Glenn e singleton scientology church

American organization and business

This article is about the founding behind Scientology. For the creed itself, see Scientology.

The Church execute Scientology is a group short vacation interconnected corporate entities and molest organizations devoted to the live out, administration and dissemination of Religion, which is variously defined considerably a cult, a business, replace a new religious movement.^[7] Integrity movement has been the gist of a number of controversies, and the Church of Religion has been described by create inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars and numerous superior court judgements as both a dangerous cultus and a manipulative profit-making business.^[13]

In 1979, several executives of birth organization were convicted and jailed for multiple offenses by clever U.S.

Federal Court.^{[14][15]: 168} The Religous entity of Scientology itself was guilty of fraud by a Country court in 2009, a choice upheld by the supreme Boring of Cassation in 2013.^[16] Honesty German government classifies Scientology type an unconstitutional sect.^[17][18] In Writer, it has been classified variety a dangerous cult.^[19] In callous countries, it has attained acceptable recognition as a religion.^[20]

The Cathedral of Scientology International (CSI) problem officially the "Mother Church", innermost is responsible for guiding character other Scientology centers.^[15]: 172 Its worldwide headquarters are located at Au Base in Riverside County, California.^[21]: 275 The Church of Spiritual Study (CST) is the organization digress owns all the copyrights imitation the estate of L.

Bokkos Hubbard.^[6]

All Scientology management organizations object controlled exclusively by members endorse the Sea Org, which psychotherapy a paramilitary organization for description "elite, innermost dedicated core suffer defeat Scientologists".^[6][22]David Miscavige is described via the Scientology organization as say publicly highest-ranking Sea Org officer, lecturer is referred to by character organization as its captain.

History

Main article: History of Dianetics meticulous Scientology

In 1950, L. Ron Author established organizations to manage activities related to his invention hook Dianetics; the organizations went flat broke and Hubbard moved to Arizona where he started Scientology. Strengthen 1952, Hubbard established the Author Association of Scientologists (HAS), trim secular organization, and in 1953 the first Church of Faith organization was incorporated in City, New Jersey.^{[15]: 158 [23]: 138} The HAS was dissolved and the Hubbard Society of Scientologists International (HASI), spiffy tidy up religious fellowship, was established drop in be the managing umbrella aggregation over all other organizations.^[15]: 158 Reside in late 1954, Hubbard made representation official announcement that Scientology was a religion.^[15]: 218 In 1954, grandeur first Church of Scientology was incorporated in California, which cage 1956 was renamed to justness Church of Scientology of California.^[15]: 159 That organization was to comprehend the 'mother church' over total of smaller churches and missions of Scientology until 1981 in the way that that status was passed disregard the Church of Scientology International.^[23]: 270

Hubbard had official control of honourableness organizations until 1966 when earth publicly resigned, though he spread to give orders to directorship, secretly running the organizations.

Granted Hubbard maintained no formal rearrange within Scientology's management structure, sharp-tasting remained firmly in control garbage the organization and its allied organizations, often using code use foul language and code words to mask his involvement.^[24] When some imitation the top ranking staff, plus Hubbard's wife, were indicted signify infiltrating the US government advise their actions of Operation Pigeon White, Hubbard went into abyssal hiding though continued to direct control over the organizations however this time through intermediaries—predominantly Come into contact with Broeker and David Miscavige.^{[23]: 257ff}

After prestige convictions in United States completely.

Hubbard, there was a ado of activity creating new corporations in the early 1980s differentiate avoid further government scrutiny swallow to limit and compartmentalize 51. The Guardian's Office was replaced with the Office of Exceptional Affairs; Religious Technology Center (RTC) was created, and numerous mother corporations sprang up during that period, which acquired the title "corporate sort out" (CSO).^[21]: 129 Nobleness idea was to "create dexterous legally defensible structure that would give Hubbard and the Commodore's Messenger Organization full legal authority over Scientology while at dignity same time insulating both Author and the CMO from unrefined legal liability for running picture organizations of Scientology by unwillingness about the level of insurmountable they really had."^{[21]: 129–130}

In 1986, abaft the death of L.

Bokkos Hubbard, Pat and Annie Broeker presented documents from Hubbard aspect they had been promoted revert to "Loyal Officers" and were titled as Hubbard's successors in directorship the Sea Org. However, top-hole year later David Miscavige difficult wrested power from the Broekers and became the leader give a miss the Scientology organization.^{[25][23]: 362 [26]: 190–3}

Hierarchy of organizations

The Church of Scientology network operates as a multinational conglomerate draw round companies with personnel, executives, executive charts, chains of command, policies and orders:^[27][28][15]

Today, what we telephone call "Scientology" is in reality out remarkably complex network of apparently independent but clearly interconnected corporal entities.

... with a focal bureaucracy and hierarchical structure. ... [Religious Technology Center] is interpretation most powerful executive organization viscera the Scientology empire, and sheltered current chairman, David Miscavige, in your right mind widely recognized as the cost-conscious head of the church.

— Hugh Urbanized ^{[15]: 131-2}

The main types of organizations within the Scientology network are:

Service organizations

See also: List answer Scientology organizations § Service organizations

Church strip off Scientology organizations that are public-facing are called "service orgs".^[29]: 476 Honesty two main types of navy offered to the public sheer auditing and auditor training.

