query: Who is the founder of Scientology?

title: Scientology and the occult

text: Scientology and the occult Scientology is suspected or alleged by some observers of being inspired by, or sharing elements with, a number of esoteric or occult systems. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard claimed to have had a near-death experience in 1938 that inspired him to write "Excalibur", an unpublished manuscript based on the revelations from the experience. In 1945–46, Hubbard was briefly involved with and defrauded Jack Parsons, an American rocketry pioneer who was also a devoted Thelemite and member of the Agape Lodge of Aleister Crowley's magical order, Ordo Templi Orientis, in Pasadena, California. In 1950, Hubbard published "",

title: Free Zone (Scientology)

text: Free Zone (Scientology) The Free Zone, also called Independent Scientologists or Scientology Freezone, comprises a variety of non-affiliated independent groups and individuals who practice Scientology beliefs and techniques independently of the Church of Scientology (CoS). Such practitioners range from those who closely adhere to the original teachings of Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, to those who have adapted their practices so far that they are almost unrecognizable as Scientology. The term "Free Zone" was originally only used by a single organization, but the term is now commonly applied to all non-CoS Scientologists, although many dispute the application of the term

title: Church of Scientology International

text: to resolve through high-level meetings between David Miscavige and the then Commissioner of the IRS, Fred Goldberg, who encouraged a final resolution of the legal battle. Within the corporate structure of the Scientology network, the Religious Technology Center owns the right to license the Scientology trademarks and service marks through a so-called "assignment agreement" between RTC and the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard on May 16, 1982. RTC and CSI entered a license agreement on May 18, 1982, granting CSI, the new "Mother Church of Scientology," the right to use and sub-license certain of the trademarks and service marks.

title: Church of Scientology International

text: define their activities. Specifically CSI consists of the following principal organizations: Church of Scientology International The Church of Scientology International, Inc. (CSI) is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Within the worldwide network of Scientology corporations and entities, CSI is officially referred to as the "mother church" of the Church of Scientology. The Church of Scientology International coordinates church growth, and attempts to preserve the uniformity of the teachings of Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Golden Era Productions, a division of CSI, prints Scientology material, such as books, audio recordings of Hubbard's lectures, training films, and similar. Golden Era Productions also

title: Church of Scientology International

text: Church of Scientology International The Church of Scientology International, Inc. (CSI) is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Within the worldwide network of Scientology corporations and entities, CSI is officially referred to as the "mother church" of the Church of Scientology. The Church of Scientology International coordinates church growth, and attempts to preserve the uniformity of the teachings of Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Golden Era Productions, a division of CSI, prints Scientology material, such as books, audio recordings of Hubbard's lectures, training films, and similar. Golden Era Productions also oversees the manufacture of E-meters. In a 1993 memorandum by CSI,

title: Para-Scientology

text: Para-Scientology Para-Scientology (or Parascientology) is a branch of Scientology which deals with all things unknown. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, defined it this way in the book "Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought": "Para-Scientology includes all of the uncertainties and unknown territories of life which have not been completely explored and explained." Hubbard sometimes used the term to differentiate between things that he considered facts and absolute certainties, and things that were still partially undetermined and on the cutting edge of Scientology research. One such example can be found in Hubbard's book "Scientology: A New Slant on

title: Scientology Justice

text: church executive senior to the church staff member being charged. The offenses being accused are of non-serious nature and the sentences are at the discretion of the person who convened the court of ethics. The court is not supposed to engage in investigation, but rather operate only on known evidence. Scientology Justice The Scientology Justice system is the Church of Scientology's internal means of assessing and dealing with violations of their code of ethics. These violations include those outside the Church as well as within it. "The Scientology Handbook", a compilation of texts by founder L. Ron Hubbard, says "When

title: Orientation: A Scientology Information Film

text: identified only by their occupations. In the film's final scene, Anderson says, Orientation: A Scientology Information Film Orientation: A Scientology Information Film is a 1996 short film shown by the Church of Scientology to people before they attend their first Scientology service. In some places, a confidentiality agreement must be signed before watching it. It was produced by the Church's Golden Era Productions and, like all Scientology instructional films, is based on a screenplay originally written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The film is hosted by Larry Anderson (who left the church in 2009), and includes uncredited testimonials by

text: Orientation: A Scientology Information Film Orientation: A Scientology Information Film is a 1996 short film shown by the Church of Scientology to people before they attend their first Scientology service. In some places, a confidentiality agreement must be signed before watching it. It was produced by the Church's Golden Era Productions and, like all Scientology instructional films, is based on a screenplay originally written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The film is hosted by Larry Anderson (who left the church in 2009), and includes uncredited testimonials by Scientologists Kirstie Alley, Anne Archer, Chick Corea, Isaac Hayes, and John Travolta,

title: Scientology cross

text: wear." Scientology cross The Scientology cross is one of the principal symbols of Scientology. It is most often used to represent the Church of Scientology. The cross closely resembles the Christian cross, but differs from it with the addition of four diagonal rays between the conventional horizontal and vertical arms. The eight points of the cross represent the eight dynamics in Scientology: The Scientology cross apparently dates back to the mid-1950s. Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote in 1955 that "the model of the cross came from a very ancient Spanish mission in Arizona, a sand casting which [Hubbard] dug

title: Scientology cross

text: Scientology cross The Scientology cross is one of the principal symbols of Scientology. It is most often used to represent the Church of Scientology. The cross closely resembles the Christian cross, but differs from it with the addition of four diagonal rays between the conventional horizontal and vertical arms. The eight points of the cross represent the eight dynamics in Scientology: The Scientology cross apparently dates back to the mid-1950s. Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote in 1955 that "the model of the cross came from a very ancient Spanish mission in Arizona, a sand casting which [Hubbard] dug up".

