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Scientology (Dianetics)
History/Founder: The Church of Scientology was founded in 1955 by L Ron Hubbard, former Navy Veteran and Science fiction writer. Scientology was based on the ideas Hubbard outlined in his book Dianetics, which described Hubbard's ideas about the mind, the nature of illness, and the origins of life on earth.
Current leader/governing body: David Miscavige, Chairman of the Religious Technology Center, the organization's regulatory body which assumes the administrative control of the organization and manages Hubbard's copyrights. Reverend Heber Jentzsch is the official spokesperson of the Church of Scientology International, the public arm of the organization.
Number of Adherents: Unknown. The Church estimates eight million members, other estimates are as low as 500,000 worldwide.
Clergy: Scientology offers two types of clergy- "volunteer ministers" who provide "assists" at public events and during disasters, and regular auditors who administer scientology "tech."
Requirements to join: one usually begins by taking a course, attending a 'service' or seminar at a scientology center, or through taking group sponsored 'personality tests.'
Church/temple: While Scientology bills itself as a "Church," Scientology centers do not offer traditional religious training or worship services. The designation of "church" is fairly recent, as the organization originally billed it's "technology" as a medical process akin to psychotherapy.
Scripture: Scientology has no "scripture" in the religious sense, but its philosophies are based on the writings of Hubbard, notably his 195? book Dianetics.
Required observances, dietary restrictions: None.
Code of Conduct: Auditors in Scientology adhere to the Auditor's Code. Scientology as a religion makes no specific expectations of behavior, as correct conduct is considered a natural correlation to the "clear" state. There is, however, a "Code of Scientology" that outlines how a 'clear' would be expected to behave.
Basic teachings and Beliefs of Scientology : The basic teaching behind Scientology takes a somewhat gnostic view-that human beings are immortal spirits trapped inmaterial bodies. Through scientological processes, engrams, or negative sense perceptions , are stored in the "reactive mind," a concept loosely akin to Freud's subconcious mind. Mental illnesses and disease are held to be the byprodutcts of the reactive mind acting on these stored traumas. According to Scientology, these engrams are 'cleared' through the use of Dianetics (sometimes referred to as 'tech,' for technology). This clearing process is conducted via the use of audits, question and answer sessions designed to pinpoint and deactivate the engrams. These audits serve as a sort of confessional, therapy session, and karma meditation all rolled together- with mixed results. Scientologists move through several 'levels' within the organization, aspiring to be completely 'clear' at the uppermost level.
The underlying mythology in Scientology may be summed up briefly: A powerful alien being named "Xenu" many millions of years ago trapped billions of criminal souls on earth, who attach themselves to humans and create a variety of problems. What purpose this myth serves is unknown, as the Church is reticent to publicly discuss this "secret," most likely because it tends to be sensationalized. It is doubtful whether most members (or very many at all) of the Church accept this as literal truth, but in any case, it has been pointed out that this is no stranger than believing a man named Noah put a few hundred thousand animals in a wooden boat and floated it arouind the world, or any other founding myth of religion.
Holidays and observances: Scientology has a number holidays, most celebrating the founding of the organization of the release of books or ehhibits, or the recognition of the Church in various countries. Red Letter days are March 13, L Ron's birthday, and May 9, the anniversary of the publication of Dianetics. The second Sunday in September is "Auditor's day" and honors Scientology's auditors.
Symbols of Scientology : The Church of Scientology makes use of a number of symbols, including the a "Dianetics" emblem, and the Cross of Scientology:
 
Famous Scientologists: Well known scientologists include celebrities Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Juliette Lewis, Kirstie Alley, Lisa-Marie & Priscilla Presley, Nancy Cartwright, and many more actors, musicians, and artists.
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