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| CULT! | |||
| {{ScientologySeries}}'''Scientology''' is ] created by ] ] author ] in 1952 as an outgrowth of his earlier ] system, ].<ref name="history">{{cite web |url = http://www.scientology.org/wis/wiseng/29/wis29_1.htm |title = History of Scientology's expansion |accessdate = 2007-07-18 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> Hubbard later characterized Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy" and the basis for a new religion.<ref name="history"/> The body of beliefs and related techniques of Scientology not only encompasses ] but it also covers topics such as ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| The ] was founded in ]<ref>'Church of American Science' (); 'Church of Scientology' (); 'Church of Spiritual Engineering,' (); ], ]</ref> and is by far the largest organization promoting the practice of Scientology. Today, the Church itself operates under the auspices of the ], the organization that holds the ]s and ]s of Dianetics and Scientology and monitors their use by the Church and its affiliates such as ] or ].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.forf.org/news/2004/scientology.html |title = Scientology (The Church of Scientology) |accessdate = 2007-07-18 |publisher = ]}}</ref> | |||
| Scientology and the organizations that promote it have remained highly ] since their inception.<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><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/faq/pg043.html |title = Controversial Issues: Why do some people oppose Scientology? |accessdate = 2007-07-19 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> <ref name="TimeVenus">{{cite news |title = Remember Venus? |url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889564,00.html |publisher = ] |date = ] |accessdate = 2007-07-20}}</ref><ref name="The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power">{{cite news |first = Richard |last = Behar |author = Richard Behar|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html |title = The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power |work = ] |page = C1 |date = ]| accessdate=2007-07-16}}.</ref> | |||
| ==Origin== | |||
| {{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> | |||
| Hubbard recorded his doctrine in 500,000 pages of writings, 6,500 reels of tape and 42 films that are carefully protected and guarded for posterity.<ref></ref> | |||
| In formulating Scientology, 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>{{cite book | last = Pendle | first = George | authorlink = George Pendle | title = Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons | year = 2005 | publisher = ] | isbn = 978-0-15-100997-8 | pages = pg.253 | chapter = }}</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, '''Lecture #40 titled "Games/Goals"''', 12 December 1952: About "Limitations on self and others": ''"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."''</ref><ref>'''Lecture #45 titled "Development of Scientology: Characteristics of a Living Science"''', 13 December 1952: About "Life Science":''"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.''</ref> and as "my very good friend."<ref>L. Ron Hubbard, "Conditions of Space/Time/Energy" Philadelphia Doctorate Course cassette tape #18 5212C05</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 ]." | |||
| == Definition == | |||
| {{main|Scientology Definition}} | |||
| Scientology comes from the Latin word "scio" that means "knowing" and the Greek word "logos" meaning "study of." So Scientology means "The study of knowing" or "knowing how to know".<ref name="Scientology"></ref> The word scientology precedes its use by Hubbard and has been used in other places under different definitions. The definition given here is the one as used in Scientology. | |||
| ==Texts and Lectures== | |||
| {{main|Scientology bibliography}} | |||
| Scientology is a body of beliefs and related techniques composed of 15 basic books<ref></ref>, 15,000 pages of technical writing and over 3,000 lectures<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Beliefs== | |||
| ], circa 1970]] | |||
| ] ]] | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|Scientology beliefs and practices}} | |||
| ] describes itself as the "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> | |||
| ] philosophy encompasses all aspects of life from the point of view of the spirit; including ], ], ], ], ] and ]. <ref></ref> | |||
| According to the Church, the ultimate goal is to get the individual being (the "I", called ]) 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. | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| Scientology practices (called "Technology" or "Tech" in ]) 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. | |||
| 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 "]", people can free themselves of specific traumatic incidents, prior ethical transgressions and bad decisions, which are said to collectively restrict the person from reaching 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> | |||
