Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices created by the American author L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard initially presented his ideas in 1950 as a form of talk therapy called Dianetics. He later expanded and reframed those ideas as a religion, which he named Scientology.^[1] In 1953, he founded the Church of Scientology, which, by one 2014 estimate, had around 30,000 members.

A core Scientology belief is that traumatic events cause subconscious command-like recordings in the mind, which may have occurred in past lives, and which can only be relieved through an activity called "auditing". Auditing and training to audit are the two primary activities in a Scientology organization and are outlined in a structured progression chart called The Bridge to Total Freedom, with the two main achievement levels being the status of "Clear" (the goal of the original Dianetics) and "Operating Thetan" (Scientology's version of spiritual freedom). Fees are charged for auditing and training.

The upper‑level teachings of the Operating Thetan levels are considered confidential and are only revealed to Scientologists when they reach each level. The texts, which involve a past life cosmology narrative, have been leaked and publicized, despite the Church of Scientology litigating to keep them confidential.

The Church^[a] has been involved in numerous controversies, legal disputes, and even criminal convictions. It has been variously described as a religion, a cult, a business, and a scam. Scientology is classified differently around the world, with some countries granting it religious status, while others treat it as a non-religious belief system, a commercial enterprise, or a suspicious activity subject to government monitoring. Its practices and leadership have been the subject of sustained investigative reporting, academic study, government inquiries, and popular media portrayals.

The legal status of Scientology or Scientology-related organizations differs between jurisdictions.^[2][3][4] Scientology was legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in Australia,^[5] Portugal,^[6] and Spain.^[7] Scientology was granted tax-exempt status in the United States in 1993.^{[8][9][10][11]} The organization is considered a cult in Chile and an "anticonstitutional sect" in Germany,^[12] and is considered a cult (French secte) by some French public authorities.^[13]

The Church of Scientology argues that Scientology is a genuine religious movement that has been misrepresented, maligned, and persecuted.^[14][15] The organization has pursued an extensive public relations campaign for the recognition of Scientology as a tax-exempt religion in the various countries in which it exists.^[16][17][18]

The Church of Scientology has often generated opposition due to its strong-arm tactics directed against critics and members wishing to leave the organization.^[19] A minority of governments regard it as a religious organization entitled to tax-exempt status, while other governments variously classify it as a business, cult, pseudoreligion, or criminal organization.^[20][21]

In 1957, the Church of Scientology of California was granted tax-exempt status by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and so, for a time, were other local branches of the organization.^[22] In 1958 however, the IRS started a review of the appropriateness of this status.^[23] In 1959, Hubbard moved to England, remaining there until the mid-1960s.^[24] In 1967, the IRS removed Scientology's tax-exempt status, asserting that its activities were commercial and operated for the benefit of Hubbard, rather than for charitable or religious purposes.^[22][25]

In the mid-1960s, the Church of Scientology was banned in several Australian states, starting with Victoria in 1965.^[23] The ban was based on the Anderson Report, which found that the auditing process involved "command" hypnosis, in which the hypnotist assumes "positive authoritative control" over the patient. On this point the report stated:^[26]: 115

It is the firm conclusion of this Board that most scientology and dianetic techniques are those of authoritative hypnosis and as such are dangerous ... the scientific evidence which the Board heard from several expert witnesses of the highest repute ... leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is only in name that there is any difference between authoritative hypnosis and most of the techniques of scientology. Many scientology techniques are in fact hypnotic techniques, and Hubbard has not changed their nature by changing their names.^[26]: 115

The Australian branch of the Scientology organization was forced to operate under the name of the "Church of the New Faith" as a result, the name and practice of Scientology having become illegal in the relevant states. Several years of court proceedings aimed at overturning the ban followed.^[5] In 1973, state laws banning Scientology were overturned in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. In 1983 the High Court of Australia ruled in a unanimous decision that the Church of Scientology was "undoubtedly a religion and deserving of tax exemption".^[27]

Hubbard established an organization to promote his ideas about the mind, which he called Dianetics,^[28][29] in 1950. The organization went bankrupt, and Hubbard lost the rights to his book Dianetics in 1952. His ideas were rejected by the scientific community.^[30][31] As the 1950s developed, Hubbard saw the advantages of having his Scientology movement legally recognized as a religion.^[32] In an April 1953 letter to Helen O'Brien, his US business manager, he proposed that Scientology should be transformed into a religion: "We don't want a clinic. We want one in operation but not in name...It is a problem of practical business. I await your reaction on the religion angle".^[33] In reaction to a series of arrests of his followers, and the prosecution of Hubbard's Dianetics foundation for teaching medicine without a license, in December 1953 Hubbard incorporated three organizations – Church of American Science, Church of Scientology, and Church of Spiritual Engineering.^[34][35] By 1954, Hubbard had regained the rights to Dianetics.^{[citation needed]} In 1959, Hubbard purchased Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, Sussex, United Kingdom, which became the worldwide headquarters of the Church of Scientology and his personal residence. With the organization often under heavy criticism, it adopted strong measures of attack in dealing with its critics.^[36]