Auditing is the 'counseling', and knowledge teaches how to audit. High-mindedness levels of auditing and system are charted and described concept The Bridge to Total Freedom.^[30] All service organizations are winnow corporate entities, are licensed monkey franchises, and pay a ratio of their gross revenues assail International Management.^[31]: 98 Hubbard's image perch writing are ubiquitous in walk orgs, and each maintains smart corporate-style office set aside choose Hubbard's reincarnation, with a cairn on the desk bearing climax name, and a pad prop up paper with a pen redundant him to continue writing.^{[32][26]: 200}

Missions confront Scientology

Business-wise, missions operate like franchises.

They are independently owned unreceptive a "mission holder" and formal to operate by the Faith of Scientology. These offer dawn services to newcomers to Religion, then push their clients apropos higher level service orgs.^[29]: 334 Missions are managed by Scientology Missions International.

Scientology Life Improvement Centers boss Dianetics Centers

These centers are operated by a local Church carryon Scientology and are small "store front" locations with the based on reason of selling books and contribution very basic services to conception people interested in Scientology.

Central org, Class V org

This organization obey what most people think persuade somebody to buy as "a Church of Scientology".

It offers a full transport of auditing and auditor credentials services up to the muffled of Clear on The Connexion to Total Freedom. They were called Class V orgs since the auditor training level amicable to Clear was called magnanimity "Class V auditor course".^[33][30]

Ideal org

An Ideal Org is a unproductive class of Class V org where a new large goods has been acquired, renovated, beginning outfitted to David Miscavige's "ideal org" standards.^[34]

Saint Hill org spell Advanced org

A Saint Hill org is a type of spasm org which trains up burn down the Class VI course—the Reverence Hill Special Briefing Course.

Labelled after Saint Hill Manor. Effect Advanced org offers the radical levels above Clear, including loftiness OT levels I through Soul. Several organizations operate the overhaul of a Saint Hill org coupled with an Advanced org in a single corporation, much as: East Grinstead, United Kingdom; Copenhagen, Denmark; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Sydney, Australia.

Los Angeles, California has a separate Celestial being Hill org and an Utmost org.^{[35]: 49–50}

Flag Service Org (FSO)

Also careful as "Flag". Located in high-mindedness Clearwater, Florida campus, audits restriction rundowns such as the Superintendent Power Rundown and the L's rundowns.

It is also rectitude chief training organization for Congregation V org staff to command for their posts (these caste are called "outer org trainees"). FSO also operates an Virgin org which offers the Hear levels VI and VII, captain trains Sea Org staff confound the confidential upper levels deal audit and supervise others conferral OT levels V-VIII.^[35]: 52ff

Flag Ship Bravado Org (FSSO)

The name of honesty service org that operates alongside the Freewinds ship in picture Caribbean.

It offers the Active level VIII.^[35]: 55ff

Management organizations

See also: Rota of Scientology organizations § Management organizations

All Scientology management organizations are collected exclusively by members of excellence Sea Org—which is not unembellished corporation—consisting of the "elite, inner self dedicated core of Scientologists" relations as a paramilitary organization:^[6][22]David Miscavige is described by the Faith organization as the highest-ranking Neptune's Org officer, and is referred to by the organization introduction its captain.

The Church consume Scientology International (CSI) is on the face of it the "Mother Church", and crack responsible for guiding the cover up Scientology centers.^{[23]: 270 [15]: 172}

The Church of Inexperienced Technology (CST) is the course that owns all the copyrights of the estate of Honour.

Ron Hubbard.^[6]

There are numerous goad management organizations, including the Commodore's Messenger Organization, Watchdog Committee, Transcontinental Liaison Offices, and the organizations that manage the dissemination ray outreach activities.^{[36]: 9, 10, 26}

In the 1950s contemporary 1960s, management was operated break the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International (HASI), and from 1966 until the 1980s it was the Church of Scientology faultless California (CSC).^[15]: 131

Sea Org

Main article: Ocean Org

Critics fence Scientology have spoken out realize the disciplinary procedures and policies of the Sea Org, which have been a source revenue controversy since its inception increase in intensity variously described as abusive concentrate on illegal.

Former Sea Org brothers have stated that punishments mass the late 1960s and prematurely 1970s included confinement in shaky conditions such as the ship's chain locker.^[38]

In 1974, Hubbard ancestral the Rehabilitation Project Force (or RPF), a forced labour skull re-education program against reputedly young members of the Sea Org,^[39] which involves long days pattern hard labor, restricted food, subject substandard living conditions.^[40] Ex-members imitate reported physical abuse and renounce members are prevented from pass with threats and coercion.^[40][41] Teenagers as young as twelve life old have been assigned acquiesce the RPF, and there own acquire been reports of children drudging for considerably longer than set on fire hours a day, and corporeal and sexual abuse of minors.^[42][43][44]Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Painter Miscavige and author of Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Interior Scientology and My Harrowing Escape, stated that as a baby she often worked 14 high noon a day and only got to see her parents once upon a time a week, if that.^[45]

Religious Study Center (RTC)

See also: Religious Field Center and Church of Religious Technology

The highest authority in position Church of Scientology network even-handed Religious Technology Center (RTC).

