Scientology: Difference between revisions

Template:ScientologySeriesScientology is a body of beliefs and related techniques created by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as an outgrowth of his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Hubbard later characterized Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy" and the basis for a new religion.

The Church of Scientology, founded in 1953 is by far the largest organization promoting the practice of Scientology. Today, the Church itself operates under the auspices of the Religious Technology Center, the organization that holds the trademarks and copyrights of Dianetics and Scientology and monitors their use by the Church and its affiliates such as WISE or ABLE.

Scientology and the organizations that promote it have remained highly controversial since their inception.

Beliefs and practices

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Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, circa 1970

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The Scientology Cross

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The Scientology Symbol

Main article: Scientology beliefs and practices

Scientology holds that an individual is an immortal spiritual being who has a body and a mind, and that each individual is adversely affected by events that occur when he is fully or partially unconscious, which are stored in the reactive mind. These beliefs are covered in detail in Hubbard's book, Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health. Scientology training and counseling aims to eliminate these adverse effects and to allow devotees to regain native spiritual abilities lost over the course of many lifetimes. Scientology claims to be applicable in all facets of life, including programs for organizational management, study skills, and drug-rehabilitation.

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." By contrast, Dianetics is more narrowly focused on getting rid of the reactive mind, the "bank" of traumatic memories known as engrams which are said to inhibit one's success and happiness. Scientology also covers topics such as ethics and morality (The Way to Happiness), drug and chemical residues as they relate to spiritual wellbeing (the Purification Rundown), communication, marriage, raising children, work-related problems, education (Study Technology), and the very nature of life (The Dynamics).

According to the Church, the ultimate goal is to get the individual being (the "I", called 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 Operating Thetan, 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 and Dianetics Axioms.

Scientology practices (called "Technology" or "Tech" in Scientology terminology) 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 esoteric 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 spiritual being (termed a thetan) who possesses a mind and a body.
• The thetan has lived through many past lives and will continue to live beyond the death of the body.
• Through the Scientology process of "auditing," one can free oneself of specific traumatic incidents, prior ethical transgressions and bad decisions, which are said to collectively restrict the person from reaching the state of "Clear", and after that, the state of "Operating Thetan." 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.

ARC triangle

Main article: 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.

KRC triangle

Main article: 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.

Auditing

Scientology recruiter introduces the E-meter to a potential convert. Such introductory demonstrations are typically presented as "free stress tests."

Main article: Auditing (Scientology)

The central practice of Scientology is "auditing" (from the Latin word audire, "to listen"), which is a one-on-one communication with a trained Scientology counselor or "auditor". Most auditing uses an E-meter, a device that measures very small changes in electrical resistance through the human body when a person is holding onto metal cans and a small current is passed through them.

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. 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.

Scientologists have said that they received benefits from auditing including improved IQ, improved ability to communicate, and enhanced memory. They have also said that they are generally happier after auditing.

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. The Auditors' Code states that an auditor promises never to use the secrets of a preclear divulged in session for punishment or personal gain.

Tone scale

Main article: 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 Dianetics, 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 orders of magnitude greater than what mainstream science generally estimates the age of the universe 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 Have You Lived Before This Life 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. 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.

According to Hubbard, some of the past traumas may have been deliberately inflicted in the form of "implants" used by extraterrestrial dictatorships such as Helatrobus 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 "space opera." There is a huge Church of Spiritual Technology symbol carved into the ground at Scientology's Trementina Base that is visible from passing aircraft or from satellite photography. 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."

The upper levels of Scientology

See also: Operating Thetan and Space opera in Scientology doctrine

Scientologists who have achieved the State of Clear may continue onto the Upper or OT (Operating Thetan) 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. 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. Presently, there are eight such levels, OT I to 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 Freewinds, which was established to provide a "safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment" where this OT level could be delivered.

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. This occurred after 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, experiences that extend many millions of years into the past. He also explains how to reverse the effects of such traumas.