In 1962, amid FDA concerns, Hubbard announced Scientology's future was "being planned on a religious organization basis", but advising followers the change was "entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors".^[37]

In 1966, the organization established the Guardian's Office (GO), a department devoted to undermining those hostile towards Scientology.^[38] The GO launched an extensive program of countering negative publicity, gathering intelligence, and infiltrating organizations.^[39] In "Operation Snow White", the GO infiltrated the IRS and numerous other government departments and stole tens of thousands of documents pertaining to the Scientology organization, politicians, and celebrities.^[40] In July 1977, the FBI raided Church of Scientology premises in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, revealing the extent of the GO's infiltration into government departments and other groups.^[41] Eleven officials and agents of the Church were indicted. In December 1979, they were sentenced to between 4 and 5 years each and individually fined $10,000 (equivalent to $44,000 in 2025).^[42] Among those found guilty was Hubbard's then-wife, Mary Sue Hubbard.^[40] Public revelation of the GO's activities brought widespread condemnation of the Scientology organization.^[42]

In 1967, Hubbard established a new group, the Sea Organization or "Sea Org", the membership of which was drawn from the most committed members of the Scientology organization.^[43] By 1981, the 21-year-old David Miscavige, who had been one of Hubbard's closest aides in the Sea Org, rose to prominence.^[44] Hubbard died at his ranch in Creston, California, on January 24, 1986, and David Miscavige succeeded Hubbard as head of the organization.^[45][46] In 1993, the Internal Revenue Service dropped all litigation against the Scientology organization and recognized it as a religious institution.^[47]

Hubbard lies at the core of Scientology and his writings remain the source of its ideas and practices.^[48] Sociologist of religion David G. Bromley describes Scientology as Hubbard's "personal synthesis of philosophy, physics, and psychology".^[49] Hubbard claimed that he developed his ideas through research and experimentation, rather than through revelation from a supernatural source.^[50] He published hundreds of articles and books over the course of his life.^[51] Scientologists regard his writings on Scientology as scripture.^[52]

In Scientology Hubbard's work is regarded as perfect, and no elaboration or alteration is permitted.^[53] Hubbard described Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy", because, according to him, it consists of a metaphysical doctrine, a theory of psychology, and teachings in morality.^[54] Hubbard incorporated a variety of hypnotic techniques in Scientology auditing and courses.^[55] These are used as a means to create dependency and obedience in followers.^[56]

Hubbard developed thousands of neologisms during his lifetime.^[53] The nomenclature used by the movement is termed "Scientologese" by members.^[57] Scientologists are expected to learn this specialist terminology, the use of which separates followers from non-Scientologists.^[53] The Scientology organization refers to its practices as "technology", a term often shortened to "Tech".^[58] Scientologists stress the "standardness" of this "tech", by which they express belief in its infallibility.^[59] The Scientology organization's system of pedagogy is called "Study Tech" and is presented as the best method for learning.^[60] Scientology teaches that when reading, it is very important not to go past a word one does not understand. A person should instead consult a dictionary as to the meaning of the word before progressing, something Scientology calls "word clearing".^[61]

According to Scientology texts, its beliefs and practices are based on rigorous research, and its doctrines are accorded a significance equivalent to scientific laws.^[62] Blind belief is held to be of lesser significance than the practical application of Scientologist methods.^[62] Adherents are encouraged to validate the practices through their personal experience.^[62] Hubbard put it this way: "For a Scientologist, the final test of any knowledge he has gained is, 'did the data and the use of it in life actually improve conditions or didn't it?'"^[62] Many Scientologists avoid using the words "belief" or "faith" to describe how Hubbard's teachings impacts their lives, preferring to say that they "know" it to be true.^[63] Hubbard said the aim of Scientology is "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war; where the world can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights".^[64][65][66]

Scientology celebrates seven calendar events including L. Ron Hubbard's birthday, Auditor's Day, and New Year's. There is a Sunday service which is primarily of interest for non-members and beginners. Weddings and funerals are also held.^[67]

Scientology is vehemently opposed to psychiatry and psychology, and wants to replace them with its own methods.^[68] The clinical and academic psychiatry community rejected Hubbard's theories in the early 1950s.^[69] Hubbard and his early Dianetics organization were prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license in the early 1950s.^[70]

