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The Church of Scientology was founded by author L. Ron Hubbard as an organization dedicated to the practice of Scientology, a religious belief created by Hubbard. It was first incorporated in the United States as a nonprofit organization in 1954, and currently is considered to be a tax-exempt religious nonprofit organization under the tax code administered by the Internal Revenue Service. By contrast, the governments of Germany and Belgium officially regard the Church of Scientology as a dangerous cult; in France, a parliamentary report classified it as so.

Following Hubbard's death, leadership of the Church of Scientology was taken over by David Miscavige. Officially, Miscavige is the Chairman of the Board of Scientology's "Religious Technology Center" (RTC), which exists to safeguard Scientology's writings and publications. Unofficially, Miscavige is accused by critics of masterminding the entire organization. The "president" and spokesperson for the Church of Scientology is reverend Heber Jentzsch.

Structure and entities

Churches and Missions

Scientology churches and missions exist in many cities around the world, and are open to the public. Members of the public entering a Scientology church or mission are offered a free personality test, the result of which is invariably that the recipient has severe spiritual problems and is in dire need of auditing.

Besides the main activities of delivering auditing and auditor training, there exist other activities of Scientology like Sunday services, naming, marriage and funeral ceremonies which do, though, play a minor role compared to the main activities.

Religious Technology Center (RTC)

Around 1980, all of the Church's intellectual property was transferred to a newly formed entity called the Religious Technology Center (RTC) which, according to its own publicity, exists solely to safeguard and control the use of Scientology's writings (or "advanced technology", as its internal documents and scriptures are termed). However, the RTC is also believed to be the financial hub and international headquarters of the entire worldwide organization. The RTC employs an army of litigators, and has vigorously pursued other individuals and groups who have tried to practice Scientology outside the central church. This has resulted in a large number of lawsuits being filed against Scientology's critics and perceived "enemies" (see Scientology and the Legal System).

Sea Org

The Sea Org (Sea Organization) was founded in 1967 by L. Ron Hubbard, as he was embarking on a series of sea voyages around the Mediterranean Sea. The personal crew who accompanied him on these voyages were the foundation of the Sea Org, and it continues to serve the purpose of enforcing the rules and administering Scientology justice within the church. Dedicated Scientologists seeking to advance within the church are often encouraged to join the Sea Org. One of the conditions of the organization is for members to sign a contract pledging their loyalty to Scientology for "the next billion years." Scientology claims this billion-year contract is strictly a "symbolic document."

Rules in the Sea Org are reputed to be harsher than normal; the practice of "overboarding" is said to have originated in the Sea Org.

The Sea Org motto is "We Come Back".

Scientology Centers

The worldwide "spiritual headquarters" of the Church of Scientology is located in the city of Clearwater, Florida. Officially known in Scientology as Flag Base, this international headquarters was founded in the late 1970s when an anonymous Scientology-founded group called "United Council of Churches" purchased the Fort Harrison Hotel for $3 million. 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 Gabe Cazares, rallied against Scientology establishing a base in the city (repeatedly referring to the organization as a cult), but Flag Base was established nonetheless. In the years since its foundation, Flag Base has expanded as the church has gradually purchased additional property in the downtown Clearwater area. Its relationship with the city has repeatedly moved between "friendly" and "hostile," as the church has worked with the city to establish better relations; while at the same time actively opposing local newspaper The Saint Petersburg Times and even protesting the Clearwater police department. Scientology's largest project in Clearwater has been the construction of a huge high-rise complex called the "Super Power Building," an enormous structure whose highest point, when completed, will be a huge Scientology cross that will tower over the city.

Scientology has also worked to establish a visible presence in Hollywood. The church owns a large complex on Hollywood boulevard, and it even convinced the city of Los Angeles to rename the small street adjoining its building "L. Ron Hubbard Way." Its Hollywood location is home to the largest of the Scientology Celebrity Centers, which are elaborate, luxurious accomodations meant to cater to various celebrities who are guests and members of the organization. Scientology has actively worked to bring celebrities and famous names into its membership, as Hubbard recognized the enormous public relations value of movie stars, musicians, and similar persons.

A third headquarters for Scientology, Gold Base, is located in Hemet, California, in the area where Hubbard spent his last days before his death. This is the home of Scientology's media production studio, Golden Era Studios. It is also believed to be the central headquarters for the highest level officers who manage the entire worldwide organization.

Church or business?

The Church of Scientology claims to be non-denominational and compatible with all faiths; however, a deeper study of Scientology shows that its worldview and teachings do contradict the worldview and teachings of religions such as Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.

The Church of Scientology also claims that in 1994, a joint council of Shinto Buddhist (Yu-itsu Shinto) sects in Japan not only extended official recognition of Scientology, but also undertook to train a number of their monks in its beliefs and practices as an adjunct to their own meditations and worship. This continues, according to Scientology, a long tradition of Eastern faiths of assimilating or adopting elements of others faiths which they find harmonious with their own. This may be a reflection of the fact that Hubbard acknowledged a strong Eastern, and specifically Buddhist influence in forming his own personal philosophy.

The Church of Scientology was formally recognized as a tax exempt religious and charitable organization by the United States Internal Revenue Service in 1993. (According to this article in the Wall Street Journal published on December 30, 1997, Scientology paid a settlement of $12.5 million to the IRS in exchange for tax exemption. Scientology also dropped its more than fifty lawsuits against the IRS when this settlement was reached.) Scientology frequently states that its tax exemption is proof that the United States government accepts it as a religion.