Xenu and Body Thetans

Xenu, as depicted by a cartoon in BBC's Panorama

Main articles: Xenu, Galactic Confederacy, and Body Thetan

Among these advanced teachings, one episode revealed to those who reach OT level III is the story of Xenu and his Galactic Confederacy.

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.

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 Douglas DC-8 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 "Body Thetans", and the advanced levels place considerable emphasis on isolating them and neutralizing their ill effects.

Silent birth and infant care

Main article: Silent birth

Hubbard stated that the delivery room should be as silent as possible during birth. This stems from his belief that birth is a trauma that may induce engrams 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." In the 1960s Hubbard gave certain dietary recommendations. In the 1960s, Hubbard wrote that breastfeeding should be avoided if the mother is smoking or is lacking good nutrition herself. 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[s]" that "smoke and sometimes drink" and offered—as an alternative to commercial products—what he called the "Barley Formula" made from barley water, homogenized milk and corn syrup. Reports about adding honey to the formula have turned out to be inaccurate and are not part of the original recipe by Hubbard. Hubbard claims that he "picked it up in Roman days"; although the refining process that produces corn syrup was not invented until the 19th century. Hubbard crafted the barley formula to, in his words, provide "a heavy percentage of protein" and called it "the nearest approach to human milk that can be assembled easily." 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.

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. 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.

Funeral service

At a Scientology funeral service, the minister speaks directly to the thetan (the individual as a spirit) and grants forgiveness for anything the deceased has done so he can begin life anew.

We do not contest your right to go away. Your debts are paid. This chapter of thy life is shut. Go now, dear [deceased], and live once more in happier time and place.

Origins

See also: 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 religion in 1953, and by 1960 he had redefined it as a "religion by its basic tenets."

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 Dianetics, an earlier system of self-improvement techniques laid out in his 1950 book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. In 1945, Hubbard was for several months in contact with Aleister Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientis chapter in Los Angeles, a group headed by John W. Parsons. In a 1952 lecture series, Hubbard recommended a book of Crowley's and referred to him as "Mad Old Boy" and as "my very good friend." An influence acknowledged by Hubbard is the system of General Semantics developed by Alfred Korzybski in the 1930s, which was influential in the science-fiction subculture of the 1940s. Scientology also reflects the influence of the Hindu concept of karma, as well as the psychological theories of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and William Sargant. 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 gnosticism."

Meaning of the word 'Scientology'

Although today associated almost exclusively with Hubbard's work, the word "scientology" predates Hubbard's creation by several decades. Philologist Allen Upward used the word "scientology" in his 1901 book The New Word as a synonym for "pseudoscience," and this is sometimes cited as the first coining of the word. 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"). 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". However, it is not clear to what extent Hubbard was aware of these earlier uses. The word itself is a pairing of the Latin word scientia ("knowledge", "skill"), which comes from the verb scire ("to know"), and the Greek λογος lógos ("reason" or "inward thought" or "logic" or "an account of").

"Scientology would be a study of knowledge", Hubbard stated in 1952. 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." In 1969 he wrote that "It is fundamentally an applied religious philosophy.".

In a lecture given on July 19 1962 entitled "The E-meter", Hubbard said:

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.

The Church of Scientology 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 'logos' meaning 'study of.'"

Membership

The Church of Scientology claimed to have 10 million members as of 2006, though national figures it has released indicate a far smaller total. Though the Church has an official membership system, the International Association of Scientologists, IAS membership is not what the Church means by 'member.' Estimates of Scientology adherents worldwide range from less than 100,000 to approximately 500,000. According to a 2001 survey published by the City University of New York, 55,000 people in the United States would, if asked to identify their religion, have said Scientology. 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. Religious scholar J. Gordon Melton has said that the church's estimates of its membership numbers are exaggerated.

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One of the main buildings of the FLAG Scientology complex in Clear Water, Florida

Church of Scientology of Tampa, Florida

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Scientology mission in Plant City, Florida

Organizations

Main article: 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 Church of Spiritual Technology is a non-profit organization that owns the copyrights of Scientology. Representing the Church of Spiritual Technology is Religious Technology Center (RTC). RTC is the holder of the trademarks of Dianetics and Scientology. 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 L. Ron Hubbard. RTC is headed by David Miscavige a man believed to be the most powerful person in Scientology.