| ===Principles=== | |||
| {{main|Scientology beliefs and practices}} | |||
| ====The Parts of Man==== | |||
| Scientologists believe that man is composed of three distinguishable parts: Mind, Body and Spirit.<ref></ref> | |||
| =====The Spirit===== | |||
| The spirit, is defined in the Scientology Axiom #1 as a true static. A true static does not have mass, motion, wavelength, location in space or in time. But it can perceive and postulate. <ref></ref> The spirit is the true form of man and the spirit can exist exterior to and/or independent from a body.<ref></ref> | |||
| The spirit in Scientology is represented with the Greek letter 'Theta' ('''Ɵ''') that means 'thought'.<ref></ref> An individual spiritial being in Scientology is called a Thetan. | |||
| =====The Mind===== | |||
| The mind in Scientology is described as a bank of mental image pictures.<ref></ref> These pictures give the spirit experience and knowledge, and stores the thetan’s postulates. | |||
| In Scientology, the mind is subdivided in two distinguishable sections: <ref></ref> | |||
| ====== The Analytical Mind ====== | |||
| According to Scientology, the analytical mind is that part of the mind which is "totally accessible to the spirit. It is the portion of the mind one is aware of using."<ref></ref> This can be referred to as the conscious mind. | |||
| ====== The Reactive mind ====== | |||
| {{main|Reactive mind}} | |||
| Scientologists believe that the Reactive mind is "that part of the mind which is not accessible to the spirit and it unknowingly affects the spirit; it is mostly composed of moments of pain and unconscious. It is said to operate on an irrational, stimulus-response basis."<ref></ref> This could be likened to the unconscious or subconscious mind. | |||
| ===== The Body ===== | |||
| The physical biological body of man; Scientology describes the body as a carbon-oxygen machine, the Thetan being the engineer of this machine. Illnesses and injuries to the body are said to be relieved through the use of "assists." | |||
| ====Dianetics==== | |||
| ] is a substudy of Scientology that deals with 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> | |||
| ====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. The ARC triangle is also the lower triangle represented in the Scientology symbol.<ref name="symbol"></ref> | |||
| ====KRC triangle==== | |||
| {{main|KRC (Scientology)}} | |||
| Analogous to the ARC Triangle is a second triangle called the KRC Triangle. KRC stands for Knowledge, Responsibility and Control. Scientologists believe that an area can be made to go more and more right by increasing Knowledge, Responsibility and Control within that area. Many auditing processes and auditor training routines are aimed at increasing an individual's willingness and ability to non-compulsively gain Knowledge of, take Responsibility for and effectively exert Control over elements of his or her environment. This triangle is the upper triangle found in the Scientology symbol.<ref name="symbol"/> | |||
| ====Tone scale==== | |||
| {{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. | |||
| ====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.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} | |||
| 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 secret levels of Scientology=== | |||
| {{seealso|Operating Thetan|Space opera in Scientology doctrine}} | |||
| Scientologists who have achieved the State of Clear may continue onto the Upper or OT (]) Levels. These levels are available by Church invitation only after a review of the candidate's character, ethics and contribution to the Aims of Scientology.<ref name="inside">{{cite news | first = Janet | last = Reitman | title = Inside Scientology: Unlocking the complex code of America's most mysterious religion | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology/4 | work = ] | page = 4 | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-07-22}}</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.<ref name="inside"/> Presently, there are eight such levels, OT I to VIII.<ref name="gradechart">{{cite web |url = http://www.whatisscientology.org/html/part02/chp06/pg0181_1.html |title = Scientology Large Classification Gradation and Awareness Chart |accessdate = 2007-07-22 |publisher = Church of Scientology |format = image}}</ref> Church management has promised to release a ninth OT level once certain expansion goals are met.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.xenu.net/archive/ot/|title= OT Levels|accessdate=2007-05-28 |format= HTML|work= Xenu.net|publisher= Operation Clambake}}</ref> 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></ref> | |||
