship between the Scientology cross and the Christian cross, a closer examination reveals that they are worlds apart in both form and, more importantly, in their powerful theological meaning. The differences are not minor variations on a shared theme; they represent two fundamentally opposed worldviews.

Visually, the distinction is clear. The Christian cross is a simple, powerful intersection of a vertical and a horizontal beam, a stark reminder of the instrument of execution used at Calvary. The Scientology cross, by contrast, is a more ornate design. It is a classic Latin cross but with the addition of four diagonal rays placed between the primary arms, resulting in an eight-pointed “sunburst” shape.²

This visual difference points to a much deeper symbolic chasm. For Christians, the cross is the ultimate symbol of God’s redemptive love for humanity. It is entirely Christ-centered. It signifies the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who humbled Himself to die for the sins of the world. It is a symbol of grace, humility, and unmerited salvation offered by God to man. The empty cross, as used in many Protestant traditions, further symbolizes the resurrection—Christ’s victory over death, which is the cornerstone of Christian hope and the promise of eternal life. Every aspect of the Christian cross points away from the self and toward God’s action in history.

The Scientology cross is entirely human-centered. Its meaning, as defined by the Eight Dynamics, is focused on the individual’s own efforts to survive and expand across various spheres of existence.¹ It is a symbol of self-actualization, of man’s journey to achieve his own potential and harmony with the universe through the application of Scientology’s principles. The focus is not on what God has done for humanity on what humanity can do for itself.

The Church of Scientology is explicit in its attempt to distance its symbol from Christianity’s, stating that its cross is “not associated with the Christian cross”.⁸ This statement operates on a purely rhetorical and legal level. It ignores the powerful and unavoidable cultural reality of what the cross represents in the Western world. By choosing a shape so visually reminiscent of Christianity’s most sacred icon, the organization engages in a strategic act of symbolic appropriation.

This act leverages the centuries of cultural legitimacy, reverence, and deference afforded to the Christian cross. To the uninformed observer, the presence of a cross lends an air of traditional religious authenticity to Scientology’s buildings and ministers. This creates an association in the public mind, whether intended or not. As some observers in Christian communities have noted with concern, the use of the cross appears to be a deliberate tactic to be associated with a legitimate religion rather than being seen as a “crazy money-grabbing space cult”.⁹ The claim of “no association” functions as a defense against accusations of co-opting or blasphemy the visual choice itself serves to borrow a credibility that the organization might not otherwise possess. It is an attempt to wear the costume of Christianity without embracing its soul.

What Is the Real History of the Scientology Cross?

The story of how the Scientology cross came to be is a study in contrasts, pitting the organization’s romanticized official narrative against a well-documented history of strategic rebranding in the face of crisis. The timing and context of the symbol’s adoption reveal that its purpose was likely far more pragmatic than spiritual.

The Official Origin Story

According to a 1955 article in Scientology’s own Ability magazine, the origin of the cross is presented as a serendipitous discovery by founder L. Ron Hubbard. The story claims that the design was based on a sand casting of a cross that Hubbard personally “dug up” from the site of a “very ancient Spanish mission in Arizona”.² This narrative is compelling because it imbues the symbol with a sense of antiquity, mystery, and a historical connection to a Christian tradition, even if a distant one. By linking the cross to an “ancient Spanish mission,” the story subtly suggests a lineage and legitimacy that a new 20th-century movement would otherwise lack. Hubbard also referred to it as the “sunburst cross,” a name that evokes images of light and revelation.²

The Strategic Reality

Although the “dug up in Arizona” tale makes for a good story, the historical record points to a much more calculated reason for the cross’s introduction. The prominent display of the Scientology cross, along with the adoption of clerical attire such as black suits, vests, and white collars for its ministers (known as “auditors”), was formally instituted by a Hubbard Communications Office (HCO) Policy Letter in February 1969.²

To understand the significance of this date, one must look at the immense pressure the organization was under at the time. The late 1960s were a period of intense international hostility toward Scientology. It was facing scathing press coverage and government inquiries in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other nations.² Governments were openly questioning whether Scientology was a legitimate religion or a dangerous, commercially driven enterprise. In the UK, for example, the government had already moved to ban foreign Scientologists from entering the country to study at its Saint Hill Manor headquarters.¹⁰

