View source for Church of Scientology

{{Short description|American organization and business}}
{{about|the institution behind Scientology|the ideology itself|Scientology}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox organization
|name         = Church of Scientology
|image        = Church of Scientology building in Los Angeles, Fountain Avenue.jpg
|caption      = Scientology building in Los Angeles, California
|formation    = December 1953
|founder      = [[L. Ron Hubbard]]
|headquarters = [[Gold Base]]<!--As stated in the lead, Gold Base is the HQ-->
|location     = [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]], California
|leader_title = Chairman of the Board [[Religious Technology Center|RTC]]
|leader_name  = [[David Miscavige]]
|website      = {{URL|scientology.org}}
}}
{{Scientology sidebar}}
The '''Church of Scientology''' is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of [[Scientology]], which is variously defined as a [[cult]], a [[scientology as a business|business]], or a [[new religious movement]].{{refn|name=defin|<ref name=timecult2/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kent |first=Stephen A. |author-link=Stephen A. Kent |title=Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field |title-link=Misunderstanding Cults |publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8020-8188-9 |editor-last=Zablocki |editor-first=Benjamin |editor-link=Benjamin Zablocki |pages=349–358 |language=en |chapter=Brainwashing Programs in The Family/Children of God and Scientology |editor-last2=Robbins |editor-first2=Thomas |editor-link2=Thomas Robbins (sociologist)}}</ref><ref name=Anderson1965/><ref name=Edge2006/><ref name=ECRec1178/><ref name="urban2015">{{Cite book | last = Urban | first = Hugh B. | author-link = Hugh Urban | year = 2015 | title = New Age, Neopagan, and New Religious Movements: Alternative Spirituality in Contemporary America  | publisher = Univ of California Press |isbn = 978-0520281172|page=144}}</ref>}} The movement has been the subject of [[Scientology controversies|a number of controversies]], and the Church of Scientology has been described by government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, [[law lords]], and numerous superior court judgements as both a dangerous cult and a manipulative [[Scientology as a business|profit-making business]].{{refn|<ref name=timecult2>{{Cite magazine|title=The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865-2,00.html|last=Behar|first=Richard|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=May 6, 1991|access-date=June 17, 2019|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618035509/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865-2,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Anderson1965>{{Cite report |last=Anderson |first=Kevin Victor |author-link=Kevin Victor Anderson |year=1965 |title=Report of the Board of Enquiry into Scientology |url=https://archive.org/details/vparl-1965-66-no-9-recognized/mode/1up?view=theater |publisher=State of Victoria, Australia |page=179 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |quote=In reality it is a dangerous medical cult |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175651/http://www.apologeticsindex.org/The%20Anderson%20Report.pdf |url-status=live }}. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/andrhome.html Alternative link] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204012057/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/andrhome.html |date=February 4, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=Edge2006>{{Cite book |last=Edge |first=Peter W. |title=Religion and law: an introduction |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |year=2006 | isbn=978-0-7546-3048-7 }}</ref><ref name=ECRec1178>{{Cite report |last1=Hunt |first1=John |last2=de Puig |first2=Luis |last3=Espersen |first3=Ole |date=February 5, 1992 |title=European Council, Recommendation 1178: Sects and New Religious Movements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JRPz4_u7AxMC&pg=PA668 |publisher=Council of Europe |access-date=June 30, 2019 |quote=It is a cool, cynical, manipulating business and nothing else. |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503111023/https://books.google.com/books?id=JRPz4_u7AxMC&pg=PA668#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Scientology (Written answer) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1968/jul/25/scientology |house=House of Commons |date=July 25, 1968 |column_start=189 |column_end=191W }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701033240/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1968/jul/25/scientology |date=July 1, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite report |last=Cottrell |first=Richard |year=1999 |title=Recommendation 1412: Concernant les activités illégales des sectes  |publisher=Conseil d'Europe }}</ref><ref>{{Cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Church of Scientology |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1996/dec/17/church-of-scientology |house=House of Lords |date=December 17, 1996 |column_start=1392 |column_end=1394 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701033228/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1996/dec/17/church-of-scientology |date=July 1, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite court |litigants=Hubbard and another v. Vosper and another |opinion=1 All ER 1023 |court=[[Court of Appeal (England and Wales)|Court of Appeal]] |date=November 19, 1971 |url=https://uniset.ca/other/cs3/vosper.html |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005213729/http://uniset.ca/other/cs3/vosper.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite court |litigants=RE B & G (Minors: Custody) |opinion=F.L.R. 493 |court=[[Court of Appeal (England and Wales)|Court of Appeal]] |date=September 19, 1984 |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/appeal.html |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519194703/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/appeal.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}} In 1979, several executives of the organization were [[United States v. Hubbard|convicted and imprisoned for multiple offenses]] by a U.S. Federal Court.<ref name=HeldtAppeal>{{Cite court|litigants=United States v. Heldt|vol=668|reporter=F.2d|opinion=1238|court=[[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]]|date=October 2, 1981|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_v._Heldt,_668_F.2d_1238_(D.C._Cir._1981)|access-date=3 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103163947/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_v._Heldt,_668_F.2d_1238_(D.C._Cir._1981)|url-status=live}}</ref>{{r|urban|page=168}} The Church of Scientology itself was convicted of [[fraud]] by a French court in 2009, a decision upheld by the supreme [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]] in 2013.<ref name=TorygrFraud13>{{Cite news |title=Scientology's fraud conviction upheld in France |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10384877/Scientologys-fraud-conviction-upheld-in-France.html |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530065306/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10384877/Scientologys-fraud-conviction-upheld-in-France.html |archive-date=May 30, 2014 |url-status=live |location=London |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |agency=[[Agence France Presse|AFP]] |date=October 17, 2013}}</ref> The [[Scientology in Germany|German]] government classifies Scientology as an unconstitutional [[sect]].<ref name="spiegel.de">{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hubbard-s-church-unconstitutional-germany-prepares-to-ban-scientology-a-522052.html|newspaper=Der Spiegel|title=Hubbard's Church 'Unconstitutional': Germany Prepares to Ban Scientology – SPIEGEL ONLINE|access-date=March 13, 2017|date=December 7, 2007|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225144219/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hubbard-s-church-unconstitutional-germany-prepares-to-ban-scientology-a-522052.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="assemblee-nationale.fr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/rap-enq/r2468.asp|publisher=assemblee-nationale.fr|title=National Assembly of France report No. 2468|access-date=March 13, 2017|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225144222/http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/rap-enq/r2468.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Scientology in France|France]], it has been classified as a dangerous [[cult]].<ref name="lobs"/> In some countries, it has attained [[Scientology status by country|legal recognition as a religion]].<ref name=postweird>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080201887.html Weird, Sure. A Cult, No.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107231611/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080201887.html |date=November 7, 2017 }} Washington Post By Mark Oppenheimer, August 5, 2007</ref>

The [[Church of Scientology International]] (CSI) is officially the "Mother Church", and is responsible for guiding the other Scientology centers.{{r|urban|p=172}} Its international headquarters are located at the [[Gold Base]] in [[Riverside County, California]].{{r|reitman|page=275}} The [[Church of Spiritual Technology]] (CST) is the organization that owns all the copyrights of the estate of [[L. Ron Hubbard]].<ref name="urban2015"/>

All Scientology management organizations are controlled exclusively by members of the [[Sea Org]], which is a legally nonexistent paramilitary organization for the "elite, innermost dedicated core of Scientologists".<ref name="urban2015"/><ref name="nrmarlia2003"/> [[David Miscavige]] is described by the Scientology organization as the highest-ranking Sea Org officer, and is referred to by the organization as its captain.

== History ==

{{main|History of Dianetics and Scientology}}
[[File:L. Ron Hubbard in 1950.jpg|thumb|[[L. Ron Hubbard]], founder of the Church of Scientology]]

In 1950, L. Ron Hubbard established organizations to manage activities related to his invention of [[Dianetics]]; the organizations went bankrupt and Hubbard moved to Arizona where he started [[Scientology]]. In 1952, Hubbard established the Hubbard Association of Scientologists (HAS), a secular organization, and in 1953 the first Church of Scientology organization was incorporated in [[Camden, New Jersey]].{{r|urban|p=158}}{{r|atack|page=138}} The HAS was dissolved and the [[Hubbard Association of Scientologists International]] (HASI), a religious fellowship, was established to be the managing umbrella organization over all other organizations.{{r|urban|p=158}} In late 1954, Hubbard made the official announcement that Scientology was a religion.{{r|urban|p=218}} In 1954, the first Church of Scientology was incorporated in California, which in 1956 was renamed to the Church of Scientology of California.{{r|urban|p=159}} That organization was to become the 'mother church' over hundreds of smaller churches and missions of Scientology until 1981 when that status was passed to the [[Church of Scientology International]].{{r|atack|p=270}}

Hubbard had official control of the organizations until 1966 when he publicly resigned, though he continued to give orders to executives, secretly running the organizations. Although Hubbard maintained no formal position within Scientology's management structure, he remained firmly in control of the organization and its affiliated organizations, often using code names and code words to obscure his involvement.<ref>{{Cite news |first = John |last = Marshall |title = Hubbard still gave orders, records show |work = The Globe and Mail |location = Canada |date = January 24, 1980 |url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/386965976 |id = {{ProQuest|386965976}} |url-access = subscription |via = [[ProQuest]] |access-date = March 27, 2024 |archive-date = May 3, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240503111011/https://www.proquest.com/docview/386965976 |url-status = live }}</ref> When some of the top ranking staff, including Hubbard's wife, were [[United States v. Hubbard|indicted for infiltrating the US government]] in their actions of [[Operation Snow White]], Hubbard went into deep hiding though continued to manage control over the organizations but this time through intermediaries—predominantly [[Pat Broeker]] and [[David Miscavige]].{{r|atack|pp=257ff}}

After the convictions in ''[[United States v. Hubbard]]'', there was a flurry of activity creating new corporations in the early 1980s to avoid further government scrutiny and to limit and compartmentalize liabilities. The Guardian's Office was replaced with the Office of Special Affairs; Religious Technology Center (RTC) was created, and numerous other corporations sprang up during this period, which acquired the name "corporate sort out" (CSO).{{r|reitman|p=129}} The idea was to "create a legally defensible structure that would give Hubbard and the Commodore's Messenger Organization full legal control over Scientology while at the same time insulating both Hubbard and the CMO from any legal liability for running the organizations of Scientology by lying about the level of control they really had."{{r|reitman|pp=129-130}}

In 1986, after the death of L. Ron Hubbard, Pat and Annie Broeker presented documents from Hubbard showing they had been promoted to "Loyal Officers" and were named as Hubbard's successors in managing the Sea Org. However, a year later [[David Miscavige]] had wrested power from the Broekers and became the leader of the Scientology organization.{{r|TruthRunDown}}{{r|atack|p=362}}{{r|wright|pp=190-3}}

== Hierarchy of organizations ==

The Church of Scientology network operates as a multinational [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] of companies with personnel, [[Senior management|executives]], [[organizational charts]], [[chain of command|chains of command]], [[Policy|policies]] and orders:{{r|kent1999|wallis|urban}}

{{blockquote |text=Today, what we call "Scientology" is in reality a remarkably complex network of ostensibly independent but clearly interconnected corporate entities. ... with a centralized bureaucracy and hierarchical structure. ... [[Religious Technology Center|[Religious Technology Center]]] is the most powerful executive organization within the Scientology empire, and its current chairman, [[David Miscavige]], is widely recognized as the effective head of the church.|author=Hugh Urban {{r|urban|p=131-2}}}}

The main types of organizations within the Scientology network are:
* [[#Service organizations|Service organizations]] are the public-facing organizations
* [[#Management organizations|Management organizations]]
* [[#Publishing and media organizations|Publishing and media organizations]]
* [[#Dissemination organizations|Dissemination organizations]] such as marketing and outreach.

== Service organizations ==

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250
|image1=Olbia (Sardaigne, Italie) en juillet 2018 - 9.JPG
|image2=Amsterdam, Holland ( Ank Kumar ) 03.jpg
|image3=London Mar 15 2008 CoS protest AB 14.JPG
|image4=ScientologyBuildingAustinTX.JPG
|image5=Portland Church of Scientology.jpg
|image6=Aosheu.jpg
|footer = A mission, a Dianetics center, a life improvement center, a Class V org, an Ideal org, an advanced org
}}

Church of Scientology organizations that are public-facing are called "service orgs".{{r|hubbard-admindict|p=476}} The two main types of services offered to the public are [[Auditing (Scientology)|auditing]] and auditor training. Auditing is the 'counseling', and training teaches how to audit. The levels of auditing and training are charted and described on [[The Bridge to Total Freedom]].{{r|thebridge}} All service organizations are separate corporate entities, are licensed as franchises, and pay a percentage of their gross revenues to International Management.{{r|lewis-ch4|p=98}} Hubbard's image and writing are ubiquitous in service orgs, and each maintains a corporate-style office set aside for Hubbard's reincarnation, with a plaque on the desk bearing his name, and a pad of paper with a pen for him to continue writing.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Boyd|first1=Joe|title=A Mind-bending experience|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 4, 1997}}</ref>{{r|wright|page=200}}

; Missions of Scientology
: Business-wise, missions operate like [[Franchising|franchises]]. They are independently owned by a "mission holder" and licensed to operate by the Church of Scientology. These offer beginning services to newcomers to Scientology, then push their clients to higher level service orgs.{{r|hubbard-admindict|p=334}} Missions are managed by [[#SMI|Scientology Missions International]].

; Scientology Life Improvement Centers and Dianetics Centers
: These centers are operated by a local Church of Scientology and are small "store front" locations with the purpose of selling books and offering very basic services to get people interested in Scientology.