| Despite their confidentiality within the Church, excerpts and descriptions of these materials were published online by a former member in 1995 and then circulated in mainstream media.<ref name="inside"/> This occurred after the confidential teachings were submitted as evidence in court cases involving Scientology thus becoming a matter of public record.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} 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.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} He also explains how to reverse the effects of such traumas. {{Fact|date=June 2007}} | |||
| =====Xenu and Body Thetans===== | |||
| ], as depicted by a cartoon in 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 ]. | |||
| 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.<ref name="inside"/> | |||
| 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. Scientologists believe 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 is .</ref> | |||
| ==Practices== | |||
| ===Auditing=== | |||
| ] 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 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. Rule #19 of the Auditors' Code demands that an auditor makes sure that the practitioner fully understands the question.<ref name="auditorscode">{{cite web | title = The Auditors' 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> Per the same 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. The E-meter is used to help locate an area of concern. Auditing is not to be mixed with other practices.<ref></ref> | |||
| Scientologists have said that they received benefits from auditing including improved ], improved ability to communicate, and enhanced memory. They have also said that they are generally happier after auditing.<ref></ref> | |||
| 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> | |||
| 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" /> | |||
| ==== Scientology Zero to Five ==== | |||
| The uses of Scientology can be divided into six distinct levels from "Scientology Zero" and "Scientology One" up to "Scientology Five". (These are not to be confused with the levels of gradation shown on the Church of Scientology's ] chart.) They are: | |||
| * '''Scientology Zero''' deals with your immediate surroundings, the world and society, for the general public. Addresses dangerous enviroments and applying ] to them. | |||
| * '''Scientology One''' deals with "essential data about living and life, applicable to anyone". This is the point at which many people are at among those who could be considered a Scientologist in the broadest sense of the word - those who simply have read some Hubbard books, and have used and applied things learned in them. | |||
| * '''Scientology Two''' is obtaining and applying Scientology training and course materials in an Org. | |||
| * '''Scientology Three''' covers attaining ] and preparation for ] (OT) levels. | |||
| * '''Scientology Four''' deals with OT levels and Saint Hill Special Briefing Course (SHSBC) materials. | |||
| * '''Scientology Five''' is the use of Scientology tech applied to the highest global sociopolitical echelons. <ref>''Validity'' magazine (Church of Scientology), issue 362. </ref> <ref>Hubbard, L. Ron, ''Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary'', 1st edition.</ref> | |||
| ===Silent birth and infant care=== | |||
| {{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."<ref>L. Ron Hubbard in ''Dianetics'', quoted in . Accessed 2007-06-15.</ref> In the 1960s Hubbard gave certain dietary recommendations.<ref>]: </ref> | |||
| 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 ]. Reports about adding honey to the formula have turned out to be inaccurate and are not part of the original recipe by Hubbard.<ref>HCO Bulletin by L. Ron Hubbard, "Barley Formula For Babies," 28 April 1991R Issue I</ref> Hubbard claims that he "picked it up in Roman days";<ref name="New Mother">Hubbard, L. Ron ''Processing a New Mother'', HCO Bulletin 20 December 1958</ref> although the refining process that produces corn syrup was not invented until the 19th century.<ref>http://www.corn.org/web/history.htm</ref> Hubbard 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 advise that only pure ingredients should be used. Health practitioners also advise that this formula is an inappropriate replacement | |||
| due to the absence of important nutrients like Vitamin C and causes scurvy without addition of further vital nutrients. | |||
| <ref></ref> | |||
| === Church ceremonies === | |||
| 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> | |||
| ==== Funeral service ==== | |||
| 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>}} | |||
| ==Membership== | |||
