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{{Short description|Beliefs and practices and associated movement}} | |||
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{{Scientology sidebar}} | |||
'''Scientology''' is a set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author ], and an associated movement. It is variously defined as a ], a ], a ], or a ].{{refn|name=Varidef|{{sfn|Behar|1991}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kent |first=Stephen A. |author-link=Stephen A. Kent |title=Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field |title-link=Misunderstanding Cults |publisher=] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8020-8188-9 |editor-last=Zablocki |editor-first=Benjamin |editor-link=Benjamin Zablocki |pages=349–358 |language=en |chapter=Brainwashing Programs in The Family/Children of God and Scientology |editor-last2=Robbins |editor-first2=Thomas |editor-link2=Thomas Robbins (sociologist)}}</ref>{{r|andersonreport|p=179|quote=In reality it is a dangerous medical cult}}<ref name=Edge2006>{{Cite book |last=Edge |first=Peter W.|title=Religion and law: an introduction |publisher=] |url=https://www.routledge.com/Religion-and-Law-An-Introduction/Edge/p/book/9780754630487|access-date=July 3, 2020|date=2006| isbn=978-0-7546-3048-7}}</ref>{{sfn|Hunt|de Puig|Espersen|1992|p=668}}{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}}{{sfn|Urban|2011}}{{sfn|Halupka|2014}}<ref name="Westbrook18">{{Cite journal |last1=Westbrook |first1=Donald A. |title=The Art of PR War: Scientology, the Media, and Legitimation Strategies for the 21st Century |journal=] |publisher=]|date=August 10, 2018 |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=373–395 |doi=10.1177/0008429818769404|s2cid=149581057 | issn = 0008-4298 }}</ref><ref name="urban2015">{{Cite book |last=Urban|first=Hugh B.|author-link=Hugh Urban |year=2015|title=New Age, Neopagan, and New Religious Movements: Alternative Spirituality in Contemporary America |publisher=] |location=Berkeley |isbn=978-0-520-28117-2 |page=144 |url=https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520281172/new-age-neopagan-and-new-religious-movements|access-date=July 3, 2020}}</ref>}} Hubbard initially developed a set of ideas that he called ], which he represented as a form of therapy. An organization that he established in 1950 to promote it went bankrupt, and Hubbard lost the rights to his book '']'' in 1952. He then recharacterized his ideas as a religion, likely for tax purposes, and renamed them Scientology.{{sfn|Urban|2011}}{{sfn|Miller|2016|p=220}}<ref name="Aviv LRB 2012">{{Cite journal |last1=Aviv |first1=Rachel |title=Religion, grrrr |journal=London Review of Books |date=January 26, 2012 |volume=34 |issue=2 |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n02/rachel-aviv/religion-grrrr |access-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506010947/https://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n02/rachel-aviv/religion-grrrr |archive-date=May 6, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> By 1954, he had regained the rights to ''Dianetics'' and founded the ], which remains the largest organization promoting Scientology. There are practitioners independent of the Church, in what is referred to as the ]. Estimates put the number of Scientologists at under 40,000 worldwide. | |||
], circa 1970]] | |||
Key Scientology beliefs include ], and that traumatic events cause subconscious command-like recordings in the mind (termed "]") that can be removed only through an activity called "]". A fee is charged for each session of "auditing". Once an "auditor" deems an individual free of "engrams" they are given the status of "]". Scholarship differs on the interpretation of these beliefs: some academics regard them as religious in nature; other scholars regard them as merely a means of extracting money from Scientology recruits. After attaining "clear" status, adherents can take part in the ] levels, which require further payments. The Operating Thetan texts are kept secret from most followers; they are revealed only after adherents have typically given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Scientology organization.{{sfnm|1a1=Cowan|1a2=Bromley|1y=2015|1p=27|2a1=Tobin|2y=2016|3a1=Shermer|3y=2020}} Despite its efforts to maintain the secrecy of the texts, they are freely available on various websites, including at the media organization ].{{sfn|Urban|2011|pages=186–188}}{{sfn|Urban|2021|page=174}} These texts say past lives took place in ].{{sfn|Christensen|2016}} They involve an alien called ], described as a planetary ruler 70 million years ago who brought billions of aliens to Earth and killed them with ]s. Despite being kept secret from most followers, this forms the central mythological framework of Scientology's ostensible ].{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=371}} These aspects have become the subject of popular ridicule. | |||
"l'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is." - L. Ron Hubbard | |||
Since its formation, Scientology groups have generated considerable opposition and controversy. This includes deaths of practitioners while under Church of Scientology care, several instances of extensive criminal activities, and allegations by former adherents of exploitation and forced abortions. In the 1970s, Hubbard's followers engaged in a ] of the ], resulting in several executives of the organization being ] by a U.S. federal court. Hubbard himself was convicted of ] ''in ]'' by a French court in 1978 and sentenced to four years in prison.<ref name="criticsabroad"/> In 1992, a court in Canada ] of spying on law enforcement and government agencies and criminal breach of trust, later upheld by the ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Barry |last2=Cooper |first2=David Y. |title=Toronto Church Faces Heavy Fine: Scientology Branch is Convicted of Spying on Police, Others |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/toronto-church-faces-heavy-fine-scientology-branch-is-convicted-of-spying-on-police-others/article_671948ed-5f3a-5867-bb1c-e56ba12bace1.html |location=Buffalo, NY |access-date=July 3, 2020 |work=] |date=August 19, 1992}}</ref><ref>{{Cite court |litigants=Regina v. Church of Scientology of Toronto |vol=33 |reporter=O.R. (3d) |opinion=65 |court=] |date=April 18, 1997 |url=https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/1997/1997canlii16226/1997canlii16226.html?resultIndex=38#document |access-date=July 3, 2020}}</ref> The Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud by a French court in 2009, a judgment upheld by the supreme ] in 2013.<ref name=TorygrFraud13/> | |||
'''Scientology''' is ] developed by ] science fiction author ]. Hubbard began Scientology in ] as a ] ], an outgrowth of his earlier self-help system, ], and later described it as a new ]. He said that it offered an exact ] to help ]s achieve awareness of their spiritual ] across ] and, simultaneously, to become more effective in the physical world. The name "Scientology" is also used to refer to the often ] ], the largest organization promoting the practice of Scientology, which is itself part of a network of affiliated organizations that claim ownership and sole authority to disseminate Dianetics and Scientology. | |||
The Church of Scientology has been described by government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous superior court judgments as both a dangerous cult and a ].{{refn|{{sfn|Behar|1991}}{{r|andersonreport|p=179|quote=In reality it is a dangerous medical cult}}<ref name=Edge2006/>{{sfn|Hunt|de Puig|Espersen|1992|p=668}}<ref name="auto1">{{Cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Scientology (Written answer) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1968/jul/25/scientology |house=House of Commons |date=July 25, 1968 |column_start=189 |column_end=191W}}</ref><ref name="auto5">{{Cite report |last=Cottrell |first=Richard |year=1984 |title=The Activity of Certain New Religions within the European Community |location=Strasbourg |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite report |author=Conseil d'Europe |year=1999 |title=European Council, Recommendation 1412: Concernant les activités illégales des sectes |location=Strasbourg |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Church of Scientology |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1996/dec/17/church-of-scientology |house=House of Lords |date=December 17, 1996 |column_start=1392|column_end=1394}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{Cite court |litigants=Hubbard and another v. Vosper and another|opinion=1 All ER 1023|court=] |date=November 19, 1971 |url=https://uniset.ca/other/cs3/vosper.html |access-date=June 30, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite court |litigants=RE B & G (Minors: Custody)|opinion=F.L.R. 493|court=] |date=September 19, 1984 |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/appeal.html |access-date=June 30, 2019}}</ref>}} Numerous scholars and journalists have observed that profit is the primary motivating goal of the Scientology organization.{{sfnm|1a1=Beit-Hallahmi|1y=2003|2a1=Passas|2a2=Castillo|2y=1992|3a1=Sappell|3a2=Welkos|3y=1990a|4a1=Tobin|4y=2016}} Following extensive litigation in numerous countries,<ref name=RichaLew09Court>{{harvnb|Richardson|2009}}</ref><ref name=Carobene14/> the organization has managed to attain a legal recognition as a religious institution in some jurisdictions, including Australia,<ref name=HCOA1983>{{Cite AustLII|HCA|40|1983|litigants=Church of the New Faith v Commissioner of Pay-roll Tax (Vict) |parallelcite=(1983) 154 ] 120 |courtname=auto}} "the evidence, in our view, establishes that Scientology must, for relevant purposes, be accepted as "a religion" in Victoria"</ref>{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=24}} Italy,<ref name=Carobene14/> and the United States.<ref name=NYTtaxrebel97>{{Cite news |first=Douglas |last=Frantz |title=Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html |work=] |date=March 9, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110012741/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 26, 2008 }}</ref> ] classifies Scientology groups as an anti-constitutional ],<ref name="spiegel.de">{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2007 |title=Hubbard's Church 'Unconstitutional': Germany Prepares to Ban Scientology |newspaper=] |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hubbard-s-church-unconstitutional-germany-prepares-to-ban-scientology-a-522052.html |access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="assemblee-nationale.fr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/rap-enq/r2468.asp|publisher=assemblee-nationale.fr|title= National Assembly of France report No. 2468 |access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> while the ] classifies the group as a dangerous cult.<ref name="auto6">A 1995 ] report lists Scientology groups as ]s, and in its 2006 report ] similarly classified Scientology organizations as a dangerous ]. </ref><ref name="NouvelObs">{{Cite web|date=2009-05-26|title=Le point sur l'Eglise de Scientologie|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20090525.OBS8000/le-point-sur-l-eglise-de-scientologie.html|access-date=2023-01-28|website=L'Obs|language=fr}}</ref> | |||
==Definition and classification== | |||
The sociologist ] views the Church of Scientology as "a multifaceted ], only one element of which is religious".{{sfn|Kent|1999|p=4}} In his history of the Church of Scientology, the scholar ] describes Scientology as a "huge, complex, and multifaceted movement".{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=9}} | |||
Government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous superior court judgments describe Scientology both as a dangerous ] and as a ]. These institutions and scholars state that Scientology is not a religion.{{refn|{{sfn|Behar|1991}}{{r|andersonreport|p=179|quote=In reality it is a dangerous medical cult}}<ref name=Edge2006/>{{sfn|Hunt|de Puig|Espersen|1992|p=668}}<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto"/>}}{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=17}}{{sfn|Willms|2009|p=257}} | |||
Scientology has experienced multiple schisms during its history.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=141}} While the ] was the original promoter of the movement, various independent groups have split off to form independent Scientology groups. Referring to the "different types of Scientology", the scholar of religion Aled Thomas suggests it was appropriate to talk about "Scientologies".{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=ix, 113, 130, 161}} | |||
Urban describes Scientology as representing a "rich syncretistic blend" of sources, including elements from ] and ], ], new scientific ideas, science-fiction, and from psychology and popular self-help literature available by the mid-20th century.{{sfn|Urban|2012|p=359}} The ceremonies, structure of the prayers, and minister attire suggested by Hubbard reflect his own Protestant traditions.{{sfn|Willms|2009|p=253}} | |||
Hubbard claimed that Scientology was "all-denominational",{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=40}} and members of the Scientology organization are not prohibited from active involvement in religions.{{sfnm|1a1=Cusack|1y=2009|1p=397|2a1=Flinn|2y=2009|2p=210|3a1=Lewis|3y=2009a|3p=6|4a1=Westbrook|4y=2019|4p=40}} Scholar of religion Donald Westbrook encountered members who also practiced Judaism, Christianity, ], and the ]; one was a ] minister.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=40}} In practice, however, Westbrook noted that most Church members consider Scientology to be their only commitment, and the deeper their involvement became, the less likely they were to continue practicing other traditions.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=40}} | |||
===Debates over classification=== | |||
Debate as to whether Scientology should be regarded as a cult, a business, a scam, or a religion has continued over many years.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=447|2a1=Grünschloß|2y=2009|2p=225|3a1=Beit-Hallahmi|3y=2003|4a1=Cowan|4a2=Bromley|4y=2015|5a1=Shermer|5y=2020}} Many Scientologists consider it to be their religion.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1y=2009|1p=42|2a1=Cowan|2y=2009|2p=57|3a1=Dericquebourg|3y=2009|3p=165|4a1=Willms|4y=2009|4p=245|5a1=Westbrook|5y=2019|5p=2}} Its founder, ], presented it as a religion,{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=663}} but the early history of the Scientology organization, and Hubbard's policy directives, letters, and instructions to subordinates, indicate that his motivation for doing so was as a legally pragmatic move to minimize his tax burden and escape the possibility of prosecution.{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}}{{sfn|Kent|1996|pp=30–32|loc=While researchers must not minimise financial motives for Hubbard's decision to present Scientology as a religion in the early 1950s, they must also not neglect the fact that occasionally Hubbard's followers across the United States were being arrested for practicing medicine without licenses...Hubbard proclaimed in 1950 that, with the proper application of the techniques he outlined, "arthritis vanishes, myopia gets better, heart illness decreases, asthma disappears, stomachs function properly, and the whole catalogue of ills goes away and stays away". Because of claims such as these (to which Scientology still adheres), the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners accused the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc. of "operating a school for the treatment of disease without a license" in January, 1951, which contributed to the organisation's departure from Elizabeth, New Jersey, in April—prior to its pending trial in May...in late 1953 or early 1954, a Glendale, California, Dianeticist or Scientologist apparently spent ten days in jail for "practicising medicine without a license". Reacting to an emerging pattern of arrests, Hubbard (in December, 1953) incorporated three religious organisations in New Jersey: the Church of American Science, The Church of Scientology, and The Church of Spiritual Engineering}} In many countries, the Church of Scientology has engaged in extensive litigation to secure recognition as a tax-exempt religious organization,{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=468}} and it has managed to obtain such a status in a few jurisdictions, including the United States, Italy, and Australia.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=17}}{{sfn|Willms|2009|p=245}} The organization has not received recognition as a religious institution in the majority of countries in which it operates.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=666}} | |||
An article in the magazine '']'', "]", describes Scientology as a ruthless global ].{{sfn|Behar|1991}} The Church of Scientology's attempts to sue the publishers for libel and to prevent republication abroad were dismissed.{{sfn|Lewis|Hellesøy|2017|p=xvii}} Scholarship in ] and ] supports this view of Scientology as a confidence trick to obtain money from its targets.{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}}{{sfn|Shermer|2020}} The scholar ] observes that "the majority of activities conducted by Scientology and its many fronts and subsidiaries involve the marketing of secular products."{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}} In a report by the ], it is observed that the group "is a cool, cynical, manipulating business and nothing else."{{sfn|Hunt|de Puig|Espersen|1992|p=668}} | |||
Scholars and journalists note that profit is the primary motivating goal of Hubbard's Scientology groups.{{sfnm|1a1=Beit-Hallahmi|1y=2003|2a1=Passas|2a2=Castillo|2y=1992|3a1=Sappell|3a2=Welkos|3y=1990a|4a1=Tobin|4y=2016}} Those making this observation have often referred to a governing financial policy issued by Hubbard that is to be obeyed by all Scientology organization staff members,{{sfn|Helton|Münker|1999}} which includes the following :{{sfnm|1a1=Senn|1y=1990|2a1=Passas|2a2=Castillo|2y=1992|3a1=Beit-Hallahmi|3y=2003|4a1=Behar|4y=1991|5a1=Harman|5y=2012}}{{blockquote |text=Make sure that lots of bodies move through the shop...A. MAKE MONEY. ... J. MAKE MONEY. K. MAKE MORE MONEY. L. MAKE OTHER PEOPLE PRODUCE SO AS TO MAKE MONEY...However you get them in or why, just do it.}} | |||
Some ] have referred to Scientology as a religion.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1a2=Stark|1y=1980|1p=128|2a1=Rothstein|2y=2004|2p=110|3a1=Lewis|3y=2009c|3pp=35, 103, 196|6a1=Halupka|6y=2014|6p=616|7a1=Westbrook|7y=2019|7p=2}} The sociologist Bryan R. Wilson compares Scientology with 20 criteria that he associated with religion and concludes that the movement could be characterised as such. {{sfnm|1a1=Kent|1y=1999|1p=3|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=447}} Wilson's criteria include: a cosmology that describes a human reality beyond terrestrial existence; ethics and behavior teachings that are based on this cosmology; prescribed ways for followers to connect with spiritual beings; and a congregation that believes in and helps spread its teachings.<ref>{{Cite journal | last=Dericquebourg | first=Régis | title=Scientology | journal=Nova Religio | volume=20 | issue=4 | date=2017-05-01 | issn=1092-6690 | doi=10.1525/nr.2017.20.4.5 | pages=5–12}}</ref> Allan W. Black analysed Scientology through the seven "dimensions of religion" set forward by the scholar ] and also decided that Scientology met those criteria for being a religion.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=447}} The sociologist ] noted that there was a "strong body of evidence to suggest that it makes sense to regard Scientology as a religion",{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=474}} while scholar of religion ] comments that "it is obvious that Scientology is a religion".{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=146}} The scholar Mikael Rothstein observes that the Scientology "is best understood as a devotional cult aimed at revering the mythologized founder of the organization".{{sfn|Rothstein|2016}} | |||
Numerous religious studies scholars have described Scientology as a ].{{sfnm |1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=471 |2a1=Lewis|2y=2009c|2pp=53, 84, 184, ''et passim'' |3a1=Urban|3y=2012|3p=335}} Various scholars have also considered it within the category of ],{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=18}} while the scholar of religion ] noted that it was "closely linked" to ]s,{{sfn|Grünschloß|2009|p=238}} as science-fiction themes are evident in its theology.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=15}} Scholars have also varyingly described it as a "psychotherapeutically oriented religion",{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=133}} a "secularized religion",{{sfn|Grünschloß|2009|p=237}} a "postmodern religion",{{sfnm|1a1=Grünschloß|1y=2009|1p=238 |2a1=Rothstein|2y=2009|2p=365}} a "privatized religion",{{sfn|Andersen|Wellendorf|2009|p=143}} and a "progressive-knowledge" religion.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=452}} According to scholar of religion Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Scientology describes itself as drawing on science, religion, psychology and philosophy but "has been claimed by none of them and repudiated, for the most part, by all".<ref name="Bednarowski">{{Cite book|first=Mary Farrell |last=Bednarowski |chapter=The Church of Scientology: Lightning Rod for Cultural Boundary Conflicts |editor=Timothy Miller |title=America's Alternative Religions |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-7914-2397-4 |publisher=SUNY Press |ol=1092279M |page=388}}</ref> | |||
Government bodies and other institutions maintain that the Scientology organization is a commercial business that falsely claims to be religious,{{sfnm|1a1=Cowan|1y=2009|1p=57|2a1=Dericquebourg|2y=2009|2p=165}} or alternatively a form of therapy masquerading as religion. {{sfn|Flinn|2009|p=213}} The French government characterises the movement as a dangerous cult, and the German government monitors it as an anti-democratic sect.<ref name="spiegel.de"/><ref name="assemblee-nationale.fr"/><ref name="auto6"/><ref name="NouvelObs"/> | |||
The notion of Scientology as a religion is strongly opposed by the ].{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=3}} Its claims to a religious identity have been particularly rejected in continental Europe.{{sfn|Willms|2009|p=245}} Grünschloß writes that labelling Scientology a religion does not mean that it is "automatically promoted as harmless, nice, good, and humane".{{sfn|Grünschloß|2009|p=228}} The multi-faceted nature of the Church of Scientology that includes pedagogy, communication theories, management principles and methods for a healthy living discombobulated many observers when it first started. Dericquebourg comments that the same things can be found in established churches.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dericquebourg |first=Régis |date=2017 |title=Scientology: From the Edges to the Core |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26417718 |journal=Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=5–12 |issn=1092-6690}}</ref> | |||
===Etymology=== | |||
The word ''Scientology'', as coined by Hubbard, is a derivation from the ] word ''scientia'' ("knowledge", "skill"), which comes from the verb ''scīre'' ("to know"), with the suffix ], from the ] λόγος ''lógos'' ("word" or "account ").<ref>{{harvnb|Cusack|2009|p=394}}</ref><ref>Benjamin J. Hubbard/John T. Hatfield/James A. Santucci ''An Educator's Classroom Guide to America's Religious Beliefs and Practices'', p. 89, Libraries Unlimited, 2007 {{ISBN|978-1-59158-409-4}}</ref> Hubbard claimed that the word "Scientology" meant "''knowing about knowing'' or ''science of knowledge''".{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=64}} The name "Scientology" deliberately makes use of the word "science",{{sfnm|1a1=Rothstein|1y=2004|1p=110|2a1=Bigliardi|2y=2016|2p=666}} seeking to benefit from the "prestige and perceived legitimacy" of ] in the public imagination.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=136}} In doing so, Scientology has been compared to religious groups like ] and the ], which employed similar tactics.{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009a|1p=8|2a1=Lewis|2y=2012|2p=136}} | |||
The term "Scientology" had been used in published works at least twice before Hubbard.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=64}} In ''The New Word'' (1901), poet and lawyer ] first used scientology to mean blind, unthinking acceptance of scientific doctrine (compare ]).{{Sfn|Atack|1990|p=128}}<ref name="upward">{{Cite book |title=The New Word : An open letter addressed to the Swedish academy in Stockholm on the meaning of the word idealist |first=Allen |last=Upward |author-link=Allen Upward |year=1914 |orig-year=1907 |ol=14030703M |publisher=Kennerley |pages=139, 149}}</ref> In 1934, philosopher ] published ''Scientology: Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge'', which used the term to mean the ].{{r|malko|pp=116-9}}<ref name="nordenholz">{{Cite book |title=Scientologie, Wissenschaft von der Beschaffenheit und der Tauglichkeit des Wissens |language=de |trans-title=Scientology: Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge |year=1934 |first=Anastasius |last=Nordenholz |author-link=Anastasius Nordenholz |oclc=249980578}}</ref> It is unknown whether Hubbard was aware of either prior usage of the word.{{r|malko|pp=116-9}}{{r|wallis|p=111}} | |||
==History== | |||
{{main|History of Dianetics and Scientology}} | |||
{{For timeline}} | |||
As the 1950s developed, Hubbard saw the advantages of having his Scientology movement legally recognised as a religion.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=58}} In an April 1953 letter to Helen O'Brien, his US business manager, he proposed that Scientology should be transformed into a religion: "We don't want a clinic. We want one in operation but not in name...It is a problem of practical business. I await your reaction on the religion angle".{{sfnm|1a1=Beit-Hallahmi|1y=2003|2a1=Urban|2y=2011|2p=65}} In reaction to a series of arrests of his followers, and the prosecution of Hubbard's Dianetics foundation for teaching medicine without a license, in December 1953 Hubbard incorporated three organizations – Church of American Science, Church of Scientology, and Church of Spiritual Engineering.{{sfn|Kent|1996|pp=30–32|loc=While researchers must not minimise financial motives for Hubbard's decision to present Scientology as a religion in the early 1950s, they must also not neglect the fact that occasionally Hubbard's followers across the United States were being arrested for practicing medicine without licenses...Hubbard proclaimed in 1950 that, with the proper application of the techniques he outlined, "arthritis vanishes, myopia gets better, heart illness decreases, asthma disappears, stomachs function properly, and the whole catalogue of ills goes away and stays away". Because of claims such as these (to which Scientology still adheres), the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners accused the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc. of "operating a school for the treatment of disease without a license" in January, 1951, which contributed to the organisation's departure from Elizabeth, New Jersey, in April—prior to its pending trial in May...in late 1953 or early 1954, a Glendale, California, Dianeticist or Scientologist apparently spent ten days in jail for "practicising medicine without a license". Reacting to an emerging pattern of arrests, Hubbard (in December, 1953) incorporated three religious organisations in New Jersey: the Church of American Science, The Church of Scientology, and The Church of Spiritual Engineering}}<ref name="Bare-faced Messiah220">{{harvnb|Miller|1987|pp=}}</ref> In 1959, Hubbard purchased ] in East Grinstead, Sussex, United Kingdom, which became the worldwide headquarters of the Church of Scientology and his personal residence. | |||
With the organization often under heavy criticism, it adopted strong measures of attack in dealing with its critics.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=463}} | |||
In 1966, the organization established the ] (GO), a department devoted to undermining those hostile towards Scientology.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=466|2a1=Melton|2y=2009|2p=25}} The GO launched an extensive program of countering negative publicity, gathering intelligence, and infiltrating organizations.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=25}} In "]", the GO infiltrated the IRS and numerous other government departments and stole tens of thousands of documents pertaining to the Church, politicians, and celebrities.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=467}} In July 1977, the ] raided Church premises in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, revealing the extent of the GO's infiltration into government departments and other groups.{{sfn|Melton|2009|pp=27-28}} Eleven officials and agents of the Church were indicted; in December 1979, they were sentenced to between 4 and 5 years each and individually fined $10,000 ({{inflation|US|10000|1979|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=28}}{{inflation/fn|US}} Among those found guilty was Hubbard's then-wife, Mary Sue Hubbard.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=467}} Public revelation of the GO's activities brought widespread condemnation of the Church.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=28}} | |||
In 1967, Hubbard established a new group, the ] or "Sea Org", the membership of which was drawn from the most committed members of the Scientology organization.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1pp=464-465|2a1=Lewis|2y=2009a|2p=5|3a1=Melton|3y=2009|3p=26}} By 1981, the 21-year-old ], who had been one of Hubbard's closest aides in the Sea Org, rose to prominence.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=468}} Hubbard died at his ranch in Creston, California, on January 24, 1986, and David Miscavige succeeded Hubbard as head of the Church.{{Sfn|Miller|1987|pages=374-5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/l-ron-hubbards-last-refuge/Content?oid=2947906|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217013657/http://www.newtimesslo.com/cover/2628/l-ron-hubbards-last-refuge/|url-status=dead|title=L. Ron Hubbard's last refuge|first=Colin|last=Rigley|archive-date=December 17, 2013|website=New Times San Luis Obispo}}</ref> In 1993, the ] dropped all litigation against the Scientology organization and recognized it as a religious institution.{{sfnm |1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=3 |2a1=Lewis|2y=2009a|2p=7}} | |||
Hubbard stated that a goal of Scientology is to rehabilitate the ] (roughly equivalent to the ]) to regain its native state of "]." Church spokespeople and practitioners say that Hubbard's teachings (called "Technology" or "Tech" in ]) have saved them from many problems and enabled them to better realize their potential in business and in their personal lives.<ref>http://www.scientology.org/html/en_US/results/index.html</ref><ref>http://on-line.scientology.org/</ref> However, former members and outside observers—including journalists, lawmakers, and national governing bodies of several countries—have described the Church as an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses critics and defectors and exploits its members.<ref name="The Church's War">{{cite news |first = Richard |last = Leiby |author = Richard Leiby|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/06/AR2005070601351.html |title = Scientology Fiction: The Church's War Against Its Critics — and Truth |work = ] |page = C1 |date = ]| accessdate=2006-06-21}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Goodin | first=Dan | year=1999-06-03 | url = http://news.com.com/2100-1023-226676.html | title=Scientology subpoenas Worldnet | publisher=CNET News.com | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref> | |||
Although Scientologists are usually free to practice their beliefs, the organized church has often encountered opposition due to their strong-arm tactics against critics and members wishing to leave the organization. While a number of governments now view the Church as a religious organization entitled to the protections and tax relief that such status brings, others view it as a ], a ], or a "], only ''one'' element of which is religious".<ref></ref><ref>{{Cite paper | author=Hexham, Irving | title=The Religious Status of Scientology: Is Scientology a Religion? | publisher=University of Calgary | date=1978, rev. 1997 | url = http://www.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/papers/irving/scient.html | accessdate=2006-06-13 }}</ref><ref name="marburg">{{Cite paper | author= Kent, Stephen | title= Scientology -- Is this a Religion? | publisher=Marburg Journal of Religion | date=July 1999 | url=http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/kent.html | accessdate=2006-08-26}} Sociologist Kent, while acknowledging that a number of his colleagues accept Scientology as a religion, argues that "Rather than struggling over whether or not to label Scientology as a religion, I find it far more helpful to view it as a multifaceted transnational corporation, only ''one'' element of which is religious." (Italics in original.)</ref><ref>{{Cite paper | author=Beit-Hallahmi, Benjamin | title=Scientology: Religion or racket? | publisher=Marburg Journal of Religion |date=September 2003 | format=PDF | url=http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/pdf/2003/breit2003.pdf | accessdate=2006-06-14}} </ref> More recently, in 2007 the ] held that the Church of Scientology is entitled to recognition in Russia as a religious organization and that Russia's refusal of such registration "''had been a violation of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the European Convention on Human Rights read in the light of Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion)''". The judgment of this highest European court is valid for all 46 member states of the Council of Europe.<ref name="ECHR-Russia">] first section (]). . . Retrieved on ].</ref> | |||
{{TOCleft}} | |||
==Beliefs and practices== | ==Beliefs and practices== | ||
{{ |
{{Main|Scientology beliefs and practices}} | ||
Hubbard lies at the core of Scientology and his writings remain the source of its ideas and practices.{{sfnm|Melton|2009|1p=25|Lewis|2012|2p=133}} Sociologist of religion ] describes Scientology as Hubbard's "personal synthesis of philosophy, physics, and psychology".{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=97}} Hubbard claimed that he developed his ideas through research and experimentation, rather than through revelation from a supernatural source.{{sfn|Grünschloß|2009|p=231}} He published hundreds of articles and books over the course of his life.{{sfn|Lewis|2009a|p=6}} Scientologists regard his writings on Scientology as ].{{sfnm|1a1=Melton|1y=2009|1p=25|2a1=Rothstein|2y=2009|2p=378}} Much basic information about the Scientology belief system is kept secret from most practitioners.{{sfnm|1a1=Hammer|1a2=Rothstein|1y=2012|1p=123|2a1=Urban|2y=2021|2p=166}} The scholar and historian of Scientology ] observes that:{{sfn|Urban|2021|p=166}}{{blockquote|A great many aspects of Scientology are shrouded in layers of secrecy, | |||
The Church of Scientology says that Scientology is concerned with "the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/presentation/pg006.html | title=Introduction to Scientology | publisher=Church of Scientology | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref> By contrast, Dianetics is more narrowly focused on getting rid of the ], the "bank" of traumatic memories known as ] which are said to inhibit one's success and happiness.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dianetics.org/en_US/what-is-dianetics/index.html | title = What is Dianetics? | accessdate=2006-05-03 | publisher=Church of Scientology International}}</ref> Scientology also covers topics such as ethics and morality (]), drug and chemical residues as they relate to spiritual wellbeing (the ]), communication, marriage, raising children, work-related problems, education (]nology), and the very nature of life (]). | |||
concealment, ], and/or ].}} In Scientology Hubbard's work is regarded as perfect, and no elaboration or alteration is permitted.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=665}} Hubbard described Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy", because, according to him, it consists of a metaphysical doctrine, a theory of psychology, and teachings in morality.<ref>{{Cite conference |last=Dericquebourg |first=Regis |title=Acta Comparanda |language=en, fr |url=http://www.observatoire-religion.com/2016/12/scientology-in-a-scholarly-perspective/ |book-title=Affinities between Scientology and Theosophy |conference=International Conference – Scientology in a scholarly perspective 24–25th January 2014 |publisher=University of Antwerp, Faculty for Comparative Study of Religions and Humanism |place=Antwerp, Belgium |year=2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216050903/http://www.observatoire-religion.com/2016/12/scientology-in-a-scholarly-perspective/ |archive-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref> Hubbard incorporated a variety of ] techniques in Scientology auditing and courses.{{sfn|Hassan|Scheflin|2024|pp=759–761}} These are used as a means to create ] and ] in followers.{{sfn|Hassan|Scheflin|2024|p=760}} | |||
Hubbard said of the beliefs that:{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=56}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kent |first1=Stephen A. |author-link=Stephen A. Kent |title=From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the Late Vietnam War Era |publisher=Syracuse University Press |year=2001 |ol=15521204M |isbn=0815629486 |page=99}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Chryssides |first1=George D. |author1-link=George Chryssides |last2=Wilkins |first2=Margaret |title=A Reader in New Religious Movements |publisher=] |year=2006 |ol=8168615M |isbn=0826461689 |page=18}}</ref>{{blockquote|A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war; where the world can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.}} | |||
Scientology practices are structured in sequential series or levels, reflecting Hubbard's belief that rehabilitation takes place on a step-by-step "gradient"; for example, that the negative effects of drugs must be addressed before other issues can be addressed. Scientologists follow a sequence of courses that culminate in the ] advanced strata of Scientology's teachings. This is described as a passage along "the Bridge to Total Freedom", or simply "the Bridge," in which each step of the Bridge promises a little more personal freedom in some particular area of life. | |||
Hubbard developed thousands of ]s during his lifetime.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=665}} The ] is termed "Scientologese" by members.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=17, 110}} Scientologists are expected to learn this specialist terminology, the use of which separates followers from non-Scientologists.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=665}} The Scientology organization refers to its practices as "technology", a term often shortened to "Tech".{{sfn|Lewis|2009a|p=9}} Scientologists stress the "standardness" of this "tech", by which they express belief in its infallibility.{{sfn|Flinn|2009|p=217}} The Church's system of pedagogy is called "Study Tech" and is presented as the best method for learning.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=42}} Scientology teaches that when reading, it is very important not to go past a word one does not understand. A person should instead consult a dictionary as to the meaning of the word before progressing, something Scientology calls "word clearing".{{sfnm|1a1=Thomas|1y=2021|1pp=42-43|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2022|2p=7}} | |||
Some central tenets of Scientology: | |||
* A person is an immortal ] (termed a ''thetan'') who possesses a mind and a body. | |||
* The thetan has lived through many ] and will continue to live beyond the death of the body. | |||
* Through the Scientology process of "]", one can free oneself of "]s" and "]s" to reach the state of "]", and after that, the state of "]". Each state is said to represent recovering the native spiritual abilities of the individual, and to confer dramatic mental and physical benefits. | |||
* A person is basically good, but becomes "aberrated" by moments of pain and unconsciousness in his or her life. | |||
* What is true for you is what you have observed yourself. No beliefs should be forced as "true" on anyone. Thus, the tenets of Scientology are expected to be tested and seen to either be true or not by Scientology practitioners. | |||
* Psychiatry and psychology are destructive and abusive practices.<ref>"psychiatrists and psychologists ... can cure nothing and cannot change anyone for better or worse and as a result have to kill 'difficult patients' ... Anyone who disagrees with their planned totalitarian rule is pronounced 'insane.' He is seized quietly, conveyed to a prison, tortured and usually permanently injured or killed." Hubbard, L. Ron (1969). "". Retrieved ] ].</ref> | |||
According to Scientology texts, its beliefs and practices are based on rigorous research, and its doctrines are accorded a significance equivalent to scientific laws.<ref name="GA170-171">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006 |pp=170–171}}</ref> Blind belief is held to be of lesser significance than the practical application of Scientologist methods.<ref name="GA170-171" /> Adherents are encouraged to validate the practices through their personal experience.<ref name="GA170-171" /> Hubbard put it this way: "For a Scientologist, the final test of any knowledge he has gained is, 'did the data and the use of it in life actually improve conditions or didn't it?{{Single double}}<ref name="GA170-171" /> Many Scientologists avoid using the words "belief" or "faith" to describe how Hubbard's teachings impacts their lives, preferring to say that they "know" it to be true.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=17}} | |||
Believers in Scientology say that it offers "exact" methods of spiritual counseling to help people achieve awareness of their spiritual existence, while enhancing their effectiveness in the physical world. The exact nature of all of existence is said to be stated in Hubbard's ]. | |||
=== Auditing === | |||
According to the Church, the ultimate goal is to get the ] (thetan) back to its native state of total freedom, thus gaining control over matter, energy, space, time, thoughts, form, and life. This freed state is called ], or OT for short. | |||
{{Main|Auditing (Scientology)}} | |||
The central practice of Scientology is an activity known as "]". It takes place with two Scientologists — one is the "auditor" who asks questions, and the subject is termed the "preclear". The stated purpose is to help the subject to remove their mental traumas (ostensible recordings in the mind which Hubbard termed "engrams").{{Sfn|Urban|2011|p=46ff}} Scholarship in clinical psychology demonstrates that the purpose of auditing is to induce a light ] state and to create ] and ] in the subject.{{sfn|Hassan|Scheflin|2024|pp=759–761}} When deemed free of engrams they are given the status of "clear", and then continue doing further auditing until they are deemed to have reached the level ]. Hubbard assigns vitality, good health and increased intelligence to those who are given the status of "]", having removed the source of their "psychosomatic illnesses".{{Sfn|Urban|2011|p=46ff}} The further status of Operating Thetan (OT) is posited as complete spiritual freedom in which one is able to do anything one chooses, create anything, go anywhere — an idea which has appealed to many.{{Sfn|Urban|2011|p=81ff}} | |||
The scholar Hugh Urban describes the supernatural powers promoted as being gained by an Operating Thetan as:{{Sfn|Urban|2011|page=81}} | |||
===Auditing=== | |||
{{Blockquote |text=The liberated thetan could even freely create a personal paradise, populating it with heavenly beings and infinite pleasures at will.{{nbsp}}... As such, the thetan who truly realized his power to create and destroy universes would in effect be "beyond God".{{nbsp}}... The thetan has been deceived into worshipping such a God by mainstream religion and so forgotten its own godlike power to create and destroy universes. |author=Hugh Urban in ''The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion'' }} | |||
] to a potential ]. Such introductory demonstrations are typically presented as "free ] tests".]] | |||
{{main|Auditing (Scientology)}} | |||
The central practice of Scientology is "]" (from the ] word ''audire,'' "to listen"), which is a one-on-one communication with a trained Scientology counselor or "auditor". Most auditing uses an ], a device that measures very small changes in ] through the human body when a person is holding onto metal cans and a small current is passed through them.<ref>US Patent and Trademark Office Inventor: Lafayette R. Hubbard issued ] ]</ref> | |||
