Editing Thetan (section)

== Operating Thetan ==
{{Main|Operating Thetan}}

According to Scientology doctrine, a thetan exists whether operating a human body or not.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Church of Scientology |url=http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/catechism/pg008.html |title=Scientology Beliefs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623234936/http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/catechism/pg008.html |archive-date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=2006-03-28}}</ref> Scientology states that they can rehabilitate the human spirit to a state where the individual can operate with or without a flesh body. The term "operating thetan" would then apply as it does when an individual is operating a body. The [[Operating Thetan#OT levels|OT levels]] are the upper-level courses in Scientology.

The Church defines "Operating Thetan" as "knowing and willing cause over [[life]], [[thought]], and matter, energy, space and time ([[MEST (Scientology)|MEST]])."<ref>L. Ron Hubbard's Congress Lectures: Glossary, [http://www.lrh-books.com/mailings/congress/glossary.php#ot "OT"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117035746/http://www.lrh-books.com/mailings/congress/glossary.php#ot |date=2006-01-17 }}, Bridge Publications Inc.</ref>