| The Church of Scientology claimed to have 10 million members as of 2006,<ref></ref> though national figures it has released indicate a far smaller total. Though the Church has an official membership system, the ], IAS membership is not what the Church means by 'member.' Estimates of Scientology adherents worldwide range from less than 100,000<ref></ref> to approximately 500,000.<ref name="adherents"></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> A possible problem with such surveys may be that many Scientologists have cultural and social ties to other religious groups and when asked "what is your religion" answer with their traditional and more socially acceptable affiliation.<ref name="adherents"/> Religious scholar ] has said that the church's estimates of its membership numbers are exaggerated.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html |title = Scientology: Church now claims more than 8 million members |accessdate = 2007-08-01 |last = Jarvik |first = Elaine |date = ] |work = ] |quote= If the church indeed had 4 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.}}</ref> | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ===Organizations=== | |||
| {{Main|Church of Scientology}} | |||
| Scientology is composed of a complex network of corporations, churches and organizations all geared towards promoting the use and dissemination of Scientology and related techniques. | |||
| ====Ownership==== | |||
| The ] is a non-profit organization that owns the copyrights of Scientology. Representing the ] is ] (RTC). RTC is the holder of the trademarks of Dianetics and Scientology.<ref></ref> All Scientology organizations must license the right to use Scientology and all related techniques from this organization. Its purpose is to maintain Scientology pure per the writings of ].<ref></ref> RTC is headed by ] a man believed to be the most powerful person in Scientology.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====The Mother Church==== | |||
| The ] is the mother church of Scientology and provides management to all Scientology organizations world wide.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====The Churches of Scientology==== | |||
| {{main|Church of Scientology}} | |||
| The first Church of Scientology was ] in ] as a ] in 1953. A Scientology Mission is considered a church when it has reached the size required to administer all courses and auditing required for delivering the state of clear.<ref></ref> Overall there are 142 Churches in 28 countries established world wide.<ref>http://www.churchofscientology.com/ List of Scientology organizations world wide]</ref> | |||
| =====Scientology Missions===== | |||
| Scientology Missions are small churches that deliver basic Dianetics and Scientology services.<ref></ref> | |||
| The Scientology Missions directory reports over 300 missions in 50 countries world wide.<ref></ref> | |||
| ===== Advanced Organizations ===== | |||
| Scientology's Advanced Organizations are churches specialized in the delivering of Scientology's higher levels.<ref></REF> Those organizations are located in | |||
| Los Angeles, | |||
| Clearwater Florida,<ref></ref> | |||
| United Kingdom, | |||
| Sydney Australia, Copenhagen Denmark, and the cruise ship Freewinds.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====Other Scientology Related Organizations==== | |||
| =====World Institute of Scientology Enterprises===== | |||
| ] (WISE) is an organization which licenses Hubbard's management techniques for use in businesses. | |||
| =====Association for Better Living and Education===== | |||
| The ] (ABLE) is a ], non-profit organization with the stated purpose of reversing social decay by promoting the application of L. Ron Hubbard's social betterment programs; including drug rehabilitation, criminal rehabilitation, education and morals.<ref></ref> | |||
| *] is sub division of ABLE that promotes and delivers L. Ron Hubbard's drug rehabilitation programs and manages a number of drug treatment centers world wide. It was founded by William Benitez in 1966.<ref></ref> Benitez was an inmate of Arizona State Prison who found a book by Hubbard in the prison library and used it to get himself and others inmates off drugs.<ref></ref> | |||
| *] is sub division of ABLE that promotes and delivers L Ron Hubbard's criminal rehabilitation program and manages drug rehabilitation programs for inmates. | |||
| *] foundation is sub division of ABLE that promotes a ] moral code written by L. Ron Hubbard. | |||
| *] is sub division of ABLE that promotes the use of Hubbard's educational methods. | |||
| ===Activities=== | |||
| Scientology and Scientologist take part in a number of social reform and charitable activities: | |||
| * Activities to reform the field of mental health (]); | |||
| * A ], (]) to promote social programs with legislators at the US federal and state levels; | |||
| * 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> | |||
| *Started in 1993, the ] is a youth drug-education and prevention program. They provide free literature and information about dangerous drugs. With their cowboy hats they “swear in” the youth as Drug-Free Marshals, pledging to remain drug-free and to encourage their peers to do the same. The church claims that 3.1 million people have been sworn in as Drug-Free Marshals.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.drugfreemarshals.org |title = Drug-Free Marshals |accessdate = 2007-07-30 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> | |||