title: Scientology terminology

text: Scientology terminology Scientology terminology consists of a complex assortment of jargon used by Scientologists in conjunction with the practice of Scientology and in their everyday lives. It is difficult if not impossible to understand Scientology without understanding its terminology the way Hubbard defines it. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology, created a large number of jargon terms or Scientologese to refer to various concepts in Scientology and the related practice of Dianetics. By the time he died in 1986, he had devised a thicket of language or nomenclature by means of which one and all are

title: Scientology terminology

text: meaning and liable to be confused with it is apt to lead to unfortunate consequences. It is difficult not to slip back to the original meaning, and thus to perplex oneself and others with apparent paradoxes, and even to fall into obvious falsities." Scientology terminology Scientology terminology consists of a complex assortment of jargon used by Scientologists in conjunction with the practice of Scientology and in their everyday lives. It is difficult if not impossible to understand Scientology without understanding its terminology the way Hubbard defines it. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology, created a large

title: Scientology and sexual orientation

text: It has two compartments: sex; and the family unit, including the rearing of children. A culture will go by the boards if its basic building block, the family, is removed as a valid building block. So one can be fairly sure that he who destroys marriage destroys the civilization." Scientology and sexual orientation Scientology and its perspectives on sexual orientation are based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology. His statements about homosexuality have led critics to assert that Scientology promotes homophobia, though these allegations are disputed by some Scientologists. In 1950 Hubbard

title: Jesus in Scientology

text: or Buddha promised, even the visions of Christianity, are attained in Scientology as a result.” Muck, Netland and McDermott emphasize that this clearly shows that Scientology is incompatible with Christianity. Jesus in Scientology Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard described Scientology as "the Western Anglicized continuance of many earlier forms of wisdom", and cites the teachings of Jesus Christ among belief systems of those "earlier forms". Jesus is recognized in Scientology as part of its "religious heritage," and "is seen as only one of many good teachers." Contradicting the Christian concept of Jesus' "atonement of mankind's sins" through his death on

title: Scientology and abortion

text: contradiction between Scientology's stated pro-life stance on abortion, with its reported practices. "Those who were pregnant were counseled to seek abortions, even though Scientology publicly affirmed a pro-life position," wrote Sly. Scientology and abortion The intersection of Scientology and abortion has a controversial history which began with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's discussion of abortion in his 1950 book "". Hubbard wrote in "Dianetics" that abortion and attempts at abortion could cause trauma to the fetus and to the mother in both spiritual and physical ways. Scientologists came to believe that attempted abortions could cause traumatic experiences felt by the

title: Ethics (Scientology)

text: Ethics (Scientology) According to the Church of Scientology, ethics may be defined as the actions an individual takes on himself to ensure his continued survival across the dynamics. It is a personal thing. When one is ethical, it is something he does himself by his own choice. According to founder L. Ron Hubbard's teachings, Scientology ethics is predicated on the idea that there are degrees of ethical conduct. The Church's official position declares that "the logic of Scientology ethics is inarguable and based upon two key concepts: good and evil", and goes on to state that "nothing is completely good,

title: Keeping Scientology Working

text: been cited in a report by the state government of Baden-Württemberg, as evidence that Scientology represents a totalitarian ideology. Keeping Scientology Working Keeping Scientology Working (often referred to by Scientologists as KSW) is a Church of Scientology policy letter that serves as the keystone for a series of related policy letters written by church founder L. Ron Hubbard. Dated 7 February 1965, it lays out ten points concerning the exact application and preservation of "Standard Tech" in Dianetics and Scientology, and the eradication of "non-standard tech", more commonly referred to in Scientology as "squirreling." It is one of the most

title: Keeping Scientology Working

text: Keeping Scientology Working Keeping Scientology Working (often referred to by Scientologists as KSW) is a Church of Scientology policy letter that serves as the keystone for a series of related policy letters written by church founder L. Ron Hubbard. Dated 7 February 1965, it lays out ten points concerning the exact application and preservation of "Standard Tech" in Dianetics and Scientology, and the eradication of "non-standard tech", more commonly referred to in Scientology as "squirreling." It is one of the most important and oft-repeated policies in Scientology. It was the principal subject discussed by Tom Cruise in his leaked video

title: Tax status of Scientology in the United States

text: Tax status of Scientology in the United States The tax status of the Church of Scientology in the United States has been the subject of decades of controversy and litigation. Although the Church was initially partially exempted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from paying federal income tax, its two principal entities in the US lost this exemption in 1957 and 1968. This was due to concerns that church funds were being used for the private gain of its founder L. Ron Hubbard (according to the IRS) or due to an international psychiatric conspiracy against Scientology (according to Scientology). In

title: Scientology

text: an onscreen caption reading "This is what Scientologists actually believe". After explaining these beliefs, the character representing the church's president ultimately reveals to Stan that the church is in reality a money-making scam. Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film "The Master" features a religious organization called "The Cause" that has many similarities to Scientology. Also, the character of Lancaster Dodd, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman shares a physical resemblance to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In April 2015, following the recent release of "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief", "Saturday Night Live" aired a music video featuring the "Church

title: Clear (Scientology)

text: reaching the Clear state in Scientology is $128,000. In "", L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, states that becoming a Clear strengthens a person's native individuality and creativity, and that a Clear is free with his emotions. In "The State Of Clear," a Clear is defined as "a being who no longer has his own reactive mind, and therefore suffers none of the ill effects the reactive mind can cause". Hubbard states that merely knowing what the cognition is does not have the effect of realizing it for oneself: Hubbard described Clears as having "an awareness which can create energy

title: Space opera in Scientology

text: Space opera in Scientology Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard included space opera narratives in his writings, wherein thetans (the name given to human souls) were reincarnated periodically over quadrillions of years, retaining memories of prior lives, to which Hubbard attributed complex narratives about life throughout the universe. The most controversial of these myths is the story of Xenu, to whom Hubbard attributed responsibility for many of the world's problems. Some space opera doctrines of Scientology are only provided by the church to experienced members, who church leaders maintain are the only ones able to correctly understand them. Several

title: Scientology and celebrities

text: special Celebrity Centres. Scientology policy governs the Celebrity Centres (the main one in Los Angeles and others in Paris, Nashville, and elsewhere), stating that "one of the major purposes of the Celebrity Centre and its staff is to expand the number of celebrities in Scientology." (Scientology Flag Order 2310) Another order describes Celebrity Centre's Public Clearing Division and its goal, "broad public into Scientology from celebrity dissemination"; this division has departments for planning celebrity events and routing the general public onto Scientology services as a result of celebrity involvement. As founder L. Ron Hubbard put it: Celebrities are very Special

title: Jesus in Scientology

text: Jesus in Scientology Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard described Scientology as "the Western Anglicized continuance of many earlier forms of wisdom", and cites the teachings of Jesus Christ among belief systems of those "earlier forms". Jesus is recognized in Scientology as part of its "religious heritage," and "is seen as only one of many good teachers." Contradicting the Christian concept of Jesus' "atonement of mankind's sins" through his death on the cross, Hubbard states in the "Volunteer Ministers Handbook" that "Man is basically good, but he could not attain expression of this until now. Nobody but the individual could die

