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.

Affiliated organizations

There are many independently-chartered organizations and groups which are staffed by Scientologists, and use Scientology technology and trademarks under the control of Scientology management. In some cases, these organizations do not publicize their affiliation with Scientology.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A.B.L.E.

Founded in 1989, the Association for Better Living and Education (A.B.L.E.) http://www.able.org is an umbrella organization that administers four of Scientology's social programs:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Narconon drug rehabilitation centers.
• Official Narconon Site
• Narconon Exposed — covers media reports, source documents, studies and research papers.
• Criminon prisoner rehabilitation programs.
• Official Criminon Site
• The Way to Happiness Foundation, dedicated to disseminating Hubbard's "non-religious moral code."
• Official "Way to Happiness" Site
• Applied Scholastics, educational programs based on Hubbard's "Study Tech."
• Applied Scholastics Official Site
• Scientology v. Education: A critical analysis of Scientology's "study technology"
• List of Scientology-based schools and tutoring groups

CCHR

• The Citizens' Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), co-founded with Thomas Szasz in 1969, is an activist group dedicated to exposing "psychiatric abuse," furthering Scientology doctrinal opposition to mainstream psychiatric therapies.
• Official CCHR Site
• Psychiatric Times: Psychiatric Profession Current Target of Citizens Commission on Human Rights

WISE

Many other Scientologist-run businesses and organizations belong to the umbrella organization WISE (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises), which licenses the use of L. Ron 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 at one of the campuses of the Hubbard College of Administration, which offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree.

Related Topics:
Umbrella organization - World Institute of Scientology Enterprises - L. Ron Hubbard - Hubbard College of Administration

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:* Official WISE Site

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:* Hubbard College of Administration site

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:* Los Angeles Times Article Series on Scientology: 4. Reaching into Society

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:* Critical information on WISE and WISE licensed consultants. While the Church of Scientology denies that WISE is part of the church, internal publications such as The Command Channels of Scientology and WISE's place on the Scientology Org Board, as well as numerous reports that WISE affiliates are urged to recruit for Scientology in exchange for money, lead critics to assert that denials by Scientology are disingenuous.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• One of the best-known WISE-affiliated businesses is Sterling Management Systems http://www.sterling-management.com, which offers Hubbard's management "technology" to professionals such as dentists and chiropractors.
• Another well-known WISE-affiliated business is e-Republic, a publishing company based in Folsom, California.http://www.newsreview.com/issues/sacto/2001-08-23/cover.asp e-Republic publications include Government Technology and Converge magazines. The Center for Digital Government is a division of e.Republic that was founded in 1999.
• Internet ISP EarthLink was founded by Scientologist Sky Dayton as a Scientology enterprise. The company now distances itself from the views of its founder, who has moved on to become CEO of SK-EarthLink.
• Article on EarthLink and Scientology