| *Another Scientology anti-drug campaign is the ] campaign. This campaign is geared toward educating the public at large whereas the Drug-Free Marshals campaign is geared towards educating the youth.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.drugfreeworld.org/index.html |title = Foundation for a Drug-Free World |accessdate = 2007-07-30 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> | |||
| *] is Scientology’s investigative news journal that is mailed to politicians and public figures. It addresses issues that concern the Church of Scientology. | |||
| *The ] is a league of Scientologists that dedicate their time to help in disaster relief efforts and other charitable causes. Over the weekend, Scientology churches set up tents in towns and cities in their area and Volunteer Ministers provide one-on-one attention to people who visit. | |||
| === Scientology splinter groups=== | |||
| {{main|Free Zone (Scientology)}} | |||
| Although "Scientology" is most often used as shorthand for the ], a number of groups practice Scientology and Dianetics outside of the official Church. Some groups are breakaways from the original Church while others have started up independently. The Church takes an extremely hard line on any of these groups, labeling them "]" (or "squirrels" in Scientology jargon) and often subjecting them to considerable legal and social pressure. These groups avoid the name "Scientology" so as to keep from being ], instead refer to themselves collectively as the ]. Such groups include Ron's Org and the International Freezone Association among others. | |||
| ===Scientology and celebrities=== | |||
| {{seealso|Scientology and celebrities|List of Scientologists}} | |||
| [[Image:ScientologyCenter1.jpg|thumb|A Scientology Centre | |||
| on ] in ], ], ].]] | |||
| 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 to 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 referred to as ]s across the world, though Hollywood is the largest and most important. | |||
| <!-- 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 ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Also ], Australia's richest man, is a Scientologist.<ref>http://www.fatherbob.com.au/father_bob/2006/07/philanthropy.html</ref> | |||
| Former Scientologists say that celebrity practitioners get more attention and care than noncelebrity practitioners.<ref>, ] ], in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fish and Uwe Geertz''. contradicted in , 11 April 1994</ref> For example, former Scientologist Maureen Bolstad has noted that a couple of dozen Scientologists including herself were put to work on a rainy night through dawn planting grass in order "to help Tom impress Nicole".<ref>"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."{{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> | |||
| ], a former Scientologist and ] staffer, testified in a 1994 affidavit 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.<ref>"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." , ] ], in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fish and Uwe Geertz''.</ref> | |||
| ], 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>John H. Richardson. . Premiere Magazine/September 1993.</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, the ] has, from its inception, been one of the most controversial. The organization 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. | |||
| 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">{{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> In some cases of US litigation against the Church, former Scientologists were paid as expert witnesses and have since stated that they submitted false and inflammatory declarations, intended to be carried in the media to incite prejudice against Scientology,<ref name="Vicki Aznaran Affidavit"> </ref> and deliberately harassed key Scientology executives, by knowingly advancing unfounded opinions, either to get a case dropped or to obtain a large settlement.<ref name="Affidavit of 29 April 2002 of Stacy Brooks"> </ref> | |||
| {{wikinews|Belgian justice prosecutes Scientology}} | |||
| ] classes Scientology as a business, rather than a religious organization, and ], ], ], ], ] and the ] have not recognized Scientology as a religion.<ref>'''' ]</ref> Scientology has also not been recognized as a religion in ] or ]. A recent judicial investigation in Belgium is now in the process of prosecuting Scientology. | |||
| {{main|Scientology and the legal system}} | |||
| The controversies involving the Church and its critics, some of them ongoing, include: | |||
| * Scientology's ] policy, in which members are encouraged to cut off all contact with friends or family members considered "antagonistic."<ref></ref><ref name="unperson">{{cite news |author = Robert Farley |url = http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml |title = The unperson |publisher = ] |date = ] |pages = 1A, 14A|accessdate = 2007-06-24}}</ref> | |||
| * The death of Scientologist ] while in the care of the Church. | |||
| * Criminal activities committed on behalf of the Church or directed by Church officials (], ]) | |||