{{Anchor|Class V org|Class IV org}}
; Central org, Class V org
: This organization is what most people think of as "a Church of Scientology". It offers a full range of auditing and auditor training services up to the level of [[Clear (Scientology)|Clear]] on [[The Bridge to Total Freedom]]. They were called Class V orgs because the auditor training level up to Clear was called the "Class V auditor course".<ref>{{citation |title=LRH ED 34 Int : The Role of the Central Org |first=L. Ron |last=Hubbard |date=November 18, 1969}}</ref><ref name=thebridge/>

; Ideal org
: An [[#Ideal Org|Ideal Org]] is a special class of Class V org where a new large building has been acquired, renovated, and outfitted to David Miscavige's "ideal org" standards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INSIDER: How Scientology's 'Ideal Org' scam works, and how members are victimized by it |author=An Insider |date=December 23, 2021 |website=The Underground Bunker |url=https://tonyortega.org/2021/12/23/insider-how-scientologys-ideal-org-scam-works-and-how-members-are-victimized-by-it/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923021636/https://tonyortega.org/2021/12/23/insider-how-scientologys-ideal-org-scam-works-and-how-members-are-victimized-by-it/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Anchor|Advanced orgs|Saint Hill orgs}}
; Saint Hill org and Advanced org
: A Saint Hill org is a type of service org which trains up through the Class VI course—the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course. Named after [[Saint Hill Manor]]. An Advanced org offers the advanced levels above Clear, including the [[Operating Thetan#OT levels|OT levels I through V]]. Several organizations operate the function of a Saint Hill org coupled with an Advanced org in a single corporation, such as: [[#Saint Hill|East Grinstead, United Kingdom]]; Copenhagen, Denmark; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Sydney, Australia. [[#PAC Base|Los Angeles, California]] has a separate Saint Hill org and an Advanced org.{{r|irsapplic|pages=49-50}}

; [[Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization|Flag Service Org]] (FSO)
: Also known as "Flag". Located in the [[#Flag Land Base|Clearwater, Florida campus]], audits specialty rundowns such as the [[Super Power Rundown]] and the L's rundowns. It is also the chief training organization for Class V org staff to train for their posts (these students are called "outer org trainees"). FSO also operates an Advanced org which offers the [[Operating Thetan#OTVI|OT levels VI and VII]], and trains [[Sea Org]] staff for the confidential upper levels to audit and supervise others on OT levels V-VIII.{{r|irsapplic|page=52ff}}

{{anchor|FSSO}}
; Flag Ship Service Org (FSSO)
: The name of the service org that operates aboard the ''[[Freewinds]]'' ship in the Caribbean. It offers the [[Operating Thetan#OTVIII|OT level VIII]].{{r|irsapplic|page=55ff}}

== Management organizations ==

All Scientology management organizations are controlled exclusively by members of the [[#Sea Org|Sea Org]]—which is not a corporation—consisting of the "elite, innermost dedicated core of Scientologists" run as a [[paramilitary organization]].<ref name="urban2015"/><ref name="nrmarlia2003"/> [[David Miscavige]] is described by the Scientology organization as the highest-ranking Sea Org officer, and is referred to by the organization as its captain.

The [[Church of Scientology International]] (CSI) is officially the "Mother Church", and is responsible for guiding the other Scientology centers.{{r|atack|page=270}}{{r|urban|p=172}}

The [[Church of Spiritual Technology]] (CST) is the organization that owns all the copyrights of the estate of [[L. Ron Hubbard]].<ref name="urban2015"/>

There are numerous other management organizations, including the [[Commodore's Messenger Organization]], [[Watchdog Committee]], Continental Liaison Offices, and the organizations that manage the [[#Dissemination organizations|dissemination and outreach activities]].{{r|commandchannels|pages=9,10,26}}

In the 1950s and 1960s, management was operated from the [[Hubbard Association of Scientologists International]] (HASI), and from 1966 until the 1980s it was the Church of Scientology of California (CSC).{{r|urban|page=131}}

=== Sea Org ===
{{Main|Sea Org}}

{{Excerpt|Sea Org|only=paragraph}}<!--Inserting just the first lead paragraph from the article. It is recommended that any editing take place in the original article to keep the edit history straight.-->

Critics of Scientology have spoken out against the disciplinary procedures and policies of the Sea Org, which have been [[Scientology controversies|a source of controversy]] since its inception and variously described as abusive and illegal. Former Sea Org members have stated that punishments in the late 1960s and early 1970s included confinement in hazardous conditions such as the ship's chain locker.<ref>Wakefield, Margery. ''Understanding Scientology'', Chapter 9. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/us-09.html Reproduced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930172624/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/us-09.html |date=September 30, 2019 }} at [[David S. Touretzky]]'s [[Carnegie Mellon]] site.</ref>

In 1974, Hubbard established the [[Rehabilitation Project Force]] (or RPF), a forced labour and re-education program against reputedly delinquent members of the Sea Org,<ref name=Ke03>{{Cite journal|last=Kent|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen A. Kent|date=September 2003|title=Scientology and the European Human Rights Debate: A Reply to Leisa Goodman, J. Gordon Melton, and the European Rehabilitation Project Force Study |journal=[[Marburg Journal of Religion]]|publisher=[[University of Marburg]]|volume=8|issue=1|url=https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3725|access-date=May 21, 2006 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629063543/http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/kent3.html|archive-date=June 29, 2006 |doi=10.17192/mjr.2003.8.3725}}</ref> which involves long days of hard labor, restricted food, and substandard living conditions.<ref name="Hellesoy2014">{{Cite journal |last1=Hellesøy |first1=Kjersti |title=Scientology |journal=Controversial New Religions |date=28 August 2014 |pages=257–269 |doi=10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199315314.003.0015|isbn=978-0-19-931531-4 }}</ref> Ex-members have reported physical abuse and that members are prevented from leaving with threats and coercion.<ref name="Hellesoy2014"/><ref name="Lippard2013">{{Cite journal |last1=Lippard |first1=Jim |title=Scientology Exposed |journal=Skeptic |date=Spring 2013 |volume=18 |issue=2 |page=48 |url=http://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A335733126/AONE |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503111032/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&id=GALE%7CA335733126&v=2.1&it=r&userGroupName=anon%7Ecebb2fcc&aty=open-web-entry |url-status=live }}</ref> Teenagers as young as twelve years old have been assigned to the RPF, and there have been reports of children laboring for considerably longer than eight hours a day, and physical and sexual abuse of minors.<ref name="Kent2021_IR">{{Cite journal |last1=Kent |first1=Stephen A. |title=Studying Scientology as an Anti-Democratic Institution: Suggestions and Cautions to Future Researchers |journal=Implicit Religion |date=4 March 2021 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=167–174 |doi=10.1558/imre.19161 |s2cid=233598724 |url=https://journal.equinoxpub.com/IR/article/view/19161 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104223127/https://journal.equinoxpub.com/IR/article/view/19161 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ortega2012VV">{{Cite news |last1=Ortega |first1=Tony |title=Scientology's Shocking Treatment of Children Held in a Suburban Labor Camp |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/02/14/scientologys-shocking-treatment-of-children-held-in-a-suburban-labor-camp/ |access-date=4 January 2023 |work=The Village Voice |date=14 February 2012 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116125351/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/02/14/scientologys-shocking-treatment-of-children-held-in-a-suburban-labor-camp/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="McManus2019_TBT">{{Cite news |last1=McManus |first1=Tracey |title=Scientology policy enabled years of child sexual abuse, lawsuit says |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/09/19/scientology-policy-enabled-years-of-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-says/ |access-date=4 January 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=19 September 2019 |language=en |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812145618/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/09/19/scientology-policy-enabled-years-of-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-says/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jenna Miscavige Hill]], niece of David Miscavige and author of ''Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape'', stated that as a child she often worked 14 hours a day and only got to see her parents once a week, if that.<ref>[https://www.inquisitr.com/577365/former-scientologist-claims-children-forced-into-labor-camp/ Former Scientologist Claims Children Forced Into Labor Camp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804014003/https://www.inquisitr.com/577365/former-scientologist-claims-children-forced-into-labor-camp/ |date=August 4, 2018 }}, ''Inquisitr'', Tara Dodrill, March 18, 2013.</ref>

{{anchor|RTC}}

=== Religious Technology Center (RTC) ===
{{See also|Religious Technology Center|Church of Spiritual Technology}}

The highest authority in the Church of Scientology network is [[Religious Technology Center]] (RTC). The RTC claims to only be the "holder of Scientology and Dianetics trademarks", but is in fact the main Scientology executive organization.<ref name="urban2015"/> RTC chairman [[David Miscavige]] is widely seen as the effective head of Scientology.<ref name="urban2015"/>

[[Religious Technology Center]] is the organization at the top of the Scientology hierarchy.{{r|rinder|page=303}} RTC was established in 1982, and controls the Dianetics and Scientology trademarks.{{r|urban|page=23}} In 1987, David Miscavige took over control of RTC and is the head of RTC; officially Chairman of the Board, or COB.{{r|rinder|page=122}} 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 organization, and critics, as well as numerous government and media organizations.{{r|atack|page=284}}{{r|urban|pages=182–185}}

{{anchor|Mission network|SMI}}

=== Scientology Missions International ===
{{Main|Scientology Missions International}}

Scientology Missions International is the management organization over the mission network. Missions are small Scientology organizations which recruit new people and deliver basic services and [[Auditing (Scientology)|auditing]]. These were the feeder organizations which sent people into the main Scientology orgs. Previously called ''franchises'' and running semi-autonomously under the wing of the [[Guardian's Office]], they were considered "Scientology's life blood" until [[David Miscavige]] and his International Finance Police gutted the network in the early 1980s. Missions were operated by a ''mission holder'' who paid 10% license fees to the Church of Scientology but kept the bulk of their income to themselves. The new policy was that missions paid a higher percentage to the new [[Scientology Missions International]] (SMI), established 1981, and anyone who objected was [[Scientology ethics and justice#SP|declared suppressive]] and their bank accounts seized. Hundreds of mission holders lost or closed their missions and in 1983 there were just forty missions left in the US. Until the 1990s, few people opened new missions and the push was directed towards celebrities to open missions: [[Kirstie Alley]] opened a mission in Wichita, Kansas in 1995, [[Isaac Hayes]] and [[Lisa Marie Presley]] opened one in Memphis in 1997, and [[Jenna Elfman]] opened one in San Francisco in 2001. According to the Church of Scientology, by 2002 there were 197 missions in the US, and by 2008 there were internationally 3,200 missions across 129 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Presley, Hayes Back Scientology |date=October 5, 1997 |publisher=[[AP News]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/56ec427010d4dce242657b67202955f6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627201422/https://apnews.com/article/56ec427010d4dce242657b67202955f6 |archive-date=June 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=Celebrity |issue=363 |date=2020 |pages=8–11 |title=Celebrity Interview : Jenna Elfman |publisher=[[Celebrity Centre|Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |editor1-last=Lewis |editor1-first=James R. |chapter=Scientology Missions International (SMI): An Immutable Model of Technological Missionary Activity |first=Bernadette |last=Rigal-Cellard |title=Scientology |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199887118 |year=2009 |pages=325–334 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.003.0017 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtW90YkkB3gC&dq=Scientology+Missions+International+(SMI):+An+Immutable+Model+of+Technological+Missionary+Activity&pg=PA325 |access-date=July 9, 2023 |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925185007/https://books.google.com/books?id=MtW90YkkB3gC&dq=Scientology+Missions+International+(SMI):+An+Immutable+Model+of+Technological+Missionary+Activity&pg=PA325 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{r|reitman|pages=137-139,159}}{{r|rinder|pages=95-97,157,300}} (Note: A {{glossary link|glossary=Glossary of Scientology|missionaire|Sea Org missionaire}} is unrelated to the mission network.{{r|hubbard-admindict|p=335}})

== Publishing and media organizations ==

=== Golden Era Productions ===
{{Main|Gold Base}}
Golden Era Productions is a 500+ acre property in California also known as [[Gold Base]], occupied by the Church of Scientology since 1979. It is where they make Scientology films, reproduce audio recordings of Hubbard's lectures, and assemble [[E-meter]]s.{{r|rinder|pages=80–81}}

=== Scientology Media Productions and Scientology Network===
{{Main|Scientology Network|KCET Studios}}
In 2011, the Church of Scientology purchased [[KCET Studios|KCET-TV's studio facilities]].<ref name=thr2011>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/las-kcet-tv-sells-landmark-181915/ |title=L.A.'s KCET-TV Sells Landmark Hollywood Studios to Church of Scientology |first=Daniel |last=Miller |date=April 25, 2011 |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308032121/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/las-kcet-tv-sells-landmark-181915/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After five years of renovations and upgrades, the 4.5-acre property was reopened in 2016 as "Scientology Media Productions".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/what-is-the-church-of-scientology-doing-with-this-los-angeles-movie-studio-7293993|title=What Is the Church of Scientology Doing With This Los Angeles Movie Studio?|first=Hillel|last=Aron|date=24 August 2016|publisher=LA Weekly|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=August 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005132/https://www.laweekly.com/news/what-is-the-church-of-scientology-doing-with-this-los-angeles-movie-studio-7293993|url-status=live}}</ref> The facilities included "three soundstages, postproduction tools, control rooms, music studios, mixing rooms, art departments, scene shops, radio booths, screening rooms, a magazine production space, a live-events hub" and 136,000 square feet of space.<ref name=thr2021>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/scientology-tv-recruitment-leah-remini-4174250/ |title="The Means of Getting Someone in the Door": An Inside Look at Scientology's Lavish Production Facilities and Actor Recruitment Strategy |first=Kirsten |last=Chuba |date=April 29, 2021 |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308032117/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/scientology-tv-recruitment-leah-remini-4174250/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, they launched the [[Scientology Network]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/3/22/17144710/church-of-scientology-channel-tv|title=The Church of Scientology Has Launched a TV Channel. It's Weirdly Familiar.|date=March 22, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2020|first=Tara Isabella|last=Burton|website=Vox|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308151712/https://www.vox.com/2018/3/22/17144710/church-of-scientology-channel-tv|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{anchor|Pubs org|Bridge Publications|New Era Publications}}

