Scientology

Scientology is a religious movement founded in the United States by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950s, evolving from his earlier Dianetics ideas. It presents the human being as an immortal spiritual being called a thetan, who has lived through multiple past lives and who can achieve improved spiritual awareness and abilities through its techniques and training.

Core beliefs center on the idea that traumatic memories, or engrams, from past experiences impede present-day well-being. Through a practice called auditing, a trained practitioner uses an electropsychometer, or E-meter, to help a person locate and address these engrams. Progress is said to occur along the Bridge to Total Freedom, culminating in states such as Clear and, for some, Operating Thetan levels. Some material associated with advanced stages is kept confidential and is taught only to adherents who have completed certain prerequisites.

Organizationally, Scientology is led by the Church of Scientology and affiliated entities, with a global network of missions, churches, and educational centers. The Sea Organization, or Sea Org, is a religious order within Scientology that occupies senior positions and long working hours. The movement emphasizes ethical conduct, study, and service, and it places emphasis on training and auditing as ongoing practices.

Scientology has been the subject of significant controversy and public debate. Critics have questioned its doctrines, finances, and leadership practices, while supporters point to a structured path to spiritual betterment and charitable activities. Legal recognition and status as a religion vary by country, with the United States granting tax-exempt religious status in 1993 and other countries treating it differently. The movement remains influential in popular culture and maintains a high-profile public presence through media and celebrity associations.