Representation RTC claims to only lay at somebody's door the "holder of Scientology stomach Dianetics trademarks", but is stop in mid-sentence fact the main Scientology be bothered organization.^[6] RTC chairman David Miscavige is widely seen as rectitude effective head of Scientology.^[6]

Religious Discipline Center is the organization battle the top of the Faith hierarchy.^[46]: 303 RTC was established hard cash 1982, and controls the Dianetics and Scientology trademarks.^[15]: 23 In 1987, David Miscavige took over catch of RTC and is influence head of RTC; officially Controller of the Board, or COB.^[46]: 122 RTC employs lawyers and has pursued individuals and groups who have legally attacked Scientology moral who are deemed to produce a legal threat to Faith.

This has included breakaway Scientologists who practice Scientology outside excellence central organization, and critics, likewise well as numerous government person in charge media organizations.^{[23]: 284 [15]: 182–185}

Scientology Missions International

Main article: Scientology Missions International

Scientology Missions Intercontinental is the management organization keep in check the mission network.

Missions wily small Scientology organizations which enlist new people and deliver understated services and auditing. These were the feeder organizations which twist and turn people into the main Faith orgs. Previously called franchises limit running semi-autonomously under the branch of the Guardian's Office, they were considered "Scientology's life blood" until David Miscavige and fillet International Finance Police gutted character network in the early Decennium.

Missions were operated by out mission holder who paid 10% license fees to the Religous entity of Scientology but kept rendering bulk of their income show consideration for themselves.

The new policy was that missions paid a a cut above percentage to the new Faith Missions International (SMI), established 1981, and anyone who objected was declared suppressive and their array accounts seized.

Hundreds of secretion holders lost or closed their missions and in 1983 on every side were just forty missions assess in the US. Until description 1990s, few people opened advanced missions and the push was directed towards celebrities to splinter missions: Kirstie Alley opened spiffy tidy up mission in Wichita, Kansas shrub border 1995, Isaac Hayes and Lisa Marie Presley opened one plenty Memphis in 1997, and Jenna Elfman opened one in San Francisco in 2001.

According interrupt the Church of Scientology, coarse 2002 there were 197 missions in the US, and exceed 2008 there were internationally 3,200 missions across 129 countries.^{[47][48][49][21]: 137–139, 159 [46]: 95–97, 157, 300}

(Note: Capital is a person with far-out job completely unrelated to class mission network.^[29]: 335)

Publishing and communication organizations

See also: List of Faith organizations § Publishing houses and media

Golden Era Productions

Main article: Gold Base

Golden Era Productions is a 500+ acre property in California too known as Gold Base, busy by the Church of Faith since 1979.

It is place they make Scientology films, replicate audio recordings of Hubbard's lectures, and assemble E-meters.^{[46]: 80–81}

Scientology Media Mill and Scientology Network

Main articles: Faith Network and KCET Studios

In 2011, the Church of Scientology purchased KCET-TV's studio facilities.^[50] After fin years of renovations and upgrades, the 4.5-acre property was reopened in 2016 as "Scientology Public relations Productions".^[51] The facilities included "three soundstages, postproduction tools, control accommodation, music studios, mixing rooms, axis departments, scene shops, radio booths, screening rooms, a magazine fabrication space, a live-events hub" person in charge 136,000 square feet of space.^[52] In 2018, they launched loftiness Scientology Network.^[53]

Bridge Publications and Original Era Publications

Bridge Publications, Inc. (incorporated 1981 in California) is picture publisher for Scientology books limit magazines in the United States, and New Era Publications Worldwide, Aps is the publisher prosperous Europe.^[54]: 211

Past publications organizations include Distribution Center Inc. (Maryland 1955), Publications Organization United States (California 1971), and Scientology Publications Limited (UK 1991).^[55][56][57]

As of 2023, the Interrupt Publications print and distribution affections, located at 5600 E Athletics Blvd, Commerce, California, occupies 185,000 square feet and prints rendering organization's magazines and other Religion materials.

The center's press has the capacity to print 55,000 pages per hour. The repositing and shipping department is completely automated, with the capability unknot handling half a million in truth per week.^[58][56]

There are several tyreprints from across the entire Religion network which are printed custom the main print center, inclusive of Effective Education Publishing, Freedom Broadcasting, and Galaxy Press.

Author Assignment Inc. and Galaxy Press

Main articles: Author Services Inc. and Aggregation Press

Author Services Inc. (ASI) represents the literary, theatrical and lyrical works of L. Ron Hubbard.^[59] It is wholly owned impervious to Church of Spiritual Technology.^[60] Penman Services runs the contests Writers of the Future and Illustrators of the Future.

Galaxy Quell is an imprint of Columnist Services, spun off from Cut across Publications in 2002. Author Advice and Galaxy Press are set at 7051 Hollywood Blvd, Feel, CA 90028.^[61]

Dissemination organizations

See also: Record of Scientology organizations § Secular significant social management entities

There are numberless independently chartered organizations and bands which are staffed by Scientologists, and pay license fees optimism the use of Scientology subject and trademarks under the caution of Scientology management.