| * ] policy that encouraged the abuse of critics. | |||
| * 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.<ref name="Behar"/> | |||
| * Scientology's harassment and litigious actions against its critics and enemies.<ref name="Behar"/> | |||
| * Attempts to legally force search engines such as Google and Yahoo to omit any webpages that are critical of Scientology from their search engines (and in Google's case, ]), or at least the first few search pages.<ref>{{cite news | author = Matt Loney | coauthors = Evan Hansen | title = Google pulls anti-Scientology links | url = http://news.com.com/2100-1023-865936.html | publisher = ] | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-05-10}}</ref> | |||
| Due to these allegations, a considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the Church, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.<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, directed 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 ] or a ].<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> | |||
| One sociologist, Stephen A. Kent, has expressed the following opinion: "I find it far more helpful to view it as a ], only ''one'' element of which is religious."<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> | |||
| Scientology social programs such as drug and criminal rehabilitation have likewise 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 = ] | accessdate = 2007-05-06}}</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
| ===Auditing Confidentiality=== | |||
| 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 Auditors' Code has been documented<ref></ref> and such a violation is a high crime per Scientology justice codes.<ref>Book: Introduction to Scientology Ethics</ref> | |||
| {{cquote| 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. To cause preclear folders or preclear folder information to be released from the care and control of authorized Church ministers is to cause the destruction of its parishioners' religious freedom and would be a severe violation of Church ecclesiastical policies. ''Declaration of Reverend Ken Hoden''<ref></ref>}} | |||
| However, a California court ruling recorded that: | |||
| {{cquote|"The practice of culling supposedly confidential to obtain information for purposes of intimidation and/or harassment is repugnant and outrageous."}} | |||
| The court found that former members of the church knew that their confidential data might be used by "the Church or its minions" for "intimidation or other physical or psychological abuse" and noted: {{cquote | The record is replete with evidence of such abuse. <ref>http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/legal/a1/breckenridge-decision.pdf PDF document of court findings, pages 7-8.</ref>}} | |||
| Supporters of Scientology responded by stating: | |||
| {{cquote| Guardian's Office policy letter written by Mary Sue Hubbard which had allegedly authorized the practice of culling information from counseling folders. Any such directive is not part of the Scientology scriptures and was long ago canceled. the Guardian's Office was disbanded by current Church management when it was found to have veered wildly off Church policies as laid down by Mr. Hubbard.<ref>http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/cult/fls-rpt-corr-breckenridge.html Scientology statement about the court ruling.</ref>}} | |||
| ===Scientology and other religions=== | |||
| {{main|Scientology and other religions}} | |||
| Scientology states that it is fully compatible with all existing major world religions and that it does not conflict with those religions or their religious practices. However, due to major differences in the beliefs and practices between Scientology and especially the major ] religions a simultaneous membership in Scientology is seen as not compatible with the major world religions. In fact does Scientology only allow a passive formal membership in a second religion. Parishioners are not allowed to engage in other religious activities or ceromonies.<ref name="bruce_23">Steve Bruce: ''Cathedrals to cults: the evolving forms of the religious life''. In: Paul Heelas (Hrsg.): ''Religion, Modernity, and Postmodernity'', Blackwell, Oxford 1998, pp. 19-35, 23.</ref> | |||
| ===Scientology as a state-recognized religion=== | |||
| {{refimprovesect|date=July 2007}} | |||
| {{main|Scientology as a state-recognized religion}} | |||