The prices to undertake a full course of auditing with the Church of Scientology are not often advertised publicly.{{sfn||Harley|Kieffer|2009|p=191}} As of 2011 it can easily cost $400,000 to do the entirety of Scientology's "Bridge to Total Freedom" ({{inflation|US|400000|2011|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{Sfn|Urban|2011|pp=135-6}}{{inflation/fn|US}} In a 1964 letter, Hubbard stated that a 25-hour block of auditing should cost the equivalent of "three months' pay for the average middle class working individual."{{sfn||Harley|Kieffer|2009|p=191}} In 2007, the fee for a 12 and a half hour block of auditing at the Tampa Org was $4000 ({{inflation|US|4000|2007|fmt=eq|r=-1}}).{{sfnm|1a1=Harley|1a2=Kieffer|1y=2009|1p=191|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=48}}{{inflation/fn|US}} The Scientology organization is often criticized for the prices it charges for auditing,{{sfnm|1a1=Harley|1a2=Kieffer|1y=2009|1p=191|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=48}} and examinations of the group have indicated that profit is the group's primary purpose.{{sfnm|1a1=Behar|1y=1991|2a1=Beit-Hallahmi|2y=2003|3a1=Passas|3a2=Castillo|3y=1992|4a1=Sappell|4a2=Welkos|4y=1990a|5a1=Tobin|5y=2016|6a1=Hunt|6a2=de Puig|6a3=Espersen|6y=1992|6p=668|7a1=Shermer|7y=2020}} Hubbard stated that charging for auditing was necessary because the practice required an exchange, and should the auditor not receive something for their services it could harm both parties.{{sfnm|1a1=Harley|1a2=Kieffer|1y=2009|1p=191|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=48}} | |||
The auditing process is intended to help the practitioner (referred to as a preclear or PC) to unburden himself or herself of specific traumatic incidents, prior ethical transgressions and bad decisions, which are said to collectively restrict the preclear from achieving his or her goals and lead to the development of a "reactive mind". In one form of auditing the auditor asks the preclear to respond to a list of questions which are designed for specific purposes and given to the preclear in a strictly regulated way. Auditing requires that the preclear be a willing and interested participant who understands the questions, and the process goes more smoothly when he or she understands what is going on, in fact rule #19 of the Auditors' Code demands from an auditor make sure that the practitioner fully understands the question. Per Church policy, auditors are trained not to "evaluate for" their preclears; i.e., they are forbidden from suggesting, interpreting, degrading or invalidating the preclear's answers.<ref name="auditorscode">{{cite web | title = The Auditor's Code | work = What is Scientology® Auditing? | publisher = Church of Scientology International | url = http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/auditing/pg004a.html | accessdate = 2007-02-26 }}</ref> The E-meter is used to help locate an area of concern. | |||
During auditing, a device called an electropsychometer (]) is used.{{Sfn|Urban|2011|p=49ff}} Scientology's primary road map for guiding a person through the sequential steps to attain Scientology's concepts of "clear" and OT is ], a large chart enumerating every step in sequence.{{sfn|Urban|2011|pp=101,134–135}} The steps past "clear" are kept secret from most Scientologists and include the founding myth that seeks to explain Scientology doctrine.{{Sfn|Urban|2011|pp=74,102-5}}{{Sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=365–367}} | |||
Scientologists have said that they received benefits from auditing including improved ], improved ability to communicate, enhanced memory and are generally more happy. <ref></ref> | |||
=== Soul === | |||
During the auditing process, the auditor may collect personal information from the person being audited. Auditing records are referred to within Scientology as "PC (preclear) folders" and are said to be stored securely when not being added to during auditing sessions.<ref>{{cite paper | title = Agreement Regarding Confidential Religious Files | publisher = Church of Scientology / Flag Service Organization | url = http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Scientology/ReleaseForms/Introspection.html#Files | accessdate = 2006-07-11}}</ref> | |||
{{See also|Thetan}} | |||
The Auditors' Code states that an auditor promises never to use the secrets of a preclear divulged in session for punishment or personal gain.<ref name="auditorscode" /> The Church maintains that its auditing records are kept confidential, although in one instance (16 December 1969) a staff of the organization authorized the use of auditing records for purposes of "internal security".<ref>{{PDFlink||3.05 ]<!-- application/pdf, 3205018 bytes -->}} format)</ref>. | |||
Supporters of Scientology assert that no actual violation of the Auditor's Code has been documented.<ref>[http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/legal/decl-hoden-1985-07-29.html Court Declaration, 1985: "5. The Court refers to GO 121669 for justification in saying that the clergymen-penitent does not apply for the time period during which Armstrong was a member of the Church. The Court refers to GO 121669 for justification for abolishing the clergyman-penitent privilege. Yet nowhere does the program call for a) external dissemination of the preclear folder or b) use of information against anyone."</ref> However, a California court deciding on the theft of such files by a former member mentions cases of abuse suffered by former members at the hands of "the Church or its minions" based on such information. <ref>{http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/cult/fls-rpt-corr-breckenridge.html Documentation on Breckenridge Decision, noting that those breaches have been committed by the very same former Scientologist who was sued in the case for theft of confidential documents.</ref> <ref>http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/legal/a1/breckenridge-decision.pdf "The Church has in its possession his or her most inner thoughts and confessions, all recorded in pre-clear (P.C.) folders or other security files of the organization, and that the Church or its minions is fully capable of intimidation or other physical or psychological abuse if it suits their ends. The record is replete with evidence of such abuse." </ref> | |||
Hubbard taught that there were three parts of man: the spirit, mind, and body.{{sfnm|1a1=Westbrook|1y=2019|1p=21|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=51}} The first of these is a person's inner self which he calls a "]".{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1pp=451-452|2a1=Lewis|2y=2009a|2p=5|3a1=Thomas|3y=2021|3p=52}} It is akin to the idea of the soul or spirit found in religious traditions.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1a2=Stark|1y=1980|1p=133|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=451|3a1=Melton|3y=2009|3p=22}} Hubbard stated that "the thetan ''is'' the person. You are YOU ''in'' a body."{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=52}} Hubbard ] as the ], meaning "Matter, Energy, Space and Time", which includes your body.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=91}} Scientologists believe that thetans can ]; leave their body.{{Sfn|Urban|2011|p=77}} The thetan is considered an ] being who has been reincarnated many times over.{{Sfn|Urban|2011|pp=68-71}} Someone who has died is said to have "dropped the body".{{Sfn|Bromley|2009|p=89}} Scientology ], but practitioners are not expected to worship it.{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009a|1p=6|2a1=Lewis|2y=2012|2p=137}} No ]s are made to seek this being's assistance in daily life.{{sfn|Dericquebourg|2009|p=176}} | |||
===ARC triangle=== | |||
{{main|ARC (Scientology)}} | |||
Another basic tenet of Scientology is the three related (and intrinsically spiritual) components that make up successful "livingness" and are the basis of understanding: '''affinity''' (emotional responses), '''reality''' (an agreement on what is real) and '''communication''' (the exchange of ideas). Hubbard called this the "ARC Triangle", noting that all three points are linked to each other. Scientologists utilize ARC as a central principle in their own lives, primarily based upon the belief that improving one aspect of the triangle increases the level of the other two. | |||
===Space opera and the Wall of Fire=== | |||
===Tone scale=== | |||
{{See also|Operating Thetan|Space opera in Scientology}} | |||
{{main|Tone scale}} | |||
]'']] | |||
The tone scale is a characterization of human mood and behavior by various positions on a scale. The scale ranges from -40 ("Total Failure") to +40 ("Serenity of Being"). Positions on the tone scale are usually designated by an emotion, but Hubbard also described many other things that can be indicated by the tone scale levels, such as aspects of a human's health, mating behavior, survival potential, or ability to deal with truth. The tone scale is frequently used by Scientologists to evaluate humans. According to Scientology, the lower the individual is on the tone scale, the more complex and convoluted one's problems tend to be, and the more care and judgment should be exercised regarding communication and interaction with that individual. | |||
The mythological framework which forms the basis for what Scientologists view as the system's path to salvation is the story of ].{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=365–366}} Reflecting a strong science-fiction theme within its theology,{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=15}} Scientology's teachings make reference to "]", a term denoting events in the distant past in which "spaceships, spacemen, intergalactic travel" all feature.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=377}} | |||
===Past lives=== | |||
In ], Hubbard proposed that the cause of "aberrations" in a human mind was an accumulation of pain and unconscious memories of traumatic incidents, some of which predated the life of the human. He extended this view further in Scientology, declaring that thetans have existed for tens of trillions of years (several ] greater than what mainstream science generally estimates the ] to be). During that time, Hubbard explains, they have been exposed to a vast number of traumatic incidents, and have made a great many decisions that influence their present state. Hubbard's 1958 book '']'' contains descriptions of past lives given by individual Scientologists during auditing sessions. According to an early lecture of Hubbard's, it is, as a practical matter, both impossible and undesirable to recall each and every such event from such vast stretches of time.<ref>20th ACC, 7 August 1958, Lecture #19 "The most basic rock of all"</ref>. As a result, Hubbard's three decade development of Scientology focused on streamlining the process to address only key factors. Hubbard stated that Scientology materials as described in books, tapes, and research notes include a record of everything that was found in the course of his research. | |||
Hubbard wrote about a great catastrophe that took place 75 million years ago.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=452}} According to this story, 75 million years ago there was a ] of 76 planets ruled over by a leader called ]. The Confederacy was overpopulated and Xenu transported millions of aliens to earth and killed them with ].{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=91|2a1=Rothstein|2y=2009|2pp=372-373}} The thetans of those killed were then clustered together and implants were inserted into them, designed to kill any body that these thetans would subsequently inhabit should they recall the event of their destruction.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=372-373}} After the massacre, several of the officers in Xenu's service rebelled against him, ultimately capturing and imprisoning him.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=372}} Hubbard claimed to have discovered the Xenu myth in December 1967, having taken the "plunge" deep into his "time track".{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=372-373, 375}} Scientology teaches that attempting to recover this information from the "time track" typically results in an individual's death, caused by the presence of Xenu's implants, but that because of Hubbard's "technology" this death can be avoided.{{sfnm|1a1=Rothstein|1y=2009|1pp=375-376|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=84}} | |||
According to Hubbard, some of the past traumas may have been deliberately inflicted in the form of "implants" used by extraterrestrial dictatorships such as ] to brainwash and control humans. Scientology doctrine includes a wide variety of beliefs in complex extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in Earthly events, collectively described by Hubbard as "]". There is a huge ] symbol carved into the ground at Scientology's ] that is visible from passing aircraft or from satellite photography.<ref>Google Maps (website accessed 04/19/06)</ref> Washington Post reporter Richard Leiby wrote, "Former Scientologists familiar with Hubbard’s teachings on reincarnation say the symbol marks a 'return point' so loyal staff members know where they can find the founder’s works when they travel here in the future from other places in the universe."<ref>Leiby, Richard , published ] ] in the Free New Mexican (website accessed 04/15/06) | |||
</ref> | |||
] | |||
===The upper levels of Scientology=== | |||
{{seealso|Operating Thetan|Space opera in Scientology doctrine}} | |||
The Scientology organization says that learning the Xenu myth can be harmful for those unprepared for it,{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=368-369}} and the documents discussing Xenu are kept secret from most members.{{sfnm|1a1=Shermer|1y=2020|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=452|3a1=Bromley|3y=2009|3p=94|4a1=Thomas|4y=2021|4p=14}} The teachings about Xenu were later leaked by ex-members,{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=367}} becoming a matter of public record after being submitted as evidence in court cases.<ref name="DoubleCrossed">{{Cite web |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |title=Double Crossed |date=December 23, 1999 |work=] |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/double-crossed-6431852 <!--reprint version omits original photographs--> |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312025501/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/double-crossed/full |archive-date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=September 16, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Loss">{{Cite web|first=Matt|last=Hines|title=Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html|website=]|date=September 8, 2003|access-date=September 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116233523/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html|archive-date=November 16, 2006}}</ref> They are now widely available online.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=83}} Members who have been given the teachings routinely deny these teachings exist.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=137}} Hubbard however talked about Xenu on several occasions,{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=381}} the Xenu story bears similarities with some of the science-fiction stories Hubbard published,{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=453}} and substantial themes from the Xenu story are in Hubbard's book ''Scientology – A History of Man''.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=375}} | |||
Scientologists who have achieved the State of Clear may continue onto the Upper or OT (]) Levels. These courses are available by Church invitation only after a review of the candidates character, ethics and contribution to the Aims of Scientology<ref></ref>. The contents of these advanced courses are held in strict confidence within the Church and individuals who have read these materials may neither discuss nor disclose what they contain without jeopardizing their standing in the Church.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Presently, there are eight such levels, OT I through VIII. Church management has promised to release a ninth OT level once certain expansion goals are met. The highest level released to date, OT VIII, is only granted at sea, on the Scientology ship, the''],'' which was established to provide a "safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment" where this OT level could be delivered.<ref>Description of purpose of the freewinds]</ref> | |||
===The Operating Thetan levels=== | |||
Despite their confidentiality within the Church, excerpts and descriptions of these materials have been widely published in the press; this occured when the confidential teachings were submitted as evidence in court cases involving Scientology, thus becoming a matter of public record. In the confidential OT levels, Hubbard describes a variety of traumas commonly experienced in past lives<!--There must be a better way to say this, but I can't find it!-->, experiences that extend many millions of years into the past. He also explains how to reverse the effects of such traumas. | |||
]'', staffed by Sea Org members, with OT symbol on side of ship]] | |||
The degrees above the level of Clear are called "Operating Thetan" or OT.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1a2=Stark|1y=1980|1p=133|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=452|3a1=Bainbridge|3y=2009|3p=43|4a1=Harley|4a2=Kieffer|4y=2009|4p=190}} Hubbard described there being 15 OT levels, although he had only completed eight of these during his lifetime.{{sfn|Urban|2012|p=356}} OT levels nine to 15 have not been reached by any Scientologist.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=81-82}} In 1988 the Scientology organization stated that OT levels nine and ten would only be released when certain benchmarks in its expansion had been achieved.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=31}} The Church of Scientology has gone to considerable length to try to maintain the secrecy of the texts, but they remain widely available on the internet. This is partly due to litigation involving Scientology, whereby the ] was leaked to the public.{{sfn|Urban|2011}} Materials have also been passed on to other sources and made available by publishers such as the media organization ].{{sfn|Urban|2021|page=174}} | |||
To gain the OT levels of training, a member must go to one of the Advanced Organisations or Orgs, which are based in Los Angeles, Clearwater, East Grinstead, Copenhagen, Sydney, and Johannesburg.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1a2=Stark|1y=1980|1p=133|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=30|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=32}} Conservative estimates indicate that getting to OT VIII would require a minimum of payments to the Scientology organization of $350,000 to $400,000 ({{inflation|US|400000|2011|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{sfn|Urban|2021}}{{inflation/fn|US}} OT levels six and seven are only available at Clearwater.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=32}} The highest level, OT eight, is disclosed only at sea on the Scientology ship '']'', operated by the Flag Ship Service Org.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|pp=30, 33}}<ref name="DavisNRMRL45-47">Derek Davis ''New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America'', pp. 45–47, Baylor University Press, 2004 {{ISBN|978-0-918954-92-3}}</ref> Scholar of religion Aled Thomas suggested that the status of a person's level creates an internal class system within the Scientology organization.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=82}} | |||
=====Xenu and Body Thetans===== | |||
], as depicted by the BBC's ]]] {{main|Xenu|Galactic Confederacy|Body Thetan}} | |||
Among these advanced teachings, one episode revealed to those who reach OT level III is the story of ] and his ]. Xenu (sometimes Xemu) is introduced as an alien ruler of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth in spacecraft resembling ] airliners, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living. The alien souls continue to do this today, causing a variety of physical ill-effects in modern-day humans. Hubbard called these clustered spirits "]," and the advanced levels place considerable emphasis on isolating them and neutralizing their ill effects.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Sappell | first = Joel | coauthors = Robert W. Welkos | title = The Scientology Story | journal = Los Angeles Times|pages = page A36:1|date = ] ] | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/inland/la-scientology-sg,1,7389843.storygallery?coll=la-editions-inland-news | |||
| accessdate = 2006-08-09}} Additional convenience link at .</ref> | |||
The Scientology organization claims that the material taught in the OT levels can only be comprehended once its previous material has been mastered and is therefore kept confidential until a person reaches the requisite level.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=47, 81}} Higher-level members typically refuse to talk about the contents of these OT levels.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=454}} Those progressing through the OT levels are taught additional, more advanced auditing techniques;{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=46}} one of the techniques taught is a method of auditing oneself,{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=47}} which is the necessary procedure for reaching OT level seven.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=32}} | |||
Scientologists have argued that the published accounts of the Xenu story and other teachings are distortions of their practice, presented out of context for the purpose of ridiculing their religion. | |||
=== |
=== Ethics === | ||
{{See also|Scientology beliefs and practices#Morals and ethics|Scientology ethics and justice}} | |||
{{main|Silent birth}} | |||
Hubbard stated that the delivery room should be as silent as possible during birth.<ref name="CoSFAQ"> {{cite web | last = Church of Scientology | year = 2006 | url = http://www.scientology.org/html/en_US/news-media/index.html | title = Scientology Newsroom | accessdate = 2006-08-07 }}</ref> This stems from his belief that birth is a trauma that may induce ]s into the baby. Hubbard asserted that words in particular should be avoided because any words used during birth might be reassociated by an adult later on in life with their earlier traumatic birth experience. Hubbard also wrote that the mother should use "as little anesthetic as possible". | |||
Scientology has its own unique ]. According to scholar Stephen Kent, "The purpose of Scientology ethics is to eliminate opponents, then eliminate people's interests in things other than Scientology. In this 'ethical' environment, Scientology would be able to impose its courses, philosophy, and 'justice system' – its so-called technology—onto society."{{r|kent}} | |||
In the 1960s Hubbard wrote that ] should be avoided if the mother is smoking or is lacking good nutrition herself <ref>Magazine "The Auditor", No. 6, 1965, article "Healthy Babies"</ref>. Hubbard compared common replacement formulas which he described as "mixed milk powder, glucose and water, total carbohydrate", with what he considered the "skim breast milk from ... overworked mother" that "smoke and sometimes drink" and offered - as an alternative to commercial products - what he called the "Barley Formula", made from ] water, ] milk, and ] or ]. Hubbard claims that "I picked it up in Roman days."<ref name="New Mother">Hubbard, L. Ron ''Processing a New Mother'', HCO Bulletin 20 December 1958</ref> He crafted the barley formula to, in his words, provide "a heavy percentage of protein"<ref name="New Mother" /> and called it "the nearest approach to human milk that can be assembled easily."<ref name="Handbook">{{cite book |editor='LRH Book Compilations staff of the Church of Scientology International', based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard |title=] |edition=1994 |publisher=] |location=Los Angeles, California |isbn=0-88404-899-3}}</ref><!-- p.528 --> The formula is still popular with many Scientologists, although health practitioners advice to only use pure ingredients. | |||
== |
=== Symbology === | ||
{{See also|List of symbols of Scientology|Scientology beliefs and practices#Beliefs}} | |||
Hubbard created many symbolism concepts, including ], ], the "S and double triangle" symbol, the ], and ]. Scientology celebrates ] including L. Ron Hubbard's birthday, Auditor's Day, and New Year's. There is a ] which is primarily of interest for non-members and beginners. ] are also held.{{sfn|Rothstein|2016}} | |||
Scientology, as practiced by members of the Church of Scientology, includes the social ceremonies for marriage, birth, and death, that are a part of most religions. The ceremonies are performed in front of the congregation by an ordained Scientology minister.<ref>http://theology.scientology.org/eng/pdf/scientology-04-religious-practice.pdf</ref> Most, if not all, of the actual ceremonies used were written by L. Ron Hubbard and are collected in the book, ''Ceremonies of the Church of Scientology''.<ref>http://theology.scientology.org/eng/pdf/scientology-15-true-religion.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.scientology.org/wis/wiseng/41/41-books.htm</ref> | |||
=== |
=== Psychiatry, psychology, psychosis === | ||
{{Main|Scientology beliefs and practices#Rejection of psychology and psychiatry}} | |||
Scientology is vehemently opposed to psychiatry and psychology, and wants to replace them with its own methods.{{Sfn|Kent|1999|p=6}} The clinical and academic psychiatry community rejected Hubbard's theories in the early 1950s.{{sfn|Miller|1987|p=184}} Hubbard and his early Dianetics organization were prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license in the early 1950s.{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1pp=62–68|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2pp=81–83|3a1=Kent|3y=1996}} | |||
At a Scientology funeral service the minister speaks directly to the ] (the individual as a spirit) and grants forgiveness for anything the deceased has done so he can begin life anew. {{cquote|We do not contest your right to go away. Your debts are paid. This chapter of thy life is shut. Go now, dear , and live once more in happier time and place.<ref>http://theology.scientology.org/eng/pdf/scientology-04-religious-practice.pdf</ref>}} | |||
Hubbard taught that psychiatrists were responsible for a great many wrongs in the world, saying that psychiatry has at various times offered itself as a tool of political suppression and that psychiatry was responsible for the ideology of Hitler, for turning the Nazis into mass murderers, and the Holocaust.<ref name="GA184" /> The Scientology organization operates the anti-psychiatry group ] (CCHR), which operates ], an anti-psychiatry museum.<ref name="GA184">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=184}}</ref> Though Hubbard had stated psychosis was not something Scientology dealt with, after noticing many Scientologists were suffering breakdowns after using his techniques he created the ], a brutal and inhumane method to allegedly solve psychotic episodes.{{r|reitman|pages=208-9}} The rundown came under public scrutiny when in 1995 Scientologist ] suffered a mental breakdown and was removed from the hospital and held in isolation at a Church of Scientology for 17 days before she died.{{r|truthrundown|page=Part 2}} | |||
==Origins== | |||
{{seealso|Timeline of Scientology}} | |||
Scientology's doctrines were established by Hubbard over a period of about 34 years, beginning in 1952 and continuing until his death in January 1986. Most of the basic principles were set out during the 1950s and 1960s. Now described as an "applied religious philosophy". Scientology was at first secular; Hubbard began to characterize Scientology's beliefs and practices as a ] in 1953, and by 1960 he had redefined it as a "religion by its basic tenets".<ref>HCOB ] 67 (Hubbard Communications Office Bulletin (HCOB) of ] ] Revised) "Religious Philosophy and Religious Practice"</ref> | |||
=== Views on Hubbard === | |||
Hubbard appears to have drawn liberally from a wide variety of pre-existing ideas, though he provided little specific citation of, or commentary on, his sources. The Church of Scientology presents Hubbard's work as completely original, reflected in the fact that Scientologists refer to Hubbard himself as "Source". | |||
Scientology recapitulates and builds on ideas Hubbard introduced in ], an earlier system of ] laid out in his 1950 book, '']''. In 1945 Hubbard was for several months in contact with ]'s Ordo Templi Orientis chapter in Los Angeles, a group headed by John W. Parsons.<ref>http://www._vetted_.net/archive/lrhbare/lrhbare08.html</ref> In a 1952 lecture series, Hubbard recommended a book of Crowley's and referred to him as "Mad Old Boy"<ref>Philadephia Doctorate Lectures, <b>Lecture #40 titled "Games/Goals"</b>, 12 December 1952: About "Limitations on self and others": <i>"Old Aleister Crowley had come interesting things to say about this. He wrote a Book of the Law. He was a mad old boy! I mean, he... You'd be surprised though that Crowley, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Aristotle -- all the boys practically along the line -- they all talked about the same thing. And actually you can find all these ideas we're talking about someplace in the writings of practically any philosopher who ever thought things over. He couldn't fail to fall headlong across the most salient facts in the case. He never organized them or was able to evaluate or use them. But he had them."</i></ref><ref><b>Lecture #45 titled "Development of Scientology: Characteristics of a Living Science"</b>, 13 December 1952: About "Life Science":<i>"I was sitting there tonight trying to pretend that this had been a very brace voyage of adventure because it was -- been to dangerous and there's so many men fall on their faces doing this. As a matter of fact, it has not been a very dangerous voyage. But the po0int is that an awful lot of men have fallen on their faces in the last century trying to hit this track. Amongst them were Nietzsche; amongst them were Aleister Crowley. They were all trying to hit this track and they were overshooting, undershooting, round and round. Because they were looking at it as it, and trying to analyze it as itself, and trying to apply to it its own peculiarities of logic and formulation and it had no such evaluation.</i></ref> and ironically as "my very good friend".<ref>L. Ron Hubbard, "Conditions of Space/Time/Energy" Philadelphia Doctorate Course cassette tape #18 5212C05</ref>. In later research the Sunday Times in UK (1969) found out that Hubbard's contact to O.T.O. had been an intelligence operation for the U.S. Government to prevent leaks of confidential information to O.T.O. (midst of the Cold War Parsons was working as a solid fuel rocket scientist in California)<ref>Sunday times "Scientology: New Light on Crowley", 28 December 1969, (Hubbard) "...went to life at the house and investigated the black magic rites and the general situation ... . Parsons wrote to Crowley in England about Hubbard. Crowley "The Beast 666" evidently detected an enemy and warned Parsons. This is all proven by the correspondence unearthed by the Sunday Times. Hubbard's mission was successful ... . The black magic group was dispersed ... ."]</ref>. An influence acknowledged by Hubbard is the system of ] developed by ] in the 1930s, which was influential in the ] of the 1940s. <ref></ref> Scientology also reflects the influence of the Hindu concept of ], as well as the psychological theories of ], ] and ]. Sociologist David G. Bromley of Virginia Commonwealth University characterizes Scientology as "a 'quasi-religious therapy' that resembles Freudian 'depth psychology' while also drawing upon Buddhism, Hinduism, and the ancient, heretical offshoot of Christianity known as ]". | |||
Scientologists view Hubbard as an extraordinary man, but do not worship him as a deity.{{sfnm|1a1=Bigliardi|1y=2016|1p=665|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=27|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=14}} They regard him as the preeminent Operating Thetan who remained on Earth in order to show others the way to spiritual liberation,{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=665}} the man who discovered the source of human misery and a technology allowing everyone to achieve their true potential.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=88}} Church of Scientology management frames Hubbard's physical death as "dropping his body" to pursue higher levels of research not possible with an Earth-bound body.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=89}} | |||
===Meaning of the word 'Scientology'=== | |||
Although today associated almost exclusively with Hubbard's work, the word "Scientology" predates Hubbard's creation by several decades. ] ] used the word "scientology" in his 1901 book ''The New Word'' as a synonym for "]",<ref>Allen Upward: The New Word, pp 139, 149 & 156</ref> and this is sometimes cited as the first coining of the word.<ref name="Blue Sky">{{cite book | last = Atack | first = Jon | authorlink = Jon Atack | year = 1990 | url = http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/atack/index.html | title = A Piece of Blue Sky | publisher = Carol Publishing Group | location = New York, NY|pages = 128|id = ISBN 0-8184-0499-X}}</ref> In 1934, the Argentine-German writer Anastasius Nordenholz published a book using the word positively: ''Scientologie, Wissenschaft von der Beschaffenheit und der Tauglichkeit des Wissens'' ("''Scientology, Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge''").<ref>http://www.scientologie.de/scientologie/index.htm</ref> Nordenholz's book is a study of consciousness, and its usage of the word is not greatly different from Hubbard's definition, "knowing how to know".<ref>Hubbard, L. Ron 1956 (website accessed 04/13/06)</ref> However, it is not clear to what extent Hubbard was aware of these earlier uses. The word itself is a pairing of the ] word ''scientia'' ("knowledge", "skill"), which comes from the verb ''scire'' ("to know"), and the ] λογος ''lógos'' ("reason" or "inward thought" or "logic" or "an account of"). | |||
Scientologists often refer to Hubbard affectionately as "Ron",{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Bigliardi|2y=2016|2p=662|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2019|3p=24|4a1=Thomas|4y=2021|4p=96}} and many refer to him as their "friend".{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=24}} The Scientology organization operates a calendar in which 1950, the year in which Hubbard's book ''Dianetics'' was published, is considered year zero, the beginning of an era. Years after that date are referred to as "AD" for "After ''Dianetics''".{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Grünschloß|2y=2009|2p=229|3a1=Thomas|3y=2021|3p=99}} They have also buried copies of his writings preserved on stainless steel disks in a secure underground vault in the hope of preserving them against major catastrophes.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=88}} The Church of Scientology's view of Hubbard is presented in their ] of him,{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=88–89, 99|2a1=Lewis|2y=2009b|2p=133}} seeking to present him as "a person of exceptional character, morals and intelligence".{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=22}} Critics of Hubbard and his organization claim that many of the details of his life as he presented it were false.{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=338}} Every Scientology Org maintains an office set aside for Hubbard in perpetuity, set out to imitate those he used in life,{{sfnm|1a1=Cowan|1y=2009|1p=63|2a1=Palmer|2y=2009|2p=295|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2019|3p=22|4a1=Thomas|4y=2021|4p=100}} and will typically have a bust or large framed photograph of him on display.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=22}} | |||
"Scientology would be a study of knowledge," Hubbard stated in 1952.<ref>''Scientology: Milestone One'' an audio lecture in Wichita, Kansas on ] ] with transcript, 1952 Published by Golden Era Productions, Hollywood CA</ref> In 1960 L. Ron Hubbard defined Scientology as: "a religion by its basic tenets, practice, historical background and by the definition of the word “religion” itself."<ref>HCOB ] 67 (HCOB of ] ] Revised) “Religious Philosophy and Religious Practice”</ref> In 1969 he wrote that "It is fundamentally an applied religious philosophy.".<ref>LRH ED 4 Int, ] 69 “Attachment (letter to doctor)”</ref> | |||
== The Church of Scientology == | |||
In a lecture given on ] ] entitled "The E-meter", Hubbard said: | |||
{{cquote|So Suzie and I went down to the library, and we started hauling books out and looking for words. And we finally found 'scio' and we find 'ology'. And there was the founding of that word. Now, that word had been used to some degree before. There had been some thought of this. Actually the earliest studies on these didn't have any name to them until a little bit along the line and then I called it anything you could think of. But we found that this word Scientology, you see—and it could have been any other word that had also been used—was the best-fitted word for exactly what we wanted. }} | |||
{{Main|Church of Scientology|List of Scientology organizations}} | |||
The ] defines Scientology as "'the study of truth'. It comes from the Latin word 'scio' meaning 'knowing in the fullest sense of the word' and the Greek word ']' meaning 'study of'".<ref>Church of Scientology | |||
] of the FLAG Scientology complex in ]]] | |||
(website accessed 4/12/06)</ref> | |||
The Church of Scientology is headquartered at "]" in ], where the highest ] officials work,{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=10|2a1=Lewis|2a2=Hellesøy|2y=2017|2p=216}} and at "Flag Land Base" in ].{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=7-8}} The organization operates on a hierarchical and top-down basis,{{sfnm|1a1=Cusack|1y=2009|1pp=394, 397|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=5}} being largely bureaucratic in structure.{{sfn|Dericquebourg|2009|p=177}} It claims to be the only true voice of Scientology.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=39}} | |||
The internal structure of Scientology organizations is strongly bureaucratic with a focus on statistics-based management.<ref name="GA180" /> Organizational operating budgets are performance-related and subject to frequent reviews.<ref name="GA180" /> | |||
By 2011, the organization was claiming over 700 centres in 65 countries.{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=1|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=335}} Smaller centres are called "missions".{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=134}} The largest number of these are in the U.S., with the second largest number being in Europe.{{sfn|Rigal-Cellard|2009|p=326}} Missions are established by missionaries, who are referred to as "mission holders".{{sfn|Rigal-Cellard|2009|p=325}} Members can establish a mission wherever they wish but must fund it themselves; the missions are not financially supported by the central organization.{{sfn|Rigal-Cellard|2009|p=327}} Mission holders must purchase all of the necessary material from the central Church of Scientology; as of 2001, the Mission Starter Pack cost $35,000 ({{inflation|US|35000|2001|fmt=eq|r=-2}}).{{sfn|Rigal-Cellard|2009|p=328}}{{inflation/fn|US}} | |||
==Membership== | |||
===The Church of Scientology=== | |||
{{main|Church of Scientology}} | |||
] of the ].]] | |||
], one of the symbols created to give Scientology the trappings of a religion.<ref name=Wr13b>{{Cite book |last1=Wright |first1=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Wright |title=Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-307-70066-7 |ol=25424776M |page=227 |url=https://archive.org/details/goingclearscient00lawr/page/227/mode/1up?view=theater |quote=There was a deliberate campaign to provide religious cloaking for the church's activities. A Scientology cross was created. Scientology ministers now appeared wearing Roman collars.}}</ref>{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}} Urban suggested it was modelled on the eight-pointed cross used by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.{{sfn|Urban|2012|p=352}}]] | |||
The Church of Scientology has said that is had as many as 10 million members as of 2006,<ref></ref> though actual membership figures it has released indicate a far smaller total. Third party estimates of Scientology's worldwide membership range from less than 100,000<ref></ref> to approximately 500,000.<ref></ref> According to a 2001 survey published by the ], 55,000 people in the ] would, if asked to identify their religion, have said Scientology.<ref>Kosmin, Barry A. et al .</ref> | |||
Each mission or Org is a corporate entity, established as a licensed franchise, and operating as a commercial company.{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=98|2a1=Rigal-Cellard|2y=2009|2p=327}} Each franchise sends part of its earnings, which have been generated through beginner-level auditing, to the International Management.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=98}} Bromley observed that an entrepreneurial incentive system pervades the organization, with individual members and organisations receiving payment for bringing in new people or for signing them up for more advanced services.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=99}} The individual and collective performances of different members and missions are gathered, being called "stats".{{sfn|Bromley|2009|pp=98-99}} Performances that are an improvement on the previous week are termed "up stats"; those that show a decline are "down stats".{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=120}} According to leaked tax documents, the Church of Scientology International and Church of Spiritual Technology in the US had a combined $1.7 billion in assets in 2012, in addition to annual revenues estimated at $200 million a year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/church-of-scientology-worth-more-than-12-billion-according-to-new-tax-documents-2014-4|title=Church Of Scientology Worth More Than $1.2 Billion, According To New Tax Docs|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=Business Insider}}</ref> | |||
=== Internal organization === | |||
The first Church of Scientology was ] in ] as a ] in 1953. Nowadays the Church forms the center of a complex worldwide network of organizations dedicated to the promotion and implementation of L. Ron Hubbard's philosophies in all areas of life. This includes: | |||
{{main|Office of Special Affairs|Guardian's Office}} | |||
* Drug treatment centres (]); | |||
] (CST) ranch in Creston, California, where Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard spent his last days. The CST symbol is visible within a racetrack.]] | |||
* Criminal rehabilitation programs (]); | |||
The Sea Org is the organization's primary management unit,{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=99}} containing the highest ranks in its hierarchy.<ref name="GA180">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=180}}</ref> Its members are often recruited from the children of existing Scientologists,{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=42}} and sign up to a "billion-year contract" to serve the Church.{{sfnm|1a1=Kent|1y=1999|1p=7|2a1=Bromley|2y=2009|2p=99|3a1=Urban|3y=2011|3p=36|4a1=Halupka|4y=2014|4p=618}} Kent described that for adult Sea Org members with minor children, their work obligations took priority, damaged parent-child relations, and has led to cases of severe child neglect and endangerment.{{sfn|Kent|1999|pp=7–11}} | |||
* Activities to reform the field of mental health (]); | |||
* Projects to implement Hubbard's educational methods in schools (]); | |||
The ] (RPF) is the Church of Scientology's disciplinary program,{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=10}} where Sea Org members deemed to have seriously deviated from its teachings are placed.{{sfnm|1a1=Kent|1y=1999|1p=11|2a1=Halupka|2y=2014|2p=618}}<ref name="GA181" /> They will often face a hearing, the "Committee of Evidence", which determines if they will be sent to the RPF.{{sfn|Kent|1999|pp=11–12}} The RPF operates out of several locations.{{sfn|Kent|1999|p=11}} It involves a daily regimen of five hours of auditing or studying, eight hours of work, often physical labor, such as building renovation, and at least seven hours of sleep.<ref name="GA181" /> Critics have condemned RPF practices for violating human rights;{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=10}} and criticized the Scientology organization for placing children as young as twelve into the RPF, engaging them in ] and denying access to their parents, violating ].<ref name="kent"/> The RPF has contributed to characterisations of the organization as a cult.{{sfn|Halupka|2014|p=618}} | |||
* A "moral values" campaign (]); | |||
* A ], (]) to promote social programs with legislators at the US federal and state levels; | |||