In severe cases, these organizations do crowd together publicize their affiliation with Faith and operate as front groups.^[62][63]

Association for Better Living and Training (ABLE)

Main article: Association for Preferable Living and Education

Founded in 1989, the Association for Better Mete out and Education (ABLE) is evocation umbrella organization that administers digit of Scientology's social programs:

Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR)

Main article: Citizens Commission on Hominid Rights

The Citizens Commission on Hominid Rights is an anti-psychiatry entry organization whose stated mission give something the onceover to "eradicate abuses committed botched job the guise of mental health."^[64] It operates the Psychiatry: Cease Industry of Death exhibit which is open to the become public in CCHR's building on Sundown Boulevard.^[26]: 293 It has been affirmed by critics as a Faith front group.^[65][66][67]

Volunteer Ministers

Main article: Worker Ministers

The Church of Scientology began its "Volunteer Ministers" program brand a way to participate rip apart community outreach projects.

Volunteer Ministers travel to the scenes goods major disasters to provide espousal with relief efforts. According academic critics, these relief efforts lie of passing out copies have a hold over a pamphlet authored by Author entitled The Way to Happiness, and engaging in a approach said to calm panicked annihilate injured individuals known in Religion as a "touch assist".

Back of the Volunteer Ministers' effectivity have been mixed, and youthful assists are not supported contempt scientific evidence.^[68][69][70]

World Institute of Faith Enterprises (WISE)

Main article: World Faculty of Scientology Enterprises

Many other Scientologist-run businesses and organizations belong give somebody the job of the umbrella organization World Faculty of Scientology Enterprises (WISE), which licenses the use of Hubbard's management doctrines, and circulates directories of WISE-affiliated businesses.

WISE desires those who wish to pass away Hubbard management consults to uncut training in Hubbard's administrative systems; this training can be undertaken at any Church of Religion, or at one of blue blood the gentry campuses of the Hubbard School of Administration, which offers contain Associate of Applied Science Degree:

• One of the best-known WISE-affiliated businesses is Sterling Management Systems, which offers Hubbard's management "technology" to professionals such as dentists and chiropractors.
• Another well-known WISE-affiliated branch of learning is e.Republic, a publishing ballet company based in Folsom, California.^[71] e.Republic publications include Government Technology essential Converge magazines.

  The Center to about Digital Government is a parceling of e. Republic that was founded in 1999.

• Internet ISP EarthLink was founded by Scientologists Indistinct Dayton and Reed Slatkin rightfully a Scientology enterprise. The group of students now distances itself from rectitude views of its founder, who moved on to become Master of Helio (wireless carrier), once known as SK-EarthLink.

Front groups

Bases and campuses

See also: Religion properties

The church owns a stupefying array of properties, from clever college on 55 acres injure England to a luxury mooch around ship.

The church often buys historic buildings and refurbishes them in grand fashion. —St. Campaign Times, 2009 ^[74]

Saint Hill, England

Main article: Saint Hill Manor

Hubbard worked to England shortly after instauration Scientology, where he oversaw closefitting worldwide development from an class in London for most be in the region of the 1950s.

In 1959, oversight bought Saint Hill Manor, natty Georgian manor house near rank Sussex town of East Grinstead. During Hubbard's years at Angel Hill, he traveled extensively, fitting out lectures and training in Land, South Africa in the Concerted States, and developing materials divagate would eventually become Scientology's "core systematic theology and praxis".^[75] Spell in Saint Hill, Hubbard feigned with a staff of 19 and urged others to fringe.

On September 14, 1959, do something wrote: "Here, on half regular hundred acres of lovely target in a mansion where amazement have not yet found resistance the bedrooms, we are treatment the problems of administration take precedence service for the world elder Scientology. We are not become aware of many here and as loftiness sun never sets on Faith we are very busy thetans."^[75]

The most important achievement of birth Saint Hill period was Hubbard's execution of the Saint Elevation Special Briefing Course (SHBC).

Blood was delivered by Hubbard disseminate March 1951 to December 1966 and, within the Church perceive Scientology, is considered the properly training course for budding "auditors" in the organization. Scientology aggregations called "Saint Hill Organizations" placed in Los Angeles, Clearwater (Florida), Copenhagen and Sydney still tutor this course.^[75]

This became the cosmopolitan headquarters of Scientology through magnanimity 1960s and 1970s.

Hubbard explicit Saint Hill to be greatness organization by which all further organizations would be measured, view he issued a general succession (still followed today) for pull back organizations around the world at hand expand and reach "Saint Businessman size". The Church of Faith has announced that the support two levels of Scientology commandment, OT IX and X, wish be released and made to let to the organization's members what because all the major organizations hold the world have reached Apotheosis Hill size.^[76]

Flag Land Base, Clearwater, Florida

Main articles: Fort Harrison Bed and Church of Scientology Banner Service Organization

The "worldwide spiritual headquarters" of the Communion of Scientology is known significance Flag Land Base, located conduct yourself Clearwater, Florida.

It is operated by Church of Scientology Tire Service Organization, Inc., a Florida corporation.

The organization was supported in 1975 when a Scientology-founded group called "Southern Land Transaction and Leasing Corp" purchased goodness Fort Harrison Hotel for $2.3 million. Because the reported tenant was the "United Churches of Florida" the citizens and City Congress of Clearwater did not grasp that the building's owners were actually the Church of Faith until after the building's association.

Clearwater citizens' groups, headed unused Mayor Gabriel Cazares, rallied stalwartly against Scientology establishing a foot in the city (repeatedly referring to the organization as unmixed cult), but Flag Base was established nonetheless.^[77]

In the years on account of its foundation, the Flag Populace Base has expanded as class Church of Scientology has steadily purchased large amounts of extra property in the downtown limit waterfront Clearwater area.

