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Template:ScientologySeries Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American Science-Fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. By 1960 Hubbard had redefined it as a "religion by its basic tenets". The name "Scientology" is also sometimes used to refer to the Church of Scientology, which is the largest organization promoting the belief system of Scientology. There are other organizations and individuals who are not affiliated with the Church of Scientology who regard themselves as practitioners of and believers in Scientology, sometimes collectively called the Free Zone. The Church regards such independents, almost without exception, as not practicing the "true" Scientology set out by Hubbard, while many of those independents make the very same criticism about the Church.

The Church of Scientology presents itself as a religious non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of the human spirit and providing counseling and rehabilitation programs. Church spokespeople claim that Hubbard's teachings (called "Technology" or "tech" in Scientology terminology) have saved them from addictions, arthritis, depression, learning disabilities, mental illness, cancer, homosexuality and other perceived problems.

The controversial organization has attracted much criticism and distrust throughout the world because of its closed nature and strong-arm tactics in handling critics and ex-members. Lawmakers, including national governing bodies of several countries, have characterized the Church as an unscrupulous commercial organization, citing harassment of critics and exploitation of its members. Scientology's principles have been characterized as pseudoscientific by scientists, medical doctors and psychotherapeutic practitioners. Although some religious scholars consider Scientology a religion, it has frequently been perceived as a cult and a pseudoreligion.

Allegations of Scientology's cult status may be attributed to its unconventional creation by a single authoritative and charismatic leader. Within the church, members are arranged in a hierarchically pyramid ranked structure , with higher level members holding authority over lower ranked subordinates, especially as evidenced by the Sea Org. The Church indoctrinates its members providing very little initial knowledge of the inner secrets of the organization. In order to reach this knowledge parishioners are required to advance forward in rank through study and payments to the Church, the incentive of which is the stepped acquisition of promised powerful secrets and gaining of supernatural abilities.

According to a 2001 survey published by the City University of New York 55,000 people in the United States would, if asked what their religion was, have said Scientology. The worldwide number of Scientologists is disputed: the Church of Scientology claims around 10 million members as of 2006, but claimed national membership figures it has released when totalled indicate a figure of around 500,000. Adherents.com suggests there may be 500,000 Scientologists worldwide while critics say Church membership is likely to be less than 100,000.







References

Footnotes

  1. HCOB 18 Apr 67 (Hubbard Communications Office Bulletin (HCOB) of 21 June 1960 Revised) "Religious Philosophy and Religious Practice"
  2. "Religious Technology Center The Guarantor of Scientology's Future". Religious Technology Center. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
  3. John Partridge (July 14, 2000). "Scientology loses domain battle". The Globe and Mail: B.4. {{cite journal}}: External link in |title= (help)
  4. STUDENT HAT AND COMMUNICATIONS COURSE "Auditing cures neuroses, criminality, insanity, psychosomatic ills, homosexuality and drug dependence"
  5. Julie CHRISTOFFERSON v. CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF PORTLAND
  6. Goodin, Dan (1999-06-03). "Scientology subpoenas Worldnet". CNET News.com. Retrieved 2006-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  7. Leiby, Richard (1994-12-25). "Scientology Fiction: The Church's War Against Its Critics —- and Truth". The Washington Post. p. C1. Retrieved 2006-06-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help).
  8. Hexham, Irving (1978, rev. 1997). "The Religious Status of Scientology: Is Scientology a Religion?". University of Calgary. Retrieved 2006-06-13. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. Scientology: Cult of Greed and power
  10. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi (September 2003). "Scientology: Religion or racket?" (PDF). Marburg Journal of Religion. Retrieved 2006-06-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. Douglas E. Cowan, University of Missouri-Kansas City (July 2004). "Researching Scientology: Academic Premises, Promises, and Problematic". CESNUR 2004 International Conference. Retrieved 2006-06-23. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. American Heritage Dictionary cult defenition (accessed 6/23/06)
  13. L. J. West, M.D. (July 1990). "Psychiatry and Scientology". The Southern California Psychiatrist. Retrieved 2006-06-23. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. Church of Scientology Public Affairs Department (1005, rev. 2004). "Copyright and Trade Secret Issues". Church of Scientology International. Retrieved 2006-06-60. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  15. Kosmin, Barry A. et al American Religious Identification Survey.
  16. Breakdown of Worldwide Religions By Adherents
  17. Millions of Members?

External links

Church of Scientology owned sites

Critical sites

Other sites

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