The Office of Special Affairs or ''OSA'' (formerly the ''Guardian's Office'') is a department of the Church of Scientology which has been characterized as a non-state ].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Understanding Scientology | chapter= 12: OSA (Office of Special Affairs) – The Secret CIA of Scientology |first=Margery | last=Wakefield |year=1991 |chapter-url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/us-12.html |access-date=2023-01-28 |via=]}}</ref><ref>Cisar, Joe (translator) </ref><ref>Hamburg Regional Office of the German Constitutional Security Agency </ref> It has targeted critics of the organization for "]" operations, which is mounting ] operations against perceived enemies.<ref name="woods3">{{Cite news|date=9 June 1999 | |||
* ], or WISE, which licenses Hubbard's management techniques for use in businesses; | |||
| last = Dyer | first = Clare | |||
* A campaign directed to implement the 1948 United Nations document "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (sometimes with particular emphasis on the religious freedom elements).<ref></ref> | |||
|title=Scientologists pay for libel|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jun/09/claredyer|access-date=2023-01-28|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> | |||
* | |||
A 1990 article in the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that in the 1980s the Scientology organization more commonly used private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers, to give themselves a layer of protection in case embarrassing tactics were used and became public.<ref name="On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes, Los Angeles Times, June 29, 1990" /> The ] operates to advance the cause of the Scientology organization and its members across the world.{{sfn|Kent|1999|p=5}} | |||
Within the church, the staff is arranged in a hierarchical structure. Organizations providing higher level Scientology are safeguarded and run by the ]<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
=== Promotional material === | |||
{{See also|Celebrity Centres|Scientology and celebrities}} | |||
] | |||
The Scientology organization employs a range of media to promote itself and attract converts.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=32}} Hubbard promoted Scientology through a vast range of books, articles, and lectures.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=665}} It publishes several magazines, including ''Source'', ''Advance'', ''The Auditor'', and ''Freedom''.{{sfn|Lewis|2009a|p=6}} It has established a publishing press, New Era,{{sfnm|1a1=Grünschloß|1y=2009|1p=229|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=51}} and the audiovisual publisher Golden Era.{{sfn| Grünschloß|2009|p=229}} It has also used the Internet for promotional purposes,{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=34}} and employed advertising to attract potential converts, including in high-profile locations such as television ads during the 2014 and 2020 ]s.{{sfnm|1a1=Bigliardi|1y=2016|1p=675|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=33}} | |||
The organization has long used celebrities as a means of promoting itself, starting with Hubbard's "Project Celebrity" in 1955 and followed by its first Scientology ] in 1969.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=33}} The Celebrity Centre headquarters is in Hollywood; other branches are in Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, New York City, and Paris.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=51}} In 1955, Hubbard created a list of 63 celebrities targeted for conversion to Scientology.<ref name="Shaw_telegraph">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3671262/What-do-Tom-Cruise-and-John-Travolta-know-about-Scientology-that-we-dont.html|title=What do Tom Cruise and John Travolta know about Scientology that we don't?|last=Shaw|first=William|date=February 14, 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=June 25, 2009 | location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223012810/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3671262/What-do-Tom-Cruise-and-John-Travolta-know-about-Scientology-that-we-dont.html|url-status=live|archive-date=February 23, 2012}}</ref> Prominent celebrities who have joined the organization include ], ], ], ], and ].{{sfnm|1a1=Cusack|1y=2009|1p=389|2a1=Urban|2y=2011|2p=1|3a1=Urban|3y=2012|3p=335|4a1=Westbrook|4y=2019|4p=51|5a1=Thomas|5y=2021|5p=33}} The Church uses celebrity involvement to make itself appear more desirable.{{sfn|Cusack|2009|p=396}} Other new religious movements have similarly pursued celebrity involvement such as the ], ], ], and the ].{{sfn|Cusack|2009|p=396–397}} | |||
=== Social outreach === | |||
Several Scientology organizations promote the use of Scientology practices as a means to solve social problems. Scientology began to focus on these issues in the early 1970s. The Church of Scientology developed outreach programs that say they aim to fight drug addiction, illiteracy, learning disabilities and criminal behavior. They have been presented to schools, businesses and communities as secular techniques based on Hubbard's writings.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Neusner |first1=Jacob |title=World Religions in America |edition= 4th |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2009 }}</ref> They have been described as part of the Scientology organization's "war" against the discipline of psychiatry.{{sfn|Lewis|Hellesøy|2017|pp=565–569}} Some critics regard this outreach as merely a public relations exercise.{{sfn|Lewis|2009a|p=9}} | |||
Launched in 1966, ] is its drug rehabilitation program, which employs Hubbard's theories about drugs and treats addicts through auditing, exercise, saunas, vitamin supplements, and healthy eating.{{sfnm|1a1=Andersen|1a2=Wellendorf|1y=2009|1p=155|2a1=Bromley|2y=2009|2p=97|3a1=Lewis|3y=2009a|3p=9}} It has been described as a front group for recruiting into Scientology.<ref name="sunday_times_1">{{Cite news|title=Drugs charity is front for 'dangerous' organisation; Insight; Focus|url=http://www.scientology-lies.com/press/sunday-times/2007-01-07/drugs-charity-is-front-for-dangerous-organisation.html|access-date=20 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=7 January 2007|quote=Narconon's international website claims: "The ministry of health in England has also directly funded Narconon residential rehabilitation." But the Department of Health denies any knowledge of this. ... Professor Stephen Kent, a Canadian academic who is an authority on Scientology, said: "The connection between Narconon and Scientology is solid. Of course, Scientology tries to get non-Scientologists involved in the programme, but the engine behind the programme is Scientology." ... The British government expressed concern about Narconon as long as eight years ago. A 1998 memo from the Home Office's drug strategy unit warned that the charity had its "roots in the Church of Scientology and (is) not in the mainstream of drug rehabilitation". Tower Hamlets council in east London advises its schools against using Narconon. DrugScope, one of the UK's main drug charities, said: "We feel that the quality of Narconon's information is not objective and non-judgmental. It does not have any credibility." Stephen Shaw, the prisons ombudsman, advised that inmates in British jails should not receive drug education from Narconon because it is so "closely associated with the Church of Scientology".}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Behar|1991}}: "Hubbard's purification treatments are the mainstay of Narconon, a Scientology-run chain of 33 alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers—some in prisons under the name "Criminon"—in 12 countries. Narconon, a classic vehicle for drawing addicts into the cult, now plans to open what it calls the world's largest treatment center, a 1,400-bed facility on an Indian reservation near Newkirk, Okla. (pop. 2,400). At a 1989 ceremony in Newkirk, the Association for Better Living and Education presented Narconon a check for $200,000 and a study praising its work. The association turned out to be part of Scientology itself. Today the town is battling to keep out the cult, which has fought back through such tactics as sending private detectives to snoop on the mayor and the local newspaper publisher."</ref><ref name=dsp91>{{Cite news|title=What Germans think about their Narconon |newspaper=]|date=21 October 1991 |url=http://www.xenu-directory.net/mirrors/www.whyaretheydead.net/krasel/spiegel.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104114205/http://www.xenu-directory.net/mirrors/www.whyaretheydead.net/krasel/spiegel.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=20 March 2014|url-status=usurped |quote=The enterprising Scientology sect increases its profits thanks to the misery of addicts. The cover organization, Narconon, offers drug rehabilitation therapy that, in the opinion of experts and doctors in the field, is not only useless but also dangerous. ... Narconon closely follows the motto of the Scientology sect's founder, Lafayette Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986 at the age of 74. The discoverer of this pseudo-scientific hocus pocus, gave this advice: Make money, make more money, make other people make money. The disciples at Narconon follow this order. It is officially an independent subsidiary of Scientology. The Scientologists have developed countless supposedly humanitarian initiatives around their church. One example is the commission for the violations of psychiatry against human rights. Another is the organization for the furthering of religious tolerance and interhuman relations. In fact all these activities, like the drug rehabilitation program, are only to further the fame and increase the paying followers of the sect.}}</ref> ] is the organization's criminal rehabilitation programme.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=97}}<ref name="GA182">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=182}}</ref> Its ] program, established in 1972, employs Hubbard's pedagogical methods to help students.{{sfnm|1a1=Andersen|1a2=Wellendorf|1y=2009|1p=155|2a1=Bromley|2y=2009|2p=98}}<ref name="GA183">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=183}}</ref> ] promotes a moral code written by Hubbard, to date translated into more than 40 languages.<ref name="GA183" /> Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, and The Way to Happiness operate under the management banner of ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-05/scientology-campaign-to-push-educational-materials-in-schools/11069666 |title=Scientology's controversial push to enter schools with learning material — including in Australia |date=4 May 2019 |first=Sean |last=Mantesso |website=] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/Narconon-Misleading-antidrug-program-back-in-5504351.php |title=Narconon: Misleading antidrug program back in public schools |date=May 25, 2014 |first=Nanette |last=Asimov |website=] }}</ref> | |||
The ] (WISE) applies Scientology practices to business management.{{sfn|Kent|1999|p=4}}<ref name="GA183" /> The most prominent training supplier to make use of Hubbard's technology is ].<ref name="GA183" /> | |||
] | |||
Hubbard devised the ] in 1973.{{sfn|Cusack|Digance|2009|p=436}} They offer help and counselling to those in distress; this includes the Scientological technique of providing "]".{{sfn|Cusack|Digance|2009|p=436}} After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York City, Volunteer Ministers were on the site of ] within hours of the attack;{{sfn|Cusack|Digance|2009|pp=435-436}} they subsequently went to New Orleans after ].{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=9}} Accounts of the Volunteer Ministers' effectiveness have been mixed, and touch assists are not supported by scientific evidence.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Winn|first1=Patrick|title=Scientologists are in Nepal trying to 'heal' trauma victims|url=http://www.globalpost.com/article/6550051/2015/05/15/scientologists-are-nepal-trying-heal-trauma-victims|access-date=December 16, 2015|work=Global Post|date=May 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Winn|first1=Patrick|title=Scientology's global disaster squad|url=https://www.minnpost.com/global-post/2011/04/scientology%E2%80%99s-global-disaster-squad|access-date=December 16, 2015|work=MinnPost|date=April 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Goodman |first1=Peter S. |title=For Tsunami Survivors, A Touch of Scientology (washingtonpost.com) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43291-2005Jan27.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |newspaper=] |date=January 28, 2005}}</ref> | |||
=== Responses to opponents === | |||
{{main|Scientology ethics and justice|Suppressive person|Disconnection (Scientology)|Fair game (Scientology)}} | |||
The Scientology organization regards itself as the victim of media and governmental persecution,{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=2}} and the scholar of religion ] observed that "claims to systematic persecution and harassment" are part of the internal culture.{{sfn|Cowan|2009|p=68}} In turn, Urban noted the organization has "tended to respond very aggressively to its critics, mounting numerous lawsuits and at times using extralegal means to respond to those who threaten it."{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=2}} The organization has often responded to criticism by ] attacks.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=446}} Its approach to targeting critics has often generated more negative attention for their organization,{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=30}} with Lewis commenting that it "has proven to be its own worst enemy" in this regard.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=140}} | |||
It has a reputation for litigiousness stemming from its involvement in a large number of legal conflicts.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=134}} Barrett characterised the organization as "one of the most litigious religions in the world".{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=471}} It has conducted lawsuits against governments, organizations, and individuals, both to counter criticisms made against it and to gain legal recognition as a religion.{{sfn|Richardson|2009|p=283}} J.P. Kumar, who studied the litigation, argued that victory was not always important to the organization; what was important was depleting the resources and energies of its critics.{{sfn|Halupka|2014|p=620}} | |||
=== Suppressive persons and fair game === | |||
Those deemed hostile to the Church of Scientology, including ex-members, are labelled "]s" or SPs.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=463|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=30}} Hubbard maintained that 20 percent of the population would be classed as "suppressive persons" because they were truly malevolent or dangerous: "the Adolf Hitlers and the Genghis Khans, the unrepentant murderers and the drug lords".<ref name="GA177">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=177}}</ref><ref name="ZP146-147">{{harvnb|Zellner|Petrowsky|1998|pp=146–147}}</ref> If the organization declares that one of its members is an SP, all other members are forbidden from further contact with them, an act it calls "]".{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=30}} Any member breaking this rule is labelled a "]" (PTS) and unless they swiftly cease all contact they can be labelled an SP themselves.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=30-31}}<ref name="newreli">{{Cite book |author=Bednarowski, Mary Farrell |title=New Religions and the Theological Imagination in America (Religion in North America) |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |year=1995 |page=114 |isbn=978-0-253-20952-8}}</ref>{{r|Bednarowski}} | |||
In an October 1968 letter to members, Hubbard wrote about a policy called "]" which was directed at SPs and other perceived threats to the organization.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=463}}<ref name="urban2008">{{Cite journal|last=Urban|first=Hugh B.|year=2008|title=Secrecy and New Religious Movements: Concealment, Surveillance, and Privacy in a New Age of Information|journal=Religion Compass|volume=2|issue=1|pages=66–83|issn=1749-8171|doi=10.1111/j.1749-8171.2007.00052.x}}</ref> Here he stated that these individuals "may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologists. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed".{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=463|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=30}} Following strong criticism, the organization said that it formally ended Fair Game a month later, with Hubbard stating that he had never intended "to authorize illegal or harassment type acts against anyone."{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=464}} Critics and some scholarly observers argue that its practices reflect that the policy remains in place.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=464|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=31}} It is "widely asserted" by former members that Fair Game is still employed;{{sfn|Doherty|2014|p=46}} ], a former member of the internal Office of Special Affairs, stated in court that "practices which were formerly called 'Fair Game' continue to be employed, although the term 'Fair Game' is no longer used."{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=464}} | |||
Hubbard and his followers targeted many individuals as well as government officials and agencies, including a ] of the ] and other ] agencies during the 1970s.<ref name="urban2006">Urban, Hugh B. ''Magia sexualis: sex, magic, and liberation in modern Western esotericism'', p. 137. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-520-24776-5}}</ref><ref name="urban2008" /> They also conducted private investigations, ] and ] against the organization's critics in the media.<ref name="urban2006" /> | |||
The ] system regulates member behavior,<ref name="GA180" /> and ] are present in every Scientology organization. Ethics officers ensure "correct application of Scientology technology" and deal with "behavior adversely affecting a Scientology organization's performance", ranging from "errors" and "misdemeanors" to "crimes" and "suppressive acts", as those terms defined by Scientology.<ref name="GA181">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=181}}</ref> | |||
== Free Zone and independent Scientology == | |||
=== Scientology splinter groups=== | |||
{{main|Free Zone (Scientology)}} | {{main|Free Zone (Scientology)}} | ||
{{See also|Scientology beliefs and practices#Squirreling}} | |||
Although "Scientology" is most often used as shorthand for the ], a number of groups practice Scientology and Dianetics outside of the official Church. Such groups are invariably breakaways from the original Church. The Church takes an extremely hard line on breakaway groups, labeling them "]" (or "squirrels" in Scientology jargon) and often subjecting them to considerable legal and social pressure. Breakaway groups avoid the name "Scientology" so as to keep from being ], instead referring to themselves collectively as the ] or Ron's Org. | |||
The terms "Free Zone", "Freezone" and "Independent Scientology" are used by those who practice Scientology outside of the purview of the Church of Scientology. Free Zoners believe that Church of Scientology leadership has deviated from Hubbard's teachings, while asserting their own loyalty to Hubbard. The Church of Scientology is hostile to the Free Zone, and refers to such independent Scientologists as "squirrels", In 1983, the ] was founded by ] in California, but was successfully shut down by the Church of Scientology. Conversely, still operating in 2023 is Ron's Org in Europe, founded in 1984 by Bill Robertson as a loose grouping of independent centers rather than a centralized organization. Robertson coined the term "free zone" from Hubbard's space opera teachings. Since Robertson had said that he was channeling messages from the late Hubbard and had obtained ] by the Church of Scientology, many of the newer "indies" prefer to call themselves "independent scientologists" to distance themselves from Robertson.{{Sfn|Lewis|2013|pp=262-70}} | |||
== Controversies == | |||
===Scientology and celebrities=== | |||
{{seealso|Scientology and celebrities|List of Scientologists}} | |||
{{Main|Scientology controversies}} | |||
[[Image:ScientologyCenter1.jpg|thumb|A Scientology Centre | |||
{{See also|Scientology and the legal system}} | |||
on ] in ], ], ].]] | |||
] on (from left to right) ], Scientology, and ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfv.bayern.de/service/berichte/ |title=Publications listing on the website of the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution |publisher=Lfv.bayern.de |access-date=September 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219142633/http://www.lfv.bayern.de/service/berichte/ |archive-date=February 19, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71382.htm|title=Germany|first=Bureau of Public Affairs|last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information|website=2001-2009.state.gov}}</ref>]] | |||
Urban described the Church of Scientology as "the world's most controversial new religion",{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=9}} while Lewis termed it "arguably the most ''persistently'' controversial" of contemporary new religious movements.{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009a|1p=4|2a1=Lewis|2y=2012|2p=133}} According to Urban, the organization had "a documented history of extremely problematic behavior ranging from espionage against government agencies to shocking attacks on critics of the organization and abuse of its own members."{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=7}} | |||
The Church of Scientology has consistently attracted artists and entertainers, particularly ] celebrities. ] saw to the formation of a special Church of Scientology which would cater artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision "to create a better world"<ref></ref>. There are eight of what are refered to as]s across the world, though Hollywood is the largest and most important. | |||
A first point of controversy was its response to its rejection by the psychotherapeutic establishment. Another was a 1991 ] about the organization, which responded with a major lawsuit that was rejected by the court as baseless early in 1992. A third is its religious tax status in the United States, as the IRS granted the organization tax-exempt status in 1993.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WEy-BgAAQBAJ&q=controversy&pg=PT9 |title=Scientology |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=November 5, 2015 |isbn=978-0-19-988711-8 |date=March 11, 2009 }}</ref> | |||
<!-- Please try to keep this list to the most prominent Scientologist celebs. Others can go in ]--> | |||
Publicity has been generated by Scientologists in the entertainment industry. Among the most well-known of these figures are the artists ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
It has been in conflict with the governments and police forces of many countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Lucy|last=Morgan|title=Abroad: Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html|newspaper=]|date=March 29, 1999|access-date=September 7, 2007|quote=Canada's highest court in 1997 upheld the criminal conviction of the Church of Scientology of Toronto and one of its officers for a breach of trust stemming from covert operations in Canadian government offices during the 1970s and 1980s. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522214354/http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref> France<ref>{{Cite news|first=Pierre-Antoine|last=Souchard|title=Scientology Fraud Conviction Upheld |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/scientology-fraud-conviction_n_1249314.html|work=Huffington Post|date=February 2, 2012|access-date=February 3, 2012|quote=A French appeals court on Thursday upheld the Church of Scientology's 2009 fraud conviction on charges it pressured members into paying large sums for questionable remedies. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103145947/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/scientology-fraud-conviction_n_1249314.html|archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref> and Germany).<ref name="TimeVenus">{{Cite magazine|title=Remember Venus? |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889564,00.html |magazine=] |date=December 22, 1952 |access-date=July 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721151655/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C889564%2C00.html |archive-date=July 21, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Behar|1991}}<ref name="The Church's War">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1994/12/25/scientology-fiction/809c906a-5145-4cce-a0fa-710d77adb5cd/ |title=Scientology Fiction: The Church's War Against Its Critics – and Truth|date=December 25, 1994 |first=Richard |last=Leiby |newspaper=] |access-date=June 21, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/pdf/2001/schoen2001.pdf |title=Marburg Journal of Religion: Framing Effects in the Coverage of Scientology versus Germany: Some Thoughts on the Role of Press and Scholars |publisher=Web.uni-marburg.de |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=September 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409133339/http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/pdf/2001/schoen2001.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |first=Brigitte |last=Schön}}</ref> It has been one of the most litigious religious movements in history, filing countless lawsuits against governments, organizations and individuals.<ref>{{harvnb|Richardson|2009|p=283}}</ref> | |||
Former Scientologists say the attention and care given to celebrity practitioners is vastly different from that of noncelebrity practitioners<ref>, ] ], in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fish and Uwe Geertz''. contradicted in , 11 April 1994</ref><ref>{{cite news |author = Hoffman, Claire |coauthors = Christensen, Kim |url = http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-scientology18dec18,0,7000009,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines |title = Tom Cruise and Scientology |work = Los Angeles Times |date = ] |accessdate = 2006-11-14}}<</ref> | |||
Reports and allegations have been made, by journalists, courts, and governmental bodies of several countries, that the Church of Scientology is an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses its critics and brutally exploits its members.<ref name="The Church's War"/><ref name="CNET - Goodin Scientology">{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=June 3, 1999 |title=Scientology subpoenas Worldnet |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128164549/http://news.com.com/2100-1023-226676.html |archive-date=January 28, 2007 |access-date=May 4, 2006 |publisher=CNET News.com}}</ref> A considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the organization, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.<ref name="The Church's War"/><ref name="CNET - Goodin Scientology"/> | |||
], a former Scientologist and ] staffer, testified in a that money from not-for-profit Scientology organizations and labor from those organizations (including the ]) had gone to provide special facilities for Scientology celebrities, which were not available to other Scientologists: | |||
The controversies involving the Church of Scientology, some of them ongoing, include: | |||
{{cquote|A Sea Org staffer ... was taken along to do personal cooking for Tom Cruise and ] at the expense of Scientology not for profit religious organizations. This left only 3 cooks at ] to cook for 800 people three times a day ... apartment cottages were built for the use of John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Edgar Winter, Priscilla Presley and other Scientology celebrities who are carefully prevented from finding out the real truth about the Scientology organization ... Miscavige decided to redo the meadow in beautiful flowers; Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on the project so that Cruise and ] could romp there. However, Miscavige inspected the project and didn't like it. So the whole meadow was plowed up, destroyed, replowed and sown with plain grass."<ref>, ] ], in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fish and Uwe Geertz''.</ref> }} | |||
* Criminal behavior by members of the organization, including the infiltration of the US Government.{{sfn|Behar|1991}} | |||
* Organized harassment of people perceived as enemies of the Church of Scientology.{{sfn|Behar|1991}} | |||
* Scientology's ] policy, in which some members are required to shun friends or family members who are "antagonistic" to the organization.<ref name="Cooper"/><ref name="unperson">{{Cite news|first=Robert|last=Farley|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml|title=The unperson|newspaper=]|date=June 24, 2006|pages=1A,14A|access-date=June 24, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703022023/http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2007}}</ref> | |||
* The death of Scientologist ] while in the care of the organization. ] sponsored the multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Scientology for the death of McPherson. In May 2004, McPherson's estate and the Church of Scientology reached a confidential settlement.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Farley|first=Robert|title=Scientologists settle death suit|newspaper=]|date=May 29, 2004|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml|access-date=November 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204647/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml|archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> | |||
* Attempts to legally force search engines to censor information critical of the Scientology organization.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Matt Loney |author2=Evan Hansen |title=Google pulls anti-Scientology links |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-865936.html |publisher=] |date=March 21, 2002 |access-date=May 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015221649/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-865936.html |archive-date=October 15, 2008 }}</ref> | |||
* Allegations the organization's leader David Miscavige beats and demoralizes staff, and that physical violence by superiors towards staff working for them is a common occurrence in the organization.{{r|truthrundown}}<ref>{{Cite news | first = Thomas C. Tobin| last = Joe Childs | title =Scientology: Ecclesiastical justice | url =http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1012575.ece | newspaper = ] | date = June 23, 2009 | access-date = June 23, 2009 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130117071232/http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1012575.ece| archive-date =January 17, 2013}}</ref> Scientology spokesman ] denied these claims and provided witnesses to rebut them.{{r|truthrundown}} | |||
], a professor of sociology, has said that "Scientologists see themselves as possessors of doctrines and skills that can save the world, if not the galaxy."{{r|reitman-rs}} As stated in Scientology doctrine: "The whole agonized future of this planet, every man, woman and child on it, and your own destiny for the next endless trillions of years depend on what you do here and now with and in Scientology."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hubbard |first=L. Ron |date=7 February 1965 |chapter=Keeping Scientology Working Series 1 |type=This document was included in the attached documents submitted to the IRS in 1993. |title=Chaplain Mini Hat |chapter-url=http://www.xenu-directory.net/documents/corporate/irs/1993-1023-csi-attachedstatement-exhibit-15.pdf#page=12 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907083544/http://www.xenu-directory.net/documents/corporate/irs/1993-1023-csi-attachedstatement-exhibit-15.pdf#page=12 |archive-date=2012-09-07 |at=Page with ] 240513}}</ref> Kent has described the ] system as "a peculiar brand of morality that uniquely benefited ... In plain English, the purpose of Scientology ethics is to eliminate opponents, then eliminate people's interests in things other than Scientology."<ref name="kent">{{Cite journal|last=Kent|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen A. Kent|date=September 2003|title=Scientology and the European Human Rights Debate: A Reply to Leisa Goodman, J. Gordon Melton, and the European Rehabilitation Project Force Study |journal=]|publisher=]|volume=8|issue=1|url=https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3725|access-date=May 21, 2006 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629063543/http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/kent3.html|archive-date=June 29, 2006 |doi=10.17192/mjr.2003.8.3725}}</ref> | |||
Tabayoyon's account of the planting of the meadow was supported by another former Scientologist, Maureen Bolstad, who said that a couple of dozen Scientologists including herself were put to work on a rainy night through dawn on the project. "We were told that we needed to plant a field and that it was to help Tom impress Nicole ... but for some mysterious reason it wasn't considered acceptable by Mr. Miscavige. So the project was rejected and they redid it."<ref>{{cite news |author = Hoffman, Claire |coauthors = Christensen, Kim |url = http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-scientology18dec18,0,7000009,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines |title = Tom Cruise and Scientology |work = Los Angeles Times |date = ] |accessdate = 2006-11-14}}<</ref> | |||
Many former members have come forward to speak out about the organization and the negative effects its teachings have had on them, including celebrities such as ]. Remini spoke about her split from the Church of Scientology, saying that she still has friends within the organization whom she is no longer able to speak with.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eggenberger|first=Nicole|date=10 September 2013 | |||
], who experienced Scientology both before and during her period of TV stardom, expressed it in a September 1993 interview: "When I started, I wasn't in television yet. I was a nobody - I'd done some TV, but I was not one of the elite, not by a long shot - until I did '']''. Then it became…I mean, you really are treated like royalty."<ref>http://rickross.org/reference/scientology/Scien12.html</ref> | |||
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211091352/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/leah-remini-tells-ellen-degeneres-she-lost-friends-after-leaving-scientology-2013109 |archive-date=December 11, 2013 | |||
|title=Leah Remini "Lost Friends" After Leaving Scientology|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/leah-remini-tells-ellen-degeneres-she-lost-friends-after-leaving-scientology-2013109/|access-date=2023-01-28|website=Us Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
Throughout the early 1950s, adherents of Hubbard were arrested for practicing medicine without a license. In January 1951, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners brought proceedings against the Dianetic Research Foundation on the charge of teaching medicine without a license. In January 1963 ] raided the ] in Washington.{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1pp=62–68|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2pp=81–83|3a1=Kent|3y=1996}} Scientology social programs such as drug and criminal rehabilitation have also drawn both support and criticism.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Luke|last=Gianni|title=Scientology does detox – David E. Root, M.D|url=http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=283982|work=local stories > 15 minutes|publisher=]|date=February 22, 2007|access-date=May 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130095718/http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=283982|archive-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Monserrate Defends Detox Program|url=http://www.observer.com/2007/monserrate-defends-detox-program|website=The Politicker|publisher=]|date=April 20, 2007|access-date=November 27, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205072549/http://www.observer.com/2007/monserrate-defends-detox-program|archive-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Lauren|last=Etter|title=Program for prisoners draws fire over Scientology|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07019/755193-28.stm|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 19, 2007|access-date=November 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118044712/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07019/755193-28.stm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2012}}</ref> | |||
==Controversy and criticism== | |||
{{main|Scientology controversy}} | |||
"Several states published pamphlets about Scientology (and other religious groups) that detailed the Church's ideology and practices. States defended the practice by noting their responsibility to respond to citizens' requests for information about Scientology as well as other subjects. While many of the pamphlets were factual and relatively unbiased, some warned of alleged dangers posed by Scientology to the political order, to the free market economic system, and to the mental and financial well being of individuals. Beyond the Government's actions, the Catholic Church and, especially, the Evangelical Church have been public opponents of Scientology. Evangelical "Commissioners for Religious and Ideological Issues" have been particularly active in this regard."</ref>.]] | |||
Of the many ]s to appear during the 20th century, Scientology has, from its inception, been one of the most controversial. The Church has come into conflict with the governments and police forces of several countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany) numerous times over the years, though supporters note that many major world religions have found themselves in conflict with civil government in their early years. | |||
===Hubbard's motives=== | |||
] classes Scientology as a business, rather than a religious organization, and ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ], remain unconvinced that Scientology is a religion<ref> ]</ref>. | |||
Common criticisms directed at Hubbard was that he drew upon pre-existing sources and the allegation that he was motivated by financial reasons.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=27}} A number of Hubbard's letters and directives to his subordinates support the notion that he used religion as a façade for Scientology to maintain ] status{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}} and avoid further prosecutions (a number of Dianetics or Scientology practitioners had already been arrested) for medical claims.{{sfn|Kent|1996}} The IRS cited a statement frequently attributed to Hubbard that the way to get rich was to found a religion.<ref name="Bare-faced Messiah220"/> Many of Hubbard's science fiction colleagues, including ], ] and ], recall Hubbard raising the topic in conversation.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Over my shoulder : reflections on a science fiction era|last=Eshbach|first=Lloyd Arthur|date=1983|publisher=O. Train|isbn=978-1-880418-11-6|location=Philadelphia|oclc=939141508}}</ref>{{sfn|Miller|1987|pages=117,133,148}}<ref>{{harvnb|Atack|1990|pp=137–152}}</ref> In 2006, '']'''s Janet Reitman also attributed the statement to Hubbard, as a remark to science fiction writer ] and recorded in Eshbach's autobiography.{{r|reitman-rs}} | |||
===Criminal behavior=== | |||
{{main|Scientology and the legal system}} | |||
{{see also|Operation Snow White|Operation Freakout|Scientology and law}} | |||
] was indicted for making bomb threats after she was ] by agents of the Church of Scientology.]] | |||
In 1978, a number of Scientologists, including L. Ron Hubbard's wife ] (who was second in command in the organization at the time), were convicted of perpetrating what was at the time the largest incident of domestic espionage in the history of the United States, called "]". This involved infiltrating, wiretapping, and stealing documents from the offices of Federal attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service.<ref name="nr4186">{{Cite book|title = National Reporting, 1941–1986|last = Ficsher|first = Erika|publisher = Walter de Gruyter|page = 302}}</ref> L. Ron Hubbard was convicted '']'' by French authorities of engaging in fraud and sentenced to four years in prison.<ref name="criticsabroad">{{Cite news|first=Lucy |last=Morgan |title=Abroad: Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html |newspaper=] |date=March 29, 1999 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219080712/http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html |archive-date=December 19, 2007 }}</ref> The head of the French Church of Scientology was convicted at the same trial and given a suspended one-year prison sentence.<ref>''Catholic Sentinel'', March 17, 1978</ref> | |||
The ongoing controversies involving the Church and its critics include: | |||
An FBI raid on the Church of Scientology's headquarters revealed documentation that detailed Scientology's criminal actions against various critics of the organization. In "]", agents of the organization attempted to destroy ], author of ''The Scandal of Scientology'', an early book that had been critical of the movement.<ref name="sptimes1979">{{Cite web |url=http://sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/scientology/Scientology_Special_Report.pdf |title=Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater |date=1979 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809193839/http://sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/scientology/Scientology_Special_Report.pdf |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |first=Charles |last=Stafford |publisher=] }} {{Cite web |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/bette-swenson-orsini-and-charles-stafford |title=The 1980 Pulitzer Prize Winner in National Reporting |website=]}}</ref> Among these documents was a plan to frame ], the mayor of ], Florida, with a staged hit-and-run accident. Nine individuals related to the case were prosecuted on charges of theft, burglary, conspiracy, and other crimes. | |||
* Repeated claims of ] and ].{{Fact|date=April 2007}} | |||
* Scientology's ] policy, in which members are encouraged to cut off all contact with friends or family members critical of the Church.<ref></ref> | |||
* The death of Scientologists, including ] used by Scientology critics as "examples". | |||
* Criminal activities by individual American Scientologists or committed for personal benefit (], ], and others){{Fact|date=April 2007}} | |||
* Criminal activities committed on behalf of the Church or directed by Church officials (], ], ] and others). | |||
* Sometimes conflicting claims about L. Ron Hubbard's life, in particular accounts of Hubbard discussing his intent to start a religion for profit, and of his service in the military.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} | |||
* Scientology's litigious actions against its critics and enemies.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} | |||
* Some critics charge Scientology with being a ], with much emphasis placed on the alleged accomplishments of its founder.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} | |||
In 1988, Scientology president ] and ten other members of the organization were arrested in Spain on various charges including illicit association, coercion, fraud, and labor law violations.<ref name="FacesNewClaims">{{Cite news |title=Scientology church faces new claims of harassment |publisher=] |date=December 22, 1988 |first=Stephen |last=Koff |via=] |pages=1, 6}} ()</ref> In October 2009, the Church of Scientology was found guilty of organized fraud in France.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE59Q1HD20091027 |title=Scientology convicted for fraud in France, escapes ban |work=Reuters |date=October 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114182557/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE59Q1HD20091027 |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |url-status=dead }}, ''Reuters'', October 27, 2009</ref> The sentence was confirmed by the ] in February 2012, and by the supreme ] in October 2013.<ref name=afpFraud12>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/french-court-upholds-scientology-fraud-conviction/ |title=French court upholds Scientology fraud conviction |website=] |date=February 2, 2012 }}, ''AFP'', February 2, 2012</ref><ref name=TorygrFraud13>{{Cite news |title=Scientology's fraud conviction upheld in France |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10384877/Scientologys-fraud-conviction-upheld-in-France.html |access-date=July 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530065306/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10384877/Scientologys-fraud-conviction-upheld-in-France.html |archive-date=May 30, 2014 |url-status=live |location=London |work=] |agency=] |date=October 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, Belgian prosecutors indicted Scientology as a criminal organization engaged in fraud | |||
===Scientology and other religions=== | |||