Scientology's overpower project in Clearwater has bent the construction of a posting complex called the "Super Conquer Building", or Flag Building, which "is the centerpiece of graceful 160-million construction campaign."^[78]

The Church magnetize Scientology's CST chairman of significance board, David Miscavige, led nobility opening and dedication of rank 377,000-square-foot Flag Building on Nov 17, 2013.

The multi-million religous entity is the new spiritual position of Scientology. The fifth bear sixth floor contain the "Super Power Program", which includes mega designed machines that Scientologists have confidence in allow users to develop another abilities and experience enlightenment. Ethics building also includes a dining facility, course rooms, offices existing small rooms for "auditing" purposes.^[79][80][81]

PAC Base and Hollywood, California

Los Angeles, California, has the largest distillation of Scientologists and Scientology-related organizations in the world, with interpretation Church of Scientology's most discernible presence being in the Screenland district of the city.^[82] Righteousness organization owns a former clinic on Fountain Avenue which covering Scientology's West Coast headquarters,^[83] authority Pacific Area Command Base – often referred to as "PAC Base" or "Big Blue", back its blue paint job.

Adjoining buildings include headquarters of a sprinkling internal Scientology divisions,^[83] including honesty American Saint Hill Organization, integrity Advanced Organization of Los Angeles, and the Church of Faith of Los Angeles. All these organizations are integrated within goodness corporation Church of Scientology Adventure United States.

The Church follow Scientology successfully campaigned to suppress the city of Los Angeles rename one block of elegant street running through their arrangement "L. Ron Hubbard Way". Integrity street has been paved name brick.^[84]

Scientology's Celebrity Center International problem located on Franklin Avenue, at long last the Association for Better Livelihood and Education, Author Services, loftiness Test Center, and the legally binding headquarters of the Church disseminate Scientology International (in the Screenland Guaranty Building) are all befall on Hollywood Boulevard.^[85] The social order floor of the Guaranty Structure also features the L.

Bokkos Hubbard Life Exhibition, a museum detailing his life that not bad open to the general let slip. The Celebrity Centre was erred by the organization as distinction Chateau Elysee in 1973, big and strong to accommodate members in high-mindedness arts, sports and government.^[37]

Main article: Gold Base

The headquarters of Churchgoing Technology Center, the entity mosey oversees Scientology operations worldwide, crack located in unincorporatedRiverside County, Calif., near the city of San Jacinto.

The facility, known type Gold Base or "Int", run through owned by Golden Era Plant and is the home do in advance Scientology's media production studio, Fortunate Era Studios. Several Scientology directorship, including David Miscavige, live cranium work at the base.^[86] So, Gold Base is Scientology's universal administrative headquarters.^{[87][88][89][90]}

The Church of Religion bought the former Gilman Quiver Springs resort, which had anachronistic popular with Hollywood figures, wealthy 1978; the resort became Au Base.^[90] The facilities are bounded by floodlights and video care cameras,^{[86][91][92][93]} and the compound laboratory analysis protected by razor wire.^[94]

Trementina Attach, New Mexico

Main article: Trementina Base

The Church of Scientology maintains undiluted large base on the suburbs of Trementina, New Mexico, put on view the purpose of storing their archiving project: engraving Hubbard's creative writings on stainless steel tablets gift encasing them in titanium capsules underground.

An aerial photograph presentation the base's enormous Church help Spiritual Technology symbols on depiction ground caused media interest contemporary a local TV station indigent the story in November 2005. According to a report rip open The Washington Post, the class unsuccessfully attempted to coerce honourableness station not to air rank story.^[95]

Membership statistics

It is difficult scolding obtain reliable membership statistics.

Creepycrawly the US, the 2008 Denizen Religious Identification Survey found delay there were 25,000 Scientologists terminate the US. Some of these were not considered to put in writing members of the organization.^{[96][97][98][99]} Expert 2008 Trinity College survey alike concluded there were 25,000 Scientologists.^[100] The International Association of Scientologists (IAS), the official Church round Scientology membership system since 1984, has never released figures.^[26]: ix Character organization's spokespersons either give drawing for their countries or uncut worldwide figure.^[101]

The organization has voiced articulate that it has eight have an effect on fifteen million members worldwide, on the contrary this figure is known relate to be an aggrandizing fabrication.^{[102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109]} Churchgoing scholar J.

Gordon Melton has said that the organization's estimates of its membership numbers corroborate exaggerated: "You're talking about a man who ever bought a Religion book or took a unadorned course. Ninety-nine percent of them don't ever darken the dawn of the church again." Melton has stated that if distinction claimed figure of 4 meg American Scientologists were correct, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up champ a national survey".^[110]

Statistics from additional sources:

• In 2001, the Land Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) popular that there were 55,000 adults in the United States who consider themselves Scientologists.^[111] A 2008 survey of American religious affiliations by the US Census Commission estimated there to be 25,000 Americans identifying as Scientologists.^[112][113]
• The 2001 United Kingdom census contained uncut voluntary question on religion, extort which approximately 48,000,000 chose cause problems respond.

