Introduction

The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by Lafayette Ronald (commonly, “L. Ron”) Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986). Its doctrines are based on Dianetics, a spiritual and psychological treatment program developed by Hubbard. Scientology seeks to cleanse the human psyche of negative memories believed to inhibit an individual's full creativity and potential. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, together with Hubbard's follow-up works, form the Church's sacred texts. The official Scientology website numbers adherents near ten million, with members in many countries around the world.

Basic Scientology Beliefs

• Reality: Creation, called “the Cause” by Scientologists, occurred billions of years ago. Part of that creation involved theta, the energy of life. Interaction among theta led to the creation of matter, energy, space, and time,⁴Known in Scientology by the acronym MEST. or the visible universe.
• Enlightenment: Complete recordings of past experiences, called engrams,⁵English term coined by Hubbard. Also called "memory traces". have accumulated in every individual's subconscious. Using the Dianetics counseling process—commonly referred to as auditing—these "mental masses"⁷English term coined by Hubbard. of engrams, which surround the theta, may be detected. Once engrams are detected, the individual can learn to unburden him or herself of mental masses, allowing the individual to realize his or her full potential as a thetan.⁸Coined by Hubbard to mean "soul" or "spiritual being."
• Diet: Scientology places no restrictions on food, but permits only those pharmaceuticals that treat physical ailments. Recreational drugs and those for psychological treatment are forbidden. Some Scientologists decline all drug-related treatments.

Scientology Timeline

• Lafayette Ronald (commonly “L. Ron”) Hubbard (1911-1986) spent his early life investigating human behavior, life, and the universe. In July 1952, Hubbard concluded he had scientifically isolated, measured and described the human spirit. He developed Scientology to liberate the human soul through self-understanding and spent the rest of his life promoting this view of humanity.
• The first Church of Scientology was incorporated as a non-profit organization in New Jersey in 1953. Each church is independent, operating as a licensee of the Church of Scientology International, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
• Church statistics list current membership at near ten million worldwide.

Scientology Tenets

Scientologists declare that the basic responsibility of all life is survival. Scientology divides that command into eight compartments so that each aspect can be inspected and understood:⁹Adapted from Scientology.org. http://www.scientology.org/what-is-scientology/basic-principles-of-scientology/eight-dynamics.html

• Self: To survive as an individual.
• Creativity: To make things, including children, as a mechanism for future survival.
• Group Survival: To survive as a group such as friends, a company, a state, or a race.
• Species: To survive through human nature as a species.
• Life Forms: To survive as life forms with the help of birds, insects, fishes, vegetation, etc.
• Physical Universe: To survive by the physical universe and its four components—matter, energy, space, and time—that work together for mutual survival.
• Spiritual Dynamic: To survive as spiritual beings through ideas, abilities concepts.
• Infinity: To reach infinity—this concept encompasses the pervasiveness of everything.

In addition, Scientology has several credos and codes, which act as articles of faith and standards of conduct.