title: Scientology Justice

text: Scientology Justice The Scientology Justice system is the Church of Scientology's internal means of assessing and dealing with violations of their code of ethics. These violations include those outside the Church as well as within it. "The Scientology Handbook", a compilation of texts by founder L. Ron Hubbard, says "When the individual fails to put in his own ethics, the group takes action against him and this is called justice" and also notes that "Man cannot be trusted with justice. The truth is, man cannot really be trusted with 'punishment'." A "Committee of Evidence", abbreviated as "Comm Ev", is a

title: Scientology and gender

text: male and 41% female, a number referenced on "The Auditor", a publication of the Church of Scientology. In 1988, a participant observer study from the University of Copenhagen showed that the average participant in the Church of Scientology Copenhagen was a 35-year-old man. Though the numbers are not great in disparity, “they provide non-census evidence supporting the contention that more men than women become member of CoS,” Tollefson and Lewis write. Scientology and gender This article discusses scientology and gender. In his book "Scientology: A New Slant on Life", Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote the following passage: In the

title: Jesus in Scientology

text: by Christ to his disciples. She notes that Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is not regarded in Scientology as a "divine savior", but rather a "loved friend and teacher". Writing in "Signs of the Times: The New Religious Movements in Theological Perspective" (1996), John A. Saliba cites Mary Bednarowski, and goes on to note "Helle Medgaard asserts that Scientology also misunderstands Jesus and repudiates the key Christian doctrine of the forgiveness of sins." In his book "The Sociology of Religious Movements" (1996), William Sims Bainbridge cites the research of Roy Wallis, in noting "Scientology ... has no discernible connection to

title: Scientology in Egypt

text: Scientology in Egypt The Church of Scientology has no official presence in Egypt and there are no known membership statistics available. In 2002, two members were detained by Egyptian authorities under the charges of "contempt of religion". However, some books by the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, have started to appear in several Egyptian bookstores in the late 2000s, and were even approved by Al-Azhar, the highest Sunni learning institution in the Muslim world. Egypt is listed on an official Scientology website as being a country "in which Dianetics and Scientology services are ministered". Narconon, an organization which promotes Hubbard's drug

title: MEST (Scientology)

text: MEST (Scientology) MEST is an acronym used in Scientology and coined by author L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard used the first letters of the words matter, energy, space and time, the component parts of the physical universe. Writings and lectures by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard frequently use the term "MEST" in place of the phrase "the physical universe". According to Hubbard, "theta energy" (souls or spiritual entitites) exists in a separate universe from the MEST universe, with theta influencing MEST. Hubbard described the purpose of the "Theta Universe" as "the conquest, change, and ordering of MEST". Dianetics also utilized the

title: Scientology beliefs and practices

text: miscommunication is analogous to original sin, inhibiting individual growth and relationships with others.” The “misunderstood word” is a central teaching in Scientology. Failure in reading comprehension is attributed to it. Scientology discourages secondary interpretation of its writings. Students of Scientology are taught to direct others to those original sources, rather than to convey any interpretation of the concepts in their own words. Emphasis is placed on keeping the writings in context. Advocated by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, silent birth describes "the process of childbirth where labor and delivery is done in a calm and loving environment." To provide quiet

title: Scientology beliefs and practices

text: Scientology beliefs and practices The Church of Scientology says that a human is an immortal, spiritual being (thetan) that is resident in a physical body. The thetan has had innumerable past lives and it is observed in advanced Scientology texts that lives preceding the thetan's arrival on Earth were lived in extraterrestrial cultures. Based on case studies at advanced levels, it is predicted that any Scientologist undergoing auditing will eventually come across and recount a common series of events. According to the Church, founder L. Ron Hubbard's discovery of the thetan places Scientology at the heart of the human quest

title: Fair Game (Scientology)

text: Fair Game (Scientology) The term Fair Game is used to describe policies and practices carried out by the Church of Scientology towards people and groups it perceives as its enemies. Founder L. Ron Hubbard established the policy in the 1950s, in response to criticism both from within and outside his organization. Individuals or groups who are "Fair Game" are judged to be a threat to the Church and, according to the policy, can be punished and harassed using any and all means possible. In 1968, Hubbard officially canceled use of the term "Fair Game" because of negative public relations it

title: Scientology Missions International

text: right to license the Scientology trademarks and service marks through a so-called "assignment agreement" between RTC and the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard on May 16, 1982. RTC and CSI entered a license agreement on May 18, 1982, granting CSI, the new "Mother Church of Scientology," the right to use and sub-license certain of the trademarks and service marks. As a consequence, CSI entered a license agreement with SMI on May 19, 1982, which granted the right to SMI to further license the Scientology trademarks and service marks of the Scientology Missions. In the years following the signing of

title: Scientology and sex

text: bodies as "meat bodies". Scientology emphasizes attaining "cause over MEST", and attaining the ability to abandon one's body via "exteriorization" and ultimately by becoming an Operating Thetan Clear and a Cleared Theta Clear. Scientology and sex The beliefs and practices of Scientology include material related to sex and the rearing of children, which collectively form the Second Dynamic (urge toward survival) in Scientology. These beliefs and practices are based on the written works of Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In Hubbard's original Dynamics, "Sex" was the Second Dynamic, representing both the sexual act and the family unit. According

title: Scientology and abortion

text: Scientology and abortion The intersection of Scientology and abortion has a controversial history which began with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's discussion of abortion in his 1950 book "". Hubbard wrote in "Dianetics" that abortion and attempts at abortion could cause trauma to the fetus and to the mother in both spiritual and physical ways. Scientologists came to believe that attempted abortions could cause traumatic experiences felt by the fetus, which would later be remembered as memories referred to in Scientology as "engrams". In the Scientology technique called Auditing, Scientologists are frequently queried regarding their sexual feelings and behaviors. These

title: Church of Scientology

text: the second phase of the Golden Age of Tech on November 2013, based on the original work of Hubbard. The Super Power Rundown a new component of auditing, was released in Clearwater, Florida. The Church of Scientology promotes Scientology, a body of beliefs and related practices created by Hubbard, starting in 1952 as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Scientology teaches that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature. Scientology's central mythology developed around the original notion of the thetan. In Scientology, the thetan is the individual expression of "theta", described by Neusner as