The Mother Church

The Church of Scientology International is the mother church of Scientology and provides management to all Scientology organizations world wide.

The Churches of Scientology

Main article: Church of Scientology

The first Church of Scientology was incorporated in Camden, New Jersey as a non-profit organization 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. Overall there are 142 Churches in 28 countries established world wide.

Scientology Missions

Scientology Missions are small churches that deliver basic Dianetics and Scientology services. The Scientology Missions directory reports over 300 missions in 50 countries world wide.

Advanced Organizations

Scientology's Advanced Organizations are churches specialized in the delivering of Scientology's higher levels. Those organizations are located in Los Angeles, Clearwater Florida, United Kingdom, Sydney Australia, Copenhagen Denmark, and the cruise ship Freewinds.

Other Scientology Related Organizations

World Institute of Scientology Enterprises

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 Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) is a secular, 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.

• Narconon 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. 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.

• Criminon is sub division of ABLE that promotes and delivers L Ron Hubbard's criminal rehabilitation program and manages drug rehabilitation programs for inmates.

• The Way to Happiness foundation is sub division of ABLE that promotes a secular moral code written by L. Ron Hubbard.

• Applied Scholastics 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 (Citizens Commission on Human Rights);
• A political action committee, (Citizens for Social Reform) 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).
• Started in 1993, the Drug-Free Marshals 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.
• Another Scientology anti-drug campaign is the No to drugs - yes to life campaign. This campaign is geared toward educating the public at large whereas the Drug-Free Marshals campaign is geared towards educating the youth.
• Freedom Magazine is Scientology’s investigative news journal that is mailed to politicians and public figures. It addresses issues that concern the Church of Scientology.
• The Scientology Volunteer Ministers 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 article: Free Zone (Scientology)

Although "Scientology" is most often used as shorthand for the Church of Scientology, 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 "apostates" (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 sued, instead refer to themselves collectively as the Free Zone. Such groups include Ron's Org and the International Freezone Association among others.

Scientology and celebrities

See also: Scientology and celebrities and List of Scientologists

A Scientology Centre on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

The Church of Scientology has consistently attracted artists and entertainers, particularly Hollywood celebrities. L. Ron Hubbard 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". There are eight of what are referred to as Celebrity Centers across the world, though Hollywood is the largest and most important.

Publicity has been generated by Scientologists in the entertainment industry. Among the most well-known of these figures are John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Catherine Bell, Beck, Jason Lee, Isaac Hayes, Tom Cruise, and Katie Holmes. Also James Packer, Australia's richest man, is a Scientologist.

Former Scientologists say that celebrity practitioners get more attention and care than noncelebrity practitioners. 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".

Andre Tabayoyon, a former Scientologist and Sea Org staffer, testified in a 1994 affidavit that money from not-for-profit Scientology organizations and labor from those organizations (including the Rehabilitation Project Force) had gone to provide special facilities for Scientology celebrities, which were not available to other Scientologists.

Diana Canova, 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 Soap. Then it became…I mean, you really are treated like royalty."

Controversy and criticism

Main article: Scientology controversy

Official German warning leaflets from the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior on (from left to right) Islamic extremism, Scientology, and organized crime.

Of the many new religious movements to appear during the 20th century, the Church of Scientology 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. 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, and deliberately harassed key Scientology executives, by knowingly advancing unfounded opinions, either to get a case dropped or to obtain a large settlement.

Germany classes Scientology as a business, rather than a religious organization, and Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom have not recognized Scientology a religion. Scientology has also not been recognized as a religion in Israel or Mexico.

Main article: Scientology and the legal system

The controversies involving the Church and its critics, some of them ongoing, include:

• Scientology's disconnection policy, in which members are encouraged to cut off all contact with friends or family members considered "antagonistic."
• The death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson while in the care of the Church.
• Criminal activities committed on behalf of the Church or directed by Church officials (Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout)
• Fair Game 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.
• Scientology's harassment and litigious actions against its critics and enemies.
• 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, AdSense), or at least the first few search pages.