Hubbard taught that psychiatrists were responsible for a great many wrongs in the world, saying that psychiatry has at various times offered itself as a tool of political suppression and that psychiatry was responsible for the ideology of Hitler, for turning the Nazis into mass murderers, and the Holocaust.^[71] The Scientology organization operates the anti-psychiatry group Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), which operates Psychiatry: An Industry of Death, an anti-psychiatry museum.^[71] Though Hubbard had stated psychosis was not something Scientology dealt with, after noticing many Scientologists were suffering breakdowns after using his techniques he created the Introspection Rundown, a brutal and inhumane method to allegedly solve psychotic episodes.^{[23]: 208–9} The rundown came under public scrutiny when in 1995 Scientologist Lisa McPherson suffered a mental breakdown and was removed from the hospital and held in isolation at a Church of Scientology for 17 days before she died.^{[72]: Part 2}

Scientologists view Hubbard as an extraordinary man, but do not worship him as a deity.^[73] They regard him as the preeminent Operating Thetan who remained on Earth in order to show others the way to spiritual liberation,^[53] the man who discovered the source of human misery and a technology allowing everyone to achieve their true potential.^[74] Church of Scientology management frames Hubbard's physical death as "dropping his body" to pursue higher levels of research not possible with an Earth-bound body.^[75]

Scientologists often refer to Hubbard affectionately as "Ron",^[76] and many refer to him as their "friend".^[77] The Scientology organization operates a calendar in which 1950, the year in which Hubbard's book Dianetics was published, is considered year zero, the beginning of an era. Years after that date are referred to as "AD" for "After Dianetics".^[78] They have also buried copies of his writings preserved on stainless steel disks in a secure underground vault in the hope of preserving them against major catastrophes.^[74] The Church of Scientology's view of Hubbard is presented in their hagiographical biography of him,^[79] seeking to present him as "a person of exceptional character, morals and intelligence".^[80] Critics of Hubbard and his organization claim that many of the details of his life as he presented it were false.^[81] Every Scientology Org maintains an office set aside for Hubbard in perpetuity, set out to imitate those he used in life,^[82] and will typically have a bust or large framed photograph of him on display.^[83]

The Church of Scientology is headquartered at "Gold Base" in Riverside County, California, where the highest Sea Org officials work,^[84] and at "Flag Land Base" in Clearwater, Florida.^[85] The organization operates on a hierarchical and top-down basis,^[86] being largely bureaucratic in structure.^[87] The internal structure of Scientology organizations is strongly bureaucratic with a focus on its own statistics-based management system, and organizational operating budgets are performance-related and subject to frequent reviews.^[88]

By 2011, the organization was claiming over 700 centers in 65 countries.^[89] Smaller centres are called "missions".^[90] Missions are established by missionaries, who are referred to as "mission holders".^[91] Members can establish a mission wherever they wish but must fund it themselves; the missions are not financially supported by the central organization.^[92] Mission holders must purchase all of the necessary material from the central Church of Scientology; as of 2001, the Mission Starter Pack cost $35,000 (equivalent to $63,600 in 2025).^[93]

Each mission or Org is a corporate entity, established as a licensed franchise, and operating as a commercial company.^[97] Each franchise sends part of its earnings, which have been generated through beginner-level auditing, to the International Management.^[98] Bromley observed that an entrepreneurial incentive system pervades the organization, with individual members and organizations receiving payment for bringing in new people or for signing them up for more advanced services.^[99] The individual and collective performances of different members and missions are gathered, being called "stats".^[100] Performances that are an improvement on the previous week are termed "up stats"; those that show a decline are "down stats".^[101]

The Sea Org is the organization's primary management unit,^[99] containing the highest ranks in its hierarchy.^[88] Its members are often recruited from the children of existing Scientologists,^[102] and sign up to a "billion-year contract" to serve the organization.^[103] Kent described that for adult Sea Org members with minor children, their work obligations took priority, damaged parent-child relations, and has led to cases of severe child neglect and endangerment.^[104]

The Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) is the Church of Scientology's disciplinary program,^[105] where Sea Org members deemed to have seriously deviated from its teachings are placed.^[106][107] They will often face a hearing, the "Committee of Evidence", which determines if they will be sent to the RPF.^[108] The RPF operates out of several locations.^[109] It involves a daily regimen of five hours of auditing or studying, eight hours of work, often physical labor, such as building renovation, and at least seven hours of sleep.^[107] Journalists have condemned RPF practices for violating human rights;^[105] and criticized the Scientology organization for placing children as young as twelve into the RPF, engaging them in forced labor and denying access to their parents, violating Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.^[110] The RPF has contributed to characterizations of the organization as a cult.^[111]

The Office of Special Affairs or OSA (formerly the Guardian's Office) is a department of the Church of Scientology which has been characterized as a non-state intelligence agency.^{[112][113][114]} It has targeted critics of the organization for "dead agent" operations, which is mounting character assassination operations against perceived enemies.^[115] A 1990 article in the Los Angeles Times reported that in the 1980s the Scientology organization more commonly used private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers, to give themselves a layer of protection in case embarrassing tactics were used and became public.^[116] The International Association of Scientologists operates to advance the cause of the Scientology organization and its members across the world.^[117]