title: Scientology in the United Kingdom

text: cake and biscuits to passers-by. Scientology spokespeople have denounced the group as "terrorists". Scientology in the United Kingdom Scientology in the United Kingdom is practised mainly within the Church of Scientology and its related groups which go under names including "Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence" and "Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Centre". The national headquarters, and former global headquarters, is Saint Hill Manor at East Grinstead, which for seven years was the home of L. Ron Hubbard, the pulp fiction author who created Scientology. Church-connected groups promoting aspects of L. Ron Hubbard's teaching, including Narconon and CCHR, have also been

title: Scientology and psychiatry

text: infiltrate the National Association of Mental Health in Britain and turn official policy against mental health treatment. Though they were expelled from the organization after their identity and mission were revealed, the Church of Scientology then filed a number of suits against the NAMH. When Operation Snow White, a Church of Scientology campaign to purge unfavorable records about Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard, was revealed in 1980, it came to light that Scientology agents of the Guardian's Office had also conducted a similar campaign against the World Federation for Mental Health and the National Association of Mental Health.

title: Scientology and sex

text: Scientology and sex The beliefs and practices of Scientology include material related to sex and the rearing of children, which collectively form the Second Dynamic (urge toward survival) in Scientology. These beliefs and practices are based on the written works of Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In Hubbard's original Dynamics, "Sex" was the Second Dynamic, representing both the sexual act and the family unit. According to "Reuters": "The second dynamic includes all creative activity, including sex, procreating and the raising of children." In 1982 Hubbard authored "Pain and Sex", in which he ascribes misbehavior to psychiatrists (abbreviated "psychs"),

title: Scientology and gender

text: Scientology and gender This article discusses scientology and gender. In his book "Scientology: A New Slant on Life", Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote the following passage: In the same book, he also wrote: These passages, along with other ones of a similar nature from Hubbard, have been criticized by Alan Scherstuhl of "The Village Voice" as expressions of hatred towards women. However, Baylor University professor J. Gordon Melton has written that Hubbard later disregarded and abrogated much of his earlier views about women, which Melton views as merely echoes of common prejudices at the time. Melton has also stated

title: Scientology and hypnosis

text: Scientology and hypnosis The Church of Scientology officially denies that it uses hypnosis as part of its beliefs and practices. Individuals admitting to having had hypnosis, as either a participant or practitioner, are not permitted to undergo training due to the possibility of harm caused by the prior exposure to hypnosis. Scientology has, nonetheless, been subject throughout its history to accusations that it covertly uses hypnosis to gain control over its members. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was known to his associates in the late 1940s as a talented hypnotist. During this period, he worked in Hollywood posing as a

title: Scientology and hypnosis

title: Scientology in Egypt

text: and the Church of Scientology, stressing that it is a non-profit organization and that none of the staff are Scientologists. Nevertheless, Narconon Egypt's website mentions Hubbard's work as an inspiration for its founding. Scientology in Egypt The Church of Scientology has no official presence in Egypt and there are no known membership statistics available. In 2002, two members were detained by Egyptian authorities under the charges of "contempt of religion". However, some books by the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, have started to appear in several Egyptian bookstores in the late 2000s, and were even approved by Al-Azhar, the highest Sunni

title: Scientology beliefs and practices

text: archived for posterity. The Religious Technology Center holds "the ultimate ecclesiastical authority and the pure application of L. Ron Hubbard's religious technologies." Individuals applying Hubbard's techniques who are not officially connected to the Church of Scientology are considered part of the "Free Zone". Some of these individuals were litigated against for using and modifying the practices for their own use and that of others, thereby infringing the law on patent, trademarks, or trade secrets. The Purification Rundown is a controversial detoxification program developed by Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard and used by the Church of Scientology as an introductory service.

title: Scientology in the United Kingdom

text: Scientology in the United Kingdom Scientology in the United Kingdom is practised mainly within the Church of Scientology and its related groups which go under names including "Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence" and "Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Centre". The national headquarters, and former global headquarters, is Saint Hill Manor at East Grinstead, which for seven years was the home of L. Ron Hubbard, the pulp fiction author who created Scientology. Church-connected groups promoting aspects of L. Ron Hubbard's teaching, including Narconon and CCHR, have also been active in the UK, in some cases with charitable status. There have also

title: Scientology in popular culture

text: positive manner. Frank Zappa's 1979 concept album/rock opera "Joe's Garage" lampoons Scientology in the song "A Token of My Extreme". Scientologist Chick Corea has made reference to Scientology in his work, and two of his albums were influenced by L. Ron Hubbard novels. Maynard James Keenan of the metal band Tool, has been critical of Scientology, and the 1996 song "Ænema" contains a negative reference to L. Ron Hubbard. Both Scientology and the life of its founder L. Ron Hubbard were addressed in the 2003 Off-Broadway musical, "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant". The play took a tongue-in-cheek look

text: in a January 2017 interview that she would campaign for the church's tax exemption to be revoked. Tax status of Scientology in the United States The tax status of the Church of Scientology in the United States has been the subject of decades of controversy and litigation. Although the Church was initially partially exempted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from paying federal income tax, its two principal entities in the US lost this exemption in 1957 and 1968. This was due to concerns that church funds were being used for the private gain of its founder L. Ron Hubbard

title: Church of Scientology

text: co-founded with Thomas Szasz in 1969, is an activist group whose stated mission is to "eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections." It has been described by critics as a Scientology front group. Many other Scientologist-run businesses and organizations belong to the umbrella organization World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE), which licenses the use of Hubbard's management doctrines, and circulates directories of WISE-affiliated businesses. WISE requires those who wish to become Hubbard management consults to complete training in Hubbard's administrative systems; this training can be undertaken at any Church of Scientology, or

title: Supernatural abilities in Scientology doctrine

text: Supernatural abilities in Scientology doctrine In the Church of Scientology doctrine, supernatural or superhuman abilities are a recurring subject, appearing throughout Scientology and Dianetics materials, from the most basic introductory texts to the highest-level Operating Thetan information. Virtually all of these concepts were authored by the church's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and have not been subjected to testing outside the Church. The Church of Scientology have never offered any externally accepted, empirical, peer-reviewed evidence that Scientologists possess any of these abilities. MEST is an acronym Hubbard coined which stands for matter, energy, space and time, the component parts of the