Due to these allegations, a considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the Church, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.

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 pseudoreligion or a cult.

One sociologist, Stephen A. Kent, [3][4]has expressed the following opinion: "I find it far more helpful to view it as a transnational corporation, only one element of which is religious."

Scientology social programs such as drug and criminal rehabilitation have likewise drawn both support and criticism.

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." Supporters of Scientology assert that no actual violation of the Auditors' Code has been documented and such a violation is a high crime per Scientology justice codes.

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

However, a California court ruling recorded that:

"The practice of culling supposedly confidential [counseling folders or files] 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:

The record is replete with evidence of such abuse.

Supporters of Scientology responded by stating:

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.

Scientology and other religions

Main article: 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 monotheistic 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.

Scientology as a state-recognized religion

Main article: Scientology as a state-recognized religion

The Church pursues an extensive public relations campaign for the recognition of Scientology as a bona fide religion and cites numerous scholarly sources supporting its position. Different countries have taken markedly different approaches to Scientology. Scientology is considered a legitimate religion in the United States of America, Taiwan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, and thus enjoys and regularly cites the constitutional protections afforded in these nations to religious practice. Some countries, mostly in Europe, have regarded Scientology as a potentially dangerous cult, or at least have not considered local branches of the Church of Scientology to meet the legal criteria for being considered religion-supporting organizations.

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."

Scientology as a cult

In some instances, former members have claimed the Church used information obtained in auditing sessions against them.However, no such claim has to date been legally confirmed against Scientology based solely upon use or revelation of auditing records.

The Anderson Report, an official inquiry conducted for the state of Victoria, Australia, found that the auditing process involved a form of "authoritative" or "command" hypnosis, 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." Hubbard was an accomplished hypnotist, and close acquaintances such as Forrest Ackerman (Hubbard's literary agent) and A. E. van Vogt (an important early supporter of Dianetics) witnessed repeated demonstrations of his hypnotic skills. (See Scientology and hypnosis). Licensed psychotherapists have alleged that the Church's auditing sessions amount to mental health treatment without a license , 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 personal development movements together with the Neurolinguistic Programming, Emin, and Insight.

In France, the Church of Scientology was categorized as a sect (or cult) in the 2468 report of the Assemblée Nationale (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.

The federal government of Germany as well as its states, have to a greater or lesser degree and for varying periods placed Scientology and Scientologists under surveillance by the Verfassungsschutz intelligence agencies since 1997, based on alleged anti-democratic tendencies. 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. 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. In Berlin, the court prohibited the use of paid undercover agents. In Saarland, surveillance was stopped by the court as inappropriate because there is no local branch of Scientology and few members.

Allegations of Scientology's cult status may be attributed to its unconventional creation by a single authoritative and charismatic leader.

On May 12, 2007 Journalist John Sweeney of BBC Panorama 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 [Scientology representative Tommy Davis] 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."

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.
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. 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."

Scientology as a commercial venture

Main article: 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. Hubbard was accused in his lifetime of adopting a religious façade for Scientology to allow the organization to maintain tax-exempt status and to avoid prosecution for false medical claims. There have been numerous accounts from Hubbard's fellow science-fiction authors and researchers, notably Harlan Ellison, Neison Himmel, Sam Merwin, Sam Moskowitz, Theodore Sturgeon, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, and Lyle Stuart, of Hubbard stating on various occasions that the way to get rich was to start a religion. This is referenced, among other places, in a May 1980 Reader's Digest article, which quotes Hubbard, "If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."

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 George Orwell which had been "misattributed" to Hubbard. However, Robert Vaughn Young, 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.

Scientology pays members commissions on new recruits they bring in, encouraging Scientology members to "sell" Scientology to others. In addition, Scientology franchises, or missions, pay the church roughly 10% of their gross income. On that basis, it is often likened to a Pyramid selling scheme. Charges for auditing and other Church-related courses run to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. 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 Baden-Württemberg conducted a thorough investigation regarding the group's activities within Germany. 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 NASCAR race car. The Number 27 Ford Taurus driven by Kenton Gray displays a large Dianetics logo.