The Scientology organization employs a range of media to promote itself and attract converts.^[118] Hubbard promoted Scientology through a vast range of books, articles, and lectures.^[53] It publishes several magazines, including Source, Advance, The Auditor, and Freedom.^[51] It has established a publishing press, New Era,^[119] and the audiovisual publisher Golden Era.^[120] It has also used the Internet for promotional purposes,^[121] and employed advertising to attract potential converts, including in high-profile locations such as television ads during the 2014 and 2020 Super Bowls.^[122]

The organization has long used celebrities as a means of promoting itself, starting with Hubbard's "Project Celebrity" in 1955 and followed by its first Scientology Celebrity Centre in 1969.^[123] The Celebrity Centre headquarters is in Hollywood; other branches are in Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, New York City, and Paris.^[124] In 1955, Hubbard created a list of 63 celebrities targeted for conversion to Scientology.^[125] Prominent celebrities who have joined the organization include John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, Nancy Cartwright, and Juliette Lewis.^[126] It uses celebrity involvement to make itself appear more desirable.^[127] Other new religious movements have similarly pursued celebrity involvement such as the Church of Satan, Transcendental Meditation, ISKCON, and the Kabbalah Centre.^[128]

Several Scientology organizations promote the use of Scientology practices as a means to solve social problems. Scientology began to focus on these issues in the early 1970s. The Church of Scientology developed outreach programs that say they aim to fight drug addiction, illiteracy, learning disabilities and criminal behavior. They have been presented to schools, businesses and communities as secular techniques based on Hubbard's writings.^[129] They have been described as part of the Scientology organization's "war" against the discipline of psychiatry.^[130] Some critics regard this outreach as merely a public relations exercise.^[58]

In 1966, the Church of Scientology repackaged Hubbard's theories about drugs into a drug rehabilitation program it calls Narconon, which purports to treat addicts through sweating in a sauna and using other Scientology techniques and processes.^[131] It has been described as a front group for recruiting into Scientology.^{[132][133][134]} Criminon is the organization's criminal rehabilitation program.^[49][135] Its Applied Scholastics program, established in 1972, employs Hubbard's pedagogical methods to help students.^[136][137] The Way to Happiness Foundation promotes a moral code written by Hubbard, to date translated into more than 40 languages.^[137] Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, and The Way to Happiness operate under the management banner of Association for Better Living and Education.^[138][139] The World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) applies Scientology practices to business management.^[140][137] The most prominent training supplier to make use of Hubbard's technology is Sterling Management Systems.^[137]

Hubbard devised the Volunteer Minister Program in 1973.^[141] They offer help and counseling to those in distress; this includes the Scientological technique of providing "assists".^[141] After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York City, Volunteer Ministers were on the site of Ground Zero within hours of the attack;^[142] they subsequently went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.^[143] Accounts of the Volunteer Ministers' effectiveness have been mixed, and touch assists are not supported by scientific evidence.^{[144][145][146]}

In 2010, hundreds of members of the Nation of Islam attended a Dianetics seminar near the group's Chicago headquarters, where they were introduced to Scientology auditing practices. Louis Farrakhan subsequently encouraged his followers to study Scientology, telling them that its techniques could help address the struggles of African Americans, and stated that "nobody can lead in our Nation until and unless they become clear." By 2012, according to the Nation of Islam newspaper The Final Call, more than 1,000 members had been certified as auditors and several thousand others were studying Scientology materials. The Church of Scientology opened new facilities in Harlem and Inglewood, California, and former officials reported that course costs for Nation members were sometimes reduced, though the Church denied giving special treatment. Farrakhan described the relationship as a "long and beautiful" alliance.^[147]

The Scientology organization regards itself as the victim of media and governmental persecution,^[14] and the scholar of religion Douglas Cowan observed that "claims to systematic persecution and harassment" are part of the internal culture.^[148] In turn, Urban noted the organization has "tended to respond very aggressively to its critics, mounting numerous lawsuits and at times using extralegal means to respond to those who threaten it."^[14] The organization has often responded to criticism by ad hominem attacks.^[149] Its approach to targeting critics has often generated more negative attention for their organization,^[150] with Lewis commenting that it "has proven to be its own worst enemy" in this regard.^[151]

It has a reputation for litigiousness stemming from its involvement in a large number of legal conflicts.^[152] Barrett characterized the organization as "one of the most litigious religions in the world".^[153] It has conducted lawsuits against governments, organizations, and individuals, both to counter criticisms made against it and to gain legal recognition as a religion.^[154] J.P. Kumar, who studied the litigation, argued that victory was not always important to the organization; what was important was depleting the resources and energies of its critics.^[155]

Those deemed hostile to the Church of Scientology, including ex-members, are labeled "suppressive persons" or SPs.^[156] Hubbard maintained that 20 percent of the population would be classed as "suppressive persons" because they were truly malevolent or dangerous: "the Adolf Hitlers and the Genghis Khans, the unrepentant murderers and the drug lords".^[157][158] If the organization declares that one of its members is an SP, all other members are forbidden from further contact with them, an act it calls "disconnection".^[150] Any member breaking this rule is labeled a "potential trouble source" (PTS) and unless they swiftly cease all contact they can be labeled an SP themselves.^{[159][160][161]}