and extortion.<ref name="thewire">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thewire.com/global/2012/12/belgium-scientology-charges/60398/|publisher=thewire.com|title=Could Belgium Bring Down Scientology? – The Atlantic|access-date=March 13, 2017|date=December 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="tonyortega2">{{Cite web|url=http://tonyortega.org/2014/03/27/belgium-will-try-two-scientology-organizations-and-10-scientologists-for-fraud/|publisher=tonyortega.org|title=Belgium will try two Scientology organizations and 10 Scientologists for fraud ' The Underground Bunker|access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="tonyortega3">{{Cite web|url=http://tonyortega.org/2014/01/11/our-man-in-europe-reports-on-belgiums-criminal-prosecution-of-scientology/|publisher=tonyortega.org|title=Our man in Europe reports on Belgium's criminal prosecution of Scientology ' The Underground Bunker|access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> In March 2016, the Church of Scientology was acquitted of all charges, and demands to close its Belgian branch and European headquarters were dismissed.<ref name="abc">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-12/belgium-court-acquits-scientology-of-charges/7241800|publisher=abc.net.au|title=Scientology: Belgium court acquits church of organised crime charges (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=March 13, 2017|date=March 11, 2016|last1=Lewins|first1=Dean}}</ref> | |||
===Organized harassment=== | |||
Scientology teaches that it is fully compatible with all existing ] and that it does not conflict with other religions or other religious practices;<ref>''What is Scientology?'' 1992, p.544</ref> the Church has however been questioned by other religious groups. | |||
{{main|Fair game (Scientology)}} | |||
Scientology has historically engaged in hostile action toward its critics; executives within the organization have proclaimed that Scientology is "not a ] religion".<ref> | |||
{{Cite magazine | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913995,00.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071014114926/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913995,00.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= October 14, 2007 | title = A Sci-Fi Faith | magazine = ]|access-date=July 24, 2009 | date=April 5, 1976}}</ref> Since the 1960s, Journalists, politicians, former Scientologists and various ] have said that Scientology followers have engaged in organized hostility, harassment and threats, and Scientology has targeted these critics–almost without exception–for retaliation, in the form of lawsuits and public counter-accusations of personal wrongdoing. Many of Scientology's critics have also reported they were subject to threats and harassment in their private lives.<ref name="Behar2">{{Cite magazine | first = Richard | last = Behar | author-link = Richard Behar | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972886,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071110005526/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972886,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 10, 2007 | title = The Scientologists and Me |magazine=] | date = May 6, 1991a}} | |||
</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Joe |last=Strupp |title=The press vs. Scientology |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/06/30/scientology/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107223456/http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/06/30/scientology/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 7, 2007 |work=] |date=June 30, 2005 |access-date=September 19, 2007 }}</ref> | |||
According to a 1990 ''Los Angeles Times'' article, the Scientology organization had largely switched from using members to using private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers, as this gives the organization a layer of protection in case investigators use tactics which might cause the organization embarrassment. In one case, the organization described their tactics as "LAPD sanctioned", which was energetically disputed by Police Chief Daryl Gates. The officer involved in this particular case of surveillance and harassment was suspended for six months.<ref name="On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes, Los Angeles Times, June 29, 1990">{{Cite web|last1=Sappell|first1=Joel|last2=Welkos|first2=Robert W.|date=1990-06-29|title=On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062990x-story.html|access-date=2023-01-28|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128042923/https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062990x-story.html|url-status=live |archive-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> | |||
The ] complained in March 2003 to the Advertising Standards Authority about the Church's advertising poster promoting Narconon--the drug rehabilitation program based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard. The poster claimed "250,000 people salvaged from drugs." The Church of England Diocese of Birmingham challenged the claim. Upholding the complaint, the ASA considered that, "without clarification, readers were likely to interpret the claim '250,000 people salvaged from drugs' to mean that 250,000 people had stopped being dependent on street or prescription drugs because of Scientology. The Authority "accepted that more than 250,000 people had undertaken the Church's Drug Purification and Drug Rundown programmes, which were designed to free people from the effects of taking drugs," but "the Authority understood that, within Scientology, the concept of 'drug use' referred to a variety of behaviours that ranged from heavy use of street drugs to occasional ingestion of alcohol or prescription medicines and exposure to chemical toxins."<ref> of successful Church of England complaint about Narconon advertisement</ref> | |||
Journalist ] reported that "While making our BBC ] film '']'' I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a 'bigot' by star Scientologists, brain-washed – that is how it felt to me – in a mock up of a ] torture chamber and chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers".<ref>{{Cite news | last = Sweeney | first = John| title = Row over Scientology video| work = BBC News| date = May 14, 2007| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6650545.stm| access-date = November 3, 2008}}</ref> | |||
In May 2001, the ] criticized Scientologists, ], ] and ] as being dangerous "totalitarian sects".<ref> at Zenit</ref> | |||
==== Mistreatment of Members ==== | |||
The ] in Germany has at times criticized Scientology's activities and doctrines, along with those of several other religions. According to the U.S. State Department's 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, "The Lutheran Church also characterizes ] (Mormons), the Jehovah's Witnesses, the ], ], the ], and the ] as 'sects,' but in less negative terms than it does Scientology."<ref> at ]</ref> | |||
A prominent ex-member who has spoken out about the Scientology organization's mistreatment of members and ex-members is ]. Remini is an American actress that has been involved with the Church of Scientology since childhood. She left in 2013. In 2015 she published a book entitled '']'' where she recounts her experiences and events leading up to her leaving the organization.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Remini |first=Leah |title=Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology |title-link=Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology |publisher=Ballantine Books |year=2015}}</ref> | |||
The ] has not made official doctrinal pronouncements specifically related to Scientology. Certain beliefs that are widely associated with Scientology, such as ], are specifically rejected by the Catholic Church as being incompatible with Catholic belief and practice. Scientology is also, according to a number of religious scholars, a form of ], which would make it hard to reconcile with Roman Catholicism and other denominations that regard gnosticism as a ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Tirdad |last=Derakhshani |url=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/special_packages/sunday_review/12042623.htm |title=Spirituality through therapy |work=] |date=] |accessdate=2006-07-01 }}</ref> | |||
She also has produced a documentary television series on ] entitled '']'' released in 2017 which aired for three seasons. In this series, she and her co-host ], who is also an ex-member, tell their experiences and interview numerous ex-members with similar. Leah Remini has been outspoken about her views on the Church of Scientology and has raised much awareness about some of the major issues within the church regarding treatment of children, exploitive money practices and mistreatments she has experienced. | |||
Scientology's claim of religious compatibility to entry-level Scientologists is soon modified by the additional teaching that the various levels of spiritual prowess which can be reached through Scientology are more advanced than those attainable in other religions. Critics maintain that, within Scientology, "spiritual abilities" tends to be synonymous with "mystical powers" rather than with "inner peace". Hubbard himself cautioned against the unwise or improper use of powers in his book ''History of Man''. | |||
As of August 2023, Leah has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology. She alleges verbal, physical and sexual abuse was known and tolerated by the organization, and exploitive practices such as signing billion-year contracts with the organization. The main claims of the lawsuit are for psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation experienced by her for years while a member, and as tactics used after she publicly left.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hauser |first1=Christine |last2=Tumin |first2=Remy |date=2023-08-04 |title=Leah Remini, Vocal Scientology Critic, Files Suit Against Church |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/us/leah-remini-scientology-lawsuit.html |access-date=2023-10-22 |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140458/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/us/leah-remini-scientology-lawsuit.html |archive-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref> | |||
In its application for tax-exempt status in the United States, the Church of Scientology International states: | |||
===Violation of auditing confidentiality=== | |||
{{cquote|Although there is no policy or Scriptural mandate expressly requiring Scientologists to renounce other religious beliefs or membership in other churches, as a practical matter Scientologists are expected to and do become fully devoted to Scientology to the exclusion of other faiths. As Scientologists, they are required to look only to Scientology Scriptures for the answers to the fundamental questions of their existence and to seek enlightenment only from Scientology.<ref>Response to Final Series of IRS Questions Prior to Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) As a Church, ] ]</ref> }} | |||
During the auditing process, the auditor collects and records personal information from the client.<ref name="namehubbard">{{Cite news |last=Donaghy |first=James |date=June 9, 2007 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/09/tvandradio.broadcasting1 |title=My name is L Ron Hubbard |access-date=January 14, 2009 |work=The Guardian |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307111832/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jun/09/tvandradio.broadcasting1 |archive-date=March 7, 2013 }}</ref> While the Church of Scientology claims to protect the confidentiality of auditing records, the organization has a history of attacking and psychologically abusing former members using information culled from the records.<ref name="namehubbard" /> For example, a December 16, 1969, a ] order (G. O. 121669) by Mary Sue Hubbard explicitly authorized the use of auditing records for purposes of "internal security".<ref>Breckenridge, ''Memorandum of Intended Decision in Church of Scientology of California vs. Gerald Armstrong'', Superior Court, Los Angeles County, case no. C420153. quoted in {{harvnb|Atack|1990|p=332}}</ref> Former members report having participated in combing through information obtained in auditing sessions to see if it could be used for smear campaigns against critics.<ref name="SPTHarassment">{{Cite news|first=Stephen |last=Koff |title=Scientology church faces new claims of harassment |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51440683.html?dids=51440683:51440683&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT |work=] |date=December 22, 1988 |access-date=October 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515132143/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51440683.html?dids=51440683%3A51440683&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS%3AFT |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|author=Steven Girardi|title=Witnesses Tell of Break-ins, Conspiracy|journal=Clearwater Sun|date=May 9, 1982|pages=1A}}</ref> | |||
Hubbard sometimes identified himself with ] (sometimes spelled Metteya), a ] ] of the future. This identification is made most strongly in his 1955-56 poem '']'', which begins with the line "Am I Metteyya? {{sic}}" and emphasizes certain traits of Hubbard that the editors of the publication said matched traits predicted by the "Metteya Legend", such as Metteya appearing in the West, having golden hair or red hair (Hubbard was red-haired), and appearing in a time of world peril, with the earliest of the predicted dates for his return being 2,500 years after ], or roughly 1950. According to sociologist ], however, the traits which the editors say are predicted by the "Metteya Legend" either are not actually present in the Buddhist texts or in some cases are contradicted by the texts: instead of coming at a time of world peril, for instance, the predictions about Maitreya say he will be born to royalty whose domain is "mighty and prosperous, full of people, crowded and well fed", and rather than having hair "like flames", Kent says that the texts predict curly black hair for the Maitreya.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kent |first=Stephen A. |authorlink=Stephen A. Kent |year=1996 |title=Scientology's Relationship With Eastern Religious Traditions |journal=Journal of Contemporary Religion |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=21 |url=http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~skent/Linkedfiles/Scientology's%20Relationship%20With%20Eastern%20Religious%20Traditions%20.htm |accessdate=2007-03-31}}</ref> | |||
===Allegations of coerced abortions=== | |||
The revealed beliefs in Scientology at higher levels become increasingly contradictory with other religions. The concept of past lives in Scientology is at odds with ], ] and ]. Beliefs concerning the origins and age of the Earth, the root of evil, and the nature of man make it impossible to uphold the beliefs of most other religions while also being a Scientologist.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Hubbard claimed that Islam was the result of an extraterrestrial memory implant, called the Emanator, of which the ] is supposedly an artifact. Mainstream religions, in his view, had failed to realize their objectives: "It is all very well to idealize poverty and associate wisdom with begging bowls, or virtue with low estate. However, those who have done this (Buddhists, Christians, Communists and other fanatics) have dead ended or are dead ending."<ref>Hubbard, HCOPL of ] ]</ref> | |||
{{further|Scientology and abortion#Sea Org}} | |||
] | |||
The Sea Org originally operated on vessels at sea where it was understood that it was not permitted to raise children on board the ships because "children hinder adults from performing their vital assignments". Women who became pregnant have stated that they had been "coercively persuaded" to undergo abortions in order to remain in the Sea Org.{{sfn|Kent|1999|p=10}} | |||
Critics claim that a select group of advanced practitioners eventually discovered that Hubbard had left little doubt in his writings and lectures about the dim view he took toward existing major religions. In some of the teachings Hubbard had intended only for this select group, he claimed that ] had never existed, but was implanted in humanity's ] by Xenu 75 million years ago, and that Christianity was an "entheta operation" mounted by beings called Targs (Hubbard, "Electropsychometric Scouting: Battle of the Universes", April 1952). Some critics have claimed that one of the highest levels, OT VIII, tells initiates that Jesus was a ] (it is decidedly unclear whether the version of OT VIII in the ], where this claim originates, is genuine). Thus, critics claim, Hubbard makes clear his belief that advanced Scientologists are to identify Jesus and Christianity more as a force of evil than as a force for good. | |||
In 2003, '']'' reported "Forced abortions, beatings, starvation are considered tools of discipline in this church".<ref>{{Cite news | last =The Times of India staff | title = Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology | work =] | date =July 17, 2003 }}</ref> A former high-ranking source reports that "some 1,500 abortions" have been "carried out by women in the Sea Organization since the implementation of a rule in the late 80s that members could not remain in the organization if they decided to have children". The source noted that "And if members who have been in the Sea Organization for, say, 10 years do decide to have kids, they are dismissed with no more than $1,000" as a ].<ref>{{Cite news | last =New York Post staff | title =Abort-Happy Folks | work =] | page =011 | publisher =] | date =June 29, 2005}}</ref> | |||
===Scientology as a state-recognized religion=== | |||
o $ forces its female members to get abortions" (February 10, 2008)]] | |||
The Church pursues an extensive ] campaign supporting Scientology as a '']'' religion.<ref>Church of Scientology (website accessed 4/13/06)</ref> The organization cites numerous scholarly sources supporting its position, many of which can be found on a website the Church has established for this purpose.<ref>http://www.bonafidescientology.org/bonafide-scientology.htm</ref> Different countries have taken markedly different approaches to Scientology. Scientology is considered a legitimate ] in ]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, ] <ref></ref>, and ], and thus enjoys and regularly cites the constitutional protections afforded in these nations to religious practice.<ref>], s 116</ref> Some countries, mostly in ], have regarded Scientology as a potentially dangerous ], or at least have not considered local branches of the Church of Scientology to meet the legal criteria for being considered ]s. | |||
Longtime member ] left Scientology for good when the organization tried to pressure her to have an abortion.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Los Angeles Times staff |title=Kids against Scientology |work=Web Scout |publisher=] |date=February 29, 2008 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/02/kids-against--1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302220627/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/02/kids-against--1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |access-date=November 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="leavingthefold">{{Cite news | last =Lattin | first =Don | title =Leaving the Fold – Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith | work =] | page =A1 | publisher =The Chronicle Publishing Co. | date =February 12, 2001 }}</ref> Former Sea Org member Karen Pressley recounted that she was often asked by fellow Scientologists for loans so that they could get an abortion and remain in the Sea Org.<ref name="msnbcmorton">{{Cite news | last =MSNBC staff | title =Exclusive: 'Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography' – Read an excerpt from Andrew Morton's controversial new book | work =Today.com | publisher =] | date =January 15, 2008 | url =https://www.today.com/popculture/exclusive-tom-cruise-unauthorized-biography-wbna22613285 | access-date = November 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="morton">{{Cite book| last =Morton | first =Andrew | author-link =Andrew Morton (writer) | title =Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography | publisher =St. Martin's Press | year =2008 | page = | isbn =978-0-312-35986-7 | title-link =Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Escaping Scientology: An Insider's True Story |first=Karen Schless |last=Pressley |page=222 |publisher=Bayshore Publications |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-9990881-0-4}}</ref> Scientology employee ] has said she "was forced to have (two) abortions to keep her job and was subjected to violations of personal rights and liberties for the purpose of obtaining forced labor".<ref name="perrault">{{Cite news | last =Perrault | first =Michael | title =Suit alleges wing of Church of Scientology violated labor laws | work =] | page =C01 | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | date =March 26, 2009 }}</ref> Laura Ann DeCrescenzo reported she was "coerced to have an abortion" as a minor.<ref name="courthouse">{{Cite news | last =Courthouse News Service staff | title =Scientology Accused of Human Trafficking | work =] | publisher =www.courthousenews.com | date =April 3, 2009 | url =http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/04/03/Scientology_Accused_of_Human_Trafficking.htm | access-date =November 7, 2009 }}</ref> | |||
] in 2009]] | |||
{{main|R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto}} | |||
In March 2009, Maureen Bolstad reported that women who worked at Scientology's headquarters were forced to have abortions, or faced being declared a "]" by the organization's management.<ref name="tortuous">{{Cite news | last =Baca | first =Nathan | title =Former Scientologist Recounts 'Torturous' Past Inside the Church | work =] | date =March 31, 2009 }}</ref> In March 2010, former Scientologist Janette Lang stated that at age 20 she became pregnant by her boyfriend while in the organization,<ref>{{Cite news| title = Scientologists forced me to have two abortions | work =Herald Sun | publisher = www.heraldsun.com.au| date =March 17, 2010 | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/scientologists-forced-me-to-have-two-abortions-ex-disciple-says/story-e6frf7jx-1225841994979 | access-date = March 17, 2010 }}</ref> and her boyfriend's Scientology supervisors "coerced them into terminating the pregnancy".<ref name="janettelang">{{Cite news|last=] |title=Scientologists forced me to have two abortions, ex-disciple says |work=] |publisher=News Limited |date=March 17, 2010 |url=http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/scientologists-forced-me-to-have-two-abortions-ex-disciple-says/story-e6frfku0-1225841933897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322190756/http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/scientologists-forced-me-to-have-two-abortions-ex-disciple-says/story-e6frfku0-1225841933897 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> "We fought for a week, I was devastated, I felt abused, I was lost and eventually I gave in. It was my baby, my body and my choice, and all of that was taken away from me by Scientology", said Lang.<ref name="janettelang" /><ref>{{Cite news| title = Scientologists pressured me to have abortions | work = ] | publisher = ] | date = March 27, 2010 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/17/2848720.htm | access-date = March 17, 2010 }}</ref> | |||
Australian Senator ] gave a speech to the Australian Parliament in November 2009, about statements he had received from former Scientologists.<ref name="tedmanson">{{Cite news | last =Tedmanson | first =Sophie | title =Church of Scientology accused of torture and forced abortions | work =] | publisher =Times Newspapers Ltd. | date =November 19, 2009 | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article6921140.ece | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100107025005/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article6921140.ece | url-status =dead | archive-date =January 7, 2010 | access-date =November 19, 2009}}</ref> He said that he had been told members of the organization had coerced pregnant female employees to have abortions.<ref name="tedmanson" /> "I am deeply concerned about this organisation and the devastating impact it can have on its followers," said Senator Xenophon, and he requested that the Australian Senate begin an investigation into Scientology.<ref name="tedmanson" /> According to the letters presented by Senator Xenophon, the organization was involved in "ordering" its members to have abortions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=] |title=Australian PM voices 'concerns' over Scientology |work=] |publisher=] |date=November 18, 2009 |url=http://www.canada.com/news/Australian+voices+concerns+over+Scientology/2234504/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121174802/http://www.canada.com/news/Australian%2Bvoices%2Bconcerns%2Bover%2BScientology/2234504/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2009 |access-date=November 19, 2009 }}</ref> | |||
In ], the Church of Scientology is considered a religious non-profit organization; its application for charity status was rejected in 1999.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} In 1992, Scientology became the only religious organization convicted in criminal court on two counts of breach of the public trust (for an organized conspiracy to infiltrate government offices) following a trial by jury.<ref>McGregor, Glen: , ''The Ottawa Citizen'', ] ], p. A1.</ref> | |||
Former Scientologist ] sent a letter to Senator Xenophon stating he had participated in coercing pregnant women within the organization to have abortions.<ref name="collins">{{Cite news | last =Collins | first =Pádraig | title =Scientology faces allegations of abuse and covering up deaths in Australia | work =] | publisher =www.irishtimes.com | date =November 19, 2009 | url =http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/1119/1224259105905.html | access-date = November 19, 2009}}</ref> "Aaron says women who fell pregnant were taken to offices and bullied to have an abortion. If they refused, they faced demotion and hard labour. Aaron says one staff member used a coat hanger and self-aborted her child for fear of punishment," said Senator Xenophon.<ref name="oloughlin">{{Cite news | last =O'Loughlin | first =Toni | title =Scientology faces allegations of torture in Australia: Australian prime minister considers inquiry after senator tables allegations including forced abortions, assault and blackmail | work =] | publisher =Guardian News and Media Limited | date =November 18, 2009 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/18/scientology-torture-allegations-australia | access-date =November 19, 2009 }}</ref> Carmel Underwood, another former Scientologist, said she had been put under "extreme pressure" to have an abortion,<ref>{{Cite news | last =Saulwick | first =Jacob | title =Pressure mounts for Scientology inquiry | work =] | publisher = Fairfax Digital | date =November 18, 2009 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/national/pressure-mounts-for-scientology-inquiry-20091118-imjw.html | access-date = November 19, 2009 }}</ref> and that she was placed into a "disappearing programme", after refusing.<ref>{{Cite news | last =Ansley | first =Greg | title =Church attacked for 'criminal' activities | work =] | date =November 19, 2009 | url =http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10610338 | access-date = November 19, 2009 }}</ref> Underwood was the executive director of Scientology's branch in Sydney.<ref name="oloughlin" /> | |||
In ], the Church of Scientology has been refused registration as a religious entity, however authorities declared that the government would not interfere in any way with the activities of the Church of Scientology.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71409.htm | title = International Religious Freedom Report 2006 | accessdate = 2007-01-31 | date = ] | publisher = ]}}</ref> | |||
Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis said these statements are "utterly meritless".<ref name="perrault" /> Mike Ferriss, the head of Scientology in New Zealand, told media that "There are no forced abortions in Scientology".<ref>{{Cite news | title=Kiwi blows the whistle on Scientology | date=November 26, 2009 | publisher=www.3news.co.nz | url =http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-blows-the-whistle-on-Scientology/tabid/423/articleID/131496/cat/64/Default.aspx | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120406084507/http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-blows-the-whistle-on-Scientology/tabid/423/articleID/131496/cat/64/Default.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date =April 6, 2012 | work =3 News | access-date = November 26, 2009 }}</ref> Scientology spokesperson Virginia Stewart likewise rejected the statements and asserted "The Church of Scientology considers the family unit and children to be of the utmost importance and does not condone nor force anyone to undertake any medical procedure whatsoever."<ref>{{Cite news| last =] | title = Scientologists reject claims they forced abortions | work =] | date =March 18, 2010 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/national/scientologists-reject-claims-they-forced-abortions-20100318-qfyc.html | access-date = March 17, 2010}}</ref> | |||
The ] government does not recognize Scientology as a bona fide religion, and the Church's application for charity status in the ] was rejected in 1999.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/registration/pdfs/cosfulldoc.pdf|title = Decision of the Charity Commissoners for England and Wales |date = ]|publisher = ] | accessdate = 2006-07-06 }} (PDF)</ref> | |||
===Allegation of human trafficking and other crimes against women=== | |||
In the United States, Scientologists claim that the ] (IRS) tax exemption granted to the Scientology related businesses under IRS Tax Code section 501(c)(3) after extended litigation gives their religion a U.S. government stamp of authenticity.<ref>Church of Scientology (website accessed 04/13/06)</ref> The US Government makes no claim to Scientology's legitimacy through tax-exempt status as this is also granted to non-religious entities, such as the ].<ref>Internal Revenue Service (website access 04/13/06)</ref> | |||
{{seealso|Headley v. Church of Scientology International}} | |||
A number of women have sued the Church of Scientology, alleging a variety of complaints including ], rape, forced labor, and child abuse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/scientology-lawsuits-allege-human-trafficking-forced-labor-child-abuse-2019-9|title=Lawsuits against the Church of Scientology are piling up, alleging a vast network of human trafficking, child abuse, and forced labor|date=September 21, 2019|access-date=June 25, 2020|work=]|author=Mark, Michelle}}</ref> In 2009, two former Sea Org employees, ], sued the Church of Scientology alleging human trafficking.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/marc-claire-headley-lawsuit_n_1700633.html |title=Marc And Claire Headley Lose Forced Labor Lawsuit Against Church Of Scientology |date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728054743/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/marc-claire-headley-lawsuit_n_1700633.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |website=] }}</ref> | |||
===Scientology, litigation, and the Internet=== | |||
Scientology's tax-exempt status was lost in a 1967 IRS audit. As part of the effort to regain tax exemption during the late 1970s, Scientologists infiltrated the IRS and stole confidential documents in what was termed ''].'' Eleven high-ranking Scientologists, including Hubbard's wife ], served time in federal prison for acts surrounding this operation.. This was followed by internal restructuring worldwide to prevent the reccurence of such acts<ref></ref>. | |||
{{See also|Scientology and the Internet|Project Chanology|Scientology and law}} | |||
In the 1990s, Miscavige's organization took action against increased criticism of Scientology on the Internet and online distribution of Scientology-related documents.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grossman |first=Wendy |url=https://archive.org/details/netwars00gros/page/77 |title=Net.Wars |date=October 1997 |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0-8147-3103-1 |location=New York |pages= |chapter=Copyright Terrorists |access-date=June 11, 2006 |chapter-url=http://www.nyupress.org/netwars/textonly/pages/chapter06/ch06_.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722155641/https://nyupress.org/netwars/textonly/pages/chapter06/ch06_.html |archive-date=2018-07-22}}</ref> Starting in 1991, Scientology filed fifty lawsuits against Scientology-critic ] (CAN).<ref name=cnn96 /> Many of the suits were dismissed, but one resulted in $2 million in losses, bankrupting the network.<ref name=cnn96 /> At bankruptcy, CAN's name and logo were obtained by a Scientologist.<ref name="cnn96">{{Cite news|last=Knapp|first=Dan|title=Group that once criticized Scientologists now owned by one|work=]|date=December 19, 1996|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/19/scientology/index.html|access-date=October 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408094945/http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/19/scientology/index.html|archive-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Russell">{{Cite news | first = Ron | last = Russell | title = Scientology's Revenge – For years, the Cult Awareness Network was the Church of Scientology's biggest enemy. But the late L. Ron Hubbard's L.A.-based religion cured that–by taking it over | work = ] | date = September 9, 1999 }}</ref> A ] was set up with Scientology backing, which says it operates as an information and networking center for non-traditional religions, referring callers to academics and other experts.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqmbnfXCzn0C&q=Lewis++cults+reference+handbook |title=Book: Cults: A Reference Handbook By James R. Lewis, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2005, ISBN 1-85109-618-3, ISBN 978-1-85109-618-3 |date= May 3, 2005|access-date=September 4, 2010|isbn=978-1-85109-618-3|last1=Lewis |first1=James R |publisher=Abc-Clio }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Goodman|first=Leisa |author-link=Leisa Goodman |title=A Letter from the Church of Scientology|work=Marburg Journal of Religion: Responses From Religions|pages=Volume 6, No. 2, 4 pages|year=2001|url=http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/goodman.html|access-date=October 28, 2007 }}</ref> | |||
In a 1993 U.S. lawsuit brought by the Church of Scientology against former member Steven Fishman, ] which included several dozen pages of formerly secret ] detailing aspects of Scientologist ].<ref name="DC2004">{{Cite book | last1 = Dawson | first1 = Lorne L. | author-link= Lorne L. Dawson | last2 = Cowan | first2 = Douglas E. | author2-link = Douglas E. Cowan | title = Religion Online: Finding Faith on the Internet | place = New York, NY/London, UK | publisher = ] | year = 2004 |pages=262, 264–265 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=88vcFt6rOigC&q=Scientology+xenu+internet+OT&pg=PA264 | isbn = 978-0-415-97022-8 }}</ref> As a result of the litigation, this material, normally strictly safeguarded and used only in Scientology's more advanced "OT levels", found its way onto the Internet.<ref name=DC2004 /> This resulted in a battle between the Scientology organization and its online critics over the right to disclose this material, or safeguard its confidentiality.<ref name=DC2004 /> The organization was forced to issue a press release acknowledging the existence of this cosmogony, rather than allow its critics "to distort and misuse this information for their own purposes".<ref name=DC2004 /> | |||
In the early 1990s, church leaders ] and ] visited with the IRS in Washington, DC to negotiate a settlement in an effort to gain tax-exempt status. On ], ], Scientology's ] (CST) traded to the federal government a vault built at ]. Though CST had paid over $250,000 for the property in 1986 and had invested millions in development of the property according to the Federal Register record,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} CST traded it to the government, vault included, for a similar parcel of land in the same New Mexico county valued at only $28,000. | |||
In January 1995, Church of Scientology lawyer ] attempted to shut down the ] ] by sending a control message instructing ] servers to delete the group.<ref>Wendy Grossman '']'', p. 77, NYU Press, 1997 {{ISBN|978-0-8147-3103-1}}</ref> In practice, this ] had little effect, since most Usenet servers are configured to disregard such messages when sent to groups that receive substantial traffic, and ]s were quickly issued to recreate the group on those servers that did not do so. However, the issuance of the message led to a great deal of public criticism by free-speech advocates.<ref>Steven Vedro ''Digital Dharma'', p. 190, Quest Books, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-8356-0859-6}}</ref><ref>Mike Godwin '']'', p. 219, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, 2003 {{ISBN|978-0-262-57168-5}}</ref> Among the criticisms raised, one suggestion is that Scientology's true motive is to suppress the free speech of its critics.<ref>Catharine Cookson ''Encyclopedia of Religious Freedom'', p. 432, Taylor & Francis, 2003 {{ISBN|978-0-415-94181-5}}</ref><ref>Wendy Grossman '']'', p. 90, New York University Press, 1997 {{ISBN|978-0-8147-3103-1}}</ref> | |||
On ], ] the IRS formally announced that the Church of Scientology and its corporate entities had been granted tax exemption again. The settlement document was sealed by the IRS, but it was leaked to, and subsequently published by the ''New York Times''. The ''New York Times'' also asserted in a ], ] article that, in its efforts to obtain tax-exempt status, Scientologists paid private investigators to obtain compromising material on the IRS commissioner.<ref>Frantz, Douglas The ''New York Times'', ] ] (website accessed 4/10/06)</ref> | |||
]' held ] outside Scientology centers in cities around the world in February 2008 as part of ]. Issues they protested ranged from alleged abuse of followers to the validity of its claims to qualify as a religion for tax purposes.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-11-me-anonymous11-story.html |title=Global Scientology protests include L.A. |work=Los Angeles Times |first=David |last=Sarno |date=February 11, 2008|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107134142/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/11/local/me-anonymous11 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 }}, Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2008.</ref>]] | |||
As Scientology courses are tax-deductible, some people have wondered why religious courses for other religions are not allowed the same deduction. In the case of ''MICHAEL SKLAR; MARLA SKLAR v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL No. 00-70753'', the Sklars argued they should be allowed a tax-deduction for their payments for courses their son took at a Jewish school. On ] ] the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the IRS's opposition. Judge Silverman concurred, saying: | |||
The Church of Scientology also began filing lawsuits against those who posted copyrighted texts on the newsgroup and the ], lobbied for tighter restrictions on copyrights in general, and supported the controversial ] as well as the even more controversial ] (DMCA). | |||
Beginning in the middle of 1996 and ensuing for several years, the newsgroup was attacked by anonymous parties using a tactic dubbed '']'' by some, in the form of hundreds of thousands of forged spam messages posted on the group. Some investigators said that some spam had been traced to members of the Church of Scientology.<ref>Christopher Lueg ''From Usenet to CoWebs'', p. 37, Springer, 2003 {{ISBN|978-1-85233-532-8}}</ref><ref>Wendy Grossman '']'', pp. 74–76, NYU Press, 1997 {{ISBN|978-0-8147-3103-1}}</ref> Former Scientologist ] later asserted that the ] had undertaken a concerted effort to destroy alt.religion.scientology through these means; the effort failed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nordhausen|first=Frank|title=Scientology: Wie der Sektenkonzern die Welt erobern will|publisher=Links Christoph Verlag|page=518|isbn=978-3-86153-470-9|language=de|year=2008}}</ref> | |||
{{cquote|An IRS closing agreement cannot overrule Congress and the Supreme Court. If the IRS does, in fact, give preferential treatment to members of the Church of Scientology—allowing them a special right to claim deductions that are contrary to law and rightly disallowed to everybody else—then the proper course of action is a lawsuit to put a stop to ''that'' policy."<ref>Judge Barry Silverman {{PDFlink|}} format) United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Argued and Submitted ], ], Pasadena, California, Filed ] ]</ref> }} | |||
On January 14, 2008, a video produced by the Scientology organization featuring an interview with ] was leaked to the Internet and uploaded to YouTube.<ref name="CookMar17">{{Cite news|author=John Cook|title=Scientology – Cult Friction|url=http://radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php|work=]|date=March 17, 2008|access-date=March 18, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080323063402/http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php |archive-date = March 23, 2008}}</ref><ref name="WarneJan24">{{Cite news|last=Vamosi|first=Robert|title=Anonymous threatens to "dismantle" Church of Scientology via internet|work=cnet.com|publisher=]|date=January 24, 2008|url=https://cnet.com/news/anonymous-hackers-take-on-the-church-of-scientology/|access-date=May 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="KNBCJan24">{{Cite news|author=KNBC Staff|title=Hacker Group Declares War On Scientology: Group Upset Over Church's Handling Of Tom Cruise Video|work=]|date=January 24, 2008|url=http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html|access-date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821132355/http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html|archive-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref> The Church of Scientology issued a copyright violation claim against YouTube requesting the removal of the video.<ref name="vamosi anonymous hackers">{{Cite news|last=Vamosi|first=Robert|title=Anonymous hackers take on the Church of Scientology|work=]|publisher=CNET Networks, Inc.|date=January 24, 2008|url=http://www.news.com/8301-10789_3-9857666-57.html|access-date=January 25, 2008 }}</ref> Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of ], participants of ] coordinated ], consisting of a series of ]s against Scientology websites, prank calls, and ]es to Scientology centers.<ref name="George-Cosh">{{Cite news|last=George-Cosh|first=David|title=Online group declares war on Scientology|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 25, 2008|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080128145858/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2008|access-date=January 25, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="singel">{{Cite magazine|last=Singel|first=Ryan|title=War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology – There Can Be Only One|magazine=]|publisher=]|date=January 23, 2008|url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/anonymous-attac.html|access-date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404124558/http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/anonymous-attac.html|url-status=live|archive-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref><ref name="feran">{{Cite news|last=Feran|first=Tom|title=Where to find the Tom Cruise Scientology videos online, if they're still posted|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 24, 2008|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/120116724530070.xml&coll=2|access-date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131211182859/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/120116724530070.xml&coll=2|archive-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author1=Matthew A. Schroettnig |author2=Stefanie Herrington |author3=Lauren E. Trent |title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? |date=February 6, 2008|url=http://www.thelegality.com/2008/02/06/anonymous-versus-scientology-cyber-criminals-or-vigilante-justice/|access-date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603210526/http://www.thelegality.com/2008/02/06/anonymous-versus-scientology-cyber-criminals-or-vigilante-justice/|archive-date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> | |||
In 1982, there was a similar ruling by the ], in ''] v. Commissioner Of Pay-roll Tax''. The court ruled that the government of Victoria could not deny the Church the right to operate in Victoria under the legal status of "religion", even though the state found that the Church practiced ]ism. All three judges in the case found that the Church of the New Faith (Church of Scientology) was a religion. One judge said: | |||