=== Bridge Publications and New Era Publications ===
[[File:Scientology Disseminations Distribution Center Los Angeles.jpg|thumb|Print and distribution center, California]]
''Bridge Publications, Inc.'' (incorporated 1981 in California) is the publisher for Scientology books and magazines in the United States, and ''New Era Publications International, Aps'' is the publisher in Europe.{{r|handbookofscientology2016|page=211}}

Past publications organizations include ''Distribution Center Inc.'' (Maryland 1955), ''Publications Organization United States'' (California 1971), and ''Scientology Publications Limited'' (UK 1991).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ia803209.us.archive.org/1/items/FosterReportEnquiryIntoThePracticeAndEffectsOfScientology/Foster%20Report%20-%20Enquiry%20into%20the%20Practice%20and%20Effects%20of%20Scientology.pdf |first=John |last=Foster |author-link=John Foster (MP for Northwich) |title=Enquiry into the Practice and Effects of Scientology |publisher=[[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]], London |date=December 1971 |at=70(v) |quote=Scientology Publications Limited was incorporated as long ago as 30th January 1954. Mr. Hubbard holds 51 out of 57 £1 shares issued. Both he and his wife were appointed directors on 24th November 1955. He - but not she - resigned on 30th December 1966. No annual returns have been filed since 31st December 1967. }} UK National Archive piece reference [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=8070954&CATLN=6&accessmethod=5&j=1 MH 153/606] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503111226/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/record?catid=8070954&catln=6 |date=May 3, 2024 }}</ref>{{r|bridgepubabout}}{{r|emetercase1969}}

As of 2023, the Bridge Publications print and distribution center, located at 5600 E Olympic Blvd, Commerce, California, occupies 185,000 square feet and prints the organization's magazines and other Scientology materials. The center's [[Offset printing#Web-fed offset|press]] has the capacity to print 55,000 pages per hour. The warehousing and shipping department is fully automated, with the capability of handling half a million items per week.<ref name="prnewswire2016">{{Cite news|url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/church-of-scientology-flips-the-switch-on-185000-square-foot-dissemination-and-distribution-center-114735574.html|title = Press release: Church of Scientology Flips the Switch on 185,000-Square-Foot Dissemination and Distribution Center|agency = PR Newswire|access-date = January 1, 2016|archive-date = March 4, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220149/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/church-of-scientology-flips-the-switch-on-185000-square-foot-dissemination-and-distribution-center-114735574.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="bridgepubabout">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bridgepub.com/about/ |title=About Bridge Publications, Inc. |publisher=Bridge Publications, Inc. |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313014217/https://www.bridgepub.com/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are several [[Imprint (trade name)|imprints]] from across the entire Scientology network which are printed at the main print center, including [[Effective Education Publishing]], Freedom Publishing, and [[Galaxy Press]].

=== Author Services Inc. and Galaxy Press ===
[[File:2005 11 L. Ron Hubbard Museum.jpg|thumb|Author Services building]]
{{Main|Author Services Inc.|Galaxy Press}}
[[Author Services Inc.]] (ASI) represents the literary, theatrical and musical works of L. Ron Hubbard.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.authorservicesinc.com/ |title=Author Services |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313030426/https://www.authorservicesinc.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is wholly owned by [[Church of Spiritual Technology]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sc-i-r-s-ology.pair.com/documents/1993-10-01closingagrmt.html#irsorder |title=IRS-Scientology Closing Agreement |date=October 1, 1993 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426072259/http://www.sc-i-r-s-ology.pair.com/documents/1993-10-01closingagrmt.html#irsorder |archive-date=April 26, 2006}}</ref> Author Services runs the contests ''[[Writers of the Future]]'' and ''Illustrators of the Future''. [[Galaxy Press]] is an [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of Author Services, spun off from Bridge Publications in 2002. Author Services and Galaxy Press are located at [[Security Trust|7051 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.authorservicesinc.com/galaxy-press/ |title=Galaxy Press |website=Author Services, Inc. |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313030425/https://www.authorservicesinc.com/galaxy-press/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Dissemination organizations ==

There are many independently chartered organizations and groups which are staffed by Scientologists, and pay license fees for the use of Scientology technology and trademarks under the control of Scientology management. In some cases, these organizations do not publicize their affiliation with Scientology and operate as [[Scientology front groups|front groups]].<ref name="sydney">{{Cite news | url = https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/unwitting-highschoolers-lured-to-forum-run-by-scientologists/2007/03/27/1174761471748.html | title = Unwitting highschoolers lured to forum by Scientologists | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = March 27, 2007 | access-date = July 17, 2007 | archive-date = July 1, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070701082052/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/unwitting-highschoolers-lured-to-forum-run-by-scientologists/2007/03/27/1174761471748.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Alan |last=McEwen |title=Scientology-link group is banned |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=314912004 |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |date=March 18, 2004 |access-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013122551/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=314912004 |archive-date=October 13, 2007 }}</ref>

{{anchor|ABLE}}

=== Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) ===
{{Main|Association for Better Living and Education}}
Founded in 1989, the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) is an umbrella organization that administers six of Scientology's social programs:
* [[Applied Scholastics]], educational programs based on Hubbard's "Study Tech".
* [[Criminon]] prisoner rehabilitation programs.
* [[International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance]], which has a particular interest in religious freedom.
* [[Narconon]] drug rehabilitation centers.
* [[The Way to Happiness]] Foundation, dedicated to disseminating Hubbard's non-religious moral code.
* [[Youth for Human Rights International]], the youth branch of The Way to Happiness.

{{anchor|CCHR}}

=== Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) ===

{{Main|Citizens Commission on Human Rights}}
The [[Citizens Commission on Human Rights]] is an [[anti-psychiatry]] lobby organization whose stated mission is to "eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cchrint.org/about-us/ |title=About CCHR |website=CCHR International |date=May 5, 2009 |publisher=Citizens Commission on Human Rights International |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628025344/http://www.cchrint.org/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It operates the ''[[Psychiatry: An Industry of Death]]'' exhibit which is open to the public in CCHR's building on Sunset Boulevard.{{r|wright|page=293}} It has been described by critics as a [[Scientology front groups|Scientology front group]].<ref name="one">{{Cite news |title=Industry of Death exhibition on psychiatry walks a fine line |url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=9b10ee7c-3c02-4092-8c2b-3fd45be37b85&k=0 |access-date=September 23, 2012|newspaper=Canada.com |date=August 8, 2007 |quote="A major purpose of Scientology is to destroy psychiatry and replace it with its own pseudo-counselling techniques. And CCHR is one of Scientology's front-group weapons attempting to achieve that goal," says Stephen Kent, a University of Alberta sociologist specializing in new religions and cults. Scientology holds that psychiatrists are "cosmic demons", he says. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615190228/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=9b10ee7c-3c02-4092-8c2b-3fd45be37b85&k=0 |archive-date=June 15, 2011}}</ref><ref name="two">{{Cite news |title=Scientology's political presence on the rise |url= http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/ci_2836269 |access-date= September 23, 2012|newspaper= The Salt Lake Tribune |date= July 2, 2005 |author= Kirsten Stewart |quote= The church [of Scientology] kept a low profile, paying professional lobbyists to press its cause or relying on CCHR, which skeptics call a front group designed to recruit Scientologists and replace psychiatry with Dianetics.
 |url-status = dead |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131850/http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/ci_2836269 |archive-date = July 14, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="three">{{Cite news |title=[ Fence Post ] |newspaper=Chicago Daily Herald |date=January 4, 2001 |type=Letters to the Editor |quote=Dangerous program / In a letter to Fence Post (Dec. 12), Susan Stozewski of the Chicago Church of Scientology attempts to promote a drug rehab program called Narconon. I wish to warn readers that Narconon is a front group for the Church of Scientology.  I found from personal experience that Narconon is a sham and is, in fact, a slick device to lure unsuspecting people into Scientology. An acquaintance of mine recently discovered that she had serious liver damage from Narconon's bogus "purification" program and she now cannot get health insurance coverage.  Another Scientology front group to beware of is the CCHR or Citizens Commission on Human Rights. The CCHR is using tax-exempt funds in a covert campaign to discredit psychiatric-psychology treatment. The CCHR has an extensive network of agents that are distributing distortions about psychiatric treatment and medications such as Prozac and Ritalin. This is a very dangerous thing and people should be aware that it is going on. / Jim Beebe / Northbrook}}</ref>

=== Volunteer Ministers ===
{{Main|Volunteer Ministers}}

The Church of Scientology began its "[[Volunteer Ministers]]" program as a way to participate in community outreach projects. Volunteer Ministers travel to the scenes of major disasters to provide assistance with relief efforts. According to critics, these relief efforts consist of passing out copies of a pamphlet authored by Hubbard entitled ''[[The Way to Happiness]]'', and engaging in a method said to calm panicked or injured individuals known in Scientology as a "[[touch assist]]". Accounts of the Volunteer Ministers' effectiveness have been mixed, and touch assists are not supported by scientific evidence.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Sly|first1=Randy|title=Updated: Scientologists in Haiti: Volunteers or Vultures?|url=http://www.catholic.org/news/international/americas/story.php?id=35377|access-date=December 16, 2015|work=Catholic.org|date=September 2, 2010|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110105/http://www.catholic.org/news/international/americas/story.php?id=35377|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Winn|first1=Patrick|title=Scientologists are in Nepal trying to 'heal' trauma victims|url=http://www.globalpost.com/article/6550051/2015/05/15/scientologists-are-nepal-trying-heal-trauma-victims|access-date=December 16, 2015|work=Global Post|date=May 15, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222113230/http://www.globalpost.com/article/6550051/2015/05/15/scientologists-are-nepal-trying-heal-trauma-victims|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Winn|first1=Patrick|title=Scientology's global disaster squad|url=https://www.minnpost.com/global-post/2011/04/scientology%E2%80%99s-global-disaster-squad|access-date=December 16, 2015|work=MinnPost|date=April 11, 2011|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105014/https://www.minnpost.com/global-post/2011/04/scientology%E2%80%99s-global-disaster-squad|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{anchor|WISE}}

=== World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) ===
{{Main|World Institute of Scientology Enterprises}}

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 at one of the campuses of the [[Hubbard College of Administration]], which offers an 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 business is [[e.Republic]], a publishing company based in Folsom, California.<ref>[http://www.newsreview.com/issues/sacto/2001-08-23/cover.asp "Scientology Inc."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050515075237/http://www.newsreview.com/issues/Sacto/2001-08-23/cover.asp |date=May 15, 2005 }} at Newsreview.com</ref> 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 Scientologists [[Sky Dayton]] and [[Reed Slatkin]] as a Scientology enterprise. The company now distances itself from the views of its founder, who moved on to become CEO of [[Helio (wireless carrier)]], formerly known as SK-EarthLink.

=== Front groups ===
{{Excerpt|Scientology front groups|only=paragraph}}<!--Inserting just the first lead paragraph from the article. Recommend any editing take place in the original article to keep the edit history straight.-->

== Bases and campuses ==
{{See also|Scientology properties}}

[[File:CoSmap.png|thumb|Locations of major Scientology centers in the United States and the United Kingdom: 1. [[#Saint Hill|Saint Hill Manor]] 2. [[#Flag Land Base|Flag Land Base]] 3. [[#PAC Base|PAC Base]] 4. [[#Gold Base|Gold Base]] 5. [[#Trementina Base|Trementina Base]] 6. Flag ship, ''[[#FSSO|Freewinds]]'']]

{{Blockquote |text=The church owns a staggering array of properties, from a college on 55 acres in England to a luxury cruise ship. The church often buys historic buildings and refurbishes them in grand fashion. —''St. Petersburg Times'', 2009 <ref>{{Cite news |title=Scientology: Origins, celebrities and holdings § Scientology's properties |date=Jun 21, 2009 |work=St. Petersburg Times |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012139.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225094629/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012139.ece |archive-date=December 25, 2009}}</ref>}}

{{anchor|Saint Hill}}

=== Saint Hill, England ===
{{Main|Saint Hill Manor}}
{{multiple image|perrow = 1|total_width=250
|image1 = Saint Hill Manor.jpg
|image2 = Saint Hill, East Grinstead.jpg
|footer = Some of the Saint Hill campus
}}

Hubbard moved to England shortly after founding Scientology, where he oversaw its worldwide development from an office in London for most of the 1950s. In 1959, he bought [[Saint Hill Manor]], a Georgian manor house near the [[Sussex]] town of [[East Grinstead]]. During Hubbard's years at Saint Hill, he traveled extensively, providing lectures and training in Australia, South Africa in the United States, and developing materials that would eventually become Scientology's "core systematic theology and praxis".<ref name="auto">{{Cite journal |title=Saint Hill and the Development of Systematic Theology in the Church of Scientology (1959–1967) |journal=Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review |year=2015 |last=Westbrook |first=Donald A. |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=111–155 |issn=1946-0538 |doi=10.5840/asrr2015577 }}</ref> While in Saint Hill, Hubbard worked with a staff of nineteen and urged others to join. On September 14, 1959, he wrote: "Here, on half a hundred acres of lovely grounds in a mansion where we have not yet found all the bedrooms, we are handling the problems of administration and service for the world of Scientology. We are not very many here and as the sun never sets on Scientology we are very busy thetans."<ref name="auto"/>