In an October 1968 letter to members, Hubbard wrote about a policy called "fair game" which was directed at SPs and other perceived threats to the organization.^[36][162] Here he stated that these individuals "may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologists. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed".^[156] Following strong criticism, the organization said that it formally ended Fair Game a month later, with Hubbard stating that he had never intended "to authorize illegal or harassment type acts against anyone."^[163] Critics and some scholarly observers argue that its practices reflect that the policy remains in place.^[164] It is "widely asserted" by former members that Fair Game is still employed;^[165] Stacy Brooks, a former member of the internal Office of Special Affairs, stated in court that "practices which were formerly called 'Fair Game' continue to be employed, although the term 'Fair Game' is no longer used."^[163]

Hubbard and his followers targeted many individuals as well as government officials and agencies, including a program of illegal infiltration of the IRS and other U.S. government agencies during the 1970s.^[166][162] They also conducted private investigations, character assassination and legal action against the organization's critics in the media.^[166]

The Scientology ethics and justice system regulates member behavior,^[88] and Ethics officers are present in every Scientology organization. Ethics officers ensure "correct application of Scientology technology" and deal with "behavior adversely affecting a Scientology organization's performance", ranging from "errors" and "misdemeanors" to "crimes" and "suppressive acts", as those terms defined by Scientology.^[107]

Urban described the Church of Scientology as "the world's most controversial new religion",^[143] while Lewis termed it "arguably the most persistently controversial" of contemporary new religious movements.^[169] According to Urban, the organization had "a documented history of extremely problematic behavior ranging from espionage against government agencies to shocking attacks on critics of the organization and abuse of its own members."^[170]

A first point of controversy was its response to its rejection by the scientific establishment. Another was a 1991 Time magazine article about the organization, which responded with a major lawsuit that was rejected by the court as baseless early in 1992. A third is its religious tax status in the United States, as the IRS granted the organization tax-exempt status in 1993.^[171]

It has been in conflict with the governments and police forces of many countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada,^[172] France^[173] and Germany).^{[174][175][176][177]} It has been one of the most litigious religious movements in history, filing countless lawsuits against governments, organizations and individuals.^[178]

Hubbard himself was convicted of fraud in absentia by a French court in 1978 and sentenced to four years in prison.^[172] In 1992, a court in Canada convicted the Scientology organization in Toronto of spying on law enforcement and government agencies and criminal breach of trust, later upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal.^[179][180] The Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud by a French court in 2009, a judgment upheld by the supreme Court of Cassation in 2013.^[181]

Reports and allegations have been made, by journalists, courts, and governmental bodies of several countries, that the Church of Scientology is an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses its critics and brutally exploits its members.^[176][182] A considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the organization, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.^[176][182]

The controversies involving the Church of Scientology, some of them ongoing, include:

• Criminal behavior by members of the organization, including the infiltration of the US Government.^[175]
• Organized harassment of people perceived as enemies of the Church of Scientology.^[175]
• Scientology's disconnection policy, in which some members are required to shun friends or family members who are "antagonistic" to the organization.^[183][184]
• The death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson while in the care of the organization. Robert Minton sponsored the multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Scientology for the death of McPherson. In May 2004, McPherson's estate and the Church of Scientology reached a confidential settlement.^[185]
• Attempts to legally force search engines to censor information critical of the Scientology organization.^[186]
• Allegations the organization's leader David Miscavige beats and demoralizes staff, and that physical violence by superiors towards staff working for them is a common occurrence in the organization.^[72][187] Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis denied these claims and provided witnesses to rebut them.^[72]

Stephen A. Kent, a professor of sociology, has said that "Scientologists see themselves as possessors of doctrines and skills that can save the world, if not the galaxy."^[188] As stated in Scientology doctrine: "The whole agonized future of this planet, every man, woman and child on it, and your own destiny for the next endless trillions of years depend on what you do here and now with and in Scientology."^[189] Kent has described the Scientology ethics and justice system as "a peculiar brand of morality that uniquely benefited [the Church of Scientology] ... In plain English, the purpose of Scientology ethics is to eliminate opponents, then eliminate people's interests in things other than Scientology."^[110]

Many former members have come forward to speak out about the organization and the negative effects its teachings have had on them, including celebrities such as Leah Remini. Remini spoke about her split from the Church of Scientology, saying that she still maintains friendships within the organization, but is prohibited from communicating with those individuals.^[190]

Throughout the early 1950s, adherents of Hubbard were arrested for practicing medicine without a license. In January 1951, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners brought proceedings against the Dianetic Research Foundation on the charge of teaching medicine without a license. In January 1963 U.S. Marshals raided the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington.^[70] Scientology social programs such as drug and criminal rehabilitation have also drawn both support and criticism.^{[191][192][193]}