On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its intentions via a video posted to YouTube entitled "Message to Scientology", and a press release declaring a "war" against the Church of Scientology and the Religious Technology Center.<ref name="chanenterprises">{{Cite news |last=Chan Enterprises |date=January 21, 2008 |title=Internet Group Declares "War on Scientology": Anonymous are fighting the Church of Scientology and the Religious Technology Center |work=Press Release |publisher=PRLog.Org |format=PDF |url=http://www.releasewire.org/science-research/internet-group-anonymous-declares-war-on-scientology/ |access-date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508222309/http://www.releasewire.org/science-research/internet-group-anonymous-declares-war-on-scientology/ |archive-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref> In the press release, the group stated that the attacks against the organization would continue in order to protect the ], and end what they saw as the financial exploitation of members of the organization.<ref name="brandon">{{Cite news|last=Brandon|first=Mikhail|title=Scientology in the Crosshairs|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 28, 2008|url=http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=24945|access-date=January 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515005226/http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=24945|archive-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> | |||
{{cquote|It follows that, whatever be the intentions of Mr. Hubbard and whatever be the motivation of the , the state of the evidence in this case requires a finding that the general group of adherents have a religion. The question whether their beliefs, practices and observances are a religion must, in the state of that evidence, be answered affirmatively. That answer, according to the conventional basis adopted by the parties in fighting the case, must lead to a judgment for the .}} | |||
] | |||
A second judge said, | |||
On January 28, 2008, an Anonymous video appeared on YouTube calling for protests outside Church of Scientology buildings on February 10, 2008.<ref name="feran the group anonymous">{{Cite news|last=Feran|first=Tom|title=The group Anonymous calls for protests outside Scientology centers – New on the Net|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 31, 2008|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1201771820310820.xml&coll=2|access-date=February 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140304225005/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1201771820310820.xml&coll=2|archive-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref><ref name="vamosi anonymous names">{{Cite news|last=Vamosi|first=Robert|title=Anonymous names 10 February as its day of action against Scientology|work=]|publisher=CNET Networks, Inc.|date=January 28, 2008|url=http://www.news.com/8301-10789_3-9859513-57.html|access-date=January 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015212855/http://www.news.com/8301-10789_3-9859513-57.html|archive-date=October 15, 2008}}</ref> The date was chosen because it was the birthday of ].<ref name="anonat">{{Cite web|last=Greenwald|first=Will|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9869003-1.html |title=Anonymous Attacks!|date=February 11, 2008|work=Cnet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829171355/http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9869003-1.html|archive-date=August 29, 2012}}</ref> According to a letter Anonymous e-mailed to the press, about 7,000 people protested in more than 90 cities worldwide.<ref name="MoncadaFeb12">{{Cite news|author=Carlos Moncada|title=Organizers Tout Scientology Protest, Plan Another|url=http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/12/organizers-tout-scientology-protest-plan-another/|newspaper=]|date=February 12, 2008|access-date=February 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210160057/http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/12/organizers-tout-scientology-protest-plan-another/|archive-date=February 10, 2012}}</ref> Many protesters wore masks based on the character ] from '']'' (who was influenced by ]) or otherwise disguised their identities, in part to protect themselves from reprisals from the Church of Scientology.<ref name="StateNews">{{Cite news|last=Harrison|first=James ('']'')|title=Scientology protestors take action around world|date=February 12, 2008|url=http://www.statenews.com/index.php/blog/entertainment/2008/02/internet_group_|access-date=February 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021185521/http://statenews.com/index.php/blog/entertainment/2008/02/internet_group_|archive-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ForresterFeb11">{{Cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/11/dozens_of_masked_protesters_blast_scientology_church/|title=Dozens of masked protesters blast Scientology church|first=John|last=Forrester|date=February 11, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2008|newspaper=The Boston Globe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027072840/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/11/dozens_of_masked_protesters_blast_scientology_church/|archive-date=October 27, 2013}}</ref> Many further protests have followed since then in cities around the world.<ref name="RamadgeMar17">{{Cite news|author=Andrew Ramadge |title=Second round of Anonymous v Scientology |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23389091-5014239,00.html |work=] |date=March 17, 2008 |access-date=March 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006062843/http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0%2C25642%2C23389091-5014239%2C00.html |archive-date=October 6, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
{{cquote|Conclusion. The applicant has easily discharged the onus of showing that it is religious. The conclusion that it is a religious institution entitled to the tax exemption is irresistible." The third of the three judges concluded, "The conclusion to which we have ultimately come is that Scientology is, for relevant purposes, a religion. With due respect to Crockett J. and the members of the Full Supreme Court who reached a contrary conclusion, it seems to us that there are elements and characteristics of Scientology in Australia, as disclosed by the evidence, which cannot be denied.<ref>High Court of Australia </ref> }} | |||
The ] of the Misplaced Pages internet encyclopedia decided in May 2009 to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.<ref name="Huff">{{Cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html|last=Shea|first=Danny|title=Misplaced Pages Bans Scientology From Site|date=May 29, 2009|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=May 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905124710/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/wikipedia-bans-scientolog_n_208967.html|url-status=live|archive-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Metz">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/|title=Misplaced Pages bans Church of Scientology|last=Metz|first=Cade|date=May 29, 2009|website=The Register|access-date=May 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403144305/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/wikipedia_bans_scientology/|url-status=live|archive-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref> A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.<ref name="Huff" /><ref name="Metz" /> The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".<ref name="Huff" /> | |||
In ] Scientology is not considered a religion by the government, but a commercial business (even though this is being denied by the courts<ref>Superior Admin Court Mannheim, file nr. 1 s 1972/00, 12 December 2003</ref>), and Scientology's attempts to be recognized as a religion by courts have been mixed.<ref></ref><ref>Federal Labor Court, 26 September 2002, file no. 5 AZB 19/01</ref>. Scientology is currently being monitored by some German intelligence agencies for anti-constitutional activities.<ref>http://www.verfassungsschutz.de/de/arbeitsfelder/af_scientology/</ref> Germany's "government and societal discrimination against minority religious groups" shows up as a Human Rights problem in the US State Department's 2006 Report on Human Rights Practice: | |||
==Disputes over legal status== | |||
{{cquote|The government does not recognize several belief systems, such as Scientology, as religions; however, it does not prevent them from engaging in public and private religious activities. Federal and state authorities classified Scientology as a potential threat to democratic order, a status that led to employment and commercial discrimination against Scientologists in both the public and private sectors.<ref>http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61650.htm</ref></blockquote> Germany's handling of Scientology has also been called into question before open hearings of the United Nations' Human Rights Committee.<ref>http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/389a698dd0b48ecfc1256433004cd1d1?Opendocument</ref>}} | |||
{{See also|Tax status of Scientology in the United States|Scientology status by country|Scientology as a business}} | |||
The legal status of Scientology or Scientology-related organizations differs between jurisdictions.<ref name=RichaLew09Court/><ref name=Carobene14>{{Cite journal |last1=Carobene |first1=Germana |title=Problems on the legal status of the Church of Scientology |journal=Stato, Chiese e Pluralismo Confessionale |date=June 16, 2014|volume=2014|number=21|url=https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/statoechiese/article/view/4109|location=Milan|publisher=]|quote=In this sense the long process of Milan is of great importance, which, after six pronunciations was concluded in 2000 and legally recognized Scientology as a religion in Italy. The case was based on the complaint of a series of criminal offenses against some members of the church: conspiracy, fraud, extortion. After some contradictory rulings, the Milan judges became aware of the need to define the religiosity of the movement, i.e. it is to be considered a religion if all the alleged activities can qualify as normal religious practices|access-date=March 10, 2020|doi=10.13130/1971-8543/4109}}</ref><ref>Alan Aldridge ''Religion in the Contemporary World'', p. 20, Polity, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-7456-3405-0}}</ref> Scientology was legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in Australia,<ref name=HCOA1983/> ],<ref name="USSPortugal">{{Cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100579.htm |title=2007 U.S. Department of State – 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Portugal |publisher=State.gov |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=September 20, 2012 }}</ref> and Spain.<ref name="Elpais">{{Cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Audiencia/Nacional/reconoce/Cienciologia/iglesia/elpepusoc/20071101elpepisoc_8/Tes|title=La Audiencia Nacional reconoce a la Cienciología como iglesia|publisher=El Pais|date=November 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513115109/http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Audiencia/Nacional/reconoce/Cienciologia/iglesia/elpepusoc/20071101elpepisoc_8/Tes|archive-date=May 13, 2011|newspaper=El País}} {{in lang|es}}<!--Spanish--></ref> Scientology was granted tax-exempt status in the United States in 1993.<ref name="Finkelman287">{{Cite book|last=Finkelman|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Finkelman|title=Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties|publisher=CRC Press|year=2006|page=287|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YoI14vYA8r0C&q=%22Scientology+has+achieved+full+legal+recognition+as+a+religious+denomination+in+the+United+States%22&pg=PA287|isbn=978-0-415-94342-0}} "Scientology has achieved full legal recognition as a religious denomination in the United States."</ref><ref name="DHDavis">{{Cite conference|first=Derek H.|last=Davis|title=The Church of Scientology: In Pursuit of Legal Recognition|book-title=Zeitdiagnosen: Religion and Conformity|publisher=Lit Verlag|year=2004|location=Münster, Germany|url=http://www.umhb.edu/files/academics/crl/publications/articles/the_church_of_scientologypursuit_of_legal_recognition.pdf|access-date=May 10, 2008|quote=Many countries, including the United States, now give ''official recognition'' to Scientology as a religion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612073444/http://www.umhb.edu/files/academics/crl/publications/articles/the_church_of_scientologypursuit_of_legal_recognition.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2009}}</ref><ref name="lucytimes">{{Cite news|title=Abroad: Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology|author=Lucy Morgan|date=March 29, 1999|work=]|quote=In the United States, Scientology gained ''status as a tax-exempt religion'' in 1993 when the Internal Revenue Service agreed to end a long legal battle over the group's right to the exemption.}}</ref><ref name="Toomey">{{Cite news | |||
While reporting that Germany's "government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion", the US State Department's ''Religious Freedom Report 2005'' noted a number of important issues regarding the treatment of some religious minorities including Scientologists. | |||
| first = Shamus | last = Toomey | |||
| work = Chicago Sun Times | |||
|date=29 June 2005|title='TomKat' casts spotlight back on Scientology|url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-scientology26.html|access-date=2023-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050629002146/http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-scientology26.html |archive-date=June 29, 2005 }}</ref> The organization is considered a cult in Chile and an "anticonstitutional sect" in Germany,<ref name="spiegel.de"/> and is considered a cult (French ''secte'') by some French public authorities.<ref name="assemblee-nationale.fr"/> | |||
The Church of Scientology argues that Scientology is a genuine religious movement that has been misrepresented, maligned, and persecuted.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=2}}<ref name="Willms245">{{harvnb|Willms|2009|p=245}}. "''Being a religion'' is one of the most important issues of Scientology's current self-representation."</ref> The organization has pursued an extensive ] campaign for the recognition of Scientology as a tax-exempt religion in the various countries in which it exists.<ref name="reformimage">{{Cite news | first = Dominic | last = Kennedy | title = 'Church' that yearns for respectability | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1975105.ece | work = The Times | date = June 23, 2007 | access-date = January 4, 2009|quote=Scientology is probably unique in that it keeps its sacred texts secret until, typically, devotees have paid enough money to learn what they say. | location=London | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110523203832/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1975105.ece | archive-date = May 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="BC17">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2007|p=17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first = Wayne | last = Garcia | title = Scientology suit on PR firm heads for trial | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51826396.html?dids=51826396:51826396&FMT=FT | work = St. Petersburg Times | date = March 31, 1994 | access-date = January 4, 2009 |quote=For 2½ years, ] worked closely with the controversial religion, coming up with ways to turn around Scientology's maligned image and teaching Scientologists how to handle reporters' questions.}}{{Cbignore}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023}}<!--article is available via newspapers.com--></ref> | |||
In March 2007, it was reported that Scientology had opened a new headquarters in Berlin, and that German authorities were responding by increasing their efforts to monitor Scientology.<ref>Spiegel Online 27 March 2007</ref> | |||
The Church of Scientology has often generated opposition due to its strong-arm tactics directed against critics and members wishing to leave the organization.<ref name="strangetimes101" /> A minority of governments regard it as a religious organization entitled to tax-exempt status, while other governments variously classify it as a business, cult, ], or criminal organization.<ref name="Flinn-WashingtonPost"/><ref>{{Cite web|author=Hexham, Irving|title=The Religious Status of Scientology: Is Scientology a Religion?|publisher=University of Calgary|orig-year=1978|year=1997|url=https://www.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/papers/irving/scient.html|access-date=June 13, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119050104/http://www.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/papers/irving/scient.html|archive-date=November 19, 2009}}</ref> | |||
The Church has been subjected to considerable pressure from the state in ].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} | |||
In 1957, the Church of Scientology of California was granted tax-exempt status by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and so, for a time, were other local branches of the organization.<ref name=NYTtaxrebel97/> In 1958 however, the IRS started a review of the appropriateness of this status.{{r|reitman}} In 1959, Hubbard moved to England, remaining there until the mid-1960s.<ref name="GA172">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=}}</ref> In 1967, the IRS removed Scientology's tax-exempt status, asserting that its activities were commercial and operated for the benefit of Hubbard, rather than for charitable or religious purposes.<ref name=NYTtaxrebel97/><ref>{{Cite press release | quote=Recognition was based upon voluminous information provided by the Church regarding its financial and other operations to the Internal Revenue Service | date = December 31, 1997 |url=http://www.unclefed.com/Tax-News/1997/Nr97-50.html |title=Church of Scientology & IRS Confidentiality |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518034238/http://www.unclefed.com/Tax-News/1997/Nr97-50.html |archive-date=May 18, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
In ], Scientology maintains a mission in Dublin.<ref>http://www.scientologyreligion.org/news/pg106.html</ref> The Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin Ltd. is not listed with Ireland's Office of the Revenue Commissioners as an authorised charity for donation tax relief.<ref> - from revenue.ie</ref> | |||
In the mid-sixties, the Church of Scientology was banned in several Australian states, starting with ] in 1965.{{r|reitman}} The ban was based on the ], which found that the auditing process involved "command" hypnosis, in which the hypnotist assumes "positive authoritative control" over the patient. On this point the report stated:{{r|andersonreport|p=115}} | |||
In Belgium, the minister of justice refused Scientology as a candidate for the status of recognized religion.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Planchar | first = Roland | title = Un impôt et deux religions de plus? | journal = La Libre Belgique | date = July 2005| url = http://www.lalibre.be/article.phtml?id=10&subid=90&art_id=231058 | accessdate = 2006-07-23}}</ref> | |||
{{blockquote |text=It is the firm conclusion of this Board that most scientology and dianetic techniques are those of authoritative hypnosis and as such are dangerous ... the scientific evidence which the Board heard from several expert witnesses of the highest repute ... leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is only in name that there is any difference between authoritative hypnosis and most of the techniques of scientology. Many scientology techniques are in fact hypnotic techniques, and Hubbard has not changed their nature by changing their names.{{r|andersonreport|p=115}} }} | |||
===Scientology as a cult=== | |||
In some instances, former members have claimed the Church used information obtained in auditing sessions against them.<ref>{{cite book | first=Jon | last=Atack | coauthors= | title= | publisher=Lyle Stuart | location= | year=1990 | editor= | id=ISBN 0-8184-0499-X | pages=448 | chapter=Chapter Four - The Clearwater Hearings | chapterurl=http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/apobs/bs6-4.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author=Steven Girardi | authorlink= | title=Witnesses Tell of Break-ins, Conspiracy | journal= Clearwater Sun | year= ] ] | volume= | pages=p. 1A | url=http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/clearwatersun19820509.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Prince, Jesse| year=1999| title=Affidavit of Jesse Prince | format= | work=Estate of Lisa McPherson v. Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc., case no. 97-01235 | url=http://www.xenu-directory.net/documents/prince19990820.html#23 | accessdate=2006-06-13}}</ref> While such a claim would be actionable as extortion, blackmail or harassment within most legal jurisdictions, no such claim has to date been legally confirmed against Scientology based solely upon use or revelation of auditing records. | |||
The Australian branch of the Scientology organization was forced to operate under the name of the "]" as a result, the name and practice of Scientology having become illegal in the relevant states. Several years of court proceedings aimed at overturning the ban followed.{{r|HCOA1983}} In 1973, state laws banning Scientology were overturned in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. In 1983 the High Court of Australia ruled in a unanimous decision that the Church of Scientology was "undoubtedly a religion and deserving of tax exemption".{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=24}} | |||
The ], an official inquiry conducted for the state of ], found that the auditing process involved a form of "authoritative" or "command" ], in which the hypnotist assumes "positive authoritative control" over the patient. "It is the firm conclusion of this Board that most scientology and dianetic techniques are those of authoritative hypnosis and as such are dangerous. ... the scientific evidence which the Board heard from several expert witnesses of the highest repute ... which was virtually unchallenged - leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is only in name that there is any difference between authoritative hypnosis and most of the techniques of scientology. Many scientology techniques are in fact hypnotic techniques, and Hubbard has not changed their nature by changing their names."<ref>'''' (] format) by Kevin Victor Anderson, Q.C. Published 1965 by the State of Victoria, Australia, p155.</ref> Hubbard was an accomplished hypnotist, and close acquaintances such as ] (Hubbard's literary agent) and ] (an important early supporter of Dianetics) witnessed repeated demonstrations of his hypnotic skills.<ref name="Bare-faced Messiah"> {{cite book|author=Miller, Russell|title=], The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard | publisher=Henry Holt & Co | location=New York | edition=First American Edition | year=1987 | id=ISBN 0-8050-0654-0 pages = 140-142 | url = http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/bfm/bfmconte.htm }}</ref> (See ]). Licensed psychotherapists have alleged that the Church's auditing sessions amount to mental health treatment without a license {{Fact|date=February 2007}}, but the Church disputes these allegations, and claims to have established in courts of law that its practice leads to spiritual relief. So, according to the Church, the psychotherapist treats mental health and the Church treats the spiritual being. | |||
==Scientology in religious studies== | |||
In France, the Church of Scientology was categorized as a sect (or cult) in the of the ] (the legislative body), in 1995. A more recent government report (1999) categorized the church as an "absolute sect" and recommended that all its activities be prohibited.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} | |||
Hugh B. Urban writes that "Scientology's efforts to get itself defined as a religion make it an ideal case study for thinking about how we understand and define religion."<ref>Urban, Hugh B.: The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion | |||
Chapman, Mark. Review of Religious Research. 2013. vol. 55. Issue: 1, pp. 203–204</ref> Frank K. Flinn, adjunct professor of religious studies at ] wrote, "it is abundantly clear that Scientology has both the typical forms of ceremonial and celebratory worship and its own unique form of spiritual life."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neuereligion.de/ENG/Flinn/index.htm|first=Frank K.|last=Flinn|title=Scientology: The Marks of Religion|publisher=Church of Scientology|date=September 22, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914201545/http://www.neuereligion.de/ENG/Flinn/index.htm|archive-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> | |||
Flinn further states that religion requires "beliefs in something transcendental or ultimate, practices (rites and codes of behavior) that re-inforce those beliefs and, a community that is sustained by both the beliefs and practices", all of which are present within Scientology.<ref name="Flinn-WashingtonPost"/> Similarly, ''World Religions in America'' states that "Scientology contains the same elements of most other religions, including myths, scriptures, doctrines, worship, sacred practices and rituals, moral and ethical expectations, a community of believers, clergy, and ecclesiastic organizations."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C|title=World Religions in America, Fourth Edition: An Introduction|last1=DeChant|first1=Dell|last2=Jorgensen |first2=Danny L.|date=October 7, 2009|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|isbn=978-1-61164-047-2|editor-last=Neusner|editor-first=Jacob|page=297}}</ref> According to Mikhael Rothstein, Scientology's rituals can be classified into 1) those with the purpose of changing the person, such as auditing; 2) collective, which are calendar events where Scientology, its community and L. Ron Hubbard are celebrated; 3) rites of passage 4) weekly services that are similar to Christian services.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lewis |first=James R. |title=Scientology: Religious Studies Approaches |journal=Numen |volume=63 |issue=1 |year=2016 |pages=6–11 |doi=10.1163/15685276-12341405}}</ref> | |||
The federal government of ] as well as its states, have to a greater or lesser degree and for varying periods placed Scientology and Scientologists under surveillance by the ] intelligence agencies since the early 1970s, based on alleged anti-democratic tendencies.<ref>http://www.verfassungsschutz.de/de/publikationen/verfassungsschutzbericht Report of the German federal ] intelligence agency</ref> No criminal or civil charges have been brought as a result of this surveillance. Some German states and the ruling political party, the CDU (Christian Democratic Union), have passed rules or regulations limiting the participation of Scientologists in politics, business and public life.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} On Federal level Scientology lost a complaint against continued surveillance by the Federal Verfassungsschutz because the court held the opinion that there are indicators that Scientology is pursuing anticonstitutional activities. As of April 2007 the case was pending in appeal.<ref>Administrative court of Cologne, finding on 11. November 2004, file number: 20 K 1882/03 http://www.justiz.nrw.de</ref><ref>Upper administrative court of Saarland, finding on 29. March 2001, file number: 6 K 149/00 (overruled in revision by same court in 2005) </ref> In ], the court prohibited the use of paid undercover agents.<ref>Administrative court of Berlin, finding on 13. December 2001, file number: 27 A 260.98</ref> In ], surveillance was stopped by the court as inappropriate because there is no local branch of Scientology and few members.<ref>Upper administrative court of Saarland, finding on 27. April 2005, file number: 2 R 14/03</ref> | |||
While acknowledging that a number of his colleagues accept Scientology as a religion, sociologist Stephen A. Kent writes: "Rather than struggling over whether or not to label Scientology as a religion, I find it far more helpful to view it as a multifaceted transnational corporation, only ''one'' element of which is religious" .{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|2003}}{{sfn|Kent|1999|p=4}} | |||
Allegations of Scientology's cult status may be attributed to its unconventional creation by a single authoritative and charismatic leader.<ref>{{Cite paper | author=Douglas E. Cowan, University of Missouri-Kansas City | title=Researching Scientology: Academic Premises, Promises, and Problematic | publisher=CESNUR 2004 International Conference | date=July 2004 | url = http://www.cesnur.org/2004/waco_cowan.htm | accessdate=2006-06-23 }}</ref> | |||
Donna Batten in the ''Gale Encyclopedia of American Law'' writes, "A belief does not need to be stated in traditional terms to fall within ] protection. For example, Scientology – a system of beliefs that a human being is essentially a free and immortal spirit who merely inhabits a body – does not propound the existence of a supreme being, but it qualifies as a religion under the broad definition propounded by the Supreme Court."<ref>{{Cite book|editor1=Jeffrey Lehman |editor2=Shirelle Phelps |title=West's Encyclopedia of American Law |chapter=Religion |edition= 2nd |year=2005 |publisher=Thomson/Gale |volume=8 |location=Detroit |page=283 |isbn=978-0-7876-6375-9}}</ref> | |||
A great number of research archives on Scientology have emerged in recent years for the academic study of Scientology. These include collections in San Diego State University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Los Angeles, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Ohio State University and Claremont College Library. There is also a big collection of alternative beliefs and religions at the University of Alberta Library in Canada, where scholar Stephen A. Kent "makes material available on a restricted bases to undergraduate and graduate students."{{sfn|Westbrook|2022}} | |||
===Scientology as a commercial venture=== | |||
{{main|Scientology as a business}} | |||
The material contained in the OT levels has been characterized as bad science fiction by critics, while others claim it bears structural similarities to ] thought and ancient Hindu beliefs of creation and cosmic struggle.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Herrick|first=James A. |author-link=James A. Herrick|title=The Making of the New Spirituality|publisher=InterVarsity Press|year=2004|location=Downers Grove, IL|page=199|isbn=978-0-8308-3279-8}}</ref> Donald A. Westbrook suggests that there are three areas of research scholars should consider researching and writing about: the biographical life and legacy of L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology's social betterment programs, and ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Westbrook |first=Donald A. |title=Scientology Studies 2.0: Lessons Learned and Paths Forward |journal=Religion Compass |volume=14 |issue=2 |year=2020 |doi=10.1111/rec3.12345}}</ref> | |||
The Church of Scientology and its many related organizations have amassed considerable real estate holdings worldwide, likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as a large amount of other funds from the practice of auditing.<ref name="Behar" /> Hubbard was accused in his lifetime of adopting a religious façade for Scientology to allow the organization to maintain ] status and to avoid prosecution for false medical claims.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Beit-Hallahmi | first = Benjamin | title = Scientology: Religion or racket? | journal = Marburg Journal of Religion | volume = 8 | issue = 1 | publisher = Philipps-Universität Marburg |date=September 2003|url = http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/beit.html|accessdate = 2006-06-30}}</ref> There have been numerous accounts from Hubbard's fellow science-fiction authors and researchers, notably ], Neison Himmel, Sam Merwin, ], ], ], and ],<ref name="Bare-faced Messiah"/> of Hubbard stating on various occasions that the way to get rich was to start a religion.<ref>http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/scientology/start.a.religion.html</ref> This is referenced, among other places, in a May 1980 '']'' article, which quotes Hubbard, "If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."<ref></ref> The Church says that "One individual once claimed L. Ron Hubbard made such a comment during a lecture in 1948. The only two people who could be found who attended that very lecture in 1948 denied that Mr. Hubbard ever made this statement" and that therefore it is an "unfounded rumor." The Church's statement does not address any of the other individuals who have stated that they personally heard Hubbard make such a statement, some saying that he said it on multiple occasions. The Church also suggests that the origin of the "rumor" was a quote by ] which had been "misattributed" to Hubbard. However, ], who left the Church in 1989 after twenty years, said that he had discovered the Orwell quote, and suggested that reports of Hubbard making such a statement could be explained as a misattribution of Orwell, despite having encountered three of Hubbard's associates from his science fiction days who remembered Hubbard making statements of that sort in person.<ref name="The Church's War" /> | |||
===Influences=== | |||
Scientology pays members commissions on new recruits they bring in, encouraging Scientology members to "sell" Scientology to others.<ref name="Behar">Behar, Richard Time Magazine, ] ] courtesy link, (accessed 04/20/06)</ref> In addition, Scientology franchises, or missions, pay the church roughly 10% of their gross income.<ref name="Man In Control">{{cite news | first=Joel | last=Sappell | coauthors= Welkos, Robert W. | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-scientologysideb062490,1,7772622.story|title = The Man In Control|work=] | page=A41:4 | date=1990-06-24 | accessdate=2006-06-06 }}</ref> Charges for auditing and other Church-related courses run to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.<ref>Cooper, Paulette , Tower Publications, NYC, 1971</ref><ref>{{Cite paper | author= | title=ASHO Foundation Services Price Sheet | publisher= | date=2006 | version= | url=http://www.xenu.net/archive/prices.html | accessdate=2006-06-21 }}</ref> Scientology maintains strict control over the use of its symbols, icons, and names. It claims copyright and trademark over its "Scientology cross," and its lawyers have threatened lawsuits against individuals and organizations who have published the image in books and on Web sites. Because of this, it is very difficult for individual groups to attempt to publicly practice Scientology on their own, without any affiliation or connection to the Church of Scientology. Scientology has sued a number of individuals who attempted to set up their own "auditing" practices, using copyright and trademark law to shut these groups down. | |||
The general orientation of Hubbard's philosophy owes much to ], author of the popular 1926 classic '']''; ''Dianetics'' is dedicated to Durant.<ref name=Willms248-9 /> Hubbard's view of a mechanically functioning mind in particular finds close parallels in Durant's work on ].<ref name="Willms248-9">{{harvnb|Willms|2009|pp=248–249}}</ref> According to Hubbard himself, Scientology is "the Western anglicized continuance of many early forms of wisdom".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ankerberg |first1=John |last2=Weldon|first2=John |title=Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs|publisher=Harvest House Publishers |date=1996 }}</ref> Ankerberg and Weldon mention the sources of Scientology to include "the ], Buddhism, Judaism, Gnosticism, Taoism, early Greek civilization and the teachings of Jesus, ] and Freud".<ref>{{Cite journal | title = The concept "salvation" in the Church of Scientology | journal = HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | year = 2006 | first = S.P. | last = Pretorius | volume = 62 | issue = 1 | pages = 313–327| doi=10.4102/hts.v62i1.353| doi-access = free | hdl = 2263/14050 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> | |||
Hubbard asserted that Freudian thought was a "major precursor" to Scientology. W. Vaughn Mccall, Professor and Chairman of the Georgia Regents University writes, "Both Freudian theory and Hubbard assume that there are unconscious mental processes that may be shaped by early life experiences, and that these influence later behavior and thought." Both schools of thought propose a "tripartite structure of the mind".<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Psychiatry and Psychology in the Writings of L. Ron Hubbard |journal=Journal of Religion and Health |year=2007 |last=Mccall |first=W. Vaughn|volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=437–47 |doi=10.1007/s10943-006-9079-9|s2cid=10629230 }}</ref> ]'s psychology, popularized in the 1930s and 1940s, was a key contributor to the Dianetics therapy model, and was acknowledged unreservedly as such by Hubbard in his early works.<ref name=Willms2005-54-60 /> Hubbard never forgot, when he was 12 years old, meeting Cmdr. ], a U.S. Navy officer who had studied with Freud<ref>{{Cite book |last=Christensen |first=Dorthe Refslund |title=Controversial New Religions |title-link=Controversial New Religions |publisher=] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-515682-9 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |edition=1st |location=New York |language=en |chapter=Inventing L. Ron Hubbard: On the Construction and Maintenance of the Hagiographic Mythology of Scientology’s Founder |editor-last2=Petersen |editor-first2=Jesper Aagaard |page=238}}</ref> and when writing to the ] in 1949, he stated that he was conducting research based on the "early work of Freud".<ref name="GA171">{{harvnb|Cowan|Bromley|2006|p=171}}</ref> | |||
In conjunction with the Church of Scientology's request to be officially recognized as a religion in Germany, the German state ] conducted a thorough investigation regarding the group's activities within Germany.<ref> (in German) (PDF format)</ref> The results of this investigation indicated that, at the time of publication, Scientology's main sources of revenue ("Haupteinnahmequellen der SO") were from course offerings and sales of their various publications. Course offerings--e.g. "The Ups and Downs of Life," "Hubbard's Key to Life," "Intensive Auditing," etc.--ranged from (German Marks) DM 182.50 to about DM 30,000--the equivalent today of approximately $119 to $19,560 US dollars. Revenue from monthly, bi-monthly, and other membership offerings could not be estimated in the report, but was nevertheless placed in the millions. | |||
In ''Dianetics'', Hubbard cites ] as a negative influence – an object lesson in "confusing" writing.<ref>Hubbard, L Ron. 'Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health'. Los Angeles, California: Bridge Publications, 2007: 3. {{ISBN|978-1-4031-4484-3}}</ref> According to Mary A. Mann, Scientology is considered nondenominational, accepting all people regardless of their religions background, ethnicity, or educational attainment.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mann |first1=Mary A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m-pit1X2O6UC&q=scientology |title=Science and Spirituality |year=2004 |publisher=Mary A. Mann |access-date=December 14, 2015 |isbn=978-1-4184-9294-6 }}</ref> Another influence was ]'s ].<ref name=Willms2005-54-60 /> Hubbard was friends with fellow science fiction writers ] and ], who both wrote science-fiction inspired by Korzybski's writings, such as Vogt's '']''. Hubbard's view of the ''reactive mind'' has acknowledged parallels with Korzybski's thought; in fact, Korzybski's "anthropometer" may have been what inspired Hubbard's invention of the E-meter.<ref name=Willms2005-54-60 /> | |||
In June of 2006, it was announced that Scientology would be sponsoring a ] race car. The Number 27 ] Taurus driven by ] displays a large ] logo.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Jeff Elder | title=Scientology is newest NASCAR sponsor|journal=The Charlotte Observer|year=] ] | pages= | url=http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/motorsports/14761999.htm }}</ref> | |||
Beyond that, Hubbard himself named a great many other influences in his own writing – in ''Scientology 8-8008'', for example, these include philosophers from ] and ] to ] and ], physicists and mathematicians like ] and ], as well as founders of religions such as Buddha, Confucius, Jesus and Mohammed—but there is little evidence in Hubbard's writings that he studied these figures to any great depth.<ref name="Willms2005-54-60">{{harvnb|Willms|2005|pp=54–60}}</ref> | |||
===Scientology and psychiatry=== | |||
{{main|Scientology and psychiatry}} | |||
] demonstrations they call "Psychbusts"]] | |||
The Church of Scientology is one of a number of groups involved in the ] movement, and one of the few organizations that publicly oppose the study and application of ] in addition to ]. | |||
As noted, elements of the Eastern religions are evident in Scientology,<ref name="GA171" /> in particular the concept of ] found ] and ].<ref>{{Cite book |first=Bryan |last=Wilson |year=1995 |title=Religious Toleration & Religious Diversity |url=http://www.neuereligion.de/ENG/collection/diversity/point33.htm |publisher=The Institute for the Study of American Religion |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131031204601/http://www.neuereligion.de/ENG/collection/diversity/point33.htm}}</ref><ref>James R. Lewis ''The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements'', p. 429, Oxford University Press US, 2004 {{ISBN|978-0-19-514986-9}}</ref> In addition to the links to Hindu texts, Scientology draws from ] and ].{{sfn|Kent|1996 |p=21}} According to the ''Encyclopedia of Community'', Scientology "shows affinities with Buddhism and a remarkable similarity to first-century Gnosticism".<ref>Karen Christensen, David Levinson (2003): ''Encyclopedia of Community'', SAGE, p. 1210: "Scientology shows affinities with Buddhism and a remarkable similarity to first-century ]."</ref><ref>] (1996): ''Signs of the Times'', Médiaspaul, p. 51</ref> | |||
This theme appears in some of Hubbard's literary works. In Hubbard's '']'' series, various characters praise and criticize these methods, and the antagonists in his novel '']'' are called ''Psychlos'', a similar allusion. | |||
{{anchor|Membership statistics}} | |||
From the Church of Scientology FAQ on Psychiatry: | |||
{{cquote|What the Church opposes are brutal, inhumane psychiatric treatments. It does so for three principal reasons: 1) procedures such as ], ] and ] injure, maim and destroy people in the guise of help; 2) psychiatry is not a ] and has no proven methods to justify the billions of dollars of government funds that are poured into it; and 3) psychiatric theories that man is a mere animal have been used to rationalize, for example, the wholesale slaughter of human beings in ] and ].<ref>http://faq.scientology.org/psychtry.htm</ref>}} | |||
Hubbard was critical of psychiatry's citation of physical causes for mental disorders, such as ] in the brain. Hubbard's statements deny that psychiatry, through the ], has shown some psychiatric disorders are related to anatomical and chemical cerebral anomalies. He said that psychiatrists deny human spirituality and peddle fake cures. He said that he was also convinced psychiatrists were themselves deeply unethical individuals, committing "extortion, mayhem and murder. Our files are full of evidence on them."<ref>http://freedom.lronhubbard.org/page080.htm</ref> Many of the areas in which his criticism is directed have since been discredited in mainstream psychiatry - electro-shock therapy, for example, is now only used under anesthesia and muscle relaxants, and lobotomy is a defunct procedure. | |||
==Demographics== | |||
The Church says that psychiatry was responsible for World War I,<ref>http://freedom.lronhubbard.org/page104a.htm</ref> the rise of Hitler and Stalin,<ref>http://www.freedommag.org/english/vol30I1/page40.htm</ref> the decline in education standards in the United States,<ref>http://www.cchr.org/educate/e_sr.htm</ref> the wars in ] and ],<ref>http://www.cchr.org/index.cfm/8130</ref> and the ].<ref>http://www.freedommag.org/English/vol34i1/page02.htm</ref> The Church's point of view on these issues is documented mainly by Church groups and publications such as ] and Freedom Magazine, as cited above. | |||
Scientology's opposition to psychiatry has also undoubtedly been influenced by the opposition of numerous psychiatrists to the Church. After the publication of ''Dianetics'', the ] advised its members against using Hubbard's psychotherapy techniques with their patients until their effectiveness could be proven. Because of this critique, Hubbard said that psychiatrists were behind a worldwide conspiracy to attack Scientology and create a "world government" run by psychiatrists on behalf of ]: | |||
As of 2016, scholarly estimates suggest that there are a maximum of 40,000 Scientologists;{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=666}} this was the estimate given in 2011 by high-level Church of Scientology defector ].<ref name="villagevoice.com"/> They are found mostly in the U.S., Europe, South Africa and Australia.{{r|reitman-rs}} | |||