The most important achievement of the Saint Hill period was Hubbard's execution of the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course (SHBC). It was delivered by Hubbard from March 1951 to December 1966 and, within the Church of Scientology, is considered the best training course for budding "auditors" in the organization. Scientology groups called "Saint Hill Organizations" located in Los Angeles, Clearwater (Florida), Copenhagen and Sydney still teach this course.<ref name="auto"/>

This became the worldwide headquarters of Scientology through the 1960s and 1970s. Hubbard declared Saint Hill to be the organization by which all other organizations would be measured, and he issued a general order (still followed today) for all organizations around the world to expand and reach "Saint Hill size". The Church of Scientology has announced that the next two levels of [[Scientology beliefs and practices|Scientology teaching]], [[Operating Thetan#OT IX to OT XV|OT IX and X]], will be released and made available to the organization's members when all the major organizations in the world have reached Saint Hill size.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtW90YkkB3gC&q=scientology+ot+9+and+10+saint+hill+size&pg=PA425 |title=Scientology |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |page=425 |access-date=August 18, 2016 |isbn=9780199715954 |archive-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327103206/https://books.google.com/books?id=MtW90YkkB3gC&q=scientology+ot+9+and+10+saint+hill+size&pg=PA425 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{anchor|Flag Land Base|FSO}}

===Flag Land Base, Clearwater, Florida ===
{{Main|Fort Harrison Hotel|Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization}}

{{multiple image|perrow = 1|total_width=250
|image1 = Scientology Superpower Building Ribbon Cutting 17 November 2013.jpg
|image2 = Clearwater, Florida, 080417 041.jpg
|footer = Some of the Flag Land Base buildings: The Super Power Building (top) and Fort Harrison Hotel (foreground right), Clearwater Bank building,}}
The "worldwide spiritual headquarters" of the Church of Scientology is known as Flag Land Base, located in [[Clearwater, Florida]]. It is operated by [[Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc.]], a Florida corporation.

The organization was founded in 1975 when a Scientology-founded group called "Southern Land Development and Leasing Corp" purchased the [[Fort Harrison Hotel]] for $2.3&nbsp;million. Because the reported tenant was the "United Churches of Florida" the citizens and City Council of Clearwater did not realize that the building's owners were actually the Church of Scientology until after the building's purchase. Clearwater citizens' groups, headed by Mayor [[Gabriel Cazares]], rallied strongly against Scientology establishing a base in the city (repeatedly referring to the organization as a cult), but Flag Base was established nonetheless.<ref name="sptimes1979">{{Cite web |url=http://sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/scientology/Scientology_Special_Report.pdf |title=Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater |date=1979 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809193839/http://sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/scientology/Scientology_Special_Report.pdf |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |first=Charles |last=Stafford |publisher=[[St Petersburg Times]] }} {{Cite web |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/bette-swenson-orsini-and-charles-stafford |title=The 1980 Pulitzer Prize Winner in National Reporting |website=[[Pulitzer Prize|The Pulitzer Prizes]] |access-date=February 17, 2023 |archive-date=February 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217041045/https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/bette-swenson-orsini-and-charles-stafford |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the years since its foundation, the Flag Land Base has expanded as the Church of Scientology has gradually purchased large amounts of additional property in the downtown and waterfront Clearwater area. Scientology's largest project in Clearwater has been the construction of a high-rise complex called the "[[Super Power Building]]", or Flag Building, which "is the centerpiece of a 160-million construction campaign."<ref>{{Cite news | first = Robert | last = Farley | title = Scientology's town Series: Scientology's town: A two-part special report |edition= South Pinellas | date = July 18, 2004 | work = St. Petersburg Times }}</ref>

The Church of Scientology's CST chairman of the board, David Miscavige, led the opening and dedication of the 377,000-square-foot Flag Building on November 17, 2013. The multi-million cathedral is the new spiritual headquarters of Scientology. The fifth and sixth floor contain the "Super Power Program", which includes specially designed machines that Scientologists believe allow users to develop new abilities and experience enlightenment. The building also includes a dining facility, course rooms, offices and small rooms for "[[Auditing (Scientology)|auditing]]" purposes.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/11/church-of-scientology-dedicates-145-million-super-power-building/ | title = Church of Scientology Dedicates $145 Million 'Super Power' Building | website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] | access-date = November 19, 2013 | archive-date = November 18, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131118224143/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/11/church-of-scientology-dedicates-145-million-super-power-building/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tom-cruise-attends-unveiling-scientology-657211 | title = Tom Cruise Attends Unveiling of Scientology 'Super Power' Building | access-date = November 19, 2013 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | date = November 18, 2013 | archive-date = November 22, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131122011925/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tom-cruise-attends-unveiling-scientology-657211 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/celebrities-hand-open-scientology-cathedral-5716402 | title = Celebrities on hand to open Scientology 'cathedral' | access-date = November 19, 2013 | archive-date = November 22, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131122031950/http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/celebrities-hand-open-scientology-cathedral-5716402 | url-status = live }}</ref>

{{anchor|PAC Base|ASHO|AOLA|CCInt|HGB}}

=== PAC Base and Hollywood, California ===

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250
|image1 = Church-of-Scientology-Los-Angeles-night-shot.jpg
|image2 = CelebrityCentre.jpg
|image3 = Guaranty Building 79000481.jpg
|image4 = Scientology Center on Hollywood Blvd. (2746273728).jpg
|image5 = Scientology building east hollywood los angeles.jpg
|footer = Los Angeles Org, [[Celebrity Centre]], [[Guaranty Building (Hollywood, California)|Hollywood Guaranty Building]], Hollywood Scientology Center, "Big Blue"
}}
Los Angeles, California, has the largest concentration of Scientologists and Scientology-related organizations in the world, with the Church of Scientology's most visible presence being in the Hollywood district of the city.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump won this little chunk of Los Angeles, where half of voters are linked to Scientology |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pol-scientology-trump-hollywood-20170119-story.html |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=24 January 2017 |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911111926/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pol-scientology-trump-hollywood-20170119-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The organization owns a former hospital on Fountain Avenue which houses Scientology's [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] headquarters,<ref name="BI">{{Cite news |title=Take a tour of Scientology's massive Los Angeles real estate empire |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/take-a-tour-of-scientologys-massive-los-angeles-real-estate-empire/slidelist/46934412.cms |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=Business Insider |date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911111932/https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/take-a-tour-of-scientologys-massive-los-angeles-real-estate-empire/slidelist/46934412.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> the Pacific Area Command Base – often referred to as "PAC Base" or "Big Blue", after its blue paint job. Adjacent buildings include headquarters of several internal Scientology divisions,<ref name="BI"/> including the American Saint Hill Organization, the Advanced Organization of Los Angeles, and the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles. All these organizations are integrated within the corporation [[Church of Scientology Western United States]].

The Church of Scientology successfully campaigned to have the city of Los Angeles rename one block of a street running through their complex "L. Ron Hubbard Way". The street has been paved in brick.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Grad|first1=Shelby|title=How Scientology got L.A. to name street after L. Ron Hubbard|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-street-scientology-hubbard-20150330-story.html|access-date=May 13, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 31, 2015|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510085800/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-street-scientology-hubbard-20150330-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Scientology's [[Celebrity Centres|Celebrity Center International]] is located on [[Franklin Avenue (Los Angeles)|Franklin Avenue]], while the [[Association for Better Living and Education]], [[Author Services]] and the official headquarters of the [[Church of Scientology International]] (in the [[Guaranty Building (Hollywood, California)|Hollywood Guaranty Building)]] are all located on [[Hollywood Boulevard]]. The ground floor of the Guaranty Building also features the ''L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition'', a museum detailing his life that is open to the general public. The Celebrity Centre was acquired by the organization as the Chateau Elysee in 1973, built to accommodate members in the arts, sports and government.<ref name="miller"/>

{{anchor|Gold Base}}

=== Gold Base, Riverside County, California ===
{{Main|Gold Base}}
[[File:Gold Base aerial view from west.jpg|thumb|Gold Base aerial view from west]]
The headquarters of the [[Religious Technology Center]], the entity that oversees Scientology operations worldwide, is located in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Riverside County, California]], near the city of [[San Jacinto, California|San Jacinto]]. The facility, known as [[Gold Base]] or "Int", is owned by [[Golden Era Productions]] and is the home of Scientology's media production studio, Golden Era Studios. Several Scientology executives, including David Miscavige, live and work at the base.<ref name="latimes">{{Cite news | first = Claire | last = Hoffman | author2 = Christensen, Kim | title = Tom Cruise and Scientology | url = https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-scientology18dec18,0,2963052.story | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 18, 2005 | access-date = January 24, 2008 | archive-date = December 18, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071218230406/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-scientology18dec18,0,2963052.story | url-status = live }}</ref> Therefore, Gold Base is Scientology's international administrative headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7187E1046BC11&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |title=Rural Studio is Scientology Headquarters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514232330/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7187E1046BC11&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]] |date=August 13, 1991 |page=6B California News |access-date=October 21, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=David |title=Scientology foes blast new law |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 10, 2009 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-10-me-scientology10-story.html |access-date=October 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214151243/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/10/local/me-scientology10 |archive-date=February 14, 2009}}</ref><ref>Glick, Julia. [http://www.pe.com/localnews/morenovalley/stories/PE_News_Local_S_supes07.37a2aa5.html "County ordinance raises questions about Scientology"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014182036/http://www.pe.com/localnews/morenovalley/stories/PE_News_Local_S_supes07.37a2aa5.html |date=October 14, 2010 }} ''[[The Press-Enterprise]]''. January 6, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2009.</ref><ref name="ScientInland"/>

The Church of Scientology bought the former [[Gilman Hot Springs|Gilman Hot Springs resort]], which had been popular with Hollywood figures, in 1978; the resort became Gold Base.<ref name="ScientInland">McGavin, Gregor. [http://www.pe.com/localnews/hemet/stories/PE_News_Local_D_scientology15.30c068a.html "Scientologists' presence in Inland area dates back to 1960s"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926180337/http://www.pe.com/localnews/hemet/stories/PE_News_Local_D_scientology15.30c068a.html |date=September 26, 2010 }} ''[[The Press-Enterprise]]''. January 15, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2009.</ref> The facilities are surrounded by floodlights and video observation cameras,<ref name="latimes"/><ref name="stone">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/inside-scientology-103288/ |title=Inside Scientology |date=February 8, 2011 |orig-date=February 23, 2006 |first=Janet |last=Reitman |author-link=Janet Reitman |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url-status=<!--archived version is better--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502021124/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/inside-scientology-20110208 |archive-date=May 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Thomas C |last=Tobin |title=A place called 'Gold' |url=http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologygold.html |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=October 25, 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991112082952/http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologygold.html |archive-date=November 12, 1999 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news <!--|url = https://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2005-12/21006726.pdf--> |url=https://www.trbas.com/media/media/acrobat/2005-12/21006726.pdf |title = Scientology's inland empire |access-date = August 25, 2007 |last = Perry |first = Rebecca |author2=Kelsen, Don|date = December 17, 2005|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and the compound is protected by razor wire.<ref name="laweekly">{{Cite news|first=Gale |last=Holland |title=Unfair Game |url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/unfair-game/4713/ |newspaper=[[LA Weekly]] |date=June 20, 2001 |access-date=February 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210190653/http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/unfair-game/4713/ |archive-date=February 10, 2007 }}</ref>

{{anchor|Trementina Base}}

=== Trementina Base, New Mexico ===
[[File:Scientology Trementina.jpg|thumb|upright|Trementina Base]]
{{Main|Trementina Base}}
The Church of Scientology maintains a large base on the outskirts of [[Trementina, New Mexico]], for the purpose of storing their archiving project: engraving Hubbard's writings on stainless steel tablets and encasing them in titanium capsules underground. An aerial photograph showing the base's enormous [[Church of Spiritual Technology]] symbols on the ground caused media interest and a local TV station broke the story in November 2005. According to a report in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', the organization unsuccessfully attempted to coerce the station not to air the story.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/26/AR2005112601065_pf.html|title=A Place in the Desert for New Mexico's Most Exclusive Circles|first=Richard|last=Leiby|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 27, 2005|access-date=November 22, 2011|archive-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813014450/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/26/AR2005112601065_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Membership statistics ==

It is difficult to obtain reliable membership statistics. In the US, the 2008 [[American Religious Identification Survey]] found that there were 25,000 Scientologists in the US. Some of these were not considered to be members of the organization.<ref name="newyorktimes">{{Cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Fred|title=In Pasadena, a Model for Scientology's Growth Plan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/business/10scientology.html|access-date=July 13, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514163850/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/business/10scientology.html|archive-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="villagevoice.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/07/04/scientologists-how-many-of-them-are-there-anyway/|title=Scientologists: How Many Of Them Are There, Anyway?|date=July 4, 2011|website=The Village Voice|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819074310/https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/07/04/scientologists-how-many-of-them-are-there-anyway/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/us/07scientology.html|title=Defectors Say Church of Scientology Hides Abuse|first=Laurie|last=Goodstein|date=March 6, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=July 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705020835/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/us/07scientology.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1525/nr.2017.20.4.13|title = The Third Wall of Fire| journal=Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions| volume=20| issue=4| pages=13–36|year = 2017|last1 = Urban|first1 = Hugh B.}}</ref> A 2008 Trinity College survey similarly concluded there were 25,000 Scientologists.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/clear-scientology/|title=In the Clear: On Scientology|journal=The Nation|first=Mark|last=Oppenheimer|date=October 18, 2011|via=www.thenation.com|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018160825/https://www.thenation.com/article/clear-scientology/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[International Association of Scientologists]] (IAS), the official Church of Scientology membership system since 1984, has never released figures.{{r|wright|page=ix}} The organization's spokespersons either give numbers for their countries or a worldwide figure.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Tony |last=Ortega |title=Scientology's Crushing Defeat |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-06-24/news/Scientologys-Crushing-Defeat/full |work=[[The Village Voice]] |publisher=[[Village Voice Media]] |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2008 |quote=Scientology president Heber Jentszch admitted several years ago that the six million number does not represent current membership but the total amount of people who have ever, since the founding in 1954, taken even a single Scientology course. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709230659/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-06-24/news/Scientologys-Crushing-Defeat/full |archive-date=July 9, 2008 }}</ref>