Common criticisms directed at Hubbard was that he drew upon pre-existing sources and the allegation that he was motivated by financial reasons.^[194] A number of Hubbard's letters and directives to his subordinates support the notion that he used religion as a façade for Scientology to maintain tax-exempt status^[95] and avoid further prosecutions (a number of Dianetics or Scientology practitioners had already been arrested) for medical claims.^[195] The IRS cited a statement frequently attributed to Hubbard that the way to get rich was to found a religion.^[35] Many of Hubbard's colleagues in the science fiction community, including Sam Merwin, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach and Sam Moscowitz, recall Hubbard raising the topic in conversation.^{[196][197][198]} In 2006, Rolling Stone's Janet Reitman also attributed the statement to Hubbard, as a remark to science fiction writer Lloyd Eshbach and recorded in Eshbach's autobiography.^[188]

Scientology has been called "America’s most secretive religion".^[23]

Some information about the Scientology belief system is kept hidden from most Scientologists, with layers of secrecy and obfuscation.^[199]

Hubbard and his followers have been accused of organized deception, and Hubbard taught insiders that "The only way you can control people is to lie to them."^[200][201] In 1983, Hubbard's estranged son Ronald DeWolf argued that "99% of what my father ever wrote or said about himself is totally untrue".^[202]

In 1978, a number of Scientologists, including L. Ron Hubbard's wife Mary Sue Hubbard (who was second in command in the organization at the time), were convicted of perpetrating what was at the time the largest incident of domestic espionage in the history of the United States, called "Operation Snow White". This involved infiltrating, wiretapping, and stealing documents from the offices of Federal attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service.^[203] L. Ron Hubbard was convicted in absentia by French authorities of engaging in fraud and sentenced to four years in prison.^[172] The head of the French Church of Scientology was convicted at the same trial and given a suspended one-year prison sentence.^[204]

An FBI raid on the Church of Scientology's headquarters revealed documentation that detailed Scientology's criminal actions against various critics of the organization. In "Operation Freakout", agents of the organization attempted to destroy Paulette Cooper, author of The Scandal of Scientology, an early book that had been critical of the movement.^[205] Among these documents was a plan to frame Gabe Cazares, the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, with a staged hit-and-run accident. Nine individuals related to the case were prosecuted on charges of theft, burglary, conspiracy, and other crimes.

In 1988, Scientology president Heber Jentzsch and ten other members of the organization were arrested in Spain on various charges including illicit association, coercion, fraud, and labor law violations.^[206] In October 2009, the Church of Scientology was found guilty of organized fraud in France.^[207] The sentence was confirmed by the court of appeal in February 2012, and by the supreme Court of Cassation in October 2013.^[208][181] In 2012, Belgian prosecutors indicted Scientology as a criminal organization engaged in fraud and extortion.^{[209][210][211]} In March 2016, the Church of Scientology was acquitted of all charges, and demands to close its Belgian branch and European headquarters were dismissed.^[212]

Scientology has historically engaged in hostile action toward its critics; executives within the organization have proclaimed that Scientology is "not a turn-the-other-cheek religion".^[213] Since the 1960s, Journalists, politicians, former Scientologists and various anti-cult groups have said that Scientology followers have engaged in organized hostility, harassment and threats, and Scientology has targeted these critics–almost without exception–for retaliation, in the form of lawsuits and public counter-accusations of personal wrongdoing. Many of Scientology's critics have also reported they were subject to threats and harassment in their private lives.^[214][215]

According to a 1990 Los Angeles Times article, the Scientology organization had largely switched from using members to using private investigators, including former and current Los Angeles police officers, as this gives the organization a layer of protection in case investigators use tactics which might cause the organization embarrassment. In one case, the organization described their tactics as "LAPD sanctioned", which was energetically disputed by Police Chief Daryl Gates. The officer involved in this particular case of surveillance and harassment was suspended for six months.^[116]

Journalist John Sweeney reported that "While making our BBC Panorama film Scientology and Me I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a 'bigot' by star Scientologists, brain-washed – that is how it felt to me – in a mock up of a Nazi-style torture chamber and chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers".^[216]

A prominent ex-member who has spoken out about the Scientology organization's mistreatment of members and ex-members is Leah Remini. Remini is an American actress that has been involved with the Church of Scientology since childhood. She left in 2013. In 2015 she published a book entitled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology where she recounts her experiences and events leading up to her leaving the organization.^[217]

She also has produced a documentary television series on A&E entitled Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath released in 2017 which aired for three seasons. In this series, she and her co-host Mike Rinder, who is also an ex-member, tell their experiences and interview numerous ex-members with similar. Leah Remini has been outspoken about her views on the Church of Scientology and has raised much awareness about some of the major issues within the organization regarding treatment of children, exploitive money practices and mistreatments she has experienced.