| The Church pursues an extensive ] campaign for the recognition of Scientology as a '']'' religion and cites numerous scholarly sources supporting its position.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bonafidescientology.org/bonafide-scientology.htm |title = The Bonafides of the Scientology Religion |accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> Different countries have taken markedly different approaches to Scientology. Scientology is considered a legitimate ] in the United States of America,<ref name="RESOLUTION">{{cite web |url = http://www.scientology-europe.org/en_US/europe/pg001.html |title = The Growth of Scientology throughout Europe |accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm |title = Taiwan Yearbook 2006 |year = ] |accessdate = 2007-08-31 |publisher = Taiwan Government Information Office}}</ref> ],<ref name="Tanzania and Zimbabwe">{{cite web |url = http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/news/2005/050324.html |title = Scientology Religious Recognition in Tanzania and Zimbabwe |date = ] |accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher = Church of Scientology}}</ref> ],<ref name="Tanzania and Zimbabwe"/> ],<ref name="MARRIAGE">{{cite web |url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/scient_SouthA.htm |title = Scientology Marriage Officers Approved in South Africa |date = ] |accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher = ]}}</ref> ],<ref name="RESOLUTION"/> ],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/scient_sweden2000.htm |title = Decision of March 13, 2000 registering Scientology as a "religious community" in Sweden |date = ] |accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher = ]}}</ref> ],<ref name="RESOLUTION"/><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3048935 |title = Scientology gets tax-exempt status |accessdate = 2007-08-01 |date = ] |work = ] |quote = the IRD said the church was a charitable organisation dedicated to the advancement of religion}}</ref> and thus enjoys and regularly cites the constitutional protections afforded in these nations to religious practice. 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.<ref>. Understanding the German View of Scientology.</ref> | |||
| Although the Church's religious status is often controversial, the Church of Scientology itself, on the other hand, holds that many of these issues were laid to rest by the recognition in 1993 by the United States IRS of the mother church as being "operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes" after their review of "voluminous information provided by the Church regarding its financial and other operations." <ref>"The Church of Scientology was recognized as tax exempt after establishing that it was an organization operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes. Recognition was based upon voluminous information provided by the Church regarding its financial and other operations to the Internal Revenue Service." IRS press release Dec. 31, 1997 . Retrieved Aug 13th 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = David | last = Dahl | coauthors = Vick, Karl | title = IRS examined Scientology dollars, not dogma | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51783695.html?dids=51783695:51783695&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+24%2C+1993&author=DAVID+DAHL&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.A&desc=IRS+examined+Scientology+dollars%2C+not+dogma | publisher = ] | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-08-31}}</ref> | |||
| ===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>However, no such claim has to date been legally confirmed against Scientology based solely upon use or revelation of auditing records. | |||
| 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 dianetics 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. Using the synonym of alternative religions, Barrett (1998:237) and Hunt (2003:195) place Scientology in the sociological grouping of ] movements together with the ], ], and ]. | |||
| 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 in 2000 categorized the church as an "absolute sect" and recommended that all its activities be prohibited.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/635793.stm</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 1997, based on alleged anti-democratic tendencies.<ref> 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> | |||
| 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> | |||
| On May 12, 2007 Journalist ] of BBC ] made highly critical comments regarding Scientology and its teachings, and further reported that since beginning an extensive investigation he had been harassed, surveilled, and investigated by strangers. Sweeney wrote, "I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a "bigot" by star Scientologists, brain-washed … and chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers. Back in Britain strangers have called on my neighbors, my mother-in-law's house and someone spied on my wedding and fled the moment he was challenged." In another passage, "He harangued me for talking to … heretics. I told him that Scientology had been spying on the BBC and that was creepy." And in another passage, "In LA, the moment our hire car left the airport we realized we were being followed by two cars. In our hotel a weird stranger spent every breakfast listening to us."<ref>John Sweeney. . BBC News. May 14, 2007.</ref><ref></ref> | |||