The organization has said that it has eight to fifteen million members worldwide, but this figure is known to be an aggrandizing fabrication.<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Bromley | first1 = David | last2 = Cowan | first2 = Douglas | url = http://ca.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405161272.html | title = Cults and new religions: a brief history | url-status = dead | access-date = July 29, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130801074435/http://ca.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405161272.html | archive-date = August 1, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Flinn-WashingtonPost">{{Cite news|first=Frank K.|last=Flinn|title=Scientology|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/06/30/DI2005063001394.html|work=Live discussion|publisher=Washington Post|date=July 5, 2005|access-date=February 4, 2008|archive-date=April 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409210227/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/06/30/DI2005063001394.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="deseret">{{Cite web|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html|title=Scientology: Church now claims more than 8 million members|access-date=August 1, 2007|last=Jarvik|first=Elaine|date=September 18, 2004|website=[[Deseret News]]|quote=Melton, who has been criticized by some for being too easy on Scientology, and has been criticized by the church {{sic}} for being too harsh, says that the church's {{sic}} estimates of its membership numbers&nbsp;– 4 million in the United States, 8 to 9 million worldwide&nbsp;– are exaggerated. "You're talking about anyone who ever bought a Scientology book or took a basic course. Ninety-nine percent of them don't ever darken the door of the church {{sic}} again." If the church {{sic}} indeed had four million members in the United States, he says, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up on a national survey" such as the Harris poll. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616032022/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html|archive-date=June 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Scientology Media Relations Director Linda Simmons Hight |date=May 11, 2002 |url=http://www.scientologytoday.org/News/2002/020511.htm |publisher=scientologytoday.org |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229225723/http://www.scientologytoday.org/News/2002/020511.htm |archive-date=December 29, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Statement of Celebrity Centre Vice President Greg LaClaire, August 7, 2004 {{Cite web |url=http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/news/2004/040807.html |title=Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International Hosts 35th Anniversary Gala |access-date=March 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831150421/http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/news/2004/040807.html |archive-date=August 31, 2007  }}</ref><ref>Spokesperson Beth Akiyama in: [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05205/542895.stm Scientology comes to town] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505050603/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05205/542895.stm |date=May 5, 2007 }}, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 24, 2005</ref><ref>{{Cite book | author=L. Ron Hubbard | title=Final Blackout | publisher=Leisure Books | year=1970 | isbn=978-0-8439-0003-3| quote = HE IS ALSO renowned as the founder of Scientology and the creator of "Dianetics," with an estimated 15 million adherents around the world.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Jarvik |first=Elaine |title=Scientology: Church now claims more than 8 million members |newspaper=Deseret Morning News |date=September 18, 2004 |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html |access-date=February 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616032022/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C595091823%2C00.html |archive-date=June 16, 2008 }}</ref> Religious scholar [[J. Gordon Melton]] has said that the organization's estimates of its membership numbers are exaggerated: "You're talking about anyone who ever bought a Scientology book or took a basic course. Ninety-nine percent of them don't ever darken the door of the church again." Melton has stated that if the claimed figure of 4 million American Scientologists were correct, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up on a national survey".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595091823,00.html |title=Scientology: Church now claims more than 8 million members |access-date=August 1, 2007 |last=Jarvik |first=Elaine |date=September 18, 2004 |work=[[Deseret News]] |quote=If the church indeed had 4 million members in the United States, he says, "they would be like the Lutherans and would show up on a national survey" such as the Harris poll. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212145039/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C595091823%2C00.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Statistics from other sources:
* In 2001, the [[American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS)]] reported that there were 55,000 adults in the United States who consider themselves Scientologists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922574.html|title=Self-Described Religious Identification Among American Adults|website=InfoPlease|access-date=July 15, 2018|archive-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309223251/http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922574.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2008 survey of American religious affiliations by the US Census Bureau estimated there to be 25,000 Americans identifying as Scientologists.<ref name="New Yorker">{{Cite magazine | last = Wright | first = Lawrence | title = The Apostate | magazine = The New Yorker | date = February 2011 | url = https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright | access-date = February 18, 2020 | archive-date = July 3, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140703045530/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population|url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0075.xls|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231342/http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0075.xls|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The 2001 United Kingdom census contained a voluntary question on religion, to which approximately 48,000,000 chose to respond. Of those living in England and Wales who responded, a total of 1,781 said they were Scientologists.<ref name="lewis2004">{{Cite journal | last = Lewis | first = James R. | title = New Religion Adherents: An Overview of Anglophone Census and Survey Data | journal = Marburg Journal of Religion | volume = 9 | issue = 1 | date = September 2004 | url = http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/pdf/2004/lewis2004.pdf | access-date = February 15, 2007 | archive-date = July 17, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070717171834/http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/pdf/2004/lewis2004.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>
* In 2011, [[Statistics Canada]], the national census agency, reported a total of 1,745 Scientologists nationwide,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=105399&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= |title=2011 National Household Survey: Data tables – Religion (108), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey |author=Government of Canada, Statistics |website=12.statcan.gc.ca|date=May 8, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2018|archive-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231174104/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=105399&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=|url-status=live}}</ref> up from 1,525 in 2001<ref name="lewis2004" /> and 1,220 in 1991.<ref>[[Kevin Boyle (lawyer)|Boyle, Kevin]]; Sheen, Juliet (1997), ''Freedom of Religion and Belief'', London, UK/New York, NY: Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0-415-15978-4}}, p. 102</ref>
* In 2005, the [[Verfassungsschutz|German Office for the Protection of the Constitution]] estimated a total of 5,000 – 6,000 Scientologists in that country, and mentioned a count of 12,000 according to Scientology Germany.<ref>[http://www.verfassungsschutz.de/download/SHOW/vsbericht_2005.pdf Verfassungsschutzbericht 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026112318/http://www.verfassungsschutz.de/download/SHOW/vsbericht_2005.pdf |date=October 26, 2007 }}, p. 292</ref>
* In the 2006 New Zealand census, 357 people identified themselves as Scientologists, although a spokesperson for the organization said there were between 5,000 and 6,000 Scientologists in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/category,COI,,,NZL,48d5cc0d3f,0.html |title=2008 Report on International Religious Freedom – New Zealand |publisher=United Nations High Commission for Refugees |date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728144952/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/category,COI,,,NZL,48d5cc0d3f,0.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Earlier census figures were 207 in the 1991 census, 219 in 1996, and 282 in 2001.<ref name="lewis2004" />
* In 2006, Australia's national census recorded 2,507 Scientologists nationwide, up from 1,488 in 1996, and 2,032 in 2001.<ref name="lewis2004" /><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22038951-2862,00.html Religion's rise in the stars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804191745/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22038951-2862,00.html |date=August 4, 2007 }}, ''Herald Sun'', July 9, 2007</ref> The 2011 census however found a decrease of 13.7 percent from the 2006 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Census shows scientology numbers going backwards|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-29/scientology-numbers-going-backwards/4101958|work=ABC News|date=June 29, 2012|access-date=June 30, 2012|archive-date=June 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630023551/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-29/scientology-numbers-going-backwards/4101958|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2011, [[SonntagsZeitung]] reported that support for Scientology in Switzerland had experienced a steady decline from 3,000 registered members in 1990 to 1,000 members and the organization was said to be facing extinction in the country. A Church of Scientology spokesperson rejected the figures claiming that the organization had 5,000 "passive and active members in Switzerland".<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--googl_uaa--> |url=http://www.thelocal.ch/442/20110704/ |title=Scientology losing Swiss support: experts – The Local |publisher=Thelocal.ch |date=July 4, 2011 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701183026/http://www.thelocal.ch/442/20110704 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In 2011, the "Scientology Association of Finland" had approximately 120 members.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uskonnot.fi/yhteisot/view.php?orgId=587 |title=Suomen Scientologia-yhdistys ry |website=Uskonnot Suomessa |access-date=May 1, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806005130/http://www.uskonnot.fi/yhteisot/view.php?orgId=587}}</ref>

== Finances ==

{{see also|Scientology Finance|Tax status of Scientology in the United States}}
In 2008, the Church of Scientology and its large network of corporations, nonprofits and other legal entities were estimated to bring in around 500 million US dollars in annual revenue.<ref>{{Cite news  | last =Smith  | first =L. Christopher  | title =Scientology's Money Trail: Celebrities! Tax shelters! Bart Simpson! A glimpse into the finances of the secretive church  | work =Condé Nast Portfolio  | publisher =2008 Condé Nast Inc.  | date =December 2008  | url =http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/11/19/Monetary-Value-of-Scientology  | access-date =November 19, 2008  | archive-date =December 21, 2008  | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081221154301/http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/11/19/Monetary-Value-of-Scientology  | url-status =live  }}</ref>

Scientologists can attend classes, exercises or counseling sessions for a set range of "fixed donations"; however, membership without courses or auditing is possible. According to a sociological report entitled "Scientology: To Be Perfectly Clear", progression between levels above "clear" status cost $15,760.03 in 1980 ({{Inflation|US|15760.03|1980|fmt=eq}}; this cost does not include additional special treatments).<ref name="stark">{{Cite journal | last = Bainbridge | first = William Sims |author2=Rodney Stark | title = Scientology: To Be Perfectly Clear | journal = Sociological Analysis: A Journal in the Sociology of Religion | volume = 41 | issue = 2 | pages = 128–136 | year = 1980 | doi=10.2307/3709904| jstor = 3709904 }}</ref>{{clarify|reason=What kind of special treatments and how might this affect the overall cost of membership?|date=July 2022}} Scientologists can choose to be audited by a fellow Scientologist rather than by a staff member.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Goodyear |first=Dana |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/01/14/080114fa_fact_goodyear |title="Château Scientology", The New Yorker, 14 January 2008 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=August 1, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119183447/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/01/14/080114fa_fact_goodyear |url-status=live }}</ref>

Critics say it is improper to fix a donation for religious service; therefore the activity is non-religious. Scientology points out many classes, exercises and counseling may also be traded for [[Barter|"in kind"]] or performed cooperatively by students for no cost, and members of its most devoted orders can make use of services without any donations bar that of their time. A central tenet of Scientology is its [[Doctrine of Exchange]], which dictates that each time a person receives something, he or she must give something back. By doing so, a Scientologist maintains "inflow" and "outflow", avoiding spiritual decline.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=/us/490/680.html |title=''Hernandez v. Commissioner'', U.S. Supreme Court |publisher=Caselaw.lp.findlaw.com |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=November 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114114430/http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=%2Fus%2F490%2F680.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{anchor|Ideal Org}}
== Ideal Orgs ==

Starting in 2003 Miscavige began pressuring local Churches of Scientology to purchase larger facilities to use as Scientology centers which would be renovated to become "Ideal Orgs".<ref name="seattletimes.com">{{Cite news |last1=Goodstein |first1=Laurie |title=Scientology defectors speak out |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2011277347_scientology07.html |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |via=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=March 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031193142/http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2011277347_scientology07.html|archive-date=October 31, 2013}}</ref> The theory was "If you build it they will come."{{r|reitman|page=348}} This push has included the acquisition of many historic buildings, a plan which professor of religious studies [[Hugh Urban]] believes has been pursued to imbue the Church with historical significance and distract from its controversies.<ref name="miller">{{Cite news | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/scientologys-hollywood-real-estate-empire-213141/ | work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | first=Daniel | last=Miller | title=Scientology's Hollywood Real Estate Empire | access-date=February 18, 2020 | archive-date=November 12, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112230609/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scientologys-hollywood-real-estate-empire-213565?page=3 | url-status=live }}</ref> For renovations of these buildings, the Church of Scientology has relied heavily on manual labor from [[Sea Org]] members in the organization's [[Rehabilitation Project Force]].<ref name="miller"/>

As of 2018, the Church of Scientology claims it had purchased 70 buildings and opened 60 Ideal Orgs around the globe.<ref name="peters"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/15/scientology-church-opens-doors-detroit/1645980002/ |title=Church of Scientology opens doors of downtown Detroit center |access-date=October 24, 2018 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411160038/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/15/scientology-church-opens-doors-detroit/1645980002/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

With its membership numbers dwindling, Scientology's ideal org campaign has been called "a real estate scam", a "money-making scam", and "Scientology's principle cash cow".<ref name="peters">{{Cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Joey |date=March 28, 2018 |title=Inside the dwindling Minneapolis-St. Paul Scientology movement |work=[[City Pages]] |url=http://www.citypages.com/news/inside-the-twin-cities-dwindling-scientology-movement/478085193 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025070911/http://www.citypages.com/news/inside-the-twin-cities-dwindling-scientology-movement/478085193 |archive-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref>{{r|reitman|page=347}} Scientologists were heavily pressured during lengthy fundraising sessions to donate all their money and even open new credit lines to help fund the several million dollar building purchases. This resulted in less money to spend on normal services like training and auditing, so the new orgs became desolate. Staff pay, which is dependent upon weekly org income, was often reduced to a few dollars a week.<ref name="seattletimes.com" /><ref name="peters" /> A 2010 survey of former Scientologists by former Church of Scientology executive [[Mike Rinder]] found that the most cited reason for leaving the Church was the unrelenting pressure to donate to programs such as the Ideal Org program.{{r|reitman|page=349}}