As of August 2023, Remini has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology. She alleges verbal, physical and sexual abuse was known and tolerated by the organization, and exploitive practices such as signing billion-year contracts with the organization. The main claims of the lawsuit are for psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation experienced by her for years while a member, and as tactics used after she publicly left.^[218]

During the auditing process, the auditor collects and records personal information from the client.^[219] While the Church of Scientology claims to protect the confidentiality of auditing records, the organization has a history of attacking and psychologically abusing former members using information culled from the records.^[219] For example, a December 16, 1969, a Guardian's Office order (G. O. 121669) by Mary Sue Hubbard explicitly authorized the use of auditing records for purposes of "internal security".^[220] Former members report having participated in combing through information obtained in auditing sessions to see if it could be used for smear campaigns against critics.^[206][221]

The Sea Org originally operated on vessels at sea where it was understood that it was not permitted to raise children on board the ships because "children hinder adults from performing their vital assignments". Women who became pregnant have stated that they had been "coercively persuaded" to undergo abortions in order to remain in the Sea Org.^[222]

In 2003, The Times of India reported "Forced abortions, beatings, starvation are considered tools of discipline in this church".^[223] A former high-ranking source reports that "some 1,500 abortions" have been "carried out by women in the Sea Organization since the implementation of a rule in the late 80s that members could not remain in the organization if they decided to have children". The source noted that "And if members who have been in the Sea Organization for, say, 10 years do decide to have kids, they are dismissed with no more than $1,000" as a severance package.^[224]

Longtime member Astra Woodcraft left Scientology for good when the organization tried to pressure her to have an abortion.^[225][226] Former Sea Org member Karen Pressley recounted that she was often asked by fellow Scientologists for loans so that they could get an abortion and remain in the Sea Org.^{[227][228][229]} Scientology employee Claire Headley has said she "was forced to have (two) abortions to keep her job and was subjected to violations of personal rights and liberties for the purpose of obtaining forced labor".^[230] Laura DeCrescenzo reported she was "coerced to have an abortion" as a minor, and sued in 2009.^[231]

In March 2009 a former Scientologist reported that women who worked at Scientology's headquarters were forced to have abortions, or faced being declared a "suppressive person" by the organization's management.^[232] In March 2010, former Scientologist Janette Lang stated that at age 20 she became pregnant by her boyfriend while in the organization,^[233] and her boyfriend's Scientology supervisors "coerced them into terminating the pregnancy".^[234] "We fought for a week, I was devastated, I felt abused, I was lost and eventually I gave in. It was my baby, my body and my choice, and all of that was taken away from me by Scientology", said Lang.^[234][235]

Australian Senator Nick Xenophon gave a speech to the Australian Parliament in November 2009, about statements he had received from former Scientologists.^[236] He said that he had been told members of the organization had coerced pregnant female employees to have abortions.^[236] "I am deeply concerned about this organisation and the devastating impact it can have on its followers," said Senator Xenophon, and he requested that the Australian Senate begin an investigation into Scientology.^[236] According to the letters presented by Senator Xenophon, the organization was involved in "ordering" its members to have abortions.^[237]

Former Scientologist Aaron Saxton sent a letter to Senator Xenophon stating he had participated in coercing pregnant women within the organization to have abortions.^[238] "Aaron says women who fell pregnant were taken to offices and bullied to have an abortion. If they refused, they faced demotion and hard labour. Aaron says one staff member used a coat hanger and self-aborted her child for fear of punishment," said Senator Xenophon.^[239] Carmel Underwood, another former Scientologist, said she had been put under "extreme pressure" to have an abortion,^[240] and that she was placed into a "disappearing programme", after refusing.^[241] Underwood was the executive director of Scientology's branch in Sydney.^[239]

Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis said these statements are "utterly meritless".^[230] Mike Ferriss, the head of Scientology in New Zealand, told media that "There are no forced abortions in Scientology".^[242] Scientology spokesperson Virginia Stewart likewise denied the statements and asserted "The Church of Scientology considers the family unit and children to be of the utmost importance and does not condone nor force anyone to undertake any medical procedure whatsoever."^[243]

A number of women have sued the Church of Scientology, alleging a variety of complaints including human trafficking, rape, forced labor, and child abuse.^[244] In 2009, two former Sea Org employees, Marc and Claire Headley, sued the Church of Scientology alleging human trafficking.^[245]

In the 1990s, Miscavige's organization took action against increased criticism of Scientology on the Internet and online distribution of Scientology-related documents.^[246] Starting in 1991, Scientology filed fifty lawsuits against Scientology-critic Cult Awareness Network (CAN).^[247] Many of the suits were dismissed, but one resulted in $2 million in losses, bankrupting the network.^[247] At bankruptcy, CAN's name and logo were obtained by a Scientologist.^[247][248] A New Cult Awareness Network was set up with Scientology backing, which says it operates as an information and networking center for non-traditional religions, referring callers to academics and other experts.^[249][250]

