Published on February 11, 2024, 12:45 am

The ultra-modern Allegiant Stadium, popularly referred to as the “Death Star” for its striking resemblance to the iconic Star Wars space station, has recently been thrusted into the global limelight. The stadium’s rather ominous aesthetic, boasting a jet-black exterior framed by ghostly white circular lights and an imposing 92-foot torch that is ceremoniously ignited before kickoff, stands as a perfect embodiment of an event that transcends mere entertainment – the Super Bowl.

Often enjoyed in the comfort of our own homes with a hearty spread of wings and chili, shared over big-screen TVs and booming surround sound systems; the Super Bowl is more than just a game. It’s an indelible aspect of pop culture that has held a sacred place in American society for more than half a century. Its first iteration kicked off in 1967, setting stage for unforgettable halftime shows that celebrated God, country, and quintessential American spirit in equal measure. As record-breaking viewership numbers corroborate each year – there’s something almost religious about this national spectacle.

But witnessing maiden showdowns at Las Vegas’ swanky new Death Star on February 11 – between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers – you may encounter religion of a different kind. Since 2013, Super Bowl commercial breaks have hosted yearly advertisements by the Church of Scientology. Each ad ends with an assertive declaration: We are supreme – we are creators.

Scientology celebrates us as architects of our own destiny and promises insights into harnessing this creative power to reshape our world on their terms. These advertisements cost anywhere between $6.5 million to $7 million for just thirty seconds exposure time to potentially 110 million captive audiences – clearly underpinning Scientology’s bold belief in venturing where their flock congregates.

The Church has been astoundingly successful in investing in these high-cost commercials since their debut spot christened ‘Knowledge’ reassured audiences that absolute truth is ours to discover. In the following years, these Super Bowl features have progressively struck a darker tone reflective of tumultuous times while persistently encouraging hope – that despite all, our resilience can best any adversity.

But amidst opulent promises of self-fulfillment and empowerment are subtle nuances revealing Scientology’s rigorous and costly auditing process at the heart of its practices. Auditing involves confessing worries and shortcomings to designated practitioners while stress levels are gauged through lie-detector-like E-Meters — thus implying one can unveil true meaning in life with Scientology’s guidance.

However, unlike traditional religious institutions, Scientology often talks about helping followers ascertain their lives’ purpose rather imposing its own interpretations on them. Consequently, they have managed to pull a significant chunk of youth disenchanted by conventional sacred avenues.

Scientology’s slick advertising strategies promising escape from existential dread seem to appeal effectively to this demographic which fundamental faiths may not have been able to retain or satisfy. This observation is apparent as recent data highlights an alarming decline in mainline Protestant denominations congregations’ root processing—more specifically, members who belong to prime child-rearing age groups barely make up 2% of those congregations.

Leveraging modern sociology studies, it becomes evident that people inherently yearn for purpose in life – something typically fulfilled by religious allegiance. It’s important to recognize that bad religion — a phenomenon involving collapse of traditional Christianity supplanted by pseudo-Christianities — counts self-worship and even Scientology as a part of itself.

Reflecting back upon last year’s Super Bowl advertisements lineup, we recall an exceptional and welcome spot for Christians titled “He Gets Us.” The campaign emphasized that Jesus understands our fallibility and offers his unwavering support whenever we stumble – an antithetic message compared to Scientology’s affirmation that we hold divine power within our beings.

Despite criticisms regarding high costs associated with producing the Christian ad campaign during the Super Bowl, its message was clear – Jesus loves everyone irrespective of who they are or whom they love. The conclusion being, while Scientology’s enlightening spots during the Super Bowl call upon us to acknowledge our divinity, it is comforting for Christian viewers to recognize that when life overwhelms us, Jesus is always there to lend a helping hand.

Henceforth, in line with our perennial commitment to deliver Trusted News from a Christian Worldview, we will continue sharing critical insights on real news trends shaping religion and society today.