Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology is a new religious movement that was founded by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard as an organization dedicated to the practice of Scientology, an "applied religious philosophy" formulated by Hubbard.

Related Topics:
New religious movement - Science fiction - L. Ron Hubbard - Scientology

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"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," according to Hubbard. From its earliest days, the Church has become a focus of controversy wherever it appeared, with critics charging that the actual methods and goals of the Church sharply contradict Hubbard's stated aims.

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The nature and legal status of the Church of Scientology continues to arouse controversy around the world. The Church of Scientology has, since 1993, been recognized by the US Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit charitable organization, affording it the same legal protections and favorable tax treatment that the US government extends to long-established religious groups. By contrast, many other governments have been reluctant to accept the Church: the governments of Germany and Belgium officially regard the Church of Scientology as a totalitarian cult; in France, a parliamentary report classified Scientology as a dangerous cult; in the United Kingdom and Canada the Church of Scientology is not regarded as meeting the legal standards for being considered a bona fide religion.

Related Topics:
Continues to arouse controversy - Internal Revenue Service - Germany - Belgium - Cult - France - Classified Scientology as a dangerous cult - United Kingdom - Canada - Bona fide - Religion

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Hubbard directly managed the Scientology organizations until 1966 http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/catechism/pg013.html, when he resigned his title as Executive Director and turned managerial functions over to Church executives. Though Hubbard maintained no formal relationship to Church management?and he sometimes vigorously denied any connection to it?virtually all independent researchers conclude that Hubbard remained firmly in control of the Church of Scientology and its affiliated organizations until the time of his final illness, preceding his death in 1986.

Related Topics:
1966 - 1986

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Following Hubbard's death, David Miscavige, one of his former personal assistants, assumed the post of Chairman of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), a Scientology corporation that regulates the use of Church symbols and Hubbard's copyrighted works. While not publicly claiming to be the leader of Scientology, Miscavige is widely recognised as being the controlling figure of the network of Scientology-affiliated organizations, including the Church of Scientology International, whose president and chief spokesman is the Reverend Heber Jentzsch.

Related Topics:
David Miscavige - Religious Technology Center - Church of Scientology International - Heber Jentzsch

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