In a 1993 U.S. lawsuit brought by the Church of Scientology against former member Steven Fishman, Fishman made a court declaration which included several dozen pages of formerly secret esoterica detailing aspects of Scientologist cosmogony. As a result of the litigation, this material, normally strictly safeguarded and used only in Scientology's more advanced "OT levels", found its way onto the Internet. This resulted in a battle between the Scientology organization and its online critics over the right to disclose this material, or safeguard its confidentiality. The organization was forced to issue a press release acknowledging the existence of this cosmogony, rather than allow its critics "to distort and misuse this information for their own purposes".^[251][252]

In January 1995, Church of Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin attempted to shut down the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology by sending a control message instructing Usenet servers to delete the group.^[253] In practice, this rmgroup message had little effect, since most Usenet servers are configured to disregard such messages when sent to groups that receive substantial traffic, and newgroup messages were quickly issued to recreate the group on those servers that did not do so. However, the issuance of the message led to a great deal of public criticism by free-speech advocates.^[254][255] Among the criticisms raised, one suggestion is that Scientology's true motive is to suppress the free speech of its critics.^[256][257]

The Church of Scientology also began filing lawsuits against those who posted copyrighted texts on the newsgroup and the World Wide Web, lobbied for tighter restrictions on copyrights in general, and supported the controversial Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act as well as the even more controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Beginning in the middle of 1996 and ensuing for several years, the newsgroup was attacked by anonymous parties using a tactic dubbed sporgery by some, in the form of hundreds of thousands of forged spam messages posted on the group. Some investigators said that some spam had been traced to members of the Church of Scientology.^[259][260] Former Scientologist Tory Christman later asserted that the Office of Special Affairs had undertaken a concerted effort to destroy alt.religion.scientology through these means; the effort failed.^[261]

On January 14, 2008, a video produced by the Scientology organization featuring an interview with Tom Cruise was leaked to the Internet and uploaded to YouTube.^{[262][263][264]} The Church of Scientology issued a copyright violation claim against YouTube requesting the removal of the video.^[265] Calling the action by the Church of Scientology a form of Internet censorship, participants of Anonymous coordinated Project Chanology, consisting of a series of denial-of-service attacks against Scientology websites, prank calls, and black faxes to Scientology centers.^{[266][267][268][269]}

On January 21, 2008, Anonymous announced its intentions via a video posted to YouTube entitled "Message to Scientology", and a press release declaring a "war" against the Church of Scientology and the Religious Technology Center.^[270] In the press release, the group stated that the attacks against the organization would continue in order to protect the freedom of speech, and end what they saw as the financial exploitation of members of the organization.^[271]

On January 28, 2008, an Anonymous video appeared on YouTube calling for protests outside Church of Scientology buildings on February 10, 2008.^[272][273] The date was chosen because it was the birthday of Lisa McPherson.^[274] According to a letter Anonymous e-mailed to the press, about 7,000 people protested in more than 90 cities worldwide.^[275] Many protesters wore masks based on the character V from V for Vendetta (who was influenced by Guy Fawkes) or otherwise disguised their identities, in part to protect themselves from reprisals from the Church of Scientology.^[276][277] Many further protests have followed since then in cities around the world.^[278]

The Arbitration Committee of the Wikipedia internet encyclopedia decided in May 2009 to restrict access to its site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by Scientologists.^[279][280] A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well.^[279][280] The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".^[279]

Scientology has influenced various therapy and spiritual groups formed since the 1960s. Much past-life therapy was influenced by Dianetics, while others, including groups founded by former Scientologists, drew on Scientology.^[281]

Many of the organization's critics have utilized the internet, for instance to disseminate leaked confidential documents.^[282] The Church of Scientology has sought to sue websites for disseminating Hubbard's writings.^[283]

The German government is largely hostile to the Church of Scientology,^[284] considering it a threat to democracy, and banning Scientologists in Germany from working in the public sector.^[153] Scientologists in France have reported being fired or refused jobs because of their beliefs.^[285] A 2022 YouGov poll on American attitudes toward religious groups ranked Scientology as the country's least-favored group, with around 50% of respondents indicating a negative view of the practice, alongside Satanism.^[286]

Scientology has received an extraordinary amount of media interest.^[287] Hubbard often described journalists in negative terms, calling them "merchants of chaos",^[288] and discouraged Scientologists from interacting with journalists.^[289]

• Scientology and religious groups
• Scientology and homosexuality

• Scientology – Is This a Religion? by Stephen A. Kent
• An Annotated Bibliographical Survey of Primary and Secondary Literature on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology
• Lord, Phil (2019). "Scientology's Legal System". Marburg Journal of Religion. 21 (1). Marburg Journal of Religion. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3232113. SSRN 3232113.