Some of the buildings purchased for Ideal Orgs remained vacant and unrenovated for years. For example, in the UK, delayed Ideal Orgs included [[Birmingham]] (purchased in 2007 and finally opened in 2017),<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Croucher |first1=Shane |title=The Church of Scientology owns the Pitmaston mansion in Birmingham |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scientology-its-languishing-english-property-pitmaston-house-birmingham-1560951 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=International Business Times UK |date=May 20, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071033/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scientology-its-languishing-english-property-pitmaston-house-birmingham-1560951 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Church of Scientology opens new UK base |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-41697303 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=BBC News |date=October 21, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025035851/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-41697303 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gateshead]] (purchased 2007),<ref name="cooper">{{Cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Robert |title=The church that never opened |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-26936135 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=BBC News |date=August 19, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025034344/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-26936135 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Manchester]] (purchased 2006),<ref name="cooper" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Smithers |first1=Dominic |title=Why has this Church of Scientology building in Old Trafford been empty for 10 years? |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/church-scientology-building-old-trafford-12474501 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=January 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025070906/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/church-scientology-building-old-trafford-12474501 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Plymouth]] (purchased 2009).<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Croucher |first1=Shane |title=The Church of Scientology owns the old Royal Fleet Club in Plymouth |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scientology-its-languishing-english-property-royal-fleet-club-plymouth-1560954 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=International Business Times UK |date=May 20, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071021/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scientology-its-languishing-english-property-royal-fleet-club-plymouth-1560954 |url-status=live }}</ref> The delays prompted calls from locals for a [[Compulsory purchase in England and Wales|compulsory purchase]] of the historically significant buildings, which had remained largely vacant and undeveloped since their purchase.<ref name="croucher">{{Cite news |last1=Croucher |first1=Shane |title=How the Church of Scientology left landmark English properties in danger of going to 'rack and ruin' |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/church-scientology-faces-calls-compulsory-purchase-orders-historic-english-properties-danger-1560927 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=International Business Times UK |date=May 20, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071051/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/church-scientology-faces-calls-compulsory-purchase-orders-historic-english-properties-danger-1560927 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Celebrities ==

{{Main|Scientology and celebrities}}
In order to facilitate the continued expansion of Scientology, the organization has made efforts to win allies in the form of powerful or respected people.<ref name=laceleb>Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos, Times Staff Writers, [https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientology062790a,0,3614832.story Courting the Power Brokers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027183808/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientology062790a,0,3614832.story |date=October 27, 2013 }} ''Los Angeles Times'', June 27, 1990</ref> 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, and another church document pointed to the importance of "using Scientology celebrities to mold the opinions of their publics."{{r|urban|pages=139–141}} According to [[Robert Vaughn Young]], "one of my jobs was to get celebrities active, to convince them to hustle and promote Scientology."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=1924408&date=19940809 |title=One Theory On Michael-Lisa: It's All A Plot |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |via=The Seattle Times |date=August 9, 1994 |first=Richard N. |last=Leiby |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519110407/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940809&slug=1924408 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Church of Scientology operates [[Celebrity Centres]] for the use of artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures, and other prominent individuals.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hyde |first1=Marina |title=Lifting the lid on Scientology's celebrities |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2008/apr/18/liftingthelidonscientology |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 April 2008 |language=en |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911112341/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2008/apr/18/liftingthelidonscientology |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Government opinions of Scientology ==
{{Main|Scientology status by country}}

While some governments now give the Church of Scientology protections and tax relief,<ref>{{Cite web | author=Hexham, Irving | title=The Religious Status of Scientology: Is Scientology a Religion? |website=University of Calgary | year=1978 | url=https://www.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/papers/irving/scient.html | access-date=June 13, 2006 | archive-date=November 19, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119050104/http://www.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/papers/irving/scient.html}}</ref><ref name="South Africa religious recognition">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/2000/04/05/southafrica/HOMEAFFA.HTM |title=Dispatch online – "New SA rights for Scientology" |work=Daily Dispatch |date=November 12, 2010 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104002113/http://www.dispatch.co.za/2000/04/05/southafrica/HOMEAFFA.HTM |archive-date=November 4, 2010  }}</ref> other sources describe the organization as a [[pseudoreligion]] or a [[cult]].<ref name="Beit-Hallahmi">{{Cite journal | last=Beit-Hallahmi |first=Benjamin |author-link=Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi | title=Scientology: Religion or racket? |journal=[[Marburg Journal of Religion]] |volume=8 |issue=1 |date=September 2003 | url=https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3724 | access-date=February 21, 2023 |url-status=live |doi=10.17192/mjr.2003.8.3724 | archive-date=November 8, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108062518/http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/pdf/2003/breit2003.pdf}}</ref> Sociologist Stephen Kent published at a Lutheran convention in Germany that he likes to call it a [[multinational corporation|transnational corporation]].<ref name="marburg">{{Cite journal | author= Kent, Stephen | title= Scientology – Is this a Religion? |journal=Marburg Journal of Religion |volume=4 |issue=1 | date=July 1999 | url= http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/kent.html | access-date= August 26, 2006 | archive-date= August 19, 2006 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060819005516/http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/kent.html}} Kent, while acknowledging that a number of his colleagues accept Scientology as a religion, argues that "Rather than struggling over whether or not to label Scientology as a religion, I find it far more helpful to view it as a multifaceted transnational corporation, only ''one'' element of which is religious." (Italics in original.)</ref>

Early official reports in countries such as the United Kingdom (1971), South Africa (1972), Australia (1965) and New Zealand (1969) have yielded unfavorable observations and conclusions.<ref>{{Cite report | author =John Foster | title = Enquiry into the Practice and Effects of Scientology | publisher = Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London | date = December 1971 | url = https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/fosthome.html | access-date = March 5, 2007 | journal =  | archive-date = February 5, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070205002702/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/fosthome.html | url-status = live |via=Carnegie Mellon University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report | author = G. P. C. Kotzé | title = Report of the Commission of Enquiry into Scientology for 1972 | publisher = Republic of South Africa  | year = 1972}}</ref><ref name="Anderson1965"/><ref>{{Cite report | author = Guy Richardson Powles | title = The Commission of Inquiry into the Hubbard Scientology Organization in New Zealand | publisher = New Zealand | year = 1969 | url = https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/nzhome.html | access-date = March 5, 2007 | journal =  | archive-date = February 5, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070205055729/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/nzhome.html | url-status = live  |via=Carnegie Mellon University}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
{{Main|Scientology controversies}}

Though it has attained some [[Scientology status by country|credibility as a religion]] in many countries, Scientology has also been described as both a [[cult]] and a commercial enterprise.<ref name="timecult2"/> Some of the organization's actions also brought scrutiny from the press and law enforcement. For example, it has been noted to engage in harassment and abuse of civil courts to silence its critics, by identifying as [[Fair game (Scientology)|fair game]] people it perceives as its enemies.<ref name="The Church's War">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1994/12/25/scientology-fiction/809c906a-5145-4cce-a0fa-710d77adb5cd/ |title=Scientology Fiction: The Church's War Against Its Critics – and Truth |date=December 25, 1994 |first=Richard |last=Leiby |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date = June 21, 2006 |archive-date = September 8, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080908100138/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/06/AR2005070601351.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | last=Goodin | first=Dan | date=June 3, 1999 | url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-226676.html | title=Scientology subpoenas Worldnet | publisher=CNET News.com | access-date=May 4, 2006 | archive-date=January 28, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128164549/http://news.com.com/2100-1023-226676.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1979, several Scientology members were convicted for their involvement in the organization's [[Operation Snow White]], the largest theft of government documents in U.S. history.<ref name="ortega19991223">{{Cite web |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |title=Double Crossed |date=December 23, 1999 |work=[[Phoenix New Times]] |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/double-crossed-6431852 <!--reprint version omits original photographs--> |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312025501/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/double-crossed/full |archive-date=March 12, 2007}}</ref><ref name="lawhite"/> Scientologists were also convicted of fraud, manslaughter and tampering with witnesses in French cases,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/23/world/french-scientologist-sentenced-after-church-member-s-suicide.html |title=French Scientologist Sentenced After Church Member's Suicide |work=The New York Times |date=November 23, 1996 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |first=Craig R. |last=Whitney |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707234330/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/23/world/french-scientologist-sentenced-after-church-member-s-suicide.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Erlanger |first=Steven |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/europe/28france.html |title=French Branch of Scientology Convicted of Fraud |location=France |work=The New York Times |date=October 27, 2009 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124232404/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/europe/28france.html |url-status=live }}</ref> malicious libel against lawyer Casey Hill and espionage in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1995/1995rcs2-1130/1995rcs2-1130.html |title=Supreme Court of Canada - Decisions - Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto |access-date=January 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514055547/http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1995/1995rcs2-1130/1995rcs2-1130.html |archive-date=May 14, 2009  }}</ref><ref>[Claridge, Thomas (September 12, 1992). "Church of Scientology fined $250,000 for espionage". ''The Globe and Mail''.]</ref>

In his book ''World Religions in America'', religious scholar Jacob Neusner states that Scientology's "high level of visibility" may be perceived as "threatening to established social institutions".<ref name=Neusner>{{Cite book|last=Neusner|first=Jacob|year=2003|title=World Religions in America|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|pages=221–236|isbn=0-664-22475-X}}</ref>

The film ''[[Going Clear (film)|Going Clear]]'', based on [[Going Clear (book)|the book by the same name]],{{r|wright}} also documents controversies surrounding the organization and its treatment of former members.<ref name="Beaumont2015_Guardian">{{Cite news|title=Church of Scientology targets film critics over Going Clear documentary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/03/church-of-scientology-attacks-film-critics-going-clear-documentary|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|work=The Guardian|date=February 3, 2015|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203125224/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/03/church-of-scientology-attacks-film-critics-going-clear-documentary|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Collins2015_RS">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/clear-and-present-danger-alex-gibney-on-his-bold-scientology-doc-20150319|title='Clear' and Present Danger: Alex Gibney on His Bold Scientology Doc|last=Collins|first=Sean T.|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 19, 2015|access-date=March 21, 2015|archive-date=March 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321001935/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/clear-and-present-danger-alex-gibney-on-his-bold-scientology-doc-20150319|url-status=live}}</ref>

Criticism has also come from within the Church. [[Marty Rathbun]], the former inspector general of the Religious Technology, has spoken out against church activities. He has called for a "Scientology Reformation" to eliminate corruption and bring back the original teachings of L. Ron Hubbard.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Urban |first=Hugh |date=2021-08-31 |title=The Church of Scientology: New Religions and Tax Exemption |journal=New Age, Neopagan, and New Religious Movements: Alternative Spirituality in Contemporary America}}</ref>

=== Classification ===
From 1952 until 1966, Scientology was administered by an organization called the [[Hubbard Association of Scientologists]] (HAS), established in Arizona on September 10, 1952. In 1954, the HAS became the HASI (HAS International). The Church of Scientology was incorporated in California on February 18, 1954, changing its name to "The Church of Scientology of California" (CSC) in 1956. In 1966, Hubbard transferred all HASI assets to CSC, thus gathering Scientology under one tax-exempt roof. In 1967, the IRS stripped all US-based Scientology entities of their tax exemption, declaring the organization's activities were commercial and operated for the benefit of Hubbard. Controversy followed the organization in those years, but its growth continued in the 1960s. New facilities were formed in Paris (1959), Denmark (1968), Sweden (1969), and Germany (1970). In the 1970s the religion spread through Europe: in Austria (1971), Holland (1972), Italy (1978), and Switzerland (1978). Centers of Scientology were in 52 countries by the time the 80s came in and grew to 74 by 1992.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=James R. |title=Scientology |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |isbn=9780199715954 }}</ref> The organization sued and lost repeatedly for 26 years trying to regain its tax-exempt status. The case was eventually settled in 1993, at which time the organization paid $12.5&nbsp;million to the IRS—greatly less than IRS had initially demanded—and the IRS recognized the organization as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.<ref>"[[The Wall Street Journal]]. December 30, 1997 [http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/essays/wj301297.html Reproduced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628211417/http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/essays/wj301297.html |date=June 28, 2003 }} at Dave Touretzky's Carnegie Mellon site</ref> In addition, Scientology also dropped more than fifty lawsuits against the IRS when this settlement was reached. Scientology cites its tax exemption as proof the United States government accepts it as a religion.<ref>"[http://www.bonafidescientology.org/Append/09/page00.htm Official Recognition of Scientology as a Religion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615150956/http://www.bonafidescientology.org/Append/09/page00.htm |date=June 15, 2007 }}". "the United States Internal Revenue Service in granting full religious recognition and tax exemption to all Churches of Scientology located in the United States"</ref> In January 2009, removal of the tax exemption was rated as number 9 in items for the incoming [[Barack Obama]] administration to investigate, as determined in an internet poll run by the presidential transition team soliciting public input for the incoming administration.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/ideaList.apexp?c=09a800000004fo6&lsi=2 |title= The Citizen's Briefing Book |date= January 20, 2009 |author= Dan McSwain: The Obama-Biden Transition Team |work= Change.gov |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090120001947/http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/ideaList.apexp?c=09a800000004fo6&lsi=2 |archive-date= January 20, 2009}}</ref> The U.S. State Department has criticized Western European nations for discrimination against Scientologists in its published annual International Religious Freedom report, based on the [[International Religious Freedom Act of 1998]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/9001.pdf |title=2001 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731223102/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/9001.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002 |title=2002 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom |publisher=State.gov |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327103213/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003 |title=2003 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom |publisher=State.gov |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327103210/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In some countries, such as Israel, Scientology is treated legally as a commercial enterprise, and not as a religion or charitable organization.{{r|Beit-Hallahmi|p=12}} In early 2003, in Germany, The Church of Scientology was granted a tax-exemption for the 10% license fees sent to the US. This exemption, however, is related to a German-American double-taxation agreement, and is unrelated to tax-exemption in the context of charities law. In several countries, public proselytizing undergoes the same restrictions as commercial advertising,{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} which is interpreted as persecution by Scientology.

