Scientology

Scientology ("knowing about knowing"), a new religion founded in 1954, was based upon the evolving thought of American writer L. Ron Hubbard.

Though Dianetics and Scientology were founded by L. Ron Hubbard, he acknowledged drawing on the speculations and observations of many earlier thinkers.

The founder of Scientology was 20th-century author and former U.S. Naval officer L. Ron Hubbard, who spent much of his early adult life considering the human predicament and its remedy.

The written and spoken words of L. Ron Hubbard on the subject of Scientology collectively constitute the scripture of the religion. He detailed the Scientology theology and technologies in millions of words, scores of films, and more than 3,000 recorded lectures.

Scholars are just beginning the task of understanding Scientology, and the academic community is developing a body of work on its religious nature and place in society and culture.

The first Church of Scientology was formed by Scientologists in Los Angeles, California, in 1954. Scientology continued to experience rapid growth through the last decades of the 20th century, but did so amid intense controversy.

In its relatively short existence, Scientology has experienced a small number of schisms but none that has survived for long.

While the Church of Scientology had to fight many legal battles in its formative years and its parishioners encountered systematic official acts of religious discrimination in some countries, today it operates around the world.

In the 1960s, Scientology began to spread across Europe but encountered significant resistance from the cult awareness movement and conservative governments.

Scientology emerged in the middle of the 20th century, and from its beginning had to deal with the realities of a pluralistic religious culture, the globalization of information, and intense controversy. Today there are more than 8,500 Scientology organizations, Missions, and affiliated groups in 165 countries.

Scientologists build their sacred narrative around themes of accomplishment and success, of their founder, of the church as a whole, and of individual members.

The Church of Scientology has no set dogma concerning God. The concept of God is expressed as the Eighth Dynamic, the urge toward existence as infinity. This is also identified as the Supreme Being. As the Eighth Dynamic, the Scientology concept of God rests at the apex of universal survival.

Scientology teaches that humans are immortal spiritual beings. Their existence extends well beyond a single lifetime and their capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized. Humans are basically good, and spiritual salvation depends upon the attainment of brotherhood with the universe.

Scientology distinguishes between good and evil. Actions that enhance survival on the majority of the eight aspects of life (the Eight Dynamics) are good; those that destroy or deny these aspects of life are evil. Scientologists strive to make decisions that will enhance the majority of these dynamics of life.

Scientologists believe that they will return to an embodied existence after they end this present life and will be able to continue to work for the goals of Scientology of freeing the planet.

Scientologists believe that the world emerged billions of years ago and was populated with thetans who have lived numerous past lives prior to their present existence.

For Scientologists, there are no sacred spaces as such; however, the career of the founder is honored with a shrine-like office in each church facility, and the facilities for upper level training are transformed into palatial settings for the most committed church members.

Scientology includes religious ceremonies to recognize events of importance in the lives of its parishioners: weddings, namings, and funerals. The religious ceremonies of Scientology impart a special quality to these occasions.

There is no personal deity in Scientology, so private rituals of worship and devotion are practically non-existent, replaced with diligence in spiritual practice and striving for moral uprightness.

The official Scientology symbol is an S and Double Triangle. The lower triangle is called the A-R-C Triangle: A for Affinity, R for Reality, and C for Communication. The upper triangle is called the K-R-C Triangle: K for Knowledge, R for Responsibility, and C for Control.

Those trained to deliver Scientology ceremonies and other spiritual counseling are referred to as ministers. The Church of Scientology also coordinates the work of many lay volunteers and staff members whose activities include proselytization, ecclesiastical management, relay of communication, and the publication of materials.

Every Church of Scientology is a central point from which the Church's many community and social improvement activities are coordinated.

L. Ron Hubbard authored both a moral code to promote positive conduct and discourage destructive actions, and a more detailed system of ethical conduct to which Scientologists are expected to adhere.

Concerned about the pervasive problems of modern society, the Church of Scientology has developed a set of programs to reform society. The Church and its members are committed to helping others and so provide assistance through a wide range of activities.

Because people are spiritual beings, gender is not an issue in Scientology. There are no limitations based on race, gender, ethnicity, or other similar criteria for individuals who serve as ministers or as executives in the Church's ecclesiastical management.