Scientology and psychiatry

Main articles: CCHR, Scientology and psychiatry, and Psychiatry: An Industry of Death

Scientologists regularly hold anti-psychiatry demonstrations they call "Psychbusts"

The Church of Scientology is one of a number of groups involved in the anti-psychiatry movement, and one of the few organizations that publicly oppose the study and application of psychology in addition to psychiatry.

The Church says that psychiatry was responsible for World War I, the rise of Hitler and Stalin, the decline in education standards in the United States, the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the September 11 attacks. The Church's point of view on these issues is documented mainly by Church groups and magazines such as those published by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights and Freedom Magazine.

Scientology versus the Internet

Main article: 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 copyrighted Scientology documents and publications online by people whom it has called "copyright terrorists." Critics say that the organisation's true motive is to attempt to suppress the free speech of its critics.

In January 1995, Church lawyer Helena Kobrin attempted to shut down the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology by sending a control message instructing Usenet servers to delete the group on the grounds that:

(1) It was started with a forged message; (2) not discussed on alt.config; (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.

In practice, this rmgroup message had little effect, since most Usenet servers are configured to disregard such messages when applied 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.

The Church also began filing lawsuits against those who posted copyrighted texts on the newsgroup and the World Wide Web, and pressed for tighter restrictions on copyrights in general. The Church supported the controversial Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. The even more controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act was also strongly promoted by the Church and some of its provisions (notably the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act) were heavily influenced by Church litigation against US Internet service providers 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 "sporgery" 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 Tory Christman, after she left the Church, confessed to having been part of the sporgery project, taking money supplied by the Office of Special Affairs to open up Internet accounts at various ISPs under false names, accounts from which she later saw forged and garbled communications going out.

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 E-meter 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." 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" and that it is used specifically for spiritual purposes.

Professor Richard Dawkins, a prominent critic of religious assertions, has described Scientology as "gullibiligy" and its claims as "purely made-up."

See also

• L. Ron Hubbard
• Church of Scientology
• Scientology beliefs and practices
• Scientology bibliography
• Scientology and Me

• Dianetics
• Symbols of Scientology
• Scientology filmography
• Scientology in popular culture
• Scientology In Australia

General references

• Scientology: Cult of Greed and power—Time Magazine article on Scientology
• Spirituality through therapy: Scientology, teaching that divinity lies within, appeals to our pop gods
• Frenschkowski, Marco (1999). "L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology: An annotated bibliographical survey of primary and selected secondary literature". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• Kent, Stephen A. (1996). "Scientology's Relationship With Eastern Religious Traditions". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• 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

External links

Scientology web links

• Church of Scientology official home page
• Church of Scientology International - News Site
• Official Church site about L. Ron Hubbard
• Scientology Handbook (Training Manual for Scientology Volunteer Ministers)
• What is Scientology? A description of Scientology and its activities and answers to FAQs (by the Church of Scientology)
• Theology & Practice of Scientology
• Religious scholars "What Religious Scholars Say About Scientology"
• Scientology Volunteer Ministers

Critical links

• "Operation Clambake - The Inner Secrets Of Scientology"
• "Secrets of Scientology"
• "Rick A. Ross Institute"
• Scientology at "The Rotten Library"
• Through the Door, survey interviews of over 200 former Scientologists
• Scientology—is this a Religion? Stephen A Kent, 1979
• "Scientology Lies.com"
• Lermanet.com
• XENU TV
• Site on Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard

Other links

• International Freezone Association
• Beliefnet site on scientology.
• Links about Scientology on dmoz Open Directory Project
• "Inside Scientology", Rolling Stone; 02/23/06 article on Scientology
• Life Positive Scientology: The doctrine of clarity
• Scientology: A Religion in South Africa by David Chidester, University of Cape Town, South Africa
• Center for Studies in New Religions