This crisis was not new. From its inception, Scientology’s identity had been fluid. It began as “Dianetics,” which Hubbard launched in 1950 as “The Modern Science of Mental Health”.⁷ This framing as a therapy led to accusations of practicing medicine without a license. As early as 1953, Hubbard himself wrote a letter to a colleague proposing that Scientology should be transformed into a religion, noting, “I await your reaction on the religion angle,” and framing it as a “problem of practical business”.¹³ This move offered major advantages, including potential tax exemption and legal protections under the banner of religious freedom. The Church of Scientology was formally incorporated the following year, in 1954.⁷

The 1969 directive to adopt the visual trappings of a traditional religion—most notably the cross—was a direct continuation of this strategy. At a time when Scientology’s very existence was being threatened by governments and its public image was being tarnished, the organization needed to double down on its claim to be a church. By ordering its staff to dress like ministers and prominently display a cross, Hubbard was implementing a calculated public relations and legal defense strategy. The cross was not an emblem that emerged organically from the group’s core beliefs; it was a tool of “perception management,” adopted as a shield during a moment of existential crisis. The folksy origin story appears to be a convenient and romanticized cover for what was, in reality, a deeply cynical and pragmatic decision to secure the organization’s survival.

Does the Scientology Cross Have Occult Roots?

Beyond the official narrative and the history of its strategic adoption, there is a more disturbing layer to the story of the Scientology cross: its deep and undeniable connection to the world of 20th-century occultism. For a Christian reader, this link moves the discussion from the realm of theological difference to one of powerful spiritual concern. The evidence suggests that the cross is not merely a borrowed Christian symbol but is instead rooted in esoteric traditions that stand in direct opposition to Christian faith.

The Rosy Cross and Aleister Crowley

Numerous scholars, including Professor Hugh B. Urban, a leading expert on new religions, have pointed out the striking visual resemblance between the eight-pointed Scientology cross and the Rosy Cross (or Rose Cross).² The Rosy Cross is a complex esoteric symbol, most famously used by the

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secretive magical society of the late 19th century, and by its most infamous member, the 20th-century occultist Aleister Crowley.¹⁵

Crowley, who called himself “The Great Beast 666,” was a ceremonial magician whose life was dedicated to the practice of “magick” and the establishment of his religion, Thelema. The Rosy Cross was so central to his work that it appeared on the back of every card in his widely used “Thoth” tarot deck.² Although the Rosy Cross has a complex history with various interpretations, in these occult circles it often symbolized the union of opposites and the adept’s path to achieving spiritual power and enlightenment.¹⁸

L. Ron Hubbard’s Deep Involvement in the Occult

This connection is far more than a simple visual coincidence. L. Ron Hubbard’s personal history is steeped in the very occult traditions that revered the Rosy Cross. Before he created Dianetics, Hubbard was an active participant in occult practices:

• Rosicrucian Membership: In 1940, Hubbard joined the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), a Rosicrucian organization, and completed its first two neophyte degrees.¹⁵
• The Jack Parsons Association: The most major evidence of Hubbard’s occult activities comes from his time in 1945-1946 with John “Jack” Whiteside Parsons. Parsons was a brilliant rocket scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a devoted follower of Aleister Crowley, leading a lodge of Crowley’s magical order, the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), from his Pasadena mansion.¹⁵
• The Babalon Working: Hubbard moved in with Parsons and became his partner in complex magical rituals. Together, they conducted the “Babalon Working,” a series of ceremonies aimed at incarnating a divine feminine goddess, or “Moonchild,” as described in Crowley’s teachings. Hubbard served as Parsons’s “seer” or scribe during these rites.¹⁶
• Hubbard’s Praise for Crowley: Hubbard did not hide his admiration for Crowley. In recorded lectures from 1952, he referred to Crowley as “my very good friend” and recommended Crowley’s book The Master Therion to his followers.¹⁵
• The “Affirmations”: A key document linking Hubbard’s occult past to his later work is a text known as the “Affirmations,” written around 1946. In these private writings, Hubbard speaks of his “magical work” being “powerful and effective” and refers to a female “Guardian” spirit who advises him—a concept that directly echoes Crowley’s teachings on the “Holy Guardian Angel”.¹⁵

