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=== Xenu ===
=== Xenu ===
Scientologist believe, should one go deep enough into it to achieve OT III,<ref group=note>It costs an estimated $350,000 to reach OT III, for reference</ref> that 75 million years ago<ref group=note>Note and multiple references:
Scientologist believe, should one go deep enough into it to achieve OT III,<ref group=note>It costs an estimated $350,000 to reach OT III, for reference</ref> that 75 million years ago<ref>Multiple references:
*Hubbard, L[afayette] Ron (1968). ''Class VIII Auditor'' (republished at ''Wikileaks'' website as [https://www.wikileaks.com/wiki/Scientology_cult_Hubbard_Class_VIII_Xenu_transcripts_1968 "Scientology cult Hubbard Class VIII Xenu transcripts 1968 (lectures)"], ZIP file of PDF files of Hubbard's lectures, June 9, 2008), nos. 1-19, missing no. 17. Check PDF no. 10 [Class VIII 10 Assists (Tape #6810C03)(xemu).PDF] on page 14 to see the first references to Xenu (he's called Xemu in the instance).
*Hubbard, L[afayette] Ron (1968). ''Class VIII Auditor'' (republished at ''Wikileaks'' website as [https://www.wikileaks.com/wiki/Scientology_cult_Hubbard_Class_VIII_Xenu_transcripts_1968 "Scientology cult Hubbard Class VIII Xenu transcripts 1968 (lectures)"], ZIP file of PDF files of Hubbard's lectures, June 9, 2008), nos. 1-19, missing no. 17. Check PDF no. 10 [Class VIII 10 Assists (Tape #6810C03)(xemu).PDF] on page 14 to see the first references to Xenu (he's called Xemu in the instance).
*ABC News (February 14, 1992). "Interview of David Miscavage by Ted Koppel". ''Nightline'' [television broadcast]. ABC (republished as [https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2664713&page=1#:~:text=Nov.,was%20his%20first%2Dever%20interview. "Scientology leader gave ABC first-ever interview".] ''ABCNews.go.com'' website, November 18, 2006).
*ABC News (February 14, 1992). "Interview of David Miscavage by Ted Koppel". ''Nightline'' [television broadcast]. ABC (republished as [https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2664713&page=1#:~:text=Nov.,was%20his%20first%2Dever%20interview. "Scientology leader gave ABC first-ever interview".] ''ABCNews.go.com'' website, November 18, 2006).
*Partridge, Christopher Hugh (2003). ''UFO Religions''. (Routledge). ISBN 0-415-26324-7. OCLC 51342721.
*Partridge, Christopher Hugh (2003). ''UFO Religions''. (Routledge). ISBN 0-415-26324-7. OCLC 51342721.
*Reece, Gregory L. (2007). ''UFO Religion: Inside Flying Saucer Cults and Culture''. (I. B. Tauris) ISBN 1-84511-451-5.
*Reece, Gregory L. (2007). ''UFO Religion: Inside Flying Saucer Cults and Culture''. (I. B. Tauris) ISBN 1-84511-451-5.
*Lamont, Stewart (1986). ''Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology''. (London: Harrap). ISBN 0-245-54334-1. OCLC 23079677.</ref> (later called Earth), and stacked them around volcanoes. He lowered hydrogen bombs into the volcanoes and detonated them, killing everyone who was frozen. Xenu had another problem though: each person had a soul. So he used this special electronic beam that worked like fly paper to catch all the souls, and flew them to a massive, gargantuan cinema.<ref name=xenu/> Xenu made the souls (called thetans) watch films for 36 days straight. The films told the thetans that they were God, Jesus, and the Devil all at the same time.<ref name=xenu/> This so confused the thetans that they clumped together and stayed on Earth, and all these years later they cling to our bodies and cause us problems.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lamont, Stewart (1986). ''Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology''. (London: Harrap). ISBN 0-245-54334-1. OCLC 23079677.</ref> (later called Earth), and stacked them around volcanoes. He lowered hydrogen bombs into the volcanoes and detonated them, killing everyone who was frozen. Xenu had another problem though: each person had a soul. So he used this special electronic beam that worked like fly paper to catch all the souls, and flew them to a massive, gargantuan cinema. Xenu made the souls (called thetans) watch films for 36 days straight. The films told the thetans that they were God, Jesus, and the Devil all at the same time.<ref name=xenu/> This so confused the thetans that they clumped together and stayed on Earth, and all these years later they cling to our bodies and cause us problems.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lamont, Stewart (1986). ''Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology''. (London: Harrap). ISBN 0-245-54334-1. OCLC 23079677.
*Lamont, Stewart (1986). ''Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology''. (London: Harrap). ISBN 0-245-54334-1. OCLC 23079677.
*Ortega, Tony (July 24, 2015). [http://tonyortega.org/2015/07/24/long-before-xenu-scientologys-actual-origin-story-as-told-by-a-former-member/ "Long before Xenu: Scientology's actual origin story as told by a former member".] The Underground Bunker website.</ref>
*Ortega, Tony (July 24, 2015). [http://tonyortega.org/2015/07/24/long-before-xenu-scientologys-actual-origin-story-as-told-by-a-former-member/ "Long before Xenu: Scientology's actual origin story as told by a former member".] The Underground Bunker website.</ref>
*Branch, Rick (1997). [http://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientology_a-history-of-terror-and-abuse "Scientology: A history of terror and abuse"]. ''The Watchman Expositor'', vol. 14, no. 5. Republished at Watchman Fellowship website.
*Branch, Rick (1997). [http://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientology_a-history-of-terror-and-abuse "Scientology: A history of terror and abuse"]. ''The Watchman Expositor'', vol. 14, no. 5. Republished at Watchman Fellowship website.
*Sappell, Joel and Welkos, Robert W. (June 24, 1990). [http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607 "An exhaustive information source on Scientology: The mind behind the religion"]. ''Los Angeles Times'', p. A1. Republished at Believer's Web website on April 25, 2003.
*Sappell, Joel and Welkos, Robert W. (June 24, 1990). [http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607 "An exhaustive information source on Scientology: The mind behind the religion"]. ''Los Angeles Times'', p. A1. Republished at Believer's Web website on April 25, 2003.
*Morgan, Lucy and Tobin, Thomas C. (December 23, 1997). "Scientology sponsored suit against opponent". ''St. Petersburg Times'' [USA]. Republished with commentary by Kisser, Cynthia (Dec. 1997-Jan. 1998) in [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/cpoint7-1.html "Cynthia Kisser responds to Scientology Church's disinformation"] at [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/counterpoint.html ApologeticsIndex website/''Counter''Point#Scientology]. Also indexed at [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s04.html ApologeticsIndex website/Church of Scientology: Research resources