In other countries, though, the Church of Scientology is not recognized as religion or charitable activity, but regarded as commercial enterprise with a totalitarian structure. (Sentence of German Labor Court). In early 2003, in Germany, Scientology was granted a tax-exemption for 10% license fees that are sent to the US. This exemption, however, is related to a German-American double-taxation agreement, and has nothing to do with tax-exemption in the context of charities law. In such countries, proselytizing activities of Scientology on public ground undergo the same restrictions as commercial advertising, which is interpreted as religious persecution by the Church of Scientology. Some state reports on Scientology in countries such as Britain and Australia have yielded unfavorable observations and conclusions. Where the Church of Scientology is seen as totalitarian organization, it is or has been under observation by national security organizations like other extremist organizations.

In Israel, the Church of Scientology does not use the term "Church" as part of its name, possibly because of the Christian connotation of the term in Jewish culture. When asked, most Israeli scientologists deny that Scientology is a religion, and low level adherents appear genuinely surprised when they are confronted with English language COS material in which the word Church is used.

Unlike many other well-established religious organizations, the Church of Scientology maintains strict control over its names, symbols, "scriptures" and other published writings. It claims to own the word "Scientology" as a trademark, and is quick to litigate to block other people and groups from using it in organizations and practices that are not affiliated with the official Church of Scientology (see Scientology and the Legal System).

Finances

Members of the Church of Scientology are invited to do any number of classes, exercises or counseling sessions, at fixed donation rates. Charges for auditing and other church-related courses run from hundreds to thousands of dollars. A wide variety of entry-level courses, representing 8 to 16 hours study, cost under $100 (US). More advanced courses require membership in the International Association of Scientologists (IAS). Membership without taking expensive courses or auditing is possible, but the higher states of Scientology can not be reached. In 1994/95, Operation Clambake estimated the cost of reaching "OT9 readiness", one of the highest levels, is US $365,000 - $380,000.

Critics hold that it is improper to fix a donation for religious service and that therefore the activity is non-religious. The Church of Scientology points out that many classes, exercises and counseling may also be traded for "in kind" or performed cooperatively by students for no cost, and that members of its most devoted ecclesiastic orders need donate nothing for services.

Membership statistics

Reliable membership statistics cannot be obtained, as on one hand the Church of Scientology has been accused of publishing inflated numbers, and on the other Scientologists are unlikely to disclose their affiliation to outsiders for fear of persecution.

The Church of Scientology has claimed anywhere from eight million to fifteen million members world-wide (a number roughly equal to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and has stated that "Scientology is the fastest growing religion in the world." Critics, however, state that the evidence for Scientology's expansion suggests otherwise. The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) maintains a list of Scientologists world-wide: every active Scientologist is required by Scientology to belong to and pay dues to this association. According to some sources, Scientology and Dianetics reached its peak in the mid-1980s at approximately 1,500,000 members world-wide, and has been declining ever since.

• In 1991, the National Survey of Religious Identification reported 45,000 Scientology followers in the United States. This survey has been placed in evidence in the court case "Raul Lopez v. Church of Scientology Mission of Buenaventura" by Scientology's attorney, Gerald L. Chaleff.

• In 1994, there were 3,400 Scientology "Sea Org" members, 34,000 lifetime IAS members, and 54,000 yearly IAS members -- a total of 91,400 names on the membership lists. Observers of Scientology estimate that at least half of these people no longer participate in Scientology, and do not consider themselves Scientologists.

• In 1995 IAS membership was estimated at 65,000 active Scientologists world-wide.

• In the year 2001, the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reported 55,000 adults in the United States who consider themselves Scientologists. Observers of Scientology estimate an additional 20,000 Scientologists outside the United States, for a total of 75,000 world-wide.

Scientologists are allegedly common in Hollywood, with movie stars John Travolta and Tom Cruise being amongst the world's most prominent followers of the religon. However, the claims of its influences ("the second-biggest religon in Hollywood" etc) are most likely largely exaggerated.

Scientology splinter groups

The Church of Scientology denies the existence of any splinter Scientology groups and factions outside of the official organization, and it has actively sought out these "rogue" Scientologists and tried to prevent them from using officially trademarked Scientology materials. These independent or rogue Scientologists are known as "squirrels" within Scientology, and they are given the same status as "suppressive persons" ("SPs"), psychiatrists, and opponents and enemies of Scientology. Nevertheless, the number of Scientologists who have broken away from the official Church has increased since Hubbard's death. These independent Scientologists are collectively known as the Free Zone.

Affiliated organizations

There are also several organizations and groups which are staffed by Scientologists, and use Scientology technology and trademarks under the control of Scientology management, but often avoid mentioning the connection in their texts:

• Narconon drug rehabilitation centers

Official Narconon Site

Narconon Exposed, covers media reports, source documents, studies and research papers.

• CCHR (Citizens' Commission on Human Rights) takes the form of an activist group to expose "psychiatric abuse", furthering Scientology doctrinal opposition to mainstream medical psychological therapies.

Official CCHR Site

Psychiatric Times: Psychiatric Profession Current Target of Citizens Commission on Human Rights

• Applied Scholastics

Applied Scholastics Official Site

Scientology v. Education: A critical analysis of Scientology's "study technology"

These and many other Scientologist-run businesses and organizations belong to the umbrella organization WISE (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises). WISE also promotes L. Ron Hubbard's management doctrine in Scientologist businesses.

• WISE (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises)

Official WISE Site

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

Related topics

• Scientology
• Scientology beliefs and practices
• Scientology: Controversial Issues
• Scientology and the Legal System
• Scientology vs. the Internet
• L. Ron Hubbard
• Dianetics
• Narconon
• Free Zone

To do: Saint Hill Scientology base to be written