The theology of self-deification is the common thread that binds Crowley’s magick to Hubbard’s Scientology. The core purpose of Crowley’s system was for the magician to achieve god-like power and conform the universe to his own will.¹⁶ Similarly, the ultimate goal in Scientology is to become an “Operating Thetan” (OT), a spiritual being who has regained their original, native abilities to control matter, energy, space, and time—in effect, to become a god.²⁰ Both systems present themselves as a “science” or a “technology” to achieve this supreme state of being.¹⁶

Therefore, the Scientology cross is more than just a logo adopted for public relations. It is the outward emblem of a philosophy with deep roots in a specific occult worldview—a worldview that Christianity has historically identified as satanic or demonic in its promotion of self-deification over submission to God.²⁰ For the Christian observer, this connection reveals that the symbol’s foundation is not merely different spiritually antagonistic.

What Is the Catholic Church’s Stance on Scientology?

For many Catholics seeking to understand Scientology, a primary question is what the Church itself has said about this organization. Although the Vatican has not issued a specific papal encyclical or formal decree entitled “On Scientology,” this absence should not be mistaken for ignorance or approval.²¹ The Catholic Church’s position is understood not through a single pronouncement by applying its consistent and centuries-old doctrinal framework to the teachings of Scientology. When this is done, the conclusion is clear and unwavering: Scientology is fundamentally incompatible with the Catholic faith.

Scientology as a Modern Gnostic Cult

Catholic theologians and commentators who have examined Scientology’s belief system consistently identify it as a modern form of Gnosticism.²² Gnosticism was one of the first major heresies that the early Church Fathers confronted and condemned. It is not merely a different religion a worldview that directly undermines the core truths of Christianity. The parallels between ancient Gnosticism and modern Scientology are striking:

• Salvation Through Secret Knowledge: The central tenet of Gnosticism is that salvation is not achieved through faith in Christ through the attainment of special, secret knowledge (in Greek, gnosis). Scientology mirrors this perfectly. A person is “saved” or becomes “Clear” not through grace by progressing through a series of expensive and secret levels of teaching and a form of therapy called “auditing”.²¹
• Man as a Trapped God: Gnostics believed that human beings are divine sparks or spirits trapped within the prison of an evil material body. Scientology teaches an almost identical doctrine: that humans are actually immortal, god-like spiritual beings called “thetans” who have forgotten their true nature and are trapped in the physical universe of Matter, Energy, Space, and Time (MEST).²⁰
• The Material World as an Enemy: In both Gnostic and Scientologist thought, the physical world is not God’s good creation but an impediment to be overcome or escaped.²¹

Direct Contradictions with Catholic Doctrine

These Gnostic beliefs put Scientology in direct and irreconcilable opposition to fundamental Catholic teachings:

• The First Commandment: The Catholic Church teaches that humanity is the creation of God, made in His image. The idea that man is himself a god is a form of self-worship, which is a grave violation of the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me”.²²
• Reincarnation: Scientology’s belief in past lives and endless reincarnation is in direct conflict with the clear teaching of Scripture and Church Tradition. As the Letter to the Hebrews states, “it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).²² There is no cycle of rebirth; there is one life, followed by a final judgment and an eternal destiny.
• The Nature of Salvation: In Catholicism, salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, won for humanity by the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and communicated through faith and the sacraments. In Scientology, “salvation” is a product to be purchased, a “technology” that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to fully access.²⁰
• The Role of Christ: Scientology disavows Christ, teaching that He is an “engram” (a negative mental image) or a fictional “implant” that must be cleared from one’s mind to achieve spiritual freedom.²² This is a direct assault on the person of Jesus Christ, who is the center of the Catholic faith.

The Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, is tasked with promoting and safeguarding Catholic doctrine.²⁴ Although It may not name every new religious movement, its documents provide the principles for discernment. For example, the Vatican has published reflections on “New Age” and other modern spiritualities, warning that they often propose theories about God, man, and the world that are “incompatible with the Christian Faith”.²⁵ This is the framework through which a faithful Catholic is called to evaluate groups like Scientology. The Church’s method is not to provide an exhaustive list of forbidden groups to equip its members with the doctrinal tools to recognize truth from error for themselves. When these tools are applied, Scientology is clearly revealed as a Gnostic system that stands in opposition to the Gospel.

Can You Be a Christian and a Scientologist?

This is perhaps the most crucial question for any Christian exploring this topic. Given that Scientology sometimes presents itself as compatible with other religions, can a person hold to the teachings of Jesus Christ while also embracing the doctrines of L. Ron Hubbard? The answer, based on a direct comparison of their core beliefs, is an unequivocal and resounding no. The two systems are not only different; they are fundamentally and irreconcilably opposed.

The initial claims of compatibility made by Scientology are a common tactic used to ease the concerns of new recruits.²⁰ People are often told they can be a Christian and a Scientologist this is only true at the most superficial, introductory level. As a person advances deeper into Scientology’s teachings—a process that requires immense financial and personal commitment—they discover a theology that is not just non-Christian aggressively anti-Christian.²³

The most powerful and unbridgeable chasm lies in their respective views of Jesus Christ. Christianity is, by definition, a faith centered on the person and work of Jesus as the divine Son of God and the world’s only Savior. Scientology’s advanced, secret teachings present a view of Christ that is horrifically blasphemous from a Christian perspective. L. Ron Hubbard taught his followers that the story of Christ was a fiction, an “implant” electronically installed in the human memory millions of years ago by a galactic tyrant named Xenu.²³ In other writings, Hubbard made the vile and baseless claim that Jesus was a “lover of young boys” given to “uncontrollable bursts of temper”.²⁰

Most disturbingly, Hubbard positioned himself and his mission as being in direct opposition to Christ. He claimed to be the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy of the Antichrist, whose purpose was to prevent the Second Coming of Jesus.²⁰ A belief system that defines its founder as the Antichrist cannot, by any stretch of logic or faith, be compatible with Christianity.

To make these stark differences perfectly clear, the following table provides a side-by-side comparison of the core beliefs of Christianity and Scientology.

Core Beliefs: Christianity vs. Scientology

This table illustrates that on every fundamental point of theology—the nature of God, the identity of Jesus, the state of humanity, the problem of existence, and the path to salvation—Scientology proposes a doctrine that is a direct contradiction of Christian truth. Therefore, a person must ultimately choose one path or the other. To embrace Scientology is to reject the foundational tenets of the Christian faith.

What Do Ex-Members Say About the Cross and the Church?

Although theological analysis and historical research provide a crucial framework for understanding Scientology, the most powerful and heartbreaking truths often come from the lived experiences of those who have escaped the organization. The testimonies of former members, including high-ranking officials, paint a grim picture of the reality behind the religious facade. For them, the Scientology cross is not a symbol of harmony and survival an emblem of deception and control that shields a system of alleged abuse.

The Voices of Former Insiders

High-profile former members like actress Leah Remini and one-time senior executive Mike Rinder have become outspoken critics, using their platforms to expose the disconnect between Scientology’s public image and its internal practices. Their work, including the Emmy-winning docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath and their respective memoirs, Troublemaker and A Billion Years, provides a harrowing look inside the organization.²⁸

Although their work does not focus specifically on the symbolism of the cross, it provides the essential context for what that symbol is used to protect. They describe a high-control organization that allegedly uses its religious status as a weapon. Key allegations brought forth by Remini, Rinder, and countless other former members include:

• The Policy of “Disconnection”: Members are forced to sever all ties with family and friends who are critical of Scientology. Those who leave or speak out are declared a “Suppressive Person,” and their loved ones still inside the church are ordered to shun them completely, leading to the destruction of families.³¹
• Financial Ruin: Members are pressured to donate enormous sums of money for auditing and training courses, often going into severe debt, taking out second mortgages, and sacrificing their financial well-being in the belief that it is the only path to salvation.²¹
• Psychological and Physical Abuse: Former members of the Sea Org, Scientology’s clergy-like workforce, have described horrific conditions, including forced manual labor, imprisonment in a detention facility known as “The Hole,” and coerced abortions to ensure members remain dedicated to their work.²¹ Mike Rinder, as the former head of the Office of Special Affairs, has confessed that his job was to silence and destroy anyone deemed an “enemy” of the Church.³²