| The Church of Scientology called John Sweeney's documentary (first aired May 14, 2007) into question and produced its own documentary in which it claimed to have documented 154 violations in the BBC's and OfCom's guidelines.<ref>http://www.bbcpanorama-exposed.org</ref><br /> | |||
| The Church documentary also claimed that the BBC had organized a demonstration outside a Church building in London in order to film it, following which e-mailed anonymous death threats had been made against the Church. The BBC described these allegations as "clearly laughable and utter nonsense" whilst representatives of the picket group stated that the BBC had simply turned up to a scheduled picket date that was part of an ongoing protest since 1996.<ref>http://www.daisy.freeserve.co.uk/stolgy_31.htm</ref> Sandy Smith, the BBC program's producer, commented that the Church of Scientology has "no way of dealing with any kind of criticism at all."<ref>http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2079185,00.html</ref> | |||
| ===Scientology as a commercial venture=== | |||
| {{main|Scientology as a business}} | |||
| 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" /> | |||
| 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> On that basis, it is often likened to a ].<ref>{{cite web | last = West | first = L. J., M.D. | title = Psychiatry and Scientology | date = July 1990 | url = http://www.solitarytrees.net/pubs/psyscn.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-16 }}</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. | |||
| In conjunction with the Church of Scientology's request to be officially recognized as a religion in Germany, around 1996 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 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> | |||
| ===Scientology and psychiatry=== | |||
| {{main|CCHR|Scientology and psychiatry|Psychiatry: An Industry of Death}} | |||
| ] 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 psychiatry. | |||
| The Church says that psychiatry was responsible for World War I,<ref>''''. July 29, 1980.</ref> the rise of Hitler and Stalin,<ref>Book review of </ref> the decline in education standards in the United States,<ref>http://www.cchr.org/educate/e_sr.htm</ref><!-- dead link? --> the wars in ] and ],<ref></ref> and the ].<ref>Thomas G. Whittle and Linda Amato. </ref> The Church's point of view on these issues is documented mainly by Church groups and magazines such as those published by the ] and ''Freedom Magazine''. | |||
| ===Scientology versus the Internet=== | |||
| {{main|Scientology versus the Internet}} | |||
| In the 1990s Scientology representatives began extensive operations 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. | |||
| 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: | |||
| {{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></ref>}} | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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 Internet accounts at various ISPs under false names, accounts from which she later saw forged and garbled communications going out.<ref> However Scientology is widely belived to totally psychotic and idotic in nature.</ref> | |||
| ===Scientific criticism of Scientology's beliefs=== | |||
| 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 now 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. | |||
| Professor ], a prominent critic of religious assertions, has described Scientology as "gullibiligy" and its claims as "purely made-up."<ref>"," ''The Times'', 5 August 2007</ref> | |||
| Scientology was M-M-M-M-M-MEGA OWNED by Belgium. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{wikinews|Belgian justice prosecutes Scientology}} | |||
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| ==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.xenu.net/archive/oca/eastern.html }} | |||
| *Barrett 1998. Sects, `Cults' & Alternative Religions: A World Survey and Sourcebook (Paperback) Sterling Pub Co Inc; New Ed edition. ISBN-13: 978-0713727562 | |||
| *Hunt, Stephen J. (2003) Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction Ashgate Publishing (ISBN 0-7546-3410-8 | |||
| </div> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{sisterlinks|Scientology}} | |||
| ===Scientology web links=== | |||
| * | |||
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| * A description of Scientology and its activities and answers to FAQs (by the Church of Scientology) | |||
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| * "What Religious Scholars Say About Scientology" | |||
| * | |||
| ===Critical links=== | |||
| * | |||
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| *, survey interviews of over 200 former Scientologists | |||
| * Stephen A Kent, 1979 | |||
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| ===Other links=== | |||
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| * article on Scientology | |||
| * Scientology: The doctrine of clarity | |||
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Revision as of 15:57, 5 September 2007
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