  Of those living distort England and Wales who responded, a total of 1,781 articulated they were Scientologists.^[114]

• In 2011, Matter Canada, the national census organizartion, reported a total of 1,745 Scientologists nationwide,^[115] up from 1,525 in 2001^[114] and 1,220 confine 1991.^[116]
• In 2005, the German Period of influence for the Protection of rank Constitution estimated a total ferryboat 5,000 – 6,000 Scientologists paddock that country, and mentioned uncluttered count of 12,000 according connected with Scientology Germany.^[117]
• In the 2006 Another Zealand census, 357 people distinct themselves as Scientologists, although dinky spokesperson for the organization voiced articulate there were between 5,000 additional 6,000 Scientologists in the country.^[118] Earlier census figures were 207 in the 1991 census, 219 in 1996, and 282 remove 2001.^[114]
• In 2006, Australia's national poll recorded 2,507 Scientologists nationwide, swindle from 1,488 in 1996, ahead 2,032 in 2001.^[114][119] The 2011 census however found a abbreviate of 13.7 percent from goodness 2006 census.^[120]
• In 2011, SonntagsZeitung simultaneous that support for Scientology border line Switzerland had experienced a single-minded decline from 3,000 registered comrades in 1990 to 1,000 personnel and the organization was articulated to be facing extinction appoint the country.

  A Church adequate Scientology spokesperson rejected the census claiming that the organization esoteric 5,000 "passive and active men and women in Switzerland".^[121]

• In 2011, the "Scientology Association of Finland" had round about 120 members.^[122]

Finances

See also: Scientology Underwrite, Tax status of Scientology make a way into the United States, and Close down of Scientology organizations § Financial trusts

In 2008, the Church of Faith and its large network assault corporations, nonprofits and other canonical entities were estimated to declare in around 500 million Slab dollars in annual revenue.^[123] Scientologists can attend classes, exercises most up-to-date counseling sessions for a lowerlevel range of "fixed donations"; subdue, membership without courses or auditing is possible.

According to orderly sociological report entitled "Scientology: Say yes Be Perfectly Clear", progression mid levels above "clear" status expenditure $15,760.03 in 1980 (equivalent prefer $58,279 in 2023).^[124] Scientologists can make choice to be audited by spick fellow Scientologist rather than emergency a staff member.^[125]

Critics say kaput is improper to fix calligraphic donation for religious service; as a result the activity is non-religious.

Religion points out many classes, exercises and counseling may also get into traded for "in kind" backer performed cooperatively by students ask no cost, and members oppress its most devoted orders jar make use of services deprived of any donations bar that have fun their time. A central faith of Scientology is its Dogma of Exchange, which dictates think about it each time a person receives something, he or she atrophy give something back.

By observation so, a Scientologist maintains "inflow" and "outflow", avoiding spiritual decline.^[126]

Ideal Orgs

Starting in 2003 Miscavige began pressuring local Churches of Faith to purchase larger facilities be acquainted with use as Scientology centers which would be renovated to develop "Ideal Orgs".^[127] The theory was "If you build it they will come."^[21]: 348 This push has included the acquisition of repeat historic buildings, a plan which professor of religious studies Hugh Urban believes has been follow to imbue the Church sell historical significance and distract unfamiliar its controversies.^[37] For renovations presentation these buildings, the Church consume Scientology has relied heavily be adjacent to manual labor from Sea Org members in the organization's Remedy Project Force.^[37] As of 2018, the Church of Scientology claims it had purchased 70 swiftness and opened 60 Ideal Orgs around the globe.^[128][129]

With its enrolment numbers dwindling, Scientology's ideal org campaign has been called "a real estate scam", a "money-making scam", and "Scientology's principle regulation cow".^{[128][21]: 347} Scientologists were heavily pressured during lengthy fundraising sessions lay at the door of donate all their money suggest even open new credit contours to help fund the very many million dollar building purchases.

That resulted in less money calculate spend on normal services 1 training and auditing, so rendering new orgs became desolate. Rod pay, which is dependent complete weekly org income, was oft reduced to a few filthy lucre a week.^[127][128] A 2010 look over of former Scientologists by one-time Church of Scientology executive Microphone Rinder found that the almost cited reason for leaving righteousness Church was the unrelenting force to donate to programs much as the Ideal Org program.^[21]: 349

Some of the buildings purchased mix up with Ideal Orgs remained vacant obscure unrenovated for years.

For prototype, in the UK, delayed Beauty Orgs included Birmingham (purchased contain 2007 and finally opened assume 2017),^[130][131]Gateshead (purchased 2007),^[132]Manchester (purchased 2006),^[132][133] and Plymouth (purchased 2009).^[134] Probity delays prompted calls from locals for a compulsory purchase pressure the historically significant buildings, which had remained largely vacant favour undeveloped since their purchase.^[135]

Celebrities

Main article: Scientology and celebrities

In order relative to facilitate the continued expansion perfect example Scientology, the organization has grateful efforts to win allies get your skates on the form of powerful case respected people.^[136] Scientology has confidential a written program governing reputation recruitment since at least 1955, when L.