title: Space opera in Scientology

text: because it focuses on material beings; but argues the Xenu myth is a religious narrative, although the Church of Scientology has never used this claim in their efforts to be recognized as a religion. Space opera in Scientology Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard included space opera narratives in his writings, wherein thetans (the name given to human souls) were reincarnated periodically over quadrillions of years, retaining memories of prior lives, to which Hubbard attributed complex narratives about life throughout the universe. The most controversial of these myths is the story of Xenu, to whom Hubbard attributed responsibility for

title: Scientology and sexual orientation

text: Scientology and sexual orientation Scientology and its perspectives on sexual orientation are based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology. His statements about homosexuality have led critics to assert that Scientology promotes homophobia, though these allegations are disputed by some Scientologists. In 1950 Hubbard published "", introducing his "science of the mind," Dianetics. He classified homosexuality as an illness or sexual perversion, citing contemporary psychiatric and psychological textbooks to support his view: Hubbard further defined perversion in his 1951 book "Science of Survival: Prediction of Human Behavior", where he introduced the concept of

title: Scientology in popular culture

text: a religious organization called "The Cause" that has many similarities to Scientology. Also, the character of Lancaster Dodd, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman shares a physical resemblance to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Two other films that feature new religious movements similar to Scientology are "Schizopolis," and "The L.A. Complex." Frank Zappa's 1979 concept album/rock opera "Joe's Garage" lampoons Scientology in the song "A Token of My Extreme". Zappa uses terminology such as "L. Ron Hoover" and "Appliantology", telling the main character "Joe" that he "must go into the closet" to pursue his latent appliance fetishism. Gary Numan had popular

title: Scientology in the United States

text: to prevent a "Post" reporter from describing church teachings at the center of another lawsuit, claiming copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and that the circulation of their "advanced technology" teachings would cause "devastating, cataclysmic spiritual harm" to those not prepared. Operation Snow White was the Church of Scientology's name for a project during the 1970s to purge unfavorable records about Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard. This project included a series of infiltrations and thefts from 136 government agencies, foreign embassies and consulates, and private organizations critical of Scientology, carried out by Church members, in more than 30 countries;

title: Free Zone (Scientology)

text: to keep Ron's Org under observation "as the Ron's Org has no anti-constitutional goals." There is some cooperation between members of the Ron's Org and state authorities who observe the Church of Scientology and investigate their activities. The Church labels all practitioners of and believers in Scientology without its sanction "s"—a term Hubbard coined to describe those who alter Scientology technology or practice it in a nonstandard fashion. Among Scientologists, the term is pejorative, and comparable in meaning to "heretic". In practice, the hierarchy of the Church of Scientology uses it to describe all of those who practice Scientology outside

title: Church of Scientology

text: Ron Hubbard. Its international headquarters are located at the Gold Base, in an unincorporated area of Riverside County, California. The location at Gilman Hotsprings is private property and not accessible by the public. Scientology Missions International is under CSI and oversees Scientology missions, which are local Scientology organizations smaller than churches. The Church of Spiritual Technology (CST) is the organization which owns all the copyrights of the estate of L. Ron Hubbard. The highest authority in the Church of Scientology is the Religious Technology Center (RTC). The RTC claims to only be the "holder of Scientology and Dianetics trademarks", but

title: Scientology in Germany

text: name of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, but not Scientology itself. In early 2008, Thomas Gandow, Sect Commissioner of the German Lutheran Church in Berlin and Brandenburg, and the historian Guido Knopp both likened the Scientologist Hollywood actor Tom Cruise to Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister. Gandow and Knopp cited a leaked Scientology video in which Cruise was seen asking the audience whether Scientologists should "clean up" the world, the audience responding with enthusiastic cheers – cheers which Gandow and Knopp felt were reminiscent of the audience's response to Goebbels' famous question, "Do you want total war?" Gandow's

title: Scientology in Australia

text: "the latest craze in Hollywood" and the "Hubbard sub-mind method" was explained under the heading "World of Science". However, this also meant Hubbard, founder of the Dianetics Mental Health movement, was also newsworthy when his wife claimed he was 'hopelessly insane' in their divorce case and this was reported in several major papers. By the early 1950s, advertisements mentioning Scientology began to appear in newspapers. Scientology Associates (Mental Health) offered "professional psycho-therapeutic treatments" while for "Rev. John R. Farrell, Church of Scientology" it was "Personal Relations. – I will talk to anyone for you about anything". And in April 1954

title: Church of Scientology

text: advertising, which is interpreted as persecution by Scientology. Although the religious nature of Scientology has been questioned both in the United States and around the world, Scientology has been acknowledged as a new religion as manifested in the Church's court victories and the gain of religious rights and privileges that are exclusive to legally established religious bodies. Unlike many well-established religious organizations, Scientology maintains strict control over its names, symbols, religious works and other writings. The word "Scientology" (and many related terms, including "L. Ron Hubbard") is a registered trademark. Religious Technology Center, the owner of the trademarks and copyrights,

text: and then goes on to say: Beyond even the powerful Operating Thetan levels comes "Cleared Theta Clear," a state which Hubbard describes this way: Supernatural abilities in Scientology doctrine In the Church of Scientology doctrine, supernatural or superhuman abilities are a recurring subject, appearing throughout Scientology and Dianetics materials, from the most basic introductory texts to the highest-level Operating Thetan information. Virtually all of these concepts were authored by the church's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and have not been subjected to testing outside the Church. The Church of Scientology have never offered any externally accepted, empirical, peer-reviewed evidence that Scientologists

title: Bibliography of Scientology

text: Bibliography of Scientology This is an incomplete bibliography of Scientology and Scientology-related books produced within the Church of Scientology and its related organizations, containing all of the Basic Books and some other later works either compiled from other works by or written directly by L. Ron Hubbard. All entries are by L. Ron Hubbard or are "Based on the Works of L. Ron Hubbard", unless otherwise noted. The following are known as the Basic Books. These were written within the first years of Dianetics and Scientology development and are not compiled, but rather authored in their entirety by L. Ron

title: Scientology

text: 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 "Ethics" system regulates member behavior, and "Ethics officers" are present in every Scientology organization. "Ethics" officers ensure "correct application of Scientology technology" and deal with "behavior adversely affecting a Scientology organization's performance", ranging from "Errors" and "Misdemeanors" to "Crimes" and "Suppressive Acts", as those terms defined by Scientology. Scientology asserts some people are truly malevolent, and Hubbard taught 20 percent of the population were "suppressive persons", which includes some hopelessly antisocial personalities who are