{{cquote|Our enemies are less than twelve men. They are members of the ] and other higher financial circles. They own and control newspaper chains and they, oddly enough, run all the mental health groups in the world that had sprung up ... Their apparent programme was to use mental health, which is to say psychiatric electric shock and pre-frontal lobotomy, to remove from their path any political dissenters ... These fellows have gotten nearly every government in the world to owe them considerable quantities of money through various chicaneries and they control, of course, income tax, government finance — ], for instance, the current Premier of England, is totally involved with these fellows and talks about nothing else actually.<ref>(Hubbard, ''Ron's Journal 67'' )</ref> }} | |||
In 1966, Hubbard declared war on psychiatry, telling Scientologists "We want at least one bad mark on every psychiatrist in England, a murder, an assault, or a rape or more than one."<ref>{{cite journal | last = Ive | first = Derek | title = One Man Britain Can Do Without | journal = The People | date = 1966-03-20 | url = http://www.xenu.net/archive/go/media/pe200366.htm | accessdate = 2006-08-19 }}</ref> He committed the Church to eradicating psychiatry in 1969, announcing "Our war has been forced to become 'To take over absolutely the field of mental healing on this planet in all forms.'"<ref>http://www.solitarytrees.net/cowen/misc/psywar.htm</ref> The Church founded the ] that same year as its primary vehicle for attacking psychiatry. | |||
By the start of the 21st century, the organization was claiming it had 8 million members.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=447}} Several commentators observe that this number is cumulative rather than collective: that is, it represents the total number of people who had any interaction with the Scientology organization since its founding, some of whom only had one or two auditing sessions.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=447|2a1=Richardson|2y=2009|2p=292}} The organization also maintained that it was the world's fastest growing religion,{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=92|2a1=Lewis|2y=2009b|2p=120}} a title also claimed by several religious groups, including ], ], and ],{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|pp=117-118}} but which is demonstrably incorrect.{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=121}}<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Bromley | first1 = David |author1-link=David G. Bromley | last2 = Cowan | first2 = Douglas |author2-link=Douglas E. Cowan | url = https://archive.org/details/cultsnewreligion0000cowa/page/24/mode/1up?view=theater&q=fastest+growing | title = Cults and new religions: a brief history |isbn=9781405161282 |date=2007 |page=24 | publisher = Wiley | access-date = July 29, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Flinn-WashingtonPost">{{Cite news|first=Frank K.|last=Flinn |title=Scientology|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/06/30/DI2005063001394.html|work=Live discussion|publisher=]|date=July 5, 2005|access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref><ref name="deseret">{{Cite web|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html|title=Scientology: Church now claims more than 8 million members|access-date=August 1, 2007|last=Jarvik|first=Elaine|date=September 18, 2004 |website=]|quote=Melton, who has been criticized by some for being too easy on Scientology, and has been criticized by the church for being too harsh, says that the church's estimates of its membership numbers – 4 million in the United States, 8 to 9 million worldwide – are exaggerated. "You're talking about anyone who ever bought a Scientology book or took a basic course. Ninety-nine percent of them don't ever darken the door of the church again." If the church indeed had four million members in the United States, he says, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up on a national survey" such as the Harris poll. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616032022/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html|archive-date=June 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="seattle20100731"/> Due to its internationally dispersed nature, it is difficult to determine the number of Free Zone Scientologists.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=11}} In 2021, Thomas suggested that the Free Zone was growing,{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=11}} with Lewis commenting that Free Zoners may one day outnumber members of the Church of Scientology.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=142}} | |||
In a 1982 bulletin entitled "Pain and Sex", Hubbard declares that "pain and sex were the INVENTED TOOLS of degradation", having been devised eons ago by evil beings "who have been on the track a long time and are the sole cause of decline in this universe."<ref>Hubbard, HCO Bulletin of ] ]</ref> | |||
The ] of the ] found 45,000 Scientologists in the United States in 1990,{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=121}} and then 55,000 in 2001,{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009b|1p=121|2a1=Lewis|2y=2012|2p=148}} although in 2008 it estimated that that number had dropped to 25,000.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=148}}<ref name="newyorktimes">{{Cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Fred|title=In Pasadena, a Model for Scientology's Growth Plan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/business/10scientology.html|access-date=July 13, 2011|newspaper=]|date=November 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514163850/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/business/10scientology.html|archive-date=May 14, 2013|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Lewis commented that the "pattern of solid growth" he observed in the 2000s seemed "suddenly to have ground to a halt" by the early 2010s.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=145}} Within the U.S., higher rates of Scientology have been observed in the western states, especially those bordering the Pacific Ocean, than further east.{{sfn|Bainbridge|2009|p=46}} The Canadian census revealed 1,215 Scientologists in 1991 and 1,525 in 2001,{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=120}} down to 1,400 in 2021.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810034201|title=2021 Census: Religion by visible minority and generation status|date=2021 |publisher=] |location=Ottawa}}</ref> The Australian census reported 1,488 Scientologists in 1996 and 2,032 in 2001,{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009b|1pp=120-121|2a1=Possamai|2a2=Possamai-Inesedy|2y=2009|2p=346}} before dropping to under 1,700 in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=4 July 2022 |title=Census of Population and Housing: Census article – Religious affiliation in Australia, 2021 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021/Census%20article%20-%20Religious%20affiliation%20in%20Australia.xlsx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226072838/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021/Census%20article%20-%20Religious%20affiliation%20in%20Australia.xlsx |archive-date=26 December 2022 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=AusBStat21>{{Cite report |date=2017 |title=Census 2016, Religious Affiliation by Sex (SA2+) |location=Canberra |publisher=]|url=https://explore.data.abs.gov.au/vis?tm=religion&pg=0&df=ABS_ABS_CENSUS_TOPICS&df=ABS_C16_T10_SA&df=ABS&df=1.0.0&pd=2016%2C&dq=....0&ly=SEX_ABS&ly=RELP_2016}}</ref><ref name=SchneidersSMH21>{{Cite web|last=Schneiders|first=Ben |date=April 4, 2021 |title=Push for investigation into Scientology's charity status |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/push-for-investigation-into-scientology-s-charity-status-20210401-p57fsj.html|access-date=April 12, 2021|website=]}}</ref> The New Zealand census found 207 Scientologists in 1991 and 282 in 2001.{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=120}} Andersen and Wellendorf estimated that there were between 2000 and 4000 Scientologists in Denmark in 2009,{{sfn|Andersen|Wellendorf|2009|p=149}} with contemporary estimates suggesting between 500 and 1000 active Scientologists in Sweden.{{sfn|Bogdan|2009|p=343}} Germany's government counted 3600 German members in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verfassungsschutzbericht 2022 |language=de |trans-title=Constitutional Protection Report 2022 |url=https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/SharedDocs/publikationen/DE/verfassungsschutzberichte/2023-06-20-verfassungsschutzbericht-2022.html |page=327 |website=] |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref> while observers have suggested between 2000 and 4000 in France.{{sfn|Rigal-Cellard|2009|p=326}} The 2021 census in England and Wales recorded 1,800 Scientologists.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS031/editions/2021/versions/1|title=Census 2021 Dataset: Regions, England and Wales |date=November 29, 2022|id=TS031|publisher=]|location=Fareham}}</ref> | |||
Celebrity Scientologists, notably ], have been extremely vocal in attacking the use of psychiatric medication.<ref>http://xenutv.bogie.nl/cruise/index.html</ref> Their position has attracted considerable criticism from psychiatrists, physicians, and mental health patients and advocates who cite numerous scientific studies showing benefit from psychiatry. | |||
Internationally, the Scientology organization's members are largely middle-class.{{sfnm|1a1=Andersen|1a2=Wellendorf|1y=2009|1p=159|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=47}} In Australia, Scientologists have been observed as being wealthier and more likely to work in managerial and professional roles than the average citizen.{{sfn|Possamai|Possamai-Inesedy|2009|p=348}} Scientology is oriented towards individualistic and liberal economic values;{{sfn|Willms|2009|p=255}} the scholar of religion Susan J. Palmer observed that Scientologists display "a capitalist ideology that promotes individualistic values".{{sfn|Palmer|2009|p=315}} A survey of Danish Scientologists revealed that nearly all voted for liberal or conservative parties on the right of Denmark's political spectrum and took a negative view of ].{{sfn|Andersen|Wellendorf|2009|p=157}} Placing great emphasis on the freedom of the individual, those surveyed believed that the state and its regulations held people down, and felt that the Danish welfare system was excessive.{{sfn|Andersen|Wellendorf|2009|pp=157-159}} Interviewing Church members in the United States, Westbrook found that most regarded themselves as apolitical, ], or ]; fewer than 10 percent supported the ].{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=54}} | |||
], professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the ], ], alleged that the destruction of patient files in May 2005 by two of his colleagues and a university administrator had been prompted by the Church's criticism of his research.<ref>http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/329/7457/72</ref> Gillberg said that Eva Kärfve, an associate professor of ] at the ] who in 2003 had obtained a court order to access his patient records relating to ], was a Scientologist or was acting for the Church. The University professor opposed this access on the grounds of patient confidentiality. However, in July 2005 the lower criminal court in Gothenburg fined Gillberg for "misuse of office" and upheld Kärfve's right to see the remaining data.<ref>http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7510/180-f </ref> | |||
===Recruitment=== | |||
===Scientology versus the Internet=== | |||
] | |||
{{main|Scientology versus the Internet}} | |||
Most people who join the organization are introduced to it via friends and family.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=49}} It also offers free "personality tests" or "stress tests", typically involving an E-Meter, to attract potential recruits.{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009b|1p=134|2a1=Bigliardi|2y=2016|2p=671|3a1=Thomas|3y=2021|3p=48}} It hopes that if non-Scientologists purchase one service from the Church and feel a benefit from it – a "win" in Church terminology – they are more likely to purchase additional services from the Church.{{sfn|Harley|Kieffer|2009|p=190}} Other recruitment methods include lectures and classes introducing non-Scientologists to the subject.{{sfn|Lewis|2009b|p=134}} | |||
In the 1990s Scientology representatives have undertaken extensive operations on the Internet to deal with growing allegations against Scientology on the Internet. The organization states that it is taking actions to prevent distribution of ]ed Scientology documents and publications online by people whom it has called "copyright terrorists".<ref>{{cite book | last = Grossman | first = Wendy | title = Net.Wars | origyear = 1997 | origmonth = October | url = http://www.nyupress.org/netwars/ | accessdate = 2006-06-11 | publisher = New York University Press | location = New York | id = ISBN 0-8147-3103-1 | pages = 77-78 | chapter = Copyright Terrorists | chapterurl = http://www.nyupress.org/netwars/textonly/pages/chapter06/ch06_.html}}</ref> Critics say that the organisation's true motive is to attempt to suppress the free speech of its critics. | |||
The Church of Scientology's own statistics, published in 1998, reveal that 52.6% of those who joined did so through their family and friendship networks with existing members.{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009b|1p=138|2a1=Rigal-Cellard|2y=2009|2p=330|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2019|3p=49}} 18% were drawn in through personality tests, 4.8% through publicity, and 3.1% through lectures.{{sfnm|1a1=Rigal-Cellard|1y=2009|1p=330|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=49}} Westbrook's interviews with Church members determined that most people who joined the Church were initially attracted by "the ''practical'' benefits advertised".{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=47}} Westbrook found that various members deepened their involvement after having what they considered to be a spiritual experience, such as exteriorization or a past life memory, in their first few weeks of involvement.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|pp=48-49}} | |||
In January 1995, Church lawyer ] attempted to shut down the ] '']'' by sending a control message instructing ] servers to delete the group on the grounds that: | |||
==Reception and influence== | |||
{{cquote|(1) It was started with a forged message; (2) not discussed on ]; (3) it has the name "scientology" in its title which is a trademark and is misleading, as a.r.s. is mainly used for flamers to attack the Scientology religion; (4) it has been and continues to be heavily abused with copyright and trade secret violations and serves no purpose other than condoning these illegal practices.<ref>http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/rnewman/usenet/rmgroup</ref>}} | |||
Scientology has influenced various therapy and spiritual groups formed since the 1960s.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} Much past-life therapy was influenced by Dianetics,{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} while ]'s ] therapy system also drew on Scientology.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} ], who founded ], had also been a staff member at the Church of Scientology and plagiarised some of Hubbard's writings.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} In the 1960s, the ] was established by former Scientologists.{{sfn|Bainbridge|2009|p=42}} In 1986 Harry Palmer – who had previously run a Scientology franchise mission in Elmira, New York, for around a decade – established his own group, the ].{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} | |||
Barrett noted that "vast amounts" have been written about Scientology, both in support and opposition to it.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=446}} Much of this literature has been heavily polarised.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=6}} Scientology has attracted negative publicity since its founding,{{sfn|Cusack|2009|p=395}} with criticism of the Scientology organization coming from government agencies, the media, and anti-cult groups.{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=1|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=335}} Much material critical of the organization was written by ex-members such as ], ], and ].{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=446}} Many of the Church's critics have utilizsed the Internet, for instance to disseminate leaked OT documents.{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=23|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=34}} The Church have sought to sue various websites, including the ] group alt.religion.scientologist, for disseminating Hubbard's writings.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1pp=471-472|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=360}} Urban noted that Scientologists have long maintained that theirs is "a legitimate religious movement that has been misrepresented, maligned, and persecuted by media witch-hunters and McCarthy-style government attacks."{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=2}} | |||
In practice, this ] had little effect, since most Usenet servers are configured to disregard such messages when applied to groups that receive substantial traffic, and ]s were quickly issued to recreate the group on those servers that did not do so. However, the issuance of the message led to a great deal of public criticism by free-speech advocates. | |||
Several human rights organisations have expressed concern about the stance that the French and German government have taken towards Scientologists.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=471}} Relations between the Scientology organization and German government are largely hostile.{{sfn|Richardson|2009|p=289}} The German government banned members from working in the public sector, pointing out that the organization is a threat to democracy.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=471}} In France, ] have spread alleging that the Church of Scientology controls the US government or that it is a front for ], perhaps run by the ].{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2009|1pp=311, 315-16|2a1=Rigal-Cellard|2y=2009|2p=325}} French Scientologists have reported being fired or refused jobs because of their beliefs,{{sfn|Palmer|2009|p=314}} and bombs have been thrown at French Scientology centres; in 2002 one Scientologist sustained permanent injuries as a result.{{sfn|Palmer|2009|pp=296, 302}} A 2022 ] poll on Americans' attitudes toward religious groups ranked Scientology as the country's least-favored group, with around 50% of respondents indicating a negative view of the practise, alongside ].<ref>{{Cite report |author=YouGov |date=23 December 2022 |title=Americans' views on 35 religious groups, organizations, and belief systems |url=https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2022/12/23/americans-views-religious-groups-yougov-poll |publisher=YouGov |access-date=27 May 2023}}</ref> | |||
The Church also began filing lawsuits against those who posted copyrighted texts on the newsgroup and the ], and pressed for tighter restrictions on copyrights in general. The Church supported the controversial ]. The even more controversial ] was also strongly promoted by the Church and some of its provisions (notably the ]) were heavily influenced by Church litigation against US ] over copyrighted Scientology materials that had been posted or uploaded through their servers. | |||
===Media, popular culture, and academia=== | |||
Beginning in the middle of 1996 and for several years after, the newsgroup was attacked by anonymous parties using a tactic dubbed "]" by some, in the form of hundreds of thousands of forged spam messages posted on the group. Although the Church neither confirmed nor denied its involvement with the spam, some investigators said that some spam had been traced to Church members. Former Scientologist ], after she left the Church, confessed to having been part of the sporgery project, taking money supplied by the ] to open up an Internet accounts at various ISPs under false names, accounts from which she later saw forged and garbled communications going out.<ref></ref> | |||
{{main|Scientology in popular culture}} | |||
]'' episode "Trapped in the Closet"]] | |||
Scientology has received an "extraordinary amount" of media interest.{{sfn|Graham|2014}} In his writings, Hubbard often described journalists in negative terms, for instance calling them "merchants of chaos".{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=6}} He discouraged Scientologists from interacting with journalists, a tendency that, Westbrook argued, has contributed to negative press portrayals of the movement.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=11}} Many journalists examining the Church have been concerned about potential human rights violations.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=671}} | |||
===Scientific criticism of Scientology's beliefs=== | |||
Academic research into Scientology was for several decades comparatively limited compared to the media and public interest in it.{{sfn|Graham|2014}} This has been attributed to the Church's secrecy,{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=ix|2a1=Graham|2y=2014}} its reputation for litigiousness,{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009a|1p=4|2a1=Cowan|2y=2009|2p=53|3a1=Richardson|3y=2009|3p=284|4a1=Urban|4y=2011|4p=ix|5a1=Graham|5y=2014}} and a lack of academic access to documentary material about the organization.{{sfn|Cowan|2009|p=68}} Early studies included ]' '']'' (1976) and Harriet Whitehead's ''Renunciation and Reformulation'' (1987).{{sfnm|1a1=Cowan|1y=2009|1p=56|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=3|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=3}} Research intensified in the early 21st century,{{sfnm|1a1=Thomas|1y=2021|1p=161|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2022|2p=1}} and in 2014, the first academic conference on the topic was held, in ], Belgium.{{sfnm|1a1=Graham|1y=2014|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=viii|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=5}} Several academics who have studied the movement have described the Church paying close attention to their work by telephoning them and sending representatives to attend their talks on the subject.{{sfn|Graham|2014}} Some observers of Scientology have also been critical of scholars studying it, noting that they frequently act as apologists for it.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=8}} | |||
A 1971 ruling of the United States District Court, District of Columbia (333 F. Supp. 357), specifically stated, "the ] has no proven usefulness in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease, nor is it medically or scientifically capable of improving any bodily function."<ref>{{cite paper | title = UNITED STATES of America, Libelant, v. An ARTICLE OR DEVICE "HUBBARD ELECTROMETER" or "Hubbard E-Meter," etc., Founding Church of Scientology et al., Claimants|version = No. D.C. 1-63|date = ] ] | url = http://www.lermanet.com/case2.htm | accessdate = 2006-08-10}}</ref>. Scientology publishes the following disclaimer in its books and publications: "The e-meter is an electronic instrument that measures mental state and change of state in individuals and assists the precision and speed of auditing. The E-Meter is not intended or effective for any diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease."<ref></ref> and that it is used specifically for spiritual purposes. | |||
Documentaries about Scientology have typically focused on allegations about the Scientology organization's intimidating behavior, greed and brainwashing.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=36-37}} Popular examples include ]'s 2015 documentary '']'',{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=31}} and ]'s documentary series '']'' and her book ], drawing on her experience as a Church member.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=34}}<ref name="variety">{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/leah-remini-scientology-documentary-ratings-1201930528/|author=Oriana Schwindt|magazine=Variety|title=Leah Remini Scientology Doc Premiere Draws 2.1 Million Viewers for A&E | Variety |date= November 30, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> ]'s 2012 film '']'' features a religious organization called "The Cause" that has similarities to Scientology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lane |title=So This New Paul Thomas Anderson Movie Is Definitely About Scientology, Right? |website=New York Magazine |date=December 3, 2010 |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/12/so_this_new_paul_thomas_anders.html |access-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lane |title=Universal Passes on Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology Movie |website=New York Magazine |date=March 17, 2010 |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/03/why_does_paul_thomas_andersons.html |access-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/26/scientology-hollywood-film-studio |title=Church of Scientology snaps up Hollywood film studio |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |website=] |date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=June 12, 2011}}</ref> Comedy series have also critiqued Scientology.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=37}} The most notable was the 2005 ] episode "]", which highlighted the Xenu story and said that the organization was a "scam on a global scale".{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=vii, 37-38}} There have also been theatre shows about Scientology, such as Cathy Schekelberg's 2017 one-person show ''Squeeze My Cans'' about her former life in the organization.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=38}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
==References== | |||
{{Col-begin|width=}} | |||
{{reflist|22em|refs= | |||
<ref name="andersonreport">{{Cite web |title=Report of the Board of Inquiry into Scientology |url=https://archive.org/details/vparl-1965-66-no-9-recognized/mode/1up?view=theater |first=Kevin Victor |last=Anderson |author-link=Kevin Victor Anderson |year=1965 |publisher=Government Printer, Melbourne}} ()</ref> | |||
{{Col-1-of-2}} | |||
<ref name=Cooper>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-26936135 |title=Scientology Gateshead building still empty after seven years |website=]|date=August 19, 2014 |last1=Cooper|first1=Robert}}</ref> | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
<ref name="malko">{{cite book |first=George |last=Malko |title=Scientology: The Now Religion |title-link=Scientology: The Now Religion |year=1970 |publisher=] |ol=5444962M}}</ref> | |||
{{Col-2-of-2}} | |||
<ref name="reitman">{{Cite book |last=Reitman |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Reitman |title=Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion |title-link=Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion |date=2011 |isbn=9780618883028 |ol=24881847M |publisher=] }}</ref> | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
<ref name=reitman-rs>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/inside-scientology-103288/ |title=Inside Scientology |date=February 8, 2011 |orig-date=February 23, 2006 |first=Janet |last=Reitman |author-link=Janet Reitman |magazine=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502021124/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/inside-scientology-20110208 |archive-date=May 2, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{Col-end}} | |||
<ref name="seattle20100731">{{Cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/scientology-church-finds-new-home-in-queen-anne-neighborhood/ |title=Scientology church finds new home in Queen Anne neighborhood |date=July 31, 2010 |website=] |first=Janet I |last=Tu |quote=Sociologist Barry Kosmin of Trinity College, one of study’s principal researchers, said the sample size of Scientologists used was too small to give a reliable count of members. Still, he said, the data "strongly suggests that there has been no recent vast increase and that the number of Scientologists (in the U.S.) is in the tens of thousands". Adams, the Church of Scientology International spokesman, estimates there are millions of Scientologists worldwide, though he couldn’t be more specific on the number, and about a million in the U.S.}}</ref> | |||
==General references== | |||
<div class="references-small"> | |||
* - Time Magazine article on Scientology | |||
* | |||
* {{cite paper | author=Frenschkowski, Marco | title= L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology: An annotated bibliographical survey of primary and selected secondary literature | date=1999| url=http://www.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/frenschkowski.html }} | |||
* {{cite paper | author=Kent, Stephen A. | title= Scientology's Relationship With Eastern Religious Traditions | date=1996 | url=http://www.ami.com.au/~bradw/cos/Theology/Theology/eastern.htm }} | |||
</div> | |||
<ref name="strangetimes101">{{harvnb|Flowers|1984|p=101}}</ref> | |||
==Notes== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
<ref name="truthrundown">{{multiref2 | |||
==External links== | |||
|1=The Truth Rundown, a three-part series by Thomas C. Tobin and Joe Childs, ] | |||
{{sisterlinks|Scientology}} | |||
|2= | |||
{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/scientology-the-truth-rundown/ |title=Part 1 — Scientology: The Truth Rundown |date=June 21, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209040134/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece |archive-date=9 February 2013}} | |||
|3= | |||
{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-2-of-3-death-in-slow-motion/ |title=The Truth Rundown, Part 2 — Death in slow motion |date=June 22, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024004252/https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-2-of-3-death-in-slow-motion/ |archive-date=October 24, 2019}} | |||
|4= | |||
{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-3-of-3-ecclesiastical-justice/ |title=The Truth Rundown, Part 3 — Ecclesiastical justice |date=June 23, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809103436/http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1012575.ece |archive-date=August 9, 2009}} | |||
}}</ref> | |||
<ref name="villagevoice.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/07/04/scientologists-how-many-of-them-are-there-anyway/ |title=Scientologists: How Many Of Them Are There, Anyway?|date=July 4, 2011|website=] |first=Tony|last=Ortega|author-link=Tony Ortega}}</ref> | |||
* | |||
* A description of Scientology and its activities and answers to FAQs (by the Church of Scientology) | |||
* | |||
* or A word about ‘KSW’ | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* - "Exposing Scientology Through Streaming Video" | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* - in-depth Rolling Stone article on Scientology | |||
* Survey interviews of over 100 Scientologists and former Scientologists. | |||
* - List of groups related to the Scientology organization. | |||
* | |||
* | |||
<ref name="wallis">{{cite book |last=Wallis |first=Roy |author-link=Roy Wallis |title=The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology |title-link=The Road to Total Freedom |year=1977 |publisher=] |isbn=0231042000 |ol=4596322M}}</ref> | |||
{{Scientologyfooter}} | |||
}} | |||
===Sources=== | |||
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* {{Cite book |last1=Cusack |first1=Carole M. |last2=Digance |first2=Justine |contribution=Pastoral Care and September 11: Scientology's Nontraditional Religious Contribution|title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3| pages=435–437 }} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Dericquebourg |first=Régis |chapter=How Should We Regard the Religious Ceremonies of the Church of Scientology? |title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3 |pages=165–182}} | |||
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*{{Cite book |last=Flinn |first=Frank K. |chapter=Scientology as Technological Buddhism|title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3|pages=209–223 }} | |||
* {{Cite book | editor1-last = Gallagher | editor1-first = Eugene V. | editor2-last = Ashcraft | editor2-first = W. Michael | title = Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America | series = Volume 5: African diaspora traditions and other American innovations | place = Westport, CT | publisher = Greenwood Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-275-98712-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ClaySHbUEogC|access-date=November 5, 2015}} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Ruth |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Are Academics Afraid to Study Scientology? |website=JSTOR Daily |url=https://daily.jstor.org/scholars-on-scientology/ }} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Grünschloß |first=Andreas |chapter=Scientology, a 'New Age' Religion?|title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3|pages=225–243}} | |||
*{{Cite journal|last=Halupka |first=Max |title=The Church of Scientology: Legitimacy through Perception Management |journal=Politics and Religion |volume=7 |issue=3 |year=2014 |pages=613–630 |doi=10.1017/S1755048314000066 |s2cid=143524953}} | |||
*{{Cite book |last1=Harley |first1=Gail M. |last2=Kieffer |first2=John |chapter=The Development and Reality of Auditing |title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3|pages=183–205}} | |||
*{{Cite news |last1=Harman |first1=Danna |title=Breaking Out of Scientology's Iron Grip |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2012-09-30/ty-article/breaking-out-of-scientologys-iron-grip/0000017f-f8bc-d2d5-a9ff-f8bccf3e0000 |work=]|location=Tel Aviv|publisher=The Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=September 30, 2012 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602023839/https://www.haaretz.com/2012-09-30/ty-article/breaking-out-of-scientologys-iron-grip/0000017f-f8bc-d2d5-a9ff-f8bccf3e0000|archive-date=June 2, 2022|url-access=subscription}} | |||
*{{Cite book |last1=Hassan |first1=Steven A.|author-link1=Steven Hassan|last2=Scheflin |first2=Alan W.|editor-last1=Linden|editor-last2=De Benedittis|editor-last3=Sugarman|editor-last4=Varga|editor-first1=Julie H.|editor-first2=Giuseppe|editor-first3=Laurence I.|editor-first4=Katalin|chapter=Understanding the Dark Side of Hypnosis as a Form of Undue Influence Exerted in Authoritarian Cults: Implications for Practice, Policy, and Education|title=The Routledge International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis |date=2024 |publisher=] |location=Abingdon/New York |isbn=978-1-032-31140-1 |pages=755–772 |url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-International-Handbook-of-Clinical-Hypnosis/Linden-DeBenedittis-Sugarman-Varga/p/book/9781032311401}} | |||
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*{{Cite report |last1=Hunt |first1=John |last2=de Puig |first2=Luis |last3=Espersen| first3=Ole |date=February 5, 1992 |title=European Council, Recommendation 1178: Sects and New Religious Movements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JRPz4_u7AxMC&pg=PA668 |location=Strasbourg|publisher=] |access-date=June 30, 2019}} | |||
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* {{Cite journal|last=Kent|first=Stephen A.|title=Scientology -- Is this a Religion?|author-link=Stephen A. Kent|journal=]|volume=4|number=1|date=1999|pages=1–56|publisher=]|doi=10.17192/mjr.1999.4.3754|url=https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3754|doi-access=free|access-date=June 30, 2006}} | |||
* {{Cite book |title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009c|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3 }} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=James R. |chapter=Introduction |year=2009a|title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3 |pages=3–14 }} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=James R. |chapter=The Growth of Scientology and the Stark Model of Religious 'Success'|title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009b|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3 |pages=117–140 }} | |||
*{{cite book |last1=Hammer |first1=Olav |last2=Rothstein |first2=Mikael |title=The Cambridge Companion to New Religious Movements |date=2012 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-companion-to-new-religious-movements/A12643CA4E36C2F5CC5C5382A252AAAB|publisher=]|chapter=Canonical and Extracanonical Texts in New Religions|location=Cambridge/New York |isbn=978-0-521-19650-5 |ol=25323554M|pages=113–132}} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=James R. |year=2012 |chapter=Scientology: Up Stat, Down Stat |title=The Cambridge Companion to New Religious Movements|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-companion-to-new-religious-movements/A12643CA4E36C2F5CC5C5382A252AAAB|editor1=Olav Hammer |editor2=Mikael Rothstein |location=Cambridge/New York|publisher=] |isbn=978-0-521-19650-5 |pages=133–149 |ol=25323554M}} | |||
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* {{Cite book|last=Miller|first=Russell|year=1987|title=Bare-faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard|publisher=H. Holt|isbn=978-0-8050-0654-4|edition=1st American|location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/barefacedmessiah00mill_0}} | |||
* {{Cite book|last=Miller|first=Russell|year=2016|title=Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard|publisher=Silvertail Books|isbn=978-1-909269-36-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tz0LjwEACAAJ|access-date=March 13, 2017}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Palmer |first=Susan J. |author-link=Susan J. Palmer |chapter=The Church of Scientology in France: Legal and Activist Counterattacks in the 'War on ''Sectes''' |title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3| pages=295–322 }} | |||
*{{Cite journal |last1=Passas |first1=Nikos |last2=Castillo |first2=Manuel Escamilla |title=Scientology and its 'Clear' Business |journal=]|publisher=]|date=1992 |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=103–116 |doi=10.1002/bsl.2370100110}} | |||
*{{Cite book |last1=Possamai |first1=Adam |last2=Possamai-Inesedy |first2=Alphia |chapter=Scientology Down Under |title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3|pages=345–361 }} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Richardson |first=James T.|author-link=James T. Richardson|chapter=Scientology in Court: A Look at Some Major Cases from Various Nations |title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3 |pages=283–294 }} | |||
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* {{Cite book |last=Rothstein |first=Mikael |year=2004 |chapter=Science and Religion in the New Religions |title=The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements |editor=James R. Lewis |location=New York and ] |publisher=] |pages=99–118 |isbn=978-0195369649 }} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Rothstein |first=Mikael |author-link=Mikael Rothstein |chapter='His Name was Xenu. He used Renegades...': Aspects of Scientology's Founding Myth |title=Scientology |url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493 |year=2009 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.003.0020 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=] |isbn=9780199852321 |ol=16943235M |pages=365–387}} | |||
* {{Cite journal |last1=Rothstein |first1=Mikael |title=The Significance of Rituals in Scientology: A Brief Overview and a Few Examples |journal=] |publisher=]|location=Leiden|date=13 January 2016 |volume=63 |issue=1 |pages=54–70 |doi=10.1163/15685276-12341408}} | |||
* {{Cite news |last1=Sappell |first1=Joel |last2=Welkos |first2=Robert |title=LRH: The Story of L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology – Goal of church: to make money |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/06/25/lrh-the-story-of-l-ron-hubbard-and-the-church-of-scientology-goal-of-church-to-make-money/ |work=] |publisher=] |date=June 25, 1990a |language=en}} | |||
* {{Cite journal |last1=Senn |first1=Stephen |title=The Prosecution of Religious Fraud |journal=] |date=1990 |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=325–252 |url=https://ir.law.fsu.edu/lr/vol17/iss2/2/|location=Tallahassee|publisher=]}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Shermer|first=Michael|chapter=The Curious Case of Scientology|title=Giving the Devil his Due|publisher=]|url=https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/psychology/psychology-general-interest/giving-devil-his-due-reflections-scientific-humanist?format=HB|isbn=9781108489782|location=Cambridge|pages=93–103|year=2020}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Aled |year=2021 |title=Free Zone Scientology: Contesting the Boundaries of a New Religion |location=London |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-350-18254-7 }} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Tobin|first=Thomas C.|date=December 27, 2016|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/former-scientology-insiders-describe-a-world-of-closers-prospects-crushing/1201166/|title=Former Scientology insiders describe a world of closers, prospects, crushing quotas and coercion|work=]|location=St Petersburg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507200334/https://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/former-scientology-insiders-describe-a-world-of-closers-prospects-crushing/1201166/|archive-date=May 7, 2021|url-status=live}} | |||
* {{Cite book|last=Urban|first=Hugh B. |title=The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion |publisher=] |location=Princeton and Oxford |url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691158051/the-church-of-scientology|year=2011 |isbn=978-0-691-14608-9}} | |||
* {{Cite book |year=2012 |title=Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford and New York |last=Urban |first=Hugh B. |editor-last=Bogdan |editor-first=Henrik |pages=335–68 |isbn=978-0-19-986309-9 |oclc=820009842 |chapter=The Occult Roots of Scientology? L. Ron Hubbard, Aleister Crowley, and the Origins of a Controversial New Religion |editor2-last=Starr |editor2-first=Martin P.}} | |||
* {{Cite book |title=Secrecy: Silence, Power, and Religion|last=Urban|first=Hugh|author-link=Hugh Urban|year=2021|url=https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo68651489.html|location=Chicago/London|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-226-74650-0|chapter=The Third Wall of Fire|pages=165–186}} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Westbrook |first=Donald A. |year=2019 |title=Among the Scientologists: History, Theology, and Praxis |location=Oxford and New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |series=Oxford Studies in Western Esotericism |isbn=978-0190664978}} | |||
*{{Cite book |last=Westbrook |first=Donald A. |year=2022 |title=L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology Studies |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |series=Cambridge Elements: New Religious Movements |isbn=978-1-009-01455-7 }} | |||
* {{Cite book|last=Willms|first=Gerald|title=Scientology: Kulturbeobachtungen jenseits der Devianz|publisher=transcript Verlag|location=Bielefeld, Germany|year=2005|isbn=978-3-89942-330-3|language=de}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Willms |first=Gerald |chapter=Scientology: 'Modern Religion' or 'Religion of Modernity'?|title=Scientology|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/scientology-9780195331493|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.001.0001|editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Oxford/New York |publisher=]|isbn=978-0-19-5331-49-3 | pages=245–265 }} | |||
* {{Cite book | last1 = Zellner | first1 = William W. | last2 = Petrowsky | first2 = Marc | title = Sects, Cults, and Spiritual Communities: a Sociological Analysis | place = Westport CT | publisher = Praeger Publishers | year = 1998 | isbn = 978-0-275-96335-4 }} | |||
{{Refend}} | |||
==External links== | |||
{{Sister project links|Scientology|b=no|d=Q131036}} | |||
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* {{Cite journal |last=Lord|first=Phil|title=Scientology's Legal System|location=Marburg Journal of Religion|year=2019 |volume=21 |issue=1 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.3232113 |ssrn=3232113|url=https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/articles/9z9034375 |journal=]}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 02:58, 22 December 2024
Beliefs and practices and associated movement
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Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It is variously defined as a cult, a business, a religion, or a scam. Hubbard initially developed a set of ideas that he called Dianetics, which he represented as a form of therapy. An organization that he established in 1950 to promote it went bankrupt, and Hubbard lost the rights to his book Dianetics in 1952. He then recharacterized his ideas as a religion, likely for tax purposes, and renamed them Scientology. By 1954, he had regained the rights to Dianetics and founded the Church of Scientology, which remains the largest organization promoting Scientology. There are practitioners independent of the Church, in what is referred to as the Free Zone. Estimates put the number of Scientologists at under 40,000 worldwide.