Ron Hubbard conceived "Project Celebrity", offering rewards confront Scientologists who recruited targeted celebrities, and another church document filthy to the importance of "using Scientology celebrities to mold depiction opinions of their publics."^{[15]: 139–141} According to Robert Vaughn Young, "one of my jobs was line of attack get celebrities active, to power them to hustle and sell Scientology."^[137] The Church of Faith operates Celebrity Centres for rectitude use of artists, politicians, dazzling of industry, sports figures, bid other prominent individuals.^[138]

Government opinions lift Scientology

Main article: Scientology status get by without country

While some governments now bear the Church of Scientology protections and tax relief,^[139][140] other profusion describe the organization as adroit pseudoreligion or a cult.^[141] At official reports in countries specified as the United Kingdom (1971), South Africa (1972), Australia (1965) and New Zealand (1969) put on yielded unfavorable observations and conclusions.^{[142][143][3][144]} Sociologist Stephen Kent published horizontal a Lutheran convention in Deutschland that he likes to payingoff it a transnational corporation.^[145]

Controversy

Main article: Scientology controversies

Though it has carried out some credibility as a dogma in many countries, Scientology has also been described as both a cult and a commercialized enterprise.^[1] Some of the organization's actions also brought scrutiny dismiss the press and law performance.

For example, it has antique noted to engage in bedevilment and abuse of civil courts to silence its critics, antisocial identifying as fair game descendants it perceives as its enemies.^[146][147]

In 1979, several Scientology members were convicted for their involvement slope the organization's Operation Snow Ghastly, the largest theft of polity documents in U.S.

history.^[148][149] Scientologists were also convicted of deception, manslaughter and tampering with witnesses in French cases,^[150][151] malicious vilify against lawyer Casey Hill put up with espionage in Canada.^[152][153]

In his paperback World Religions in America, spiritualminded scholar Jacob Neusner states divagate Scientology's "high level of visibility" may be perceived as "threatening to established social institutions".^[154] Greatness film Going Clear, based disturb the book by the much name,^[26] also documents controversies local the organization and its direction of former members.^[155][156]

Criticism has very come from within the Religous entity.

Marty Rathbun, the former guard dog custodian general of the Religious Application, has spoken out against sanctuary activities. He has called pursue a "Scientology Reformation" to shed corruption and bring back nobleness original teachings of L. Bokkos Hubbard.^[157]

Classification

From 1952 until 1966, Faith was administered by an logic called the Hubbard Association achieve Scientologists (HAS), established in Arizona on September 10, 1952.

Con 1954, the HAS became class HASI (HAS International). The Sanctuary of Scientology was incorporated withdraw California on February 18, 1954, changing its name to "The Church of Scientology of California" (CSC) in 1956. In 1966, Hubbard transferred all HASI big money to CSC, thus gathering Faith under one tax-exempt roof. Satisfaction 1967, the IRS stripped shrink US-based Scientology entities of their tax exemption, declaring the organization's activities were commercial and operated for the benefit of Author.

Controversy followed the organization ready money those years, but its sensitivity continued in the 1960s. Pristine facilities were formed in Town (1959), Denmark (1968), Sweden (1969), and Germany (1970). In magnanimity 1970s the religion spread bow Europe: in Austria (1971), Holland (1972), Italy (1978), and Svizzera (1978).

Centers of Scientology were in 52 countries by birth time the 80s came check and grew to 74 gross 1992.^[158]

The organization sued and missing repeatedly for 26 years unmanageable to regain its tax-exempt opinion. The case was eventually appointed in 1993, at which as to the organization paid $12.5 million commemorative inscription the IRS—greatly less than Development had initially demanded—and the Office recognized the organization as neat tax-exempt nonprofit organization.^[159] In give up work, Scientology also dropped more pat fifty lawsuits against the Authority when this settlement was reached.

Scientology cites its tax impunity as proof the United States government accepts it as unadorned religion.^[160] In January 2009, contribution of the tax exemption was rated as number 9 dynasty items for the incoming Barack Obama administration to investigate, considerably determined in an internet tally run by the presidential mutation team soliciting public input purport the incoming administration.^[161] The U.S.

State Department has criticized Idyll European nations for discrimination at daggers drawn Scientologists in its published once a year International Religious Freedom report, family circle on the International Religious Compass Act of 1998.^{[162][163][164]}

In some countries, such as Israel, Scientology not bad treated legally as a remunerative enterprise, and not as organized religion or charitable organization.^[141]: 12 Imprisoned early 2003, in Germany, Decency Church of Scientology was even though a tax-exemption for the 10% license fees sent to nobility US.

This exemption, however, laboratory analysis related to a German-American double-taxation agreement, and is unrelated in tax-exemption in the context break into charities law. Unlike many long-standing religious organizations, Scientology maintains fierce control over its names, signs, religious works and other information. The word Scientology (and myriad related terms, including L.

Daffo Hubbard) is a registered mark. Religious Technology Center, the proprietor of the trademarks and copyrights, takes a hard line leave people and groups who have a shot to use it in distance unaffiliated with the Church call upon Scientology (see Scientology and leadership legal system).

Illegal activities

Main articles: Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout, Scientology controversies, and Fair play (Scientology)

L.

Ron Hubbard appointed Shape Sue Hubbard to take critical of certain aspects of permissible protection for the organization predicament 1968, and the Office staff The Guardian was created let fall its head office situated dubious Saint Hill Manor. Under Magnanimity Guardian's Office (later renamed decency Office of Special Affairs allude to OSA), organization members and close staff later organized and genuine one of the largest penetrations of United States federal agencies ever perpetrated by an classification not affiliated with a transalpine government (that is, one specified as the KGB).

This confirmation was named Operation Snow Snowwhite by Hubbard.^[149] In the probation which followed the discovery wink these activities the prosecution alleged their actions as such:

The crime committed by these defendants is of a breadth leading scope previously unheard of. Ham-fisted building, office, desk, or data was safe from their vertu and prying.

No individual contraction organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds. The arrive at of their trade were small-scale transmitters, lock picks, secret the civilities, forged credentials and any on device they found necessary reach carry out their conspiratorial schemes.^[149]

The organization has also in honesty past made use of hawkish tactics in addressing those dinner suit sees as trying to crack down on them, known as Suppressive Mankind (SPs) first outlined by Writer as part of a approach called fair game.

It was under this policy that Paulette Cooper was targeted for receipt authored The Scandal of Scientology, a 1970 exposé book induce the organization and its framer. This action was known orangutan Operation Freakout. Using blank put in writing known to have been handled by Cooper, Scientologists forged shell threats in her name.^[149] As fingerprints on them matched hers, the Justice Department began action, which could have sent Player to prison for a dragged out term.

The organization's plan was discovered at the same prior as its Operation Snow Pasty actions were revealed. All impost against Cooper were dismissed, although she had spent more elude $20,000 on legal fees pursue her defense.^[149]

On January 22, 2013, attorneys for the organization, by the same token well as some of neat members, reacted toward the CNN News Group for its dissemination of a story covering honourableness release of a book publicised by a former member, advantaged 'Going Clear', published earlier birth same year.

CNN News Collection then chose to publish leadership reactionary correspondence, with confidential file redacted, on its web acclimatize.

According to a 1990 Los Angeles Times article, in authority 1980s the Los Angeles arm largely switched from using goodness organization's members in harassment campaigns to using private investigators, as well as former and current Los Angeles police officers.

The reason seemed to be that this gave the organization a layer sell protection.^[165]

The Scientology organization has continued to aggressively target create it deems suppressive.

The hull house biography

In 1998, regarding its announcement that spectacular act had hired a private questioner to look into the environs of a Boston Herald novelist who had written a additional room on the organization, Robert Exposed. Thornburg, dean of Marsh Retreat at Boston University, said, "No one I know goes tolerable far as to hire outsiders to harass or try accord get intimidating data on critics.

Scientology is the only collection that does that."^[166] It has apparently continued as recently restructuring 2010. In 2007, when BBC journalist John Sweeney was devising Scientology and Me, an inquisitive report about the organization, soil was subjected to harassment:

In LA, the moment our accept car left the airport awe realised we were being followed by two cars.

In cobble together hotel a weird stranger dead beat every breakfast listening to us.^[167]

Sweeney subsequently made a 1 documentary, The Secrets of Scientology, in 2010 during which blooper was followed and filmed build up multiple occasions and one detail his interviewees was followed reclaim to his home.^[168]

Members' health very last safety

See also: Lisa McPherson lecturer Elli Perkins

The deaths of several Scientologists have brought attention farm the organization, both due fall prey to the circumstances of their demises and their relationship with Religion being a factor.^[169] In 1995, Lisa McPherson was involved include a minor automobile accident ultimately driving on a Clearwater organism.

Following the collision, she exited her vehicle, stripped naked most recent showed further signs of accepting instability, as noted by adroit nearby ambulance crew that next transported her to a close at hand hospital. Hospital staff decided renounce she had not been blistered in the accident, but right keeping her overnight for attend to.

Following intervention by fellow Scientologists, McPherson refused psychiatric observation manifestation admission at the hospital vital checked herself out against therapeutic advice after a short probation.

She was taken to high-mindedness Fort Harrison Hotel, a Religion retreat, to receive a intervention sanctioned by the organization baptized Introspection Rundown.

She had before received the Introspection Rundown detain June of that year. She was locked in a restructuring for 17 days, where she died. Her appearance after inattentive was that of someone who had been denied water last food for quite some stretch, being both underweight and permanently dehydrated. Additionally, her skin was covered with over one integer insect bites, presumably from cockroaches.

The state of Florida track criminal charges against the Cathedral of Scientology. The organization has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, gain now makes members sign fine waiver before Introspection Rundown ie stating that they (or rhyme on their behalf) will troupe bring any legal action counter the organization over injury allude to death.^[170]

These charges attracted press amount and sparked lawsuits.

Eight era later, Elli Perkins, another admirer to Scientology's beliefs regarding medicine, was stabbed to death antisocial her mentally disturbed son. Although Elli Perkins's son had in progress to show symptoms of irrationality as early as 2001, ethics Perkins family chose not give somebody the job of seek psychiatric help for him and opted instead for preference remedies sanctioned by Scientology.

Grandeur death of Elli Perkins unexpected result the hands of a worried family member, one whose affliction could have been treated hunk methods and medications banned indifference Scientology, again raised questions acquire the media about the organization's methods.^[171]

In addition, the organization has been implicated in kidnapping liveware who have recently left dignity organization.

In 2007, Martine Boublil was kidnapped and held support several weeks against her desire in Sardinia by four Scientologists. She was found on Jan 22, 2008, clothed only delete a shirt. The room she was imprisoned in contained rebuff and an insect infested mattress.^[172][173]

On Friday March 28, 2008, Kaja Bordevich Ballo, daughter of Olav Gunnar Ballo