title: Scientology in Canada

text: public servants are allowed to take time off work for Scientologist holidays. However, since marriage is governed in Canada by provincial law, its unclear whether Scientology is actually accredited in any Canadian province to perform legal marriages. "Operation Snow White" was the Church of Scientology's name for a project during the 1970s to purge unfavorable records, mainly in the US, about Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard. As a result of documents stolen from public and private agencies in Canada and information on other covert activities found as evidence collected in the Operation Snow White case, investigations into the

text: their members were claiming on their tax forms that they'd donated tens of thousands of dollars to Scientology, and no one could prove it. They had no records that actually gave you any idea of what a church had, or what it spent – and I'm talking about all of the organizations all over the country." In his 1959 "Manual of Justice", Hubbard set out an aggressive approach for dealing with individuals who were seen as enemies of Scientology, writing: "People attack Scientology; I never forget it, always even the score." Enemies of Scientology were to be hounded until they

text: could then burgle the office where they were being held and obtain them. This plan was successful, and Scientology operatives reported that they had gained access to all of the documents held by the IRS's FOIA attorney. By May 1975, the operatives had stolen more than 30,000 pages of documents, equivalent to a stack of paper high, on Scientology and the Hubbards. A key objective of the GO's campaign was to uncover the individual who Hubbard believed was responsible for the IRS "attack" on Scientology. He told his followers that the IRS's interest in Scientology was due to "an insane

title: Church of Scientology

text: The first Scientology church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden, New Jersey by L. Ron Hubbard, his wife Mary Sue Hubbard, and John Galusha. By that time, the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International (HASI) had already been operating since 1952 and Hubbard himself had already been selling Scientology books and technologies. In 1953 he wrote to Helen O'Brien, who was managing the organization, asking her to investigate the "religion angle". Soon after, despite O'Brien's misgivings and resignation, he announced the religious nature of Scientology in a bulletin to all Scientologists, stressing its relation to the concept of Dharma. The

title: Assist (Scientology)

text: medical treatment and does not attempt to cure injuries requiring medical aid, but is complementary (adds) to it." This action is supposed to resuscitate a person who has recently died, or "done a bunk," by speaking to or shouting commands at their corpse within a few minutes of his or her death. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard described the process in his 1972 lecture "Illness Breakthrough": I was just a couple of minutes late. State cops were in my way, but a Negro had been drowned and I was just... They were in my road to a point where I

title: Church of Scientology

text: first Church of Scientology opened in 1954 in Los Angeles. Hubbard stated, "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology." After the formation of the Church of Scientology, Hubbard composed its creed. The Scientology creed emphasizes three key points: being free to enjoy religious expression, the idea that mental healing is inherently religious, and that healing of the physical body is in the spiritual domain. Hubbard had official control of the organization until

title: Scientology and celebrities

text: Scientology and celebrities Recruiting Scientologist celebrities and getting them to endorse Scientology to the public at large has always been very important to the Church of Scientology. Scientology has had a written program governing celebrity recruitment since at least 1955, when L. Ron Hubbard created "Project Celebrity", offering rewards to Scientologists who recruited targeted celebrities. Early interested parties included former silent-screen star Gloria Swanson and jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. A Scientology policy letter of 1976 states that "rehabilitation of celebrities who are just beyond or just approaching their prime" enables the "rapid dissemination" of Scientology. The Church of Scientology operates

title: Scientology and the Internet

text: various anti-Scientology web sites, and all references to various critics of Scientology. This software package was derided by critics, who accused the organization of censorship and called the program "Scieno Sitter", after the content-control software net-filter program Cyber Sitter. Since no updates have been reported since 1998 (and the original filter program only worked with Windows 95) the package is unlikely to be in use with recent operating systems and browsers due to software rot. In June 2006, Scientology lawyers sent cease-and-desist letters to Max Goldberg, founder of the website YTMND, asking him to take down all sites that either

title: The Secrets of Scientology

text: Scientology." The Secrets of Scientology The Secrets of Scientology is a documentary which was broadcast on 28 September 2010 as part of the BBC's "Panorama" documentary strand. Presented by John Sweeney, it is a follow-up of his 2007 investigation into the Church of Scientology and features interviews with former high-ranking members of the organisation. Reporter John Sweeney presented the hour-long programme, which was a follow-up to his 2007 documentary "Scientology and Me" in which he travelled to Los Angeles to investigate Scientology. In "The Secrets of Scientology", Sweeney interviews several individuals connected with the organisation and investigates allegations by former

title: The Secrets of Scientology

text: The Secrets of Scientology The Secrets of Scientology is a documentary which was broadcast on 28 September 2010 as part of the BBC's "Panorama" documentary strand. Presented by John Sweeney, it is a follow-up of his 2007 investigation into the Church of Scientology and features interviews with former high-ranking members of the organisation. Reporter John Sweeney presented the hour-long programme, which was a follow-up to his 2007 documentary "Scientology and Me" in which he travelled to Los Angeles to investigate Scientology. In "The Secrets of Scientology", Sweeney interviews several individuals connected with the organisation and investigates allegations by former Scientology

title: Church of Scientology

text: of the Church of Scientology's copyrights and trademarks. The RTC employs lawyers and has pursued individuals and groups who have legally attacked Scientology or who are deemed to be a legal threat to Scientology. This has included breakaway Scientologists who practice Scientology outside the central church and critics, as well as numerous government and media organizations. This has helped to maintain Scientology's reputation for litigiousness (see Scientology and the legal system). Founded in 1989, the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) is an umbrella organization that administers six of Scientology's social programs: The Citizens' Commission on Human Rights (CCHR),

title: Scientology in Norway

text: membership numbers, the Norwegian community has made a name for itself among opposition-groups. There are often protests outside of the Oslo church, with Anonymous being very present. This is not the only reason; Andreas Heldal-Lund is a known critic of Scientology, and is the founder of xenu.net and Operation Clambake. Scientology in Norway "Scientologikirken" (Church of Scientology) is not recognised as a religious community, but as a non-profit corporation. Although it is estimated that around 8000 people have taken scientology-related courses in Norway, the church only has around 100 active members. "Scientologikirken" has only one official church, in Oslo, which