Key Scientology beliefs include reincarnation, and that traumatic events cause subconscious command-like recordings in the mind (termed "engrams") that can be removed only through an activity called "auditing". A fee is charged for each session of "auditing". Once an "auditor" deems an individual free of "engrams" they are given the status of "clear". Scholarship differs on the interpretation of these beliefs: some academics regard them as religious in nature; other scholars regard them as merely a means of extracting money from Scientology recruits. After attaining "clear" status, adherents can take part in the Operating Thetan levels, which require further payments. The Operating Thetan texts are kept secret from most followers; they are revealed only after adherents have typically given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Scientology organization. Despite its efforts to maintain the secrecy of the texts, they are freely available on various websites, including at the media organization WikiLeaks. These texts say past lives took place in extraterrestrial cultures. They involve an alien called Xenu, described as a planetary ruler 70 million years ago who brought billions of aliens to Earth and killed them with thermonuclear weapons. Despite being kept secret from most followers, this forms the central mythological framework of Scientology's ostensible soteriology. These aspects have become the subject of popular ridicule.
Since its formation, Scientology groups have generated considerable opposition and controversy. This includes deaths of practitioners while under Church of Scientology care, several instances of extensive criminal activities, and allegations by former adherents of exploitation and forced abortions. In the 1970s, Hubbard's followers engaged in a program of criminal infiltration of the U.S. government, resulting in several executives of the organization being convicted and imprisoned for multiple offenses by a U.S. federal court. Hubbard himself was convicted of fraud in absentia by a French court in 1978 and sentenced to four years in prison. In 1992, a court in Canada convicted the Scientology organization in Toronto of spying on law enforcement and government agencies and criminal breach of trust, later upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal. The Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud by a French court in 2009, a judgment upheld by the supreme Court of Cassation in 2013.
The Church of Scientology has been described by government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous superior court judgments as both a dangerous cult and a manipulative profit-making business. Numerous scholars and journalists have observed that profit is the primary motivating goal of the Scientology organization. Following extensive litigation in numerous countries, the organization has managed to attain a legal recognition as a religious institution in some jurisdictions, including Australia, Italy, and the United States. Germany classifies Scientology groups as an anti-constitutional sect, while the French government classifies the group as a dangerous cult.
Definition and classification
The sociologist Stephen A. Kent views the Church of Scientology as "a multifaceted transnational corporation, only one element of which is religious". In his history of the Church of Scientology, the scholar Hugh Urban describes Scientology as a "huge, complex, and multifaceted movement".
Government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous superior court judgments describe Scientology both as a dangerous cult and as a manipulative profit-making business. These institutions and scholars state that Scientology is not a religion.
Scientology has experienced multiple schisms during its history. While the Church of Scientology was the original promoter of the movement, various independent groups have split off to form independent Scientology groups. Referring to the "different types of Scientology", the scholar of religion Aled Thomas suggests it was appropriate to talk about "Scientologies".
Urban describes Scientology as representing a "rich syncretistic blend" of sources, including elements from Hinduism and Buddhism, Thelema, new scientific ideas, science-fiction, and from psychology and popular self-help literature available by the mid-20th century. The ceremonies, structure of the prayers, and minister attire suggested by Hubbard reflect his own Protestant traditions.
Hubbard claimed that Scientology was "all-denominational", and members of the Scientology organization are not prohibited from active involvement in religions. Scholar of religion Donald Westbrook encountered members who also practiced Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and the Nation of Islam; one was a Baptist minister. In practice, however, Westbrook noted that most Church members consider Scientology to be their only commitment, and the deeper their involvement became, the less likely they were to continue practicing other traditions.
Debates over classification
Debate as to whether Scientology should be regarded as a cult, a business, a scam, or a religion has continued over many years. Many Scientologists consider it to be their religion. Its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, presented it as a religion, but the early history of the Scientology organization, and Hubbard's policy directives, letters, and instructions to subordinates, indicate that his motivation for doing so was as a legally pragmatic move to minimize his tax burden and escape the possibility of prosecution. In many countries, the Church of Scientology has engaged in extensive litigation to secure recognition as a tax-exempt religious organization, and it has managed to obtain such a status in a few jurisdictions, including the United States, Italy, and Australia. The organization has not received recognition as a religious institution in the majority of countries in which it operates.
An article in the magazine TIME, "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power", describes Scientology as a ruthless global scam. The Church of Scientology's attempts to sue the publishers for libel and to prevent republication abroad were dismissed. Scholarship in psychology and skepticism supports this view of Scientology as a confidence trick to obtain money from its targets. The scholar Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi observes that "the majority of activities conducted by Scientology and its many fronts and subsidiaries involve the marketing of secular products." In a report by the European Parliament, it is observed that the group "is a cool, cynical, manipulating business and nothing else."
Scholars and journalists note that profit is the primary motivating goal of Hubbard's Scientology groups. Those making this observation have often referred to a governing financial policy issued by Hubbard that is to be obeyed by all Scientology organization staff members, which includes the following :
Make sure that lots of bodies move through the shop...A. MAKE MONEY. ... J. MAKE MONEY. K. MAKE MORE MONEY. L. MAKE OTHER PEOPLE PRODUCE SO AS TO MAKE MONEY...However you get them in or why, just do it.
Some scholars of religion have referred to Scientology as a religion. The sociologist Bryan R. Wilson compares Scientology with 20 criteria that he associated with religion and concludes that the movement could be characterised as such. Wilson's criteria include: a cosmology that describes a human reality beyond terrestrial existence; ethics and behavior teachings that are based on this cosmology; prescribed ways for followers to connect with spiritual beings; and a congregation that believes in and helps spread its teachings. Allan W. Black analysed Scientology through the seven "dimensions of religion" set forward by the scholar Ninian Smart and also decided that Scientology met those criteria for being a religion. The sociologist David V. Barrett noted that there was a "strong body of evidence to suggest that it makes sense to regard Scientology as a religion", while scholar of religion James R. Lewis comments that "it is obvious that Scientology is a religion". The scholar Mikael Rothstein observes that the Scientology "is best understood as a devotional cult aimed at revering the mythologized founder of the organization".
Numerous religious studies scholars have described Scientology as a new religious movement. Various scholars have also considered it within the category of Western esotericism, while the scholar of religion Andreas Grünschloß noted that it was "closely linked" to UFO religions, as science-fiction themes are evident in its theology. Scholars have also varyingly described it as a "psychotherapeutically oriented religion", a "secularized religion", a "postmodern religion", a "privatized religion", and a "progressive-knowledge" religion. According to scholar of religion Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Scientology describes itself as drawing on science, religion, psychology and philosophy but "has been claimed by none of them and repudiated, for the most part, by all".
Government bodies and other institutions maintain that the Scientology organization is a commercial business that falsely claims to be religious, or alternatively a form of therapy masquerading as religion. The French government characterises the movement as a dangerous cult, and the German government monitors it as an anti-democratic sect.
The notion of Scientology as a religion is strongly opposed by the anti-cult movement. Its claims to a religious identity have been particularly rejected in continental Europe. Grünschloß writes that labelling Scientology a religion does not mean that it is "automatically promoted as harmless, nice, good, and humane". The multi-faceted nature of the Church of Scientology that includes pedagogy, communication theories, management principles and methods for a healthy living discombobulated many observers when it first started. Dericquebourg comments that the same things can be found in established churches.
Etymology
The word Scientology, as coined by Hubbard, is a derivation from the Latin word scientia ("knowledge", "skill"), which comes from the verb scīre ("to know"), with the suffix -ology, from the Greek λόγος lógos ("word" or "account "). Hubbard claimed that the word "Scientology" meant "knowing about knowing or science of knowledge". The name "Scientology" deliberately makes use of the word "science", seeking to benefit from the "prestige and perceived legitimacy" of natural science in the public imagination. In doing so, Scientology has been compared to religious groups like Christian Science and the Science of Mind, which employed similar tactics.
The term "Scientology" had been used in published works at least twice before Hubbard. In The New Word (1901), poet and lawyer Allen Upward first used scientology to mean blind, unthinking acceptance of scientific doctrine (compare scientism). In 1934, philosopher Anastasius Nordenholz published Scientology: Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge, which used the term to mean the science of science. It is unknown whether Hubbard was aware of either prior usage of the word.
History
Main article: History of Dianetics and Scientology For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Scientology.As the 1950s developed, Hubbard saw the advantages of having his Scientology movement legally recognised as a religion. In an April 1953 letter to Helen O'Brien, his US business manager, he proposed that Scientology should be transformed into a religion: "We don't want a clinic. We want one in operation but not in name...It is a problem of practical business. I await your reaction on the religion angle". In reaction to a series of arrests of his followers, and the prosecution of Hubbard's Dianetics foundation for teaching medicine without a license, in December 1953 Hubbard incorporated three organizations – Church of American Science, Church of Scientology, and Church of Spiritual Engineering. In 1959, Hubbard purchased Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, Sussex, United Kingdom, which became the worldwide headquarters of the Church of Scientology and his personal residence. With the organization often under heavy criticism, it adopted strong measures of attack in dealing with its critics.
In 1966, the organization established the Guardian's Office (GO), a department devoted to undermining those hostile towards Scientology. The GO launched an extensive program of countering negative publicity, gathering intelligence, and infiltrating organizations. In "Operation Snow White", the GO infiltrated the IRS and numerous other government departments and stole tens of thousands of documents pertaining to the Church, politicians, and celebrities. In July 1977, the FBI raided Church premises in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, revealing the extent of the GO's infiltration into government departments and other groups. Eleven officials and agents of the Church were indicted; in December 1979, they were sentenced to between 4 and 5 years each and individually fined $10,000 (equivalent to $42,000 in 2023). Among those found guilty was Hubbard's then-wife, Mary Sue Hubbard. Public revelation of the GO's activities brought widespread condemnation of the Church.
In 1967, Hubbard established a new group, the Sea Organization or "Sea Org", the membership of which was drawn from the most committed members of the Scientology organization. By 1981, the 21-year-old David Miscavige, who had been one of Hubbard's closest aides in the Sea Org, rose to prominence. Hubbard died at his ranch in Creston, California, on January 24, 1986, and David Miscavige succeeded Hubbard as head of the Church. In 1993, the Internal Revenue Service dropped all litigation against the Scientology organization and recognized it as a religious institution.
Beliefs and practices
Main article: Scientology beliefs and practicesHubbard lies at the core of Scientology and his writings remain the source of its ideas and practices. Sociologist of religion David G. Bromley describes Scientology as Hubbard's "personal synthesis of philosophy, physics, and psychology". Hubbard claimed that he developed his ideas through research and experimentation, rather than through revelation from a supernatural source. He published hundreds of articles and books over the course of his life. Scientologists regard his writings on Scientology as scripture. Much basic information about the Scientology belief system is kept secret from most practitioners. The scholar and historian of Scientology Hugh Urban observes that:
A great many aspects of Scientology are shrouded in layers of secrecy, concealment, obfuscation, and/or dissimulation.
In Scientology Hubbard's work is regarded as perfect, and no elaboration or alteration is permitted. Hubbard described Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy", because, according to him, it consists of a metaphysical doctrine, a theory of psychology, and teachings in morality. Hubbard incorporated a variety of hypnotic techniques in Scientology auditing and courses. These are used as a means to create dependency and obedience in followers. Hubbard said of the beliefs that:
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war; where the world can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.
Hubbard developed thousands of neologisms during his lifetime. The nomenclature used by the movement is termed "Scientologese" by members. Scientologists are expected to learn this specialist terminology, the use of which separates followers from non-Scientologists. The Scientology organization refers to its practices as "technology", a term often shortened to "Tech". Scientologists stress the "standardness" of this "tech", by which they express belief in its infallibility. The Church's system of pedagogy is called "Study Tech" and is presented as the best method for learning. Scientology teaches that when reading, it is very important not to go past a word one does not understand. A person should instead consult a dictionary as to the meaning of the word before progressing, something Scientology calls "word clearing".
According to Scientology texts, its beliefs and practices are based on rigorous research, and its doctrines are accorded a significance equivalent to scientific laws. Blind belief is held to be of lesser significance than the practical application of Scientologist methods. Adherents are encouraged to validate the practices through their personal experience. Hubbard put it this way: "For a Scientologist, the final test of any knowledge he has gained is, 'did the data and the use of it in life actually improve conditions or didn't it?'" Many Scientologists avoid using the words "belief" or "faith" to describe how Hubbard's teachings impacts their lives, preferring to say that they "know" it to be true.
Auditing
Main article: Auditing (Scientology)The central practice of Scientology is an activity known as "auditing". It takes place with two Scientologists — one is the "auditor" who asks questions, and the subject is termed the "preclear". The stated purpose is to help the subject to remove their mental traumas (ostensible recordings in the mind which Hubbard termed "engrams"). Scholarship in clinical psychology demonstrates that the purpose of auditing is to induce a light hypnotic state and to create dependency and obedience in the subject. When deemed free of engrams they are given the status of "clear", and then continue doing further auditing until they are deemed to have reached the level Operating Thetan. Hubbard assigns vitality, good health and increased intelligence to those who are given the status of "clear", having removed the source of their "psychosomatic illnesses". The further status of Operating Thetan (OT) is posited as complete spiritual freedom in which one is able to do anything one chooses, create anything, go anywhere — an idea which has appealed to many.
The scholar Hugh Urban describes the supernatural powers promoted as being gained by an Operating Thetan as:
The liberated thetan could even freely create a personal paradise, populating it with heavenly beings and infinite pleasures at will. ... As such, the thetan who truly realized his power to create and destroy universes would in effect be "beyond God". ... The thetan has been deceived into worshipping such a God by mainstream religion and so forgotten its own godlike power to create and destroy universes.
— Hugh Urban in The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion
The prices to undertake a full course of auditing with the Church of Scientology are not often advertised publicly. As of 2011 it can easily cost $400,000 to do the entirety of Scientology's "Bridge to Total Freedom" (equivalent to $542,000 in 2023). In a 1964 letter, Hubbard stated that a 25-hour block of auditing should cost the equivalent of "three months' pay for the average middle class working individual." In 2007, the fee for a 12 and a half hour block of auditing at the Tampa Org was $4000 (equivalent to $5,880 in 2023). The Scientology organization is often criticized for the prices it charges for auditing, and examinations of the group have indicated that profit is the group's primary purpose. Hubbard stated that charging for auditing was necessary because the practice required an exchange, and should the auditor not receive something for their services it could harm both parties.
During auditing, a device called an electropsychometer (E-meter) is used. Scientology's primary road map for guiding a person through the sequential steps to attain Scientology's concepts of "clear" and OT is The Bridge to Total Freedom, a large chart enumerating every step in sequence. The steps past "clear" are kept secret from most Scientologists and include the founding myth that seeks to explain Scientology doctrine.
Soul
See also: ThetanHubbard taught that there were three parts of man: the spirit, mind, and body. The first of these is a person's inner self which he calls a "thetan". It is akin to the idea of the soul or spirit found in religious traditions. Hubbard stated that "the thetan is the person. You are YOU in a body." Hubbard referred to the physical universe as the MEST universe, meaning "Matter, Energy, Space and Time", which includes your body. Scientologists believe that thetans can exteriorize; leave their body. The thetan is considered an immortal being who has been reincarnated many times over. Someone who has died is said to have "dropped the body". Scientology refers to the existence of a Supreme Being, but practitioners are not expected to worship it. No intercessions are made to seek this being's assistance in daily life.
Space opera and the Wall of Fire
See also: Operating Thetan and Space opera in ScientologyThe mythological framework which forms the basis for what Scientologists view as the system's path to salvation is the story of Xenu. Reflecting a strong science-fiction theme within its theology, Scientology's teachings make reference to "space opera", a term denoting events in the distant past in which "spaceships, spacemen, intergalactic travel" all feature.
Hubbard wrote about a great catastrophe that took place 75 million years ago. According to this story, 75 million years ago there was a Galactic Confederacy of 76 planets ruled over by a leader called Xenu. The Confederacy was overpopulated and Xenu transported millions of aliens to earth and killed them with hydrogen bombs. The thetans of those killed were then clustered together and implants were inserted into them, designed to kill any body that these thetans would subsequently inhabit should they recall the event of their destruction. After the massacre, several of the officers in Xenu's service rebelled against him, ultimately capturing and imprisoning him. Hubbard claimed to have discovered the Xenu myth in December 1967, having taken the "plunge" deep into his "time track". Scientology teaches that attempting to recover this information from the "time track" typically results in an individual's death, caused by the presence of Xenu's implants, but that because of Hubbard's "technology" this death can be avoided.
The Scientology organization says that learning the Xenu myth can be harmful for those unprepared for it, and the documents discussing Xenu are kept secret from most members. The teachings about Xenu were later leaked by ex-members, becoming a matter of public record after being submitted as evidence in court cases. They are now widely available online. Members who have been given the teachings routinely deny these teachings exist. Hubbard however talked about Xenu on several occasions, the Xenu story bears similarities with some of the science-fiction stories Hubbard published, and substantial themes from the Xenu story are in Hubbard's book Scientology – A History of Man.
The Operating Thetan levels
The degrees above the level of Clear are called "Operating Thetan" or OT. Hubbard described there being 15 OT levels, although he had only completed eight of these during his lifetime. OT levels nine to 15 have not been reached by any Scientologist. In 1988 the Scientology organization stated that OT levels nine and ten would only be released when certain benchmarks in its expansion had been achieved. The Church of Scientology has gone to considerable length to try to maintain the secrecy of the texts, but they remain widely available on the internet. This is partly due to litigation involving Scientology, whereby the Fishman Affidavit was leaked to the public. Materials have also been passed on to other sources and made available by publishers such as the media organization WikiLeaks.
To gain the OT levels of training, a member must go to one of the Advanced Organisations or Orgs, which are based in Los Angeles, Clearwater, East Grinstead, Copenhagen, Sydney, and Johannesburg. Conservative estimates indicate that getting to OT VIII would require a minimum of payments to the Scientology organization of $350,000 to $400,000 (equivalent to $542,000 in 2023). OT levels six and seven are only available at Clearwater. The highest level, OT eight, is disclosed only at sea on the Scientology ship Freewinds, operated by the Flag Ship Service Org. Scholar of religion Aled Thomas suggested that the status of a person's level creates an internal class system within the Scientology organization.
The Scientology organization claims that the material taught in the OT levels can only be comprehended once its previous material has been mastered and is therefore kept confidential until a person reaches the requisite level. Higher-level members typically refuse to talk about the contents of these OT levels. Those progressing through the OT levels are taught additional, more advanced auditing techniques; one of the techniques taught is a method of auditing oneself, which is the necessary procedure for reaching OT level seven.
Ethics
See also: Scientology beliefs and practices § Morals and ethics, and Scientology ethics and justiceScientology has its own unique definitions for ethics and procedures for justice. According to scholar Stephen Kent, "The purpose of Scientology ethics is to eliminate opponents, then eliminate people's interests in things other than Scientology. In this 'ethical' environment, Scientology would be able to impose its courses, philosophy, and 'justice system' – its so-called technology—onto society."
Symbology
See also: List of symbols of Scientology and Scientology beliefs and practices § BeliefsHubbard created many symbolism concepts, including the eight dynamics, the ARC and KRC triangles, the "S and double triangle" symbol, the Scientology cross, and many others. Scientology celebrates seven calendar events including L. Ron Hubbard's birthday, Auditor's Day, and New Year's. There is a Sunday service which is primarily of interest for non-members and beginners. Weddings and funerals are also held.
Psychiatry, psychology, psychosis
Main article: Scientology beliefs and practices § Rejection of psychology and psychiatryScientology is vehemently opposed to psychiatry and psychology, and wants to replace them with its own methods. The clinical and academic psychiatry community rejected Hubbard's theories in the early 1950s. Hubbard and his early Dianetics organization were prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license in the early 1950s.
Hubbard taught that psychiatrists were responsible for a great many wrongs in the world, saying that psychiatry has at various times offered itself as a tool of political suppression and that psychiatry was responsible for the ideology of Hitler, for turning the Nazis into mass murderers, and the Holocaust. The Scientology organization operates the anti-psychiatry group Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), which operates Psychiatry: An Industry of Death, an anti-psychiatry museum. Though Hubbard had stated psychosis was not something Scientology dealt with, after noticing many Scientologists were suffering breakdowns after using his techniques he created the Introspection Rundown, a brutal and inhumane method to allegedly solve psychotic episodes. The rundown came under public scrutiny when in 1995 Scientologist Lisa McPherson suffered a mental breakdown and was removed from the hospital and held in isolation at a Church of Scientology for 17 days before she died.
Views on Hubbard
Scientologists view Hubbard as an extraordinary man, but do not worship him as a deity. They regard him as the preeminent Operating Thetan who remained on Earth in order to show others the way to spiritual liberation, the man who discovered the source of human misery and a technology allowing everyone to achieve their true potential. Church of Scientology management frames Hubbard's physical death as "dropping his body" to pursue higher levels of research not possible with an Earth-bound body.
Scientologists often refer to Hubbard affectionately as "Ron", and many refer to him as their "friend". The Scientology organization operates a calendar in which 1950, the year in which Hubbard's book Dianetics was published, is considered year zero, the beginning of an era. Years after that date are referred to as "AD" for "After Dianetics". They have also buried copies of his writings preserved on stainless steel disks in a secure underground vault in the hope of preserving them against major catastrophes. The Church of Scientology's view of Hubbard is presented in their hagiographical biography of him, seeking to present him as "a person of exceptional character, morals and intelligence". Critics of Hubbard and his organization claim that many of the details of his life as he presented it were false. Every Scientology Org maintains an office set aside for Hubbard in perpetuity, set out to imitate those he used in life, and will typically have a bust or large framed photograph of him on display.
The Church of Scientology
Main articles: Church of Scientology and List of Scientology organizationsThe Church of Scientology is headquartered at "Gold Base" in Riverside County, California, where the highest Sea Org officials work, and at "Flag Land Base" in Clearwater, Florida. The organization operates on a hierarchical and top-down basis, being largely bureaucratic in structure. It claims to be the only true voice of Scientology. The internal structure of Scientology organizations is strongly bureaucratic with a focus on statistics-based management. Organizational operating budgets are performance-related and subject to frequent reviews.
By 2011, the organization was claiming over 700 centres in 65 countries. Smaller centres are called "missions". The largest number of these are in the U.S., with the second largest number being in Europe. Missions are established by missionaries, who are referred to as "mission holders". Members can establish a mission wherever they wish but must fund it themselves; the missions are not financially supported by the central organization. Mission holders must purchase all of the necessary material from the central Church of Scientology; as of 2001, the Mission Starter Pack cost $35,000 (equivalent to $60,200 in 2023).
Each mission or Org is a corporate entity, established as a licensed franchise, and operating as a commercial company. Each franchise sends part of its earnings, which have been generated through beginner-level auditing, to the International Management. Bromley observed that an entrepreneurial incentive system pervades the organization, with individual members and organisations receiving payment for bringing in new people or for signing them up for more advanced services. The individual and collective performances of different members and missions are gathered, being called "stats". Performances that are an improvement on the previous week are termed "up stats"; those that show a decline are "down stats". According to leaked tax documents, the Church of Scientology International and Church of Spiritual Technology in the US had a combined $1.7 billion in assets in 2012, in addition to annual revenues estimated at $200 million a year.
Internal organization
Main articles: Office of Special Affairs and Guardian's OfficeThe Sea Org is the organization's primary management unit, containing the highest ranks in its hierarchy. Its members are often recruited from the children of existing Scientologists, and sign up to a "billion-year contract" to serve the Church. Kent described that for adult Sea Org members with minor children, their work obligations took priority, damaged parent-child relations, and has led to cases of severe child neglect and endangerment.
The Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) is the Church of Scientology's disciplinary program, where Sea Org members deemed to have seriously deviated from its teachings are placed. They will often face a hearing, the "Committee of Evidence", which determines if they will be sent to the RPF. The RPF operates out of several locations. It involves a daily regimen of five hours of auditing or studying, eight hours of work, often physical labor, such as building renovation, and at least seven hours of sleep. Critics have condemned RPF practices for violating human rights; and criticized the Scientology organization for placing children as young as twelve into the RPF, engaging them in forced labor and denying access to their parents, violating Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The RPF has contributed to characterisations of the organization as a cult.
The Office of Special Affairs or OSA (formerly the Guardian's Office) is a department of the Church of Scientology which has been characterized as a non-state intelligence agency. It has targeted critics of the organization for "dead agent" operations, which is mounting character assassination operations against perceived enemies. A 1990 article in the Los Angeles Times reported that in the 1980s the Scientology organization more commonly used private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers, to give themselves a layer of protection in case embarrassing tactics were used and became public. The International Association of Scientologists operates to advance the cause of the Scientology organization and its members across the world.
Promotional material
See also: Celebrity Centres and Scientology and celebritiesThe Scientology organization employs a range of media to promote itself and attract converts. Hubbard promoted Scientology through a vast range of books, articles, and lectures. It publishes several magazines, including Source, Advance, The Auditor, and Freedom. It has established a publishing press, New Era, and the audiovisual publisher Golden Era. It has also used the Internet for promotional purposes, and employed advertising to attract potential converts, including in high-profile locations such as television ads during the 2014 and 2020 Super Bowls.
The organization has long used celebrities as a means of promoting itself, starting with Hubbard's "Project Celebrity" in 1955 and followed by its first Scientology Celebrity Centre in 1969. The Celebrity Centre headquarters is in Hollywood; other branches are in Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, New York City, and Paris. In 1955, Hubbard created a list of 63 celebrities targeted for conversion to Scientology. Prominent celebrities who have joined the organization include John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, Nancy Cartwright, and Juliette Lewis. The Church uses celebrity involvement to make itself appear more desirable. Other new religious movements have similarly pursued celebrity involvement such as the Church of Satan, Transcendental Meditation, ISKCON, and the Kabbalah Centre.
Social outreach
Several Scientology organizations promote the use of Scientology practices as a means to solve social problems. Scientology began to focus on these issues in the early 1970s. The Church of Scientology developed outreach programs that say they aim to fight drug addiction, illiteracy, learning disabilities and criminal behavior. They have been presented to schools, businesses and communities as secular techniques based on Hubbard's writings. They have been described as part of the Scientology organization's "war" against the discipline of psychiatry. Some critics regard this outreach as merely a public relations exercise.
Launched in 1966, Narconon is its drug rehabilitation program, which employs Hubbard's theories about drugs and treats addicts through auditing, exercise, saunas, vitamin supplements, and healthy eating. It has been described as a front group for recruiting into Scientology. Criminon is the organization's criminal rehabilitation programme. Its Applied Scholastics program, established in 1972, employs Hubbard's pedagogical methods to help students. The Way to Happiness Foundation promotes a moral code written by Hubbard, to date translated into more than 40 languages. Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, and The Way to Happiness operate under the management banner of Association for Better Living and Education. The World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) applies Scientology practices to business management. The most prominent training supplier to make use of Hubbard's technology is Sterling Management Systems.
Hubbard devised the Volunteer Minister Program in 1973. They offer help and counselling to those in distress; this includes the Scientological technique of providing "assists". After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York City, Volunteer Ministers were on the site of Ground Zero within hours of the attack; they subsequently went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Accounts of the Volunteer Ministers' effectiveness have been mixed, and touch assists are not supported by scientific evidence.
Responses to opponents
Main articles: Scientology ethics and justice, Suppressive person, Disconnection (Scientology), and Fair game (Scientology)The Scientology organization regards itself as the victim of media and governmental persecution, and the scholar of religion Douglas Cowan observed that "claims to systematic persecution and harassment" are part of the internal culture. In turn, Urban noted the organization has "tended to respond very aggressively to its critics, mounting numerous lawsuits and at times using extralegal means to respond to those who threaten it." The organization has often responded to criticism by ad hominem attacks. Its approach to targeting critics has often generated more negative attention for their organization, with Lewis commenting that it "has proven to be its own worst enemy" in this regard.