Unlike many well-established religious organizations, Scientology maintains strict control over its names, symbols, religious works and other writings. The word ''Scientology'' (and many [[List of trademarks owned by the Church of Scientology and its affiliates|related terms]], including ''L. Ron Hubbard'') is a registered trademark. Religious Technology Center, the owner of the trademarks and copyrights, takes a hard line on people and groups who attempt to use it in ways unaffiliated with the Church of Scientology (see [[Scientology and the legal system]]).

=== Illegal activities ===
{{Main|Operation Snow White|Operation Freakout|Scientology controversies|Fair game (Scientology)}}

L. Ron Hubbard appointed Mary Sue Hubbard to take control of certain aspects of legal protection for the organization in 1968, and the Office of The Guardian was created with its head office situated at Saint Hill Manor. Under The Guardian's Office (later renamed the [[Office of Special Affairs]] or OSA), organization members and contracted staff later organized and committed one of the largest penetrations of United States federal agencies ever perpetrated by an organization not affiliated with a foreign government (that is, one such as the [[KGB]]). This operation was named [[Operation Snow White]] by Hubbard.<ref name=lawhite/> In the trial which followed the discovery of these activities the prosecution described their actions as such:
{{blockquote|The crime committed by these defendants is of a breadth and scope previously unheard of. No building, office, desk, or file was safe from their snooping and prying. No individual or organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds. The tools of their trade were miniature transmitters, lock picks, secret codes, forged credentials and any other device they found necessary to carry out their conspiratorial schemes.<ref name=lawhite>{{Cite news | first = Robert W. | last = Welkos | author2 = Sappell, Joel | title = Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison | url = https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientologysidec062490-story.html | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 24, 1990 | access-date = May 25, 2008 | archive-date = August 28, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080828124341/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientologysidec062490,0,7034344.story | url-status = live }}</ref> }}

The organization has also in the past made use of aggressive tactics in addressing those it sees as trying to suppress them, known as [[Suppressive Person]]s (SPs) first outlined by Hubbard as part of a policy called [[Fair game (Scientology)|fair game]]. It was under this policy that [[Paulette Cooper]] was targeted for having authored ''[[The Scandal of Scientology]]'', a 1970 exposé book about the organization and its founder. This action was known as [[Operation Freakout]]. Using blank paper known to have been handled by Cooper, Scientologists forged bomb threats in her name.<ref name=lawhite/> When fingerprints on them matched hers, the Justice Department began prosecution, which could have sent Cooper to prison for a lengthy term. The organization's plan was discovered at the same time as its Operation Snow White actions were revealed. All charges against Cooper were dismissed, though she had spent more than $20,000 on legal fees for her defense.<ref name=lawhite/>

On January 22, 2013, attorneys for the organization, as well as some of its members, reacted toward the CNN News Group for its airing of a story covering the release of a book published by a former member, entitled 'Going Clear', published earlier the same year. CNN News Group then chose to publish the reactionary correspondence, with confidential information redacted, on its web site.

According to a 1990 ''Los Angeles Times'' article, in the 1980s the Los Angeles branch largely switched from using the organization's members in harassment campaigns to using private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers. The reason seemed to be that this gave the organization a layer of protection.<ref name="On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes, ''Los Angeles Times'', June 29, 1990">[https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062990x-story.html#page=1 On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027201507/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientology062990x,0,5646473.story#page=1 |date=October 27, 2013 }}, ''Los Angeles Times'', Joel Sappell, Robert W. Welkes, page A1, June 29, 1990.  This story is also available on the Carnegie Mellon University library website as [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/la90/la90-6a.html "Part 6: Attack the Attacker, On the Offensive . . . "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920161034/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/la90/la90-6a.html |date=September 20, 2019 }}</ref>

The Scientology organization has continued to aggressively target people it deems suppressive. In 1998, regarding its announcement that it had hired a private investigator to look into the background of a ''[[Boston Herald]]'' writer who had written a series on the organization, Robert W. Thornburg, dean of Marsh Chapel at [[Boston University]], said, "No one I know goes so far as to hire outsiders to harass or try to get intimidating data on critics. Scientology is the only crowd that does that."<ref name="Boston Herald">{{Cite news | first = Jim | last = McLaughlin | author2 = Andrew Gully | title = Church of Scientology probes Herald reporter | url = http://www.solitarytrees.net/pickets/sp944.htm | newspaper = [[Boston Herald]] | date = February 19, 1998 | access-date = February 8, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090210015823/http://solitarytrees.net/pickets/sp944.htm | archive-date = February 10, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}
</ref> It has apparently continued as recently as 2010. In 2007, when [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] journalist [[John Sweeney (journalist)|John Sweeney]] was making ''[[Scientology and Me]]'', an investigative report about the organization, he was subjected to harassment: {{blockquote|In LA, the moment our hire car left the airport we realised we were being followed by two cars. In our hotel a weird stranger spent every breakfast listening to us.<ref name=Sweeney>{{Cite news | first = John | last = Sweeney | title = Row over Scientology video | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6650545.stm | work = BBC News | date = 2007-05-14 | access-date = 2007-11-14 | archive-date = October 20, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191020195423/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6650545.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>}} Sweeney subsequently made a follow-up documentary, ''[[The Secrets of Scientology]]'', in 2010 during which he was followed and filmed on multiple occasions and one of his interviewees was followed back to his home.<ref name="Sweeny Followed 2010">{{Cite news|title=Reporter John Sweeney followed on Scientology story|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9030000/9030402.stm|work=BBC Panorama|publisher=BBC|access-date=December 18, 2012|date=September 27, 2010|archive-date=November 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126092325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9030000/9030402.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Members' health and safety ===
{{see also|Lisa McPherson|Elli Perkins}}

The deaths of some Scientologists have brought attention to the organization, both due to the circumstances of their demises and their relationship with Scientology being a factor.<ref name=timecult1>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865-1,00.html |title=The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209122905/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865-1,00.html |archive-date=February 9, 2008 |magazine=Time |date=May 6, 1991 |first=Richard |last=Behar |author-link=Richard Behar |quote=By all appearances, Noah Lottick of Kingston, Pa., had been a normal, happy 24-year-old who was looking for his place in the world&nbsp;...  his fingers were still clutching $171 in cash, virtually the only money he hadn't yet turned over to the Church of Scientology, the self-help 'philosophy' group he had discovered just seven months earlier.}}</ref> In 1995, Lisa McPherson was involved in a minor automobile accident while driving on a [[Clearwater, Florida]], street. Following the collision, she exited her vehicle, stripped naked and showed further signs of mental instability, as noted by a nearby ambulance crew that subsequently transported her to a nearby hospital. Hospital staff decided that she had not been injured in the accident, but recommended keeping her overnight for observation. Following intervention by fellow Scientologists, McPherson refused [[psychiatry|psychiatric]] observation or admission at the hospital and checked herself out against medical advice after a short evaluation. She was taken to the [[Fort Harrison Hotel]], a Scientology retreat, to receive a treatment sanctioned by the organization called [[Introspection Rundown]]. She had previously received the Introspection Rundown in June of that year. She was locked in a room for 17 days, where she died. Her appearance after death was that of someone who had been denied water and food for quite some time, being both underweight and severely dehydrated. Additionally, her skin was covered with over one hundred insect bites, presumably from cockroaches. The state of Florida pursued criminal charges against the Church of Scientology. The organization has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and now makes members sign a waiver before Introspection Rundown specifically stating that they (or anyone on their behalf) will not bring any legal action against the organization over injury or death.<ref name=nytflchgscos>{{Cite news|last=Frantz|first=Douglas|title=Florida Charges Scientology In Church Member's Death|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/14/us/florida-charges-scientology-in-church-member-s-death.html|access-date=November 6, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 14, 1998|archive-date=November 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111231959/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/14/us/florida-charges-scientology-in-church-member-s-death.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These charges attracted press coverage and sparked lawsuits. Eight years later, [[Elli Perkins]], another adherent to Scientology's beliefs regarding [[psychiatry]], was stabbed to death by her mentally disturbed son. Though Elli Perkins's son had begun to show symptoms of [[schizophrenia]] as early as 2001, the Perkins family chose not to seek psychiatric help for him and opted instead for [[Alternative medicine|alternative remedies]] sanctioned by Scientology. The death of Elli Perkins at the hands of a disturbed family member, one whose disease could have been treated by methods and medications banned by Scientology, again raised questions in the media about the organization's methods.<ref name="nypost">{{Cite news
| last = Stasi
| first = Linda
| title = Scientology Schizo: His Mom's Religion Said, No Meds. That Edict May Have Cost Her Life
|work=New York Post
| date = October 27, 2006
| url = http://www.nypost.com/seven/10272006/tv/scientology_schizo_tv_linda_stasi.htm
| access-date =  March 23, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210195022/http://www.nypost.com/seven/10272006/tv/scientology_schizo_tv_linda_stasi.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = February 10, 2007}}
</ref>

In addition, the organization has been implicated in kidnapping members who have recently left the organization. In 2007, Martine Boublil was kidnapped and held for several weeks against her will in Sardinia by four Scientologists. She was found on January 22, 2008, clothed only in a shirt. The room she was imprisoned in contained refuse and an insect infested mattress.<ref>{{Cite news |title=French Scientologists Arrested in Italy |url=http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-world/french-scientologists-arrested-in-italy/116530 |work=arhiva.dalje.com |access-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804164022/http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-world/french-scientologists-arrested-in-italy/116530 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Juliet |first=Anne-Cécile |title=L'étrange séquestration qui embarrasse la Scientologie |trans-title=The strange kidnapping that embarrasses Scientology |language=fr |url=http://bellaciao.org/fr/spip.php?article62595 |publisher=Bellaciao.org |access-date=September 6, 2011 |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323165100/http://bellaciao.org/fr/spip.php?article62595 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On Friday March 28, 2008, Kaja Bordevich Ballo, daughter of [[Olav Gunnar Ballo]], Norwegian parliament member and vice president of the Norwegian [[Odelsting#Qualified unicameralism|Odelsting]], took a Church of Scientology [[Oxford Capacity Analysis|personality test]] while studying in [[Nice]]. Her friends and co-inhabitants claim she was in good spirits and showed no signs of a mental breakdown, but the report from the organization said she was "depressed, irresponsible, hyper-critical and lacking in harmony". A few hours later she committed suicide by jumping from her balcony at her dorm room leaving a note telling her family she was sorry for not "being good for anything". The incident has brought forward heavy criticism of the organization from friends, family and prominent Norwegian politicians.<ref name="dgbtkbb">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/04/15/532571.html |title="Ville vært i live i dag hvis hun ikke hadde gått til scientologene" – Innenriks – Dagbladet.no |location=FR |publisher=Dagbladet.no<! |date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=December 2, 2009 |archive-date=February 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201173725/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/04/15/532571.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Inga Marte Thorkildsen]], parliament member, went as far as to say "Everything points to the Scientology cult having played a direct role in making Kaja choose to take her own life".<ref name="dgbtkbb" />

=== Dissemination and recruiting practices ===
[[File:Scientology Free Stress Test.jpg|thumb|A Scientologist administers a stress test using an [[e-meter]].]]
Members of the public entering a Scientology center or [[#Mission network|mission]] are offered a "free personality test" called the [[Oxford Capacity Analysis]] by Scientology literature. The test, despite its name and the claims of Scientology literature, has no connection to Oxford University or any other research body. Scientific research into three test results came to the conclusion that "we are forced to a position of skepticism about the test's status as a reliable psychometric device" and called its scientific value "negligible".<ref>The [[Foster Report]]. Chapter 5, "The Practices of Scientology;" section (a), "Recruitment;" pages 75–76. "a systematic approach to answering the questions should yield systematic variations in the conclusions derived from an analysis of the test scores&nbsp;... these two methods {{interp|for answering the questions of the test}} would be expected to produce different, if not complementary, profiles&nbsp;... These variations in answering the questions did not seem to affect the Oxford Capacity Analysis as the three methods produced remarkably similar profiles&nbsp;... when each of two diametrically opposed methods of response produces the same extreme deviant scores as the other and as a third "random" response style, we are forced to a position of scepticism about the test's status as a reliable psychometric device."</ref>

Further recruitment practices — called ''dissemination'' in Scientology – include information booths, flyers and advertisement for free seminars and Sunday Services in regular newspapers and magazines, personal contacts, sales of books, and acting classes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/going-clear-excerpt-2015-3 |title=How Scientology's classic 4-step recruiting process convinced one 21-year-old to join |date=March 31, 2015 |first=Lawrence |last=Wright |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630012916/https://www.businessinsider.com/going-clear-excerpt-2015-3 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/scientology-tv-recruitment-leah-remini-4174250/ |title="The Means of Getting Someone in the Door": An Inside Look at Scientology's Lavish Production Facilities and Actor Recruitment Strategy |date=April 29, 2021 |first=Kirsten |last=Chuba |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308032117/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/scientology-tv-recruitment-leah-remini-4174250/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=HCOB 15 Sept 59, Dissemination Tips |date=September 15, 1959 |first=L. Ron |last=Hubbard |publisher=Church of Scientology}} ([https://scientology-research.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HCOPL-Dissemination-Tips.pdf Courtesy link] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630012919/https://scientology-research.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HCOPL-Dissemination-Tips.pdf |date=June 30, 2023 }})</ref>{{r|reitman|pages=ix,71}}