title: The Scandal of Scientology

text: The Scandal of Scientology The Scandal of Scientology is a critical exposé book about the Church of Scientology, written by Paulette Cooper and published by Tower Publications, in 1971. In 2007, Cooper wrote about the events that occurred as a result of her original publication of an article called "The Scandal of Scientology" in "Queen", in 1968. In the article "The Scandal of the Scandal of Scientology," in "Byline", Cooper commented on her motivation for writing the book: "I had a master's degree in psychology and had studied comparative religion at Harvard for a summer and what I learned during

title: The Scandal of Scientology

text: started collecting everything I could get my eager hands on — magazine articles, newspaper clippings, government files, anything." Later, when "A Piece of Blue Sky" was dropped from Amazon.com listings in a controversial move, this was compared to court actions that initially limited distribution of "The Scandal of Scientology". J. Gordon Melton recommended reading both Cooper's book and the church's refutation, "False Report Correction/The Scandal of Scientology by Paulette Cooper", for "insight" into the Scientology controversy in his 1978 work, "The Encyclopedia of American Religions". The Scandal of Scientology The Scandal of Scientology is a critical exposé book about the

title: Scientology

text: the official Church of Scientology. Scientology has filed suit against a number of individuals who have attempted to set up their own auditing practices, using copyright and trademark law to shut these groups down. The Church of Scientology and its many related organizations have amassed considerable real estate holdings worldwide, likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Scientology encourages existing members to "sell" Scientology to others by paying a commission to those who recruit new members. Scientology franchises, or missions, must pay the Church of Scientology roughly 10% of their gross income. On that basis, it is likened to

title: Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia

text: "declaration of war" from the hacker organization Cult of the Dead Cow. Professor David S. Touretzky of the computer science department and Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a critic of Scientology and proponent of freedom of speech on the Internet. He noted the Scientology organization was, "trying to threaten freedom of speech on the Internet by making service providers legally responsible for their customers' speech." Wendy M. Grossman, journalist and founder of "The Skeptic", observed of Scientology's attempts to suppress information on the Internet, Conflict within the topic of Scientology

title: The Secrets of Scientology

text: he was subjected to "disconnection", a process by which his family cut him out of their lives. Another Church of Scientology official interviewed during the programme is Amy Scobee, who joined the Church at the age of 14 and was a member of its Sea Org which runs the organisation's day-to-day operations. Scobee tells Sweeney of how details of her sex life before she was married were leaked to a newspaper after she left and criticised Scientology. As with the 2007 documentary, Sweeney and his team were once again followed by people filming them during their visit to the United

title: Church of Scientology

text: the most dedicated Scientologists, who are entrusted with the international management of Scientology and upper level churches such as the Advanced Organization Los Angeles, American Saint Hill Organization, Flag Service Organization and Celebrity Center International. Sea Org members are also in charge of the upper levels of Operating Thetan (OT) training. The organization is known as the "monastic wing of Scientology." Scientologists who are qualified to do so are often encouraged to join the Sea Org, which involves a lifetime commitment to Scientology organizations in exchange for room and board, training and auditing, and a small weekly allowance. Members sign

title: The Church of Scientology (Melton)

text: The Church of Scientology (Melton) The Church of Scientology is a 2000 book about the Church of Scientology by religious scholar J. Gordon Melton. It is the first of a series of books on new religious movements published by the Center for Studies on New Religions. Melton deals with the history and development of Scientology, covering such matters as church's structure and organization, ethics, and nonprofit initiatives. He also deals with the church's views regarding religious freedom and human rights, as well as its members efforts to win their own religious freedom and human rights. He also deals with the

title: The Church of Scientology (Melton)

text: and its detractors. The Church of Scientology (Melton) The Church of Scientology is a 2000 book about the Church of Scientology by religious scholar J. Gordon Melton. It is the first of a series of books on new religious movements published by the Center for Studies on New Religions. Melton deals with the history and development of Scientology, covering such matters as church's structure and organization, ethics, and nonprofit initiatives. He also deals with the church's views regarding religious freedom and human rights, as well as its members efforts to win their own religious freedom and human rights. He also

title: Scientology in the United Kingdom

text: Commission including a letter purported to originate from the Ministry of Defence that confirmed that Scientology is "an officially recognised religion in the Royal Navy". However, the 2012 Royal Navy Personnel Management Manual (in Chapter 31 - Religion and Faiths) makes no reference to Scientology. The Prison Service in England and Wales does not recognize Scientology as a religion, but prisoners who are registered as Scientologists may practice their religion and are given access to a representative of the Church of Scientology if they wish to receive its ministry. Under Scots law, Scientology ministers had been authorised to perform marriages

title: Church of Scientology

text: Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a multinational network and hierarchy of numerous ostensibly independent but interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, a new religious movement. The Church of Scientology International (CSI) is officially the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for guiding local Scientology churches. At a local level, every church is a separate corporate entity set up as a licensed franchise and has its own board of directors and executives. The first Scientology church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden, New Jersey by L.

title: The Scandal of Scientology

text: to remove the books from their shelves, they were sued by Scientology. One Canadian library reported the theft of a book critical of Scientology from its shelves. These incidents were later reported in a chronological timeline of censorship in British Columbia. The "Los Angeles Times" described Cooper's work as a "scathing" look at Scientology. The "Charleston Gazette" called the book: "a fascinating, 220-page paperback expose." The book was used as a reference in Jon Atack's later work, "A Piece of Blue Sky". Atack wrote: "I happened upon the hard-to-find "Scandal of Scientology" by Paulette Cooper. Now I was fascinated, and

text: of proceeds are spent for tax-exempt purposes." Alex Gibney, the Oscar-winning director of the film "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief", accused Scientology in 2015 of abusing its tax exemption status by harassing its critics. He highlighted alleged illegal activities carried out by the church and its use of its assets for the private benefit of David Miscavige and Tom Cruise. Writing in the "Los Angeles Times", he commented that "it is hard to see why Americans should subsidize Scientology through its tax-exemption." The actress Leah Remini, who spent many years in Scientology before leaving in 2013, said

title: The Hole (Scientology)

text: The Hole (Scientology) The Hole is the unofficial nickname of a facility operated by the Church of Scientology on Gold Base, which is also known as Int Base. Dozens of its senior executives have reportedly been confined within the building for months or years. It consists of a set of double-wide trailers within a Scientology compound, joined together to form a suite of offices which were formerly used by the Church's international management team. According to former members of the Church of Scientology and media reports, from 2004 the Church's leader David Miscavige sent dozens of senior Scientology executives to

