But on a weirdness scale of 1 to 10, the modern day “church” of Scientology scores very highly indeed.

In 1950, L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, published a book called Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health which introduced his ideas. The book became a global bestseller. In 1953, Hubbard established the Church of Scientology in Camden, New Jersey, marking the formal organisation of his ideas into a religious framework, very likely for tax purposes.

The word Scientology is a derivation from the Latin word scientia ("knowledge"), with the suffix -ology, from the Greek λόγος lógos ("word" or "account [of]”), i.e. according to Hubbard, “knowing about knowing” or the “science of knowledge".

Scientology grew rapidly during the 1960s and 70s, establishing churches and missions around the world. The church also developed a detailed organisational structure and a set of beliefs and religious practices, and that’s where things get interesting.

Key Scientology beliefs include reincarnation and the existence of “thetans” (immortal spiritual beings). And Scientologists believe that traumatic events cause subconscious command-like recordings in the mind (termed "engrams") that can be removed only through an activity called "auditing". A fee is charged for each session of "auditing" [Ed: Ka-ching]. Once an "auditor”, using an “E-meter” to measure emotional responses, deems an individual free of "engrams" they are given the status of "clear". After attaining "clear" status, adherents can start climbing the “operating thetan” levels, which require further payments. The operating thetan texts are kept secret from most followers, and are revealed only after adherents have typically given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Scientology organisation.

Despite its efforts to maintain the secrecy of the texts, they are freely available on various websites. In them Hubbard wrote about a great catastrophe that took place 75 million years ago [Ed: give or take?]. According to this story, there was a Galactic Confederacy of 76 planets ruled over by a leader called Xenu. The Confederacy was overpopulated and Xenu transported millions of aliens to earth and killed them with hydrogen bombs. [Ed: oddly specific] The thetans of those killed were then clustered together and implants were inserted into them, designed to kill anybody that these thetans would subsequently inhabit should they recall the event of their destruction. [Ed: confusing]

This forms the central mythological framework of Scientology's salvation theory.

Despite this ostensible kookiness, Scientology has managed to attract a number of high-profile celebrities, such as actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, who have become vocal advocates for the church. This kind of endorsement is promotional gold for Scientology, which is why the “church” operates a number of so-called “Celebrity Centres” around the world – special facilities designed to cater to the needs of artists, entertainers and other public figures.

And it’s not only harmless eccentricity. Scientology has long been criticised for its secrecy, aggressive legal tactics, and alleged mistreatment of members. Former members have shared stories of coercion, financial exploitation and abuse – leading to public campaigns and documentaries aimed at exposing the church's practices. Going Clear, a 2015 documentary film about Scientology, directed by Alex Gibney and produced by HBO, is based on Lawrence Wright's book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief (2013). Trailer HERE.

Finally, don’t feel too bad for Scientology. The system seems to resonate with enough people to keep the lights on and the cash flowing. Browsing the remarkably shiny Scientology.org and see if you can discern fact from fiction.
___________________________

References

wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology
wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics
scientology.org

Images

1. Church of Scientology in Los Angeles, established in 1954. Credit: Scientology.org
2. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology in 1950
3. Book: Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard, Abridged 2007
4. Scientology auditing demonstration in Auckland, 2017. Auditor on left/foreground. Preclear on right/background. Red Mark VIII Ultra E-meter. Photo credit: Robin Capper
5. Scientology Bridge to Total Freedom chart
6. Tom Cruise wears the Scientology "Freedom Medal of Valor". Credit: Going Clear
7. Scientology Celebrity Centre in Paris
8. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion
9. Video: Trailer for Going Clear, 2015, Madman Films