It has a reputation for litigiousness stemming from its involvement in a large number of legal conflicts. Barrett characterised the organization as "one of the most litigious religions in the world". It has conducted lawsuits against governments, organizations, and individuals, both to counter criticisms made against it and to gain legal recognition as a religion. J.P. Kumar, who studied the litigation, argued that victory was not always important to the organization; what was important was depleting the resources and energies of its critics.
Suppressive persons and fair game
Those deemed hostile to the Church of Scientology, including ex-members, are labelled "suppressive persons" or SPs. Hubbard maintained that 20 percent of the population would be classed as "suppressive persons" because they were truly malevolent or dangerous: "the Adolf Hitlers and the Genghis Khans, the unrepentant murderers and the drug lords". If the organization declares that one of its members is an SP, all other members are forbidden from further contact with them, an act it calls "disconnection". Any member breaking this rule is labelled a "potential trouble source" (PTS) and unless they swiftly cease all contact they can be labelled an SP themselves.
In an October 1968 letter to members, Hubbard wrote about a policy called "fair game" which was directed at SPs and other perceived threats to the organization. Here he stated that these individuals "may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologists. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed". Following strong criticism, the organization said that it formally ended Fair Game a month later, with Hubbard stating that he had never intended "to authorize illegal or harassment type acts against anyone." Critics and some scholarly observers argue that its practices reflect that the policy remains in place. It is "widely asserted" by former members that Fair Game is still employed; Stacy Brooks, a former member of the internal Office of Special Affairs, stated in court that "practices which were formerly called 'Fair Game' continue to be employed, although the term 'Fair Game' is no longer used."
Hubbard and his followers targeted many individuals as well as government officials and agencies, including a program of illegal infiltration of the IRS and other U.S. government agencies during the 1970s. They also conducted private investigations, character assassination and legal action against the organization's critics in the media.
The Scientology ethics and justice system regulates member behavior, and Ethics officers are present in every Scientology organization. Ethics officers ensure "correct application of Scientology technology" and deal with "behavior adversely affecting a Scientology organization's performance", ranging from "errors" and "misdemeanors" to "crimes" and "suppressive acts", as those terms defined by Scientology.
Free Zone and independent Scientology
Main article: Free Zone (Scientology) See also: Scientology beliefs and practices § SquirrelingThe terms "Free Zone", "Freezone" and "Independent Scientology" are used by those who practice Scientology outside of the purview of the Church of Scientology. Free Zoners believe that Church of Scientology leadership has deviated from Hubbard's teachings, while asserting their own loyalty to Hubbard. The Church of Scientology is hostile to the Free Zone, and refers to such independent Scientologists as "squirrels", In 1983, the Advanced Ability Center was founded by David Mayo in California, but was successfully shut down by the Church of Scientology. Conversely, still operating in 2023 is Ron's Org in Europe, founded in 1984 by Bill Robertson as a loose grouping of independent centers rather than a centralized organization. Robertson coined the term "free zone" from Hubbard's space opera teachings. Since Robertson had said that he was channeling messages from the late Hubbard and had obtained OT levels above the eight offered by the Church of Scientology, many of the newer "indies" prefer to call themselves "independent scientologists" to distance themselves from Robertson.
Controversies
Main article: Scientology controversies See also: Scientology and the legal systemUrban described the Church of Scientology as "the world's most controversial new religion", while Lewis termed it "arguably the most persistently controversial" of contemporary new religious movements. According to Urban, the organization had "a documented history of extremely problematic behavior ranging from espionage against government agencies to shocking attacks on critics of the organization and abuse of its own members."
A first point of controversy was its response to its rejection by the psychotherapeutic establishment. Another was a 1991 Time magazine article about the organization, which responded with a major lawsuit that was rejected by the court as baseless early in 1992. A third is its religious tax status in the United States, as the IRS granted the organization tax-exempt status in 1993.
It has been in conflict with the governments and police forces of many countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Germany). It has been one of the most litigious religious movements in history, filing countless lawsuits against governments, organizations and individuals.
Reports and allegations have been made, by journalists, courts, and governmental bodies of several countries, that the Church of Scientology is an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses its critics and brutally exploits its members. A considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the organization, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.
The controversies involving the Church of Scientology, some of them ongoing, include:
- Criminal behavior by members of the organization, including the infiltration of the US Government.
- Organized harassment of people perceived as enemies of the Church of Scientology.
- Scientology's disconnection policy, in which some members are required to shun friends or family members who are "antagonistic" to the organization.
- The death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson while in the care of the organization. Robert Minton sponsored the multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Scientology for the death of McPherson. In May 2004, McPherson's estate and the Church of Scientology reached a confidential settlement.
- Attempts to legally force search engines to censor information critical of the Scientology organization.
- Allegations the organization's leader David Miscavige beats and demoralizes staff, and that physical violence by superiors towards staff working for them is a common occurrence in the organization. Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis denied these claims and provided witnesses to rebut them.
Stephen A. Kent, a professor of sociology, has said that "Scientologists see themselves as possessors of doctrines and skills that can save the world, if not the galaxy." As stated in Scientology doctrine: "The whole agonized future of this planet, every man, woman and child on it, and your own destiny for the next endless trillions of years depend on what you do here and now with and in Scientology." Kent has described the Scientology ethics and justice system as "a peculiar brand of morality that uniquely benefited ... In plain English, the purpose of Scientology ethics is to eliminate opponents, then eliminate people's interests in things other than Scientology."
Many former members have come forward to speak out about the organization and the negative effects its teachings have had on them, including celebrities such as Leah Remini. Remini spoke about her split from the Church of Scientology, saying that she still has friends within the organization whom she is no longer able to speak with.
Throughout the early 1950s, adherents of Hubbard were arrested for practicing medicine without a license. In January 1951, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners brought proceedings against the Dianetic Research Foundation on the charge of teaching medicine without a license. In January 1963 U.S. Marshals raided the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington. Scientology social programs such as drug and criminal rehabilitation have also drawn both support and criticism.
Hubbard's motives
Common criticisms directed at Hubbard was that he drew upon pre-existing sources and the allegation that he was motivated by financial reasons. A number of Hubbard's letters and directives to his subordinates support the notion that he used religion as a façade for Scientology to maintain tax-exempt status and avoid further prosecutions (a number of Dianetics or Scientology practitioners had already been arrested) for medical claims. The IRS cited a statement frequently attributed to Hubbard that the way to get rich was to found a religion. Many of Hubbard's science fiction colleagues, including Sam Merwin, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach and Sam Moscowitz, recall Hubbard raising the topic in conversation. In 2006, Rolling Stone's Janet Reitman also attributed the statement to Hubbard, as a remark to science fiction writer Lloyd Eshbach and recorded in Eshbach's autobiography.
Criminal behavior
See also: Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout, and Scientology and lawIn 1978, a number of Scientologists, including L. Ron Hubbard's wife Mary Sue Hubbard (who was second in command in the organization at the time), were convicted of perpetrating what was at the time the largest incident of domestic espionage in the history of the United States, called "Operation Snow White". This involved infiltrating, wiretapping, and stealing documents from the offices of Federal attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service. L. Ron Hubbard was convicted in absentia by French authorities of engaging in fraud and sentenced to four years in prison. The head of the French Church of Scientology was convicted at the same trial and given a suspended one-year prison sentence.
An FBI raid on the Church of Scientology's headquarters revealed documentation that detailed Scientology's criminal actions against various critics of the organization. In "Operation Freakout", agents of the organization attempted to destroy Paulette Cooper, author of The Scandal of Scientology, an early book that had been critical of the movement. Among these documents was a plan to frame Gabe Cazares, the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, with a staged hit-and-run accident. Nine individuals related to the case were prosecuted on charges of theft, burglary, conspiracy, and other crimes.
In 1988, Scientology president Heber Jentzsch and ten other members of the organization were arrested in Spain on various charges including illicit association, coercion, fraud, and labor law violations. In October 2009, the Church of Scientology was found guilty of organized fraud in France. The sentence was confirmed by the court of appeal in February 2012, and by the supreme Court of Cassation in October 2013. In 2012, Belgian prosecutors indicted Scientology as a criminal organization engaged in fraud and extortion. In March 2016, the Church of Scientology was acquitted of all charges, and demands to close its Belgian branch and European headquarters were dismissed.
Organized harassment
Main article: Fair game (Scientology)Scientology has historically engaged in hostile action toward its critics; executives within the organization have proclaimed that Scientology is "not a turn-the-other-cheek religion". Since the 1960s, Journalists, politicians, former Scientologists and various anti-cult groups have said that Scientology followers have engaged in organized hostility, harassment and threats, and Scientology has targeted these critics–almost without exception–for retaliation, in the form of lawsuits and public counter-accusations of personal wrongdoing. Many of Scientology's critics have also reported they were subject to threats and harassment in their private lives.
According to a 1990 Los Angeles Times article, the Scientology organization had largely switched from using members to using private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers, as this gives the organization a layer of protection in case investigators use tactics which might cause the organization embarrassment. In one case, the organization described their tactics as "LAPD sanctioned", which was energetically disputed by Police Chief Daryl Gates. The officer involved in this particular case of surveillance and harassment was suspended for six months.
Journalist John Sweeney reported that "While making our BBC Panorama film Scientology and Me I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a 'bigot' by star Scientologists, brain-washed – that is how it felt to me – in a mock up of a Nazi-style torture chamber and chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers".
Mistreatment of Members
A prominent ex-member who has spoken out about the Scientology organization's mistreatment of members and ex-members is Leah Remini. Remini is an American actress that has been involved with the Church of Scientology since childhood. She left in 2013. In 2015 she published a book entitled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology where she recounts her experiences and events leading up to her leaving the organization.
She also has produced a documentary television series on A&E entitled Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath released in 2017 which aired for three seasons. In this series, she and her co-host Mike Rinder, who is also an ex-member, tell their experiences and interview numerous ex-members with similar. Leah Remini has been outspoken about her views on the Church of Scientology and has raised much awareness about some of the major issues within the church regarding treatment of children, exploitive money practices and mistreatments she has experienced.
As of August 2023, Leah has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology. She alleges verbal, physical and sexual abuse was known and tolerated by the organization, and exploitive practices such as signing billion-year contracts with the organization. The main claims of the lawsuit are for psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation experienced by her for years while a member, and as tactics used after she publicly left.
Violation of auditing confidentiality
During the auditing process, the auditor collects and records personal information from the client. While the Church of Scientology claims to protect the confidentiality of auditing records, the organization has a history of attacking and psychologically abusing former members using information culled from the records. For example, a December 16, 1969, a Guardian's Office order (G. O. 121669) by Mary Sue Hubbard explicitly authorized the use of auditing records for purposes of "internal security". Former members report having participated in combing through information obtained in auditing sessions to see if it could be used for smear campaigns against critics.
Allegations of coerced abortions
Further information: Scientology and abortion § Sea OrgThe Sea Org originally operated on vessels at sea where it was understood that it was not permitted to raise children on board the ships because "children hinder adults from performing their vital assignments". Women who became pregnant have stated that they had been "coercively persuaded" to undergo abortions in order to remain in the Sea Org.
In 2003, The Times of India reported "Forced abortions, beatings, starvation are considered tools of discipline in this church". A former high-ranking source reports that "some 1,500 abortions" have been "carried out by women in the Sea Organization since the implementation of a rule in the late 80s that members could not remain in the organization if they decided to have children". The source noted that "And if members who have been in the Sea Organization for, say, 10 years do decide to have kids, they are dismissed with no more than $1,000" as a severance package.
Longtime member Astra Woodcraft left Scientology for good when the organization tried to pressure her to have an abortion. Former Sea Org member Karen Pressley recounted that she was often asked by fellow Scientologists for loans so that they could get an abortion and remain in the Sea Org. Scientology employee Claire Headley has said she "was forced to have (two) abortions to keep her job and was subjected to violations of personal rights and liberties for the purpose of obtaining forced labor". Laura Ann DeCrescenzo reported she was "coerced to have an abortion" as a minor.
In March 2009, Maureen Bolstad reported that women who worked at Scientology's headquarters were forced to have abortions, or faced being declared a "suppressive person" by the organization's management. In March 2010, former Scientologist Janette Lang stated that at age 20 she became pregnant by her boyfriend while in the organization, and her boyfriend's Scientology supervisors "coerced them into terminating the pregnancy". "We fought for a week, I was devastated, I felt abused, I was lost and eventually I gave in. It was my baby, my body and my choice, and all of that was taken away from me by Scientology", said Lang.
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon gave a speech to the Australian Parliament in November 2009, about statements he had received from former Scientologists. He said that he had been told members of the organization had coerced pregnant female employees to have abortions. "I am deeply concerned about this organisation and the devastating impact it can have on its followers," said Senator Xenophon, and he requested that the Australian Senate begin an investigation into Scientology. According to the letters presented by Senator Xenophon, the organization was involved in "ordering" its members to have abortions.
Former Scientologist Aaron Saxton sent a letter to Senator Xenophon stating he had participated in coercing pregnant women within the organization to have abortions. "Aaron says women who fell pregnant were taken to offices and bullied to have an abortion. If they refused, they faced demotion and hard labour. Aaron says one staff member used a coat hanger and self-aborted her child for fear of punishment," said Senator Xenophon. Carmel Underwood, another former Scientologist, said she had been put under "extreme pressure" to have an abortion, and that she was placed into a "disappearing programme", after refusing. Underwood was the executive director of Scientology's branch in Sydney.
Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis said these statements are "utterly meritless". Mike Ferriss, the head of Scientology in New Zealand, told media that "There are no forced abortions in Scientology". Scientology spokesperson Virginia Stewart likewise rejected the statements and asserted "The Church of Scientology considers the family unit and children to be of the utmost importance and does not condone nor force anyone to undertake any medical procedure whatsoever."
Allegation of human trafficking and other crimes against women
See also: Headley v. Church of Scientology InternationalA number of women have sued the Church of Scientology, alleging a variety of complaints including human trafficking, rape, forced labor, and child abuse. In 2009, two former Sea Org employees, Marc and Claire Headley, sued the Church of Scientology alleging human trafficking.
Scientology, litigation, and the Internet
See also: Scientology and the Internet, Project Chanology, and Scientology and lawIn the 1990s, Miscavige's organization took action against increased criticism of Scientology on the Internet and online distribution of Scientology-related documents. Starting in 1991, Scientology filed fifty lawsuits against Scientology-critic Cult Awareness Network (CAN). Many of the suits were dismissed, but one resulted in $2 million in losses, bankrupting the network. At bankruptcy, CAN's name and logo were obtained by a Scientologist. A New Cult Awareness Network was set up with Scientology backing, which says it operates as an information and networking center for non-traditional religions, referring callers to academics and other experts.
In a 1993 U.S. lawsuit brought by the Church of Scientology against former member Steven Fishman, Fishman made a court declaration which included several dozen pages of formerly secret esoterica detailing aspects of Scientologist cosmogony. As a result of the litigation, this material, normally strictly safeguarded and used only in Scientology's more advanced "OT levels", found its way onto the Internet. This resulted in a battle between the Scientology organization and its online critics over the right to disclose this material, or safeguard its confidentiality. The organization was forced to issue a press release acknowledging the existence of this cosmogony, rather than allow its critics "to distort and misuse this information for their own purposes".
In January 1995, Church of Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin attempted to shut down the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology by sending a control message instructing Usenet servers to delete the group. In practice, this rmgroup message had little effect, since most Usenet servers are configured to disregard such messages when sent to groups that receive substantial traffic, and newgroup messages were quickly issued to recreate the group on those servers that did not do so. However, the issuance of the message led to a great deal of public criticism by free-speech advocates. Among the criticisms raised, one suggestion is that Scientology's true motive is to suppress the free speech of its critics.
The Church of Scientology also began filing lawsuits against those who posted copyrighted texts on the newsgroup and the World Wide Web, lobbied for tighter restrictions on copyrights in general, and supported the controversial Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act as well as the even more controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Beginning in the middle of 1996 and ensuing for several years, the newsgroup was attacked by anonymous parties using a tactic dubbed sporgery by some, in the form of hundreds of thousands of forged spam messages posted on the group. Some investigators said that some spam had been traced to members of the Church of Scientology. Former Scientologist Tory Christman later asserted that the Office of Special Affairs had undertaken a concerted effort to destroy alt.religion.scientology through these means; the effort failed.
On January 14, 2008, a video produced by the Scientology organization featuring an interview with Tom Cruise was leaked to the Internet and uploaded to YouTube. The Church of Scientology issued a copyright violation claim against YouTube requesting the removal of the video. Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of Internet censorship, participants of Anonymous coordinated Project Chanology, consisting of a series of denial-of-service attacks against Scientology websites, prank calls, and black faxes to Scientology centers.
On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its intentions via a video posted to YouTube entitled "Message to Scientology", and a press release declaring a "war" against the Church of Scientology and the Religious Technology Center. In the press release, the group stated that the attacks against the organization would continue in order to protect the freedom of speech, and end what they saw as the financial exploitation of members of the organization.
On January 28, 2008, an Anonymous video appeared on YouTube calling for protests outside Church of Scientology buildings on February 10, 2008. The date was chosen because it was the birthday of Lisa McPherson. According to a letter Anonymous e-mailed to the press, about 7,000 people protested in more than 90 cities worldwide. Many protesters wore masks based on the character V from V for Vendetta (who was influenced by Guy Fawkes) or otherwise disguised their identities, in part to protect themselves from reprisals from the Church of Scientology. Many further protests have followed since then in cities around the world.
The Arbitration Committee of the Misplaced Pages internet encyclopedia decided in May 2009 to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists. A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well. The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".
Disputes over legal status
See also: Tax status of Scientology in the United States, Scientology status by country, and Scientology as a businessThe legal status of Scientology or Scientology-related organizations differs between jurisdictions. Scientology was legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in Australia, Portugal, and Spain. Scientology was granted tax-exempt status in the United States in 1993. The organization is considered a cult in Chile and an "anticonstitutional sect" in Germany, and is considered a cult (French secte) by some French public authorities.
The Church of Scientology argues that Scientology is a genuine religious movement that has been misrepresented, maligned, and persecuted. The organization has pursued an extensive public relations campaign for the recognition of Scientology as a tax-exempt religion in the various countries in which it exists.
The Church of Scientology has often generated opposition due to its strong-arm tactics directed against critics and members wishing to leave the organization. A minority of governments regard it as a religious organization entitled to tax-exempt status, while other governments variously classify it as a business, cult, pseudoreligion, or criminal organization.
In 1957, the Church of Scientology of California was granted tax-exempt status by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and so, for a time, were other local branches of the organization. In 1958 however, the IRS started a review of the appropriateness of this status. In 1959, Hubbard moved to England, remaining there until the mid-1960s. In 1967, the IRS removed Scientology's tax-exempt status, asserting that its activities were commercial and operated for the benefit of Hubbard, rather than for charitable or religious purposes.
In the mid-sixties, the Church of Scientology was banned in several Australian states, starting with Victoria in 1965. The ban was based on the Anderson Report, which found that the auditing process involved "command" hypnosis, in which the hypnotist assumes "positive authoritative control" over the patient. On this point the report stated:
It is the firm conclusion of this Board that most scientology and dianetic techniques are those of authoritative hypnosis and as such are dangerous ... the scientific evidence which the Board heard from several expert witnesses of the highest repute ... leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is only in name that there is any difference between authoritative hypnosis and most of the techniques of scientology. Many scientology techniques are in fact hypnotic techniques, and Hubbard has not changed their nature by changing their names.
The Australian branch of the Scientology organization was forced to operate under the name of the "Church of the New Faith" as a result, the name and practice of Scientology having become illegal in the relevant states. Several years of court proceedings aimed at overturning the ban followed. In 1973, state laws banning Scientology were overturned in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. In 1983 the High Court of Australia ruled in a unanimous decision that the Church of Scientology was "undoubtedly a religion and deserving of tax exemption".
Scientology in religious studies
Hugh B. Urban writes that "Scientology's efforts to get itself defined as a religion make it an ideal case study for thinking about how we understand and define religion." Frank K. Flinn, adjunct professor of religious studies at Washington University in St. Louis wrote, "it is abundantly clear that Scientology has both the typical forms of ceremonial and celebratory worship and its own unique form of spiritual life."
Flinn further states that religion requires "beliefs in something transcendental or ultimate, practices (rites and codes of behavior) that re-inforce those beliefs and, a community that is sustained by both the beliefs and practices", all of which are present within Scientology. Similarly, World Religions in America states that "Scientology contains the same elements of most other religions, including myths, scriptures, doctrines, worship, sacred practices and rituals, moral and ethical expectations, a community of believers, clergy, and ecclesiastic organizations." According to Mikhael Rothstein, Scientology's rituals can be classified into 1) those with the purpose of changing the person, such as auditing; 2) collective, which are calendar events where Scientology, its community and L. Ron Hubbard are celebrated; 3) rites of passage 4) weekly services that are similar to Christian services.
While acknowledging that a number of his colleagues accept Scientology as a religion, sociologist Stephen A. Kent writes: "Rather than struggling over whether or not to label Scientology as a religion, I find it far more helpful to view it as a multifaceted transnational corporation, only one element of which is religious" . Donna Batten in the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law writes, "A belief does not need to be stated in traditional terms to fall within First Amendment protection. For example, Scientology – a system of beliefs that a human being is essentially a free and immortal spirit who merely inhabits a body – does not propound the existence of a supreme being, but it qualifies as a religion under the broad definition propounded by the Supreme Court."
A great number of research archives on Scientology have emerged in recent years for the academic study of Scientology. These include collections in San Diego State University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Los Angeles, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Ohio State University and Claremont College Library. There is also a big collection of alternative beliefs and religions at the University of Alberta Library in Canada, where scholar Stephen A. Kent "makes material available on a restricted bases to undergraduate and graduate students."
The material contained in the OT levels has been characterized as bad science fiction by critics, while others claim it bears structural similarities to gnostic thought and ancient Hindu beliefs of creation and cosmic struggle. Donald A. Westbrook suggests that there are three areas of research scholars should consider researching and writing about: the biographical life and legacy of L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology's social betterment programs, and derivative scientology.
Influences
The general orientation of Hubbard's philosophy owes much to Will Durant, author of the popular 1926 classic The Story of Philosophy; Dianetics is dedicated to Durant. Hubbard's view of a mechanically functioning mind in particular finds close parallels in Durant's work on Spinoza. According to Hubbard himself, Scientology is "the Western anglicized continuance of many early forms of wisdom". Ankerberg and Weldon mention the sources of Scientology to include "the Vedas, Buddhism, Judaism, Gnosticism, Taoism, early Greek civilization and the teachings of Jesus, Nietzsche and Freud".
Hubbard asserted that Freudian thought was a "major precursor" to Scientology. W. Vaughn Mccall, Professor and Chairman of the Georgia Regents University writes, "Both Freudian theory and Hubbard assume that there are unconscious mental processes that may be shaped by early life experiences, and that these influence later behavior and thought." Both schools of thought propose a "tripartite structure of the mind". Sigmund Freud's psychology, popularized in the 1930s and 1940s, was a key contributor to the Dianetics therapy model, and was acknowledged unreservedly as such by Hubbard in his early works. Hubbard never forgot, when he was 12 years old, meeting Cmdr. Joseph Cheesman Thompson, a U.S. Navy officer who had studied with Freud and when writing to the American Psychological Association in 1949, he stated that he was conducting research based on the "early work of Freud".
In Dianetics, Hubbard cites Hegel as a negative influence – an object lesson in "confusing" writing. According to Mary A. Mann, Scientology is considered nondenominational, accepting all people regardless of their religions background, ethnicity, or educational attainment. Another influence was Alfred Korzybski's General Semantics. Hubbard was friends with fellow science fiction writers A. E. van Vogt and Robert Heinlein, who both wrote science-fiction inspired by Korzybski's writings, such as Vogt's The World of Null-A. Hubbard's view of the reactive mind has acknowledged parallels with Korzybski's thought; in fact, Korzybski's "anthropometer" may have been what inspired Hubbard's invention of the E-meter.
Beyond that, Hubbard himself named a great many other influences in his own writing – in Scientology 8-8008, for example, these include philosophers from Anaxagoras and Aristotle to Herbert Spencer and Voltaire, physicists and mathematicians like Euclid and Isaac Newton, as well as founders of religions such as Buddha, Confucius, Jesus and Mohammed—but there is little evidence in Hubbard's writings that he studied these figures to any great depth.
As noted, elements of the Eastern religions are evident in Scientology, in particular the concept of karma found in Hinduism and Jainism. In addition to the links to Hindu texts, Scientology draws from Taoism and Buddhism. According to the Encyclopedia of Community, Scientology "shows affinities with Buddhism and a remarkable similarity to first-century Gnosticism".
Demographics
As of 2016, scholarly estimates suggest that there are a maximum of 40,000 Scientologists; this was the estimate given in 2011 by high-level Church of Scientology defector Jefferson Hawkins. They are found mostly in the U.S., Europe, South Africa and Australia.
By the start of the 21st century, the organization was claiming it had 8 million members. Several commentators observe that this number is cumulative rather than collective: that is, it represents the total number of people who had any interaction with the Scientology organization since its founding, some of whom only had one or two auditing sessions. The organization also maintained that it was the world's fastest growing religion, a title also claimed by several religious groups, including Mormons, modern Pagans, and Baháʼí, but which is demonstrably incorrect. Due to its internationally dispersed nature, it is difficult to determine the number of Free Zone Scientologists. In 2021, Thomas suggested that the Free Zone was growing, with Lewis commenting that Free Zoners may one day outnumber members of the Church of Scientology.
The American Religious Identification Survey of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York found 45,000 Scientologists in the United States in 1990, and then 55,000 in 2001, although in 2008 it estimated that that number had dropped to 25,000. Lewis commented that the "pattern of solid growth" he observed in the 2000s seemed "suddenly to have ground to a halt" by the early 2010s. Within the U.S., higher rates of Scientology have been observed in the western states, especially those bordering the Pacific Ocean, than further east. The Canadian census revealed 1,215 Scientologists in 1991 and 1,525 in 2001, down to 1,400 in 2021. The Australian census reported 1,488 Scientologists in 1996 and 2,032 in 2001, before dropping to under 1,700 in 2016. The New Zealand census found 207 Scientologists in 1991 and 282 in 2001. Andersen and Wellendorf estimated that there were between 2000 and 4000 Scientologists in Denmark in 2009, with contemporary estimates suggesting between 500 and 1000 active Scientologists in Sweden. Germany's government counted 3600 German members in 2021, while observers have suggested between 2000 and 4000 in France. The 2021 census in England and Wales recorded 1,800 Scientologists.
Internationally, the Scientology organization's members are largely middle-class. In Australia, Scientologists have been observed as being wealthier and more likely to work in managerial and professional roles than the average citizen. Scientology is oriented towards individualistic and liberal economic values; the scholar of religion Susan J. Palmer observed that Scientologists display "a capitalist ideology that promotes individualistic values". A survey of Danish Scientologists revealed that nearly all voted for liberal or conservative parties on the right of Denmark's political spectrum and took a negative view of socialism. Placing great emphasis on the freedom of the individual, those surveyed believed that the state and its regulations held people down, and felt that the Danish welfare system was excessive. Interviewing Church members in the United States, Westbrook found that most regarded themselves as apolitical, Republicans, or libertarians; fewer than 10 percent supported the Democratic Party.
Recruitment
Most people who join the organization are introduced to it via friends and family. It also offers free "personality tests" or "stress tests", typically involving an E-Meter, to attract potential recruits. It hopes that if non-Scientologists purchase one service from the Church and feel a benefit from it – a "win" in Church terminology – they are more likely to purchase additional services from the Church. Other recruitment methods include lectures and classes introducing non-Scientologists to the subject.
The Church of Scientology's own statistics, published in 1998, reveal that 52.6% of those who joined did so through their family and friendship networks with existing members. 18% were drawn in through personality tests, 4.8% through publicity, and 3.1% through lectures. Westbrook's interviews with Church members determined that most people who joined the Church were initially attracted by "the practical benefits advertised". Westbrook found that various members deepened their involvement after having what they considered to be a spiritual experience, such as exteriorization or a past life memory, in their first few weeks of involvement.
Reception and influence
Scientology has influenced various therapy and spiritual groups formed since the 1960s. Much past-life therapy was influenced by Dianetics, while Werner Erhard's Erhard Seminars Training therapy system also drew on Scientology. Paul Twitchell, who founded Eckankar, had also been a staff member at the Church of Scientology and plagiarised some of Hubbard's writings. In the 1960s, the Process Church of the Final Judgment was established by former Scientologists. In 1986 Harry Palmer – who had previously run a Scientology franchise mission in Elmira, New York, for around a decade – established his own group, the Avatar Course.
Barrett noted that "vast amounts" have been written about Scientology, both in support and opposition to it. Much of this literature has been heavily polarised. Scientology has attracted negative publicity since its founding, with criticism of the Scientology organization coming from government agencies, the media, and anti-cult groups. Much material critical of the organization was written by ex-members such as Cyril Vosper, Bent Corydon, and Jon Atack. Many of the Church's critics have utilizsed the Internet, for instance to disseminate leaked OT documents. The Church have sought to sue various websites, including the Usenet group alt.religion.scientologist, for disseminating Hubbard's writings. Urban noted that Scientologists have long maintained that theirs is "a legitimate religious movement that has been misrepresented, maligned, and persecuted by media witch-hunters and McCarthy-style government attacks."
Several human rights organisations have expressed concern about the stance that the French and German government have taken towards Scientologists. Relations between the Scientology organization and German government are largely hostile. The German government banned members from working in the public sector, pointing out that the organization is a threat to democracy. In France, conspiracy theories have spread alleging that the Church of Scientology controls the US government or that it is a front for American imperialism, perhaps run by the Central Intelligence Agency. French Scientologists have reported being fired or refused jobs because of their beliefs, and bombs have been thrown at French Scientology centres; in 2002 one Scientologist sustained permanent injuries as a result. A 2022 YouGov poll on Americans' attitudes toward religious groups ranked Scientology as the country's least-favored group, with around 50% of respondents indicating a negative view of the practise, alongside Satanism.
Media, popular culture, and academia
Main article: Scientology in popular cultureScientology has received an "extraordinary amount" of media interest. In his writings, Hubbard often described journalists in negative terms, for instance calling them "merchants of chaos". He discouraged Scientologists from interacting with journalists, a tendency that, Westbrook argued, has contributed to negative press portrayals of the movement. Many journalists examining the Church have been concerned about potential human rights violations.
Academic research into Scientology was for several decades comparatively limited compared to the media and public interest in it. This has been attributed to the Church's secrecy, its reputation for litigiousness, and a lack of academic access to documentary material about the organization. Early studies included Roy Wallis' The Road to Total Freedom (1976) and Harriet Whitehead's Renunciation and Reformulation (1987). Research intensified in the early 21st century, and in 2014, the first academic conference on the topic was held, in Antwerp, Belgium. Several academics who have studied the movement have described the Church paying close attention to their work by telephoning them and sending representatives to attend their talks on the subject. Some observers of Scientology have also been critical of scholars studying it, noting that they frequently act as apologists for it.
Documentaries about Scientology have typically focused on allegations about the Scientology organization's intimidating behavior, greed and brainwashing. Popular examples include Louis Theroux's 2015 documentary My Scientology Movie, and Leah Remini's documentary series Scientology and the Aftermath and her book Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, drawing on her experience as a Church member. Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film The Master features a religious organization called "The Cause" that has similarities to Scientology. Comedy series have also critiqued Scientology. The most notable was the 2005 South Park episode "Trapped in the Closet", which highlighted the Xenu story and said that the organization was a "scam on a global scale". There have also been theatre shows about Scientology, such as Cathy Schekelberg's 2017 one-person show Squeeze My Cans about her former life in the organization.
See also
References
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Narconon's international website claims: "The ministry of health in England has also directly funded Narconon residential rehabilitation." But the Department of Health denies any knowledge of this. ... Professor Stephen Kent, a Canadian academic who is an authority on Scientology, said: "The connection between Narconon and Scientology is solid. Of course, Scientology tries to get non-Scientologists involved in the programme, but the engine behind the programme is Scientology." ... The British government expressed concern about Narconon as long as eight years ago. A 1998 memo from the Home Office's drug strategy unit warned that the charity had its "roots in the Church of Scientology and (is) not in the mainstream of drug rehabilitation". Tower Hamlets council in east London advises its schools against using Narconon. DrugScope, one of the UK's main drug charities, said: "We feel that the quality of Narconon's information is not objective and non-judgmental. It does not have any credibility." Stephen Shaw, the prisons ombudsman, advised that inmates in British jails should not receive drug education from Narconon because it is so "closely associated with the Church of Scientology".
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The enterprising Scientology sect increases its profits thanks to the misery of addicts. The cover organization, Narconon, offers drug rehabilitation therapy that, in the opinion of experts and doctors in the field, is not only useless but also dangerous. ... Narconon closely follows the motto of the Scientology sect's founder, Lafayette Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986 at the age of 74. The discoverer of this pseudo-scientific hocus pocus, gave this advice: Make money, make more money, make other people make money. The disciples at Narconon follow this order. It is officially an independent subsidiary of Scientology. The Scientologists have developed countless supposedly humanitarian initiatives around their church. One example is the commission for the violations of psychiatry against human rights. Another is the organization for the furthering of religious tolerance and interhuman relations. In fact all these activities, like the drug rehabilitation program, are only to further the fame and increase the paying followers of the sect.
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Melton, who has been criticized by some for being too easy on Scientology, and has been criticized by the church for being too harsh, says that the church's estimates of its membership numbers – 4 million in the United States, 8 to 9 million worldwide – are exaggerated. "You're talking about anyone who ever bought a Scientology book or took a basic course. Ninety-nine percent of them don't ever darken the door of the church again." If the church indeed had four million members in the United States, he says, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up on a national survey" such as the Harris poll.
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Sociologist Barry Kosmin of Trinity College, one of study's principal researchers, said the sample size of Scientologists used was too small to give a reliable count of members. Still, he said, the data "strongly suggests that there has been no recent vast increase and that the number of Scientologists (in the U.S.) is in the tens of thousands". Adams, the Church of Scientology International spokesman, estimates there are millions of Scientologists worldwide, though he couldn't be more specific on the number, and about a million in the U.S.
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External links
- Church of Scientology homepage
- Scientology – Is This a Religion? by Stephen A. Kent
- An Annotated Bibliographical Survey of Primary and Secondary Literature on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology
- Lord, Phil (2019). "Scientology's Legal System". Marburg Journal of Religion. 21 (1). Marburg Journal of Religion. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3232113. SSRN 3232113.
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