The Cross as a Shield

For these former members, the symbols of religion, like the cross and the ministerial collars, are not just deceptive marketing—they are instruments of a larger strategy. By cloaking itself in the protections afforded to a religion, particularly in the United States, Scientology has been able to operate in ways that a secular organization could not.²¹ When faced with lawsuits or investigations into these alleged abuses, the organization often claims it is the victim of religious persecution, using its tax-exempt “church” status as a defense.³¹

This perspective is echoed in Christian communities online, where the Scientology cross is often viewed with deep suspicion. Members of these forums describe the symbol as having an “incredibly sinister vibe” and making them “bristle”.⁹ They articulate the core issue with piercing clarity: “You know they’re using it deliberately so people associate a legitimate religion with it instead of thinking ‘crazy money-grabbing space cult'”.⁹

This convergence of testimony—from high-ranking defectors to everyday Christians—reveals a painful consensus. The Scientology cross is seen as a symbol of powerful betrayal. It is the emblem of what Lawrence Wright famously termed the “prison of belief”.²¹ Its use is not just an appropriation of a Christian symbol for legitimacy; it is perceived as an active and cynical tool used to enable and protect what countless individuals have described as systematic and devastating human rights abuses.

A Symbol of Deception or a Path to Survival?

The journey to understand why the Church of Scientology uses a cross begins with a simple question but ends with a complex and deeply troubling answer. We have moved from the organization’s benign public explanation to the stark realities of its history, theology, and the painful experiences of its former followers.

The Church of Scientology presents its eight-pointed cross as a modern symbol of hope—a representation of one’s quest for survival and harmony across all facets of life. It is framed as a universal emblem for a universal aspiration. But the evidence reveals a different story. The historical record shows that the cross was not an original, core symbol of L. Ron Hubbard’s movement was adopted strategically in 1969 as a defensive measure, a piece of religious costuming put on at a time of intense public scrutiny to secure the legal and social protections afforded to a church.

Deeper still, the symbol’s origins are not found in an ancient Spanish mission, as the official story claims appear to be rooted in the 20th-century occultism of Aleister Crowley. The Scientology cross bears a striking resemblance to the Rosy Cross, a key emblem for Crowley and his magical orders. This connection is not merely visual; it is ideological. Both Scientology and Crowley’s “magick” promote a theology of self-deification, a path where the individual, through esoteric knowledge and technique, seeks to attain god-like power.

This worldview stands in absolute and irreconcilable opposition to Christianity. Where the Christian cross points to salvation through God’s grace, freely given through the sacrifice of His Son, the Scientology cross points to self-salvation through a costly and elaborate technology. Where Christianity venerates Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Scientology’s advanced doctrines dismiss Him as a fictional “implant” and cast its own founder as the Antichrist who came to prevent His return. For these reasons, Christian leaders and theologians have identified Scientology not as a compatible faith as a modern Gnostic cult, a revival of an ancient heresy that seeks to replace the grace of God with the secret knowledge of man.

Finally, the heartbreaking testimonies of ex-members transform this theological debate into a matter of urgent moral concern. They describe the cross not as a symbol of harmony as a shield used to protect an alleged system of financial exploitation, psychological abuse, and the forced separation of families.

Armed with this knowledge, a Christian can now see the Scientology cross with clarity. It is not a confusing cousin to their own sacred symbol. It is something else entirely: a symbol whose official meaning masks a strategic history, whose occult roots point to a theology of self-worship, and whose purpose, in the eyes of many who have escaped, is to provide cover for a system that causes powerful human suffering. The contrast could not be more stark. One cross represents the ultimate act of self-giving love for the salvation of others. The other, it appears, represents the ultimate quest for self-power, at any cost.

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