{{Anchor|Lisa Clause}}
=== Legal waivers ===

{{Blockquote |text=Working with lawyer Bill Drescher, we drafted and implemented one-sided agreements that everyone who partakes in scientology services is required to sign—forfeiting the right to sue and any rights to access the records of scientology services, and even giving scientology authorization to hold the signee against their will should they have a psychotic episode so they can participate in the Introspection Rundown. |author=[[Mike Rinder]] {{r|rinder|p=176}} }}

Due to previous litigation against the Church of Scientology, and particularly the civil and criminal cases surrounding the [[death of Lisa McPherson]], COS drafted several contracts, releases and waivers which all individuals must sign in order to start any service with COS, no matter how small or introductory. They must be signed again before any major service, and new contracts signed for each Scientology corporate entity the individual visits. One particular waiver—called the "Lisa Clause" by critics of Scientology—states that a member will not seek any psychiatric treatment, and gives permission for the Church of Scientology to detain any member suspected of a psychotic break or other serious mental breakdown. Such detention is to provide the [[Introspection Rundown]], a procedure where an individual is kept isolated from everyone, with no communication. This controversial procedure was considered to be the cause of McPherson's death and, in order to prevent future lawsuits, the Church of Scientology compiled these one-sided contracts.The contracts also prohibit the individual from obtaining any copies of records related to them while granting COS the exclusive right to retain the documents. Individuals waive the right to sue COS in a court of law, and instead they must use Scientology's version of an arbitration (which L. Ron Hubbard never wrote about).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/scn/scans/Introspection-Release.html |title=Reproduced version of Introspection Rundown Release Contract |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327103210/https://jeta.home.xs4all.nl/scn/scans/Introspection-Release.html |archive-date=March 27, 2021 |author=[[Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization]] |year=2001}}</ref>{{r|rinder|p=176}}{{r|reitman|p=248}}

== Licensing ==

The Church of Scientology denies the legitimacy of any splinter groups and factions outside the official organization, and has tried to prevent independent Scientologists from using officially trademarked Scientology materials. Independent Scientologists, also known collectively as the "[[Free Zone (Scientology)|Free Zone]]" are referred to as [[squirreling|squirrels]] within the organization. They are also classified by the Church of Scientology as [[suppressive person]]s ("SPs")—opponents or enemies of Scientology. Hubbard himself stated in Ron's Journal '67 "That there were only seven or eight Suppressive Persons on the planet".

In 2010, an exception to the rule was made specifically for the [[Nation of Islam]], which is the only officially sanctioned external Dianetics organization and the first official non-Scientology Dianetics org since 1953. Minister [[Louis Farrakhan]] publicly announced his embracement of Dianetics, and has been actively promoting Dianetics, while stating he has not become a Scientologist. He has courted a relationship with the Church of Scientology, and materials and certifications are still required to be purchased from the organization, and are not independently produced.<ref name=Auditing>{{Cite web |title=Nation of Islam Auditors graduation held for third Saviours' Day in a row |first=Asahed |last=Mohammed |url=http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_9651.shtml |publisher=Final Call |date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329231242/http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_9651.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Mothership of All Alliances |first=Eliza |last=Gray |url=http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/108205/scientology-joins-forces-with-nation-of-islam |newspaper=[[The New Republic]] |date=October 5, 2012 |access-date=November 19, 2012 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012004247/http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/108205/scientology-joins-forces-with-nation-of-islam |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Louis Farrakhan renews call for self-determination among Nation of Islam followers |first1=Shelley |last1=Rossetter |first2=Thomas C. |last2=Tobin |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/louis-farrakhan-renews-call-for-self-determination-among-nation-of-islam/1128781 |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=November 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105093720/http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/louis-farrakhan-renews-call-for-self-determination-among-nation-of-islam/1128781 |archive-date=November 5, 2012  }}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Annotated link|List of Scientology organizations}}
* {{Annotated link|Scientology front groups}}
* {{Annotated link|Cult}}
* {{Annotated link|New religious movement}}
* {{Annotated link|Scientology officials}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="atack">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/pieceofblueskysc00atac/ |title=A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed |first=Jon |last=Atack |author-link=Jon Atack |date=1990 |publisher=[[Lyle Stuart|Lyle Stuart Books]] |isbn=081840499X |ol=9429654M}}</ref>

<ref name="behar">{{Cite magazine |first=Richard  |last=Behar |author-link=Richard Behar |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,156952,00.html |title=Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=May 6, 1991  |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200902/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,156952,00.html |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name=commandchannels>{{Multiref2 |1={{Cite book |title=The Command Channels of Scientology |year=1988 |publisher=[[Church of Scientology International]]}} |2={{Cite web |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/Documents/command-channels.pdf |title=Excerpt from The Command Channels of Scientology |publisher=Church of Scientology International |access-date=March 25, 2023 |via=[[David S. Touretzky]] |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328134358/https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/Documents/command-channels.pdf |url-status=live }} }}</ref>

<ref name="emetercase1969">{{Cite web |title=The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C., et al v. United States, 409 F.2d 1146 (D.C. Cir. 1969) - Transcript of Record |url=https://archive.org/details/dc_circ_1968_21483_founding_church_scientology_dc_et_al_v_us/mode/2up?view=theater |date=June 24, 1968 |via=archive.org |quote=The Distribution Center is the organization that sells books, booklets including back issues of Ability, etc., and the E-meter device. The Distribution Center is the only organization from which the books, booklets, etc. and the Emeter can be bought. (JA 35) The Distribution Center is a separate corporation ... owned by the Founding Church of Scientology. (JA 99) Orders are sent to Box 242, Silver Spring, Maryland. (JA 163) The premises of the Distribution Center, Inc., 1812 19th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. (JA 3)}}</ref>

<ref name="handbookofscientology2016">{{Cite book |title=Handbook of Scientology |editor1-first=James R. |editor1-last=Lewis |editor2-first=Kjersti |editor2-last=Hellesøy |isbn=9789004330542 |date=2016 |chapter=The Price of Freedom: Scientology and Neoliberalism |first=Michelle |last=Swainson|publisher=BRILL }}</ref>

<ref name="hubbard-admindict">{{Cite book |title=Modern Management Technology Defined: Hubbard dictionary of administration and management |first=L. Ron |last=Hubbard |author-link=L. Ron Hubbard |publisher=Church of Scientology |isbn=0884040402 |ol=8192738M |year=1976}}</ref>

<ref name=irsapplic>{{multiref2 |1=Form 1023 – Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code – Church of Scientology International, Washington, DC, August 18, 1993 |2={{Cite web |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/Documents/irs-1023-attachment.pdf |title=Attachment to form 1023 by Church of Scientology International |access-date=March 25, 2023 |via=[[David S. Touretzky]] |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325151404/https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/Documents/irs-1023-attachment.pdf |url-status=live }} }}</ref>

<ref name="kent1999">{{Cite journal |last=Kent |first=Stephen A. |author-link=Stephen A. Kent |title=Scientology — Is this a Religion? |journal=[[Marburg Journal of Religion]] |volume=4 |number=1 |date=1999 |pages=1–56 |publisher=[[University of Marburg]] |doi=10.17192/mjr.1999.4.3754 |url=https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3754 |doi-access=free |access-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902185820/https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/article/view/3754 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="lewis-ch4">{{Cite book |title=Scientology |title-link=Scientology (Lewis book) |year=2009 |editor-first=James R. |editor-last=Lewis |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |isbn=9780199852321 |ol=16943235M |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |chapter=Making Sense of Scientology: Prophetic, Contractual Religion |pages=83–102 |first=David G. |last=Bromley |author-link=David G. Bromley |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.003.0005}}</ref>

<ref name=lobs>{{multiref2 |1={{Cite web | url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20090525.OBS8000/le-point-sur-l-eglise-de-scientologie.html | title=Le point sur l'Eglise de Scientologie | date=May 26, 2009 | website=[[L'Obs]] | language=fr | trans-title=Update on the Church of Scientology | quote=(translated) In France, it was classified as a "sect" in a 1995 [[French Parliament|parliamentary]] report; never updated since. As a "sect", it has had numerous disputes with the French justice system. The authorities accused it of practicing "mental destabilization", and in 1995 the first French association of the Church of Scientology was liquidated for not paying its taxes to the tax authorities which had refused it the status of a church. | access-date=March 25, 2023 | archive-date=March 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307031140/https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20090525.OBS8000/le-point-sur-l-eglise-de-scientologie.html | url-status=live }} |2={{Cite web |date=2006 |url=http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Report_Miviludes_2006.pdf |title=Miviludes 2006 report (English translation) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809193839/http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Report_Miviludes_2006.pdf |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |website=[[MIVILUDES]] }} |3={{Cite web |date=2006 |url=https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/publications-de-la-miviludes/rapports-annuels/rapport-annuel-2006 |title=Rapport annuel 2006 (official French version) |language=fr |trans-title=Annual Report 2006 |website=[[MIVILUDES]] |access-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502175751/https://www.miviludes.interieur.gouv.fr/publications-de-la-miviludes/rapports-annuels/rapport-annuel-2006 |url-status=live }} }}</ref>

<ref name="nrmarlia2003">{{Cite book | last1 =  Davis | first1 = Derek | last2 = Hankins | first2 = Barry | year = 2003 | title = New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America  | url =https://archive.org/details/newreligiousmove00davi_804| url-access =  limited | publisher = Baylor University Press |isbn = 0918954924|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newreligiousmove00davi_804/page/n56 48]–49}}</ref>

<ref name="reitman">{{Cite book |last=Reitman |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Reitman |title=Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion |title-link=Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion |date=2011 |isbn=9780618883028 |ol=24881847M |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] }}</ref>

<ref name="rinder">{{Cite book |title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology |first=Mike |last=Rinder |author-link=Mike Rinder |year=2022 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=9781982185763}}</ref>

<ref name=thebridge>{{Cite web |url=https://www.whatisscientology.org/html/Part02/Chp06/img/grdchart.gif |title=The Bridge to Total Freedom : Scientology Classification Gradation and Awareness Chart of Levels and Certificates |type=Chart |publisher=Church of Scientology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402073924/https://www.whatisscientology.org/html/Part02/Chp06/img/grdchart.gif |archive-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="TruthRunDown">{{multiref2
|1=The Truth Rundown, a three-part series by Thomas C. Tobin and Joe Childs, [[St Petersburg Times]]
|2=
{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/scientology-the-truth-rundown/ |title=Scientology: The Truth Rundown, Part 1 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology |date=June 21, 2009 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805173806/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece |archive-date=August 5, 2009}}
|3=
{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-2-of-3-death-in-slow-motion/ |title=Death in slow motion: Part 2 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology |date=June 22, 2009 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810224049/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012234.ece |archive-date=August 10, 2009}}
|4=
{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-3-of-3-ecclesiastical-justice/ |title=Scientology: Ecclesiastical justice, Part 3 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology |date=June 23, 2009 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809103436/http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1012575.ece |archive-date=August 9, 2009}}
|5=
{{Cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/ |title=Index of Truth Rundown and related articles and videos |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102070229/http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/ |archive-date=January 2, 2010}}
}}</ref>

<ref name="urban">{{Cite book|last=Urban|first=Hugh B. |author-link=Hugh Urban |title=The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion |title-link=The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |year=2011 |isbn=9780691146089}}</ref>

<ref name="wallis">{{Cite book |last=Wallis |first=Roy |author-link=Roy Wallis |title=The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology |title-link=The Road to Total Freedom |year=1977 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=0231042000 |ol=4596322M |page=128 |quote=Hubbard was well aware of the value of corporate structures as weapons in the control of both his movement and its environment. A complex corporate structure maximizes the difficulty of surveillance, or investigation of the movement's affairs.}}</ref>

<!--
<ref name="westbrook2019">{{Cite book |last=Westbrook |first=Donald A. |year=2019 |title=Among the Scientologists: History, Theology, and Praxis |location=Oxford and New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |series=Oxford Studies in Western Esotericism |isbn=978-0190664978 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MzpxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA56 |access-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503111029/https://books.google.com/books?id=MzpxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA56#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>
-->

<ref name="wright">{{Cite book |last=Wright |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Wright |title=Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]] |year=2013 |isbn=9780307700667 |ol=25424776M |title-link=Going Clear (book)}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Lamont |first=Stewart |year=1986 |title=Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology |place=London |publisher=Harrap |isbn=0-245-54334-1 |oclc=23079677 |title-link=Religion Inc. }}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|d=Q1820380|c=Category:Scientology|n=Category:Scientology|q=Scientology|s=Category:Scientology|b=no|v=Scientology|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website|http://www.scientology.org}}
* {{OpenCorp|Church of Scientology}}
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hemet,+ca&ll=33.834490,-116.987872&spn=0.007772,0.015044&t=k Satellite Image of the Gold Base]

{{Scientology}}
{{L. Ron Hubbard}}
{{Scientology properties}}
{{Authority control}}

{{#related:Scientology beliefs and practices}}
{{#related:Scientology front groups}}
{{#related:Scientology controversies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Church Of Scientology}}
[[Category:Scientology| ]]
[[Category:Scientology organizations| ]]
[[Category:New religious movements|Scientology]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Cults]]
[[Category:San Jacinto, California]]