Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It is variously defined as a cult, a business, a religion, a scam, or a new religious movement. Hubbard initially developed a set of ideas that he called Dianetics, which he represented as a form of therapy. An organization that he established in 1950 to promote it went bankrupt, and Hubbard lost the rights to his book Dianetics in 1952. He then recharacterized his ideas as a religion, likely for tax purposes, and renamed them Scientology. By 1954, he had regained the rights to Dianetics and founded the Church of Scientology, which remains the largest organization promoting Scientology. There are practitioners independent of the Church, in what is referred to as the Free Zone. Estimates put the number of Scientologists at under 40,000 worldwide.
Xenu as depicted by Panorama
A man dressed as Xenu carrying an E-meter; Scientology's critics often use Xenu to mock the movement.
The Scientology organization's cruise ship, the Freewinds, staffed by Sea Org members, with OT symbol on side of ship
The Super Power Building of the FLAG Scientology complex in Clearwater, Florida
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was an American author and the founder of Scientology. A prolific writer of pulp science fiction and fantasy novels in his early career, in 1950 he authored Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and established organizations to promote and practice Dianetics techniques. Hubbard created Scientology in 1952 after losing the intellectual rights to his literature on Dianetics in bankruptcy. He would lead the Church of Scientology, variously described as a cult, a new religious movement, or a business, until his death in 1986.
Hubbard in 1950
Hubbard's adventure story "Yukon Madness" which was published in 1935.
Museum recreation of a 1930s dentist office; the setting where Hubbard reported having a "near-death experience".
Parsons in 1943.