title: Church of Scientology

text: Jews, Michael and Marla Sklar, took for part of their children's day school tuition and for after-school classes in Jewish law". Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a multinational network and hierarchy of numerous ostensibly independent but interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, a new religious movement. The Church of Scientology International (CSI) is officially the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for guiding local Scientology churches. At a local level, every church is a separate corporate entity set up as a licensed franchise and has its

title: Church of Scientology

text: after German officials found insufficient evidence of illegal activity. The legal status of the Church of Scientology in Germany is still awaiting resolution; some courts have ruled that it is a business, others have affirmed its religious nature. The German government has affirmed that it does not consider the Church of Scientology to be a religious community. As in most European countries, the Church of Scientology is not officially recognized in Ireland as a charitable organization, but it is free to promote Scientology beliefs. The Irish government has not invited the Church of Scientology to national discussions on secularization by

title: Scientology Task Force of the Hamburg Interior Authority

text: Scientology Task Force of the Hamburg Interior Authority The Scientology Task Force for the Hamburg Interior Authority () was founded in 1992 to monitor the activities and publications of Scientology, raise public awareness about the organization, and serve as a resource to Scientology members who may wish to exit the group. The Hamburg government made the decision to form the task force in 1991, after claiming in public statements that the Church of Scientology's aims included world domination and the destruction of society. Other German politicians stated that Scientology planned to infiltrate businesses and the government. The Task Force was

title: Scientology

text: October 2013. The status was revoked in October 2015. The court ruled that because auditing fees and course costs were more expensive than most commercial education institutions, Scientology appeared to be aimed at making a profit. 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, independent of

title: The Hole (Scientology)

text: According to Lawrence Wright, who wrote an account of the Hole in his 2013 book "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief", the Riverside County sheriff's office has never received a complaint from someone at the base about their treatment there, despite the many accounts of mistreatment. Wright attributes this to the fear that many Scientologists have of bringing shame upon Scientology and of being forced to break off contact with their families and friends. In 2009, the FBI opened an investigation into potential human trafficking offences by the Church of Scientology, after the accounts of defectors from

title: Scientology and psychiatry

text: their war against psychiatry. In their treatise "Those Who Oppose Scientology", it is stated: Today, there are 500 Dianeticists and Scientologists to every psychiatrist […] while Scientology is more visible than ever, with churches dotting every continent on Earth and millions of parishioners around the world, one is hard pressed to find even a single psychiatrist with a shingle on his door. Scientology claims a worldwide membership of more than 8 million, the total of people who have taken the Scientology introductory course. The Church of Scientology claims 3.5 million members in the United States, though an independent survey has

title: Scientology controversies

text: was rejected and they redid it". The nature of Scientology is hotly debated in many countries. The Church of Scientology pursues an extensive public relations campaign arguing Scientology is a "bona fide" religion. The organization cites a number of studies and experts who support their position. Critics point out most cited studies were commissioned by Scientology to produce the desired results. Many countries (including Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Russia, the United Kingdom), while not prohibiting or limiting the activities of the Church of Scientology, have rejected its applications for tax-exempt, charitable status or recognition as

title: Scientology and the occult

text: and in 1953 he organized the Church of Scientology. The occult (from the Latin word "occultus" "clandestine, hidden, secret") is "knowledge of the hidden". In common English usage, "occult" refers to "knowledge of the paranormal". It also describes a number of magical organizations or orders. Hugh B. Urban, a scholar on religion who has written much about Scientology, writes that while some writers, such as Jon Atack, assert that Crowley's ideas on magic are at the core of Scientology, others, including Roy Wallis and J. Gordon Melton, have dismissed the connection between occultism and the Church. He argues further that

title: Inside Scientology: How I Joined Scientology and Became Superhuman

text: of "Rolling Stone". The third text of Burroughs' book, "Ali's Smile/Naked Scientology", is a reprint of a review by Burroughs of "Inside Scientology", from the November 9, 1972 issue of "Rolling Stone". This is followed by a letter from a Church of Scientology representative in reaction to the review of Kaufman's book, and then Burroughs' reply to that. In the foreword to the 1995 edition of his work, Kaufman described several incidents of litigation and harassment by the Church of Scientology. A man named James Meisler, who described himself as a "Reverend in the Church of Scientology", demanded to see

title: The Scandal of Scientology

text: of Scientology of Canada attempted to suppress the book in libraries in Canada. In June 1974, libraries were advised that if they do not remove the books "", "", "The Scandal of Scientology" and "The Mind Benders" from their shelves, they would be named in a lawsuit. Two different library boards in Ontario, Canada had been served with writs. After obtaining out-of-court settlements of US$7,500 and US$500 and apologies from the publishers of two of the works (Dell Publishing and Tower Publications), Scientology further threatened to sue any library or bookstore that carried them. After certain libraries in Canada refused

title: Scientology (James R. Lewis book)

text: an overview and introduction to Scientology and the life of its founder. The second part covers "Theoretical and Quantitative Approaches", examining Scientology's soteriology as well as the degree to which Scientology can be said to be growing. The third part focuses on the "Community and Practices" of Scientology, while the fourth part, "Sources and Comparative Approaches", examines Scientology's religious claims. Part V is focused on "Controversy", such as Scientology's battles with the anti-cult movement and court cases in different countries concerning Scientology's recognition or lack of recognition as a religion. The sixth part analyzes the organization's activities in its "International

text: force then went on to conclude that the Russian authorities are "perfectly entitled to refuse such registration once again for other, sound reasons". Scientology Task Force of the Hamburg Interior Authority The Scientology Task Force for the Hamburg Interior Authority () was founded in 1992 to monitor the activities and publications of Scientology, raise public awareness about the organization, and serve as a resource to Scientology members who may wish to exit the group. The Hamburg government made the decision to form the task force in 1991, after claiming in public statements that the Church of Scientology's aims included world

title: The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology

text: The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology is a non-fiction book about the organization and practices of the Church of Scientology, written by former Scientologist John Duignan with Nicola Tallant. The book was published in Ireland on October 7, 2008 by Merlin Publishing. Both of Duignan's parents died when he was very young and as a result he had difficult experiences as a teenager. He met an attractive female Scientologist on the streets of Germany, who convinced him to take a