Scientology: Rise of a Distinctive Religion: Controversy in Scientology

Production Team Statement and Introduction

It is almost impossible to find someone in the United States who has not heard about the Church of Scientology. Whether good or bad press, the church is constantly a topic of interest throughout the various media outlets at our fingertips today. Why is the church so captivating and interesting today? Well, the Church of Scientology claims to have nearly 8 million followers worldwide, and also claims to have been the only new major religion started in the 20th century. If these figures are correct, than Scientology is one of the fastest growing religions in the world today! Furthermore, Scientology has captured the hearts and minds of a plethora of celebrities of various backgrounds, including actors Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and popular singer/recording artist Beck.

Scientology is constantly under a microscope of scrutiny, and often straddles the line between religion and cult. While Scientology has a definite set of religious beliefs, practices, churches, and non-profit organizations, the church is often criticized for supposedly “brain washing” its followers, as well as extorting ridiculous sums of money as donations to the church. Many church officials themselves have been accused of stealing millions of dollars from the church for personal gain. Nevertheless, the church continues to push forward and expand across the globe, spreading its message of pursuing higher knowledge and attaining spiritual freedom.

Within this website you will find an abundance of information about the Church of Scientology. Available through the various links on this page, you will be able to learn about:

The various important directors and founder of the church
Recommended book resources concerning Scientology
An assortment of images representing the church
A virtual tour of a local Scientology church
Research articles from credited scholarly journals
Expert interviews and testimonials concerning the church
Resources for further learning and research

Hopefully after exploring this comprehensive website, you the viewer will be able to make your own educated decision about the Church of Scientology. We strive to bring you credible information and resources in an unbiased manner. Our analysis of this faith tradition remains strictly educational, and in no way intends to be promotional or derogatory. We hope you find our website interesting and informative, thank you for visiting!

March 16, 2010

Controversy in Scientology

TIME Magazine— “the church is a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.”

Eleven top Scientologists, including Hubbard's wife, were sent to prison in the early 1980s for infiltrating, burglarizing and wiretapping more than 100 private and government agencies in attempts to block their investigations.

In recent years hundreds of longtime Scientology adherents—many charging that they were mentally/physically abused—have quit the church and criticized it at their own risk.

Some have sued the church and won; others have settled for amounts in excess of $500,000. In various cases judges have labeled the church "schizophrenic and paranoid" and "corrupt, sinister and dangerous.”

According to the Cult Awareness Network, whose 23 chapters monitor more than 200 "mind control" cults, no group prompts more telephone pleas for help than does Scientology.

The church claims to have an estimated 8 million members worldwide, but more realistic estimations are around 50,000 members.

During the early 1970s, the IRS conducted its own auditing sessions and proved that Hubbard was skimming millions of dollars from the church, laundering the money through dummy corporations in Panama and stashing it in Swiss bank accounts.

Pyramid scheme in nature—auditing sessions can cost as much as $1000 an hour, and newcomers can earn commissions by recruiting new members, become auditors themselves, or join the church staff and receive free counseling in exchange for what their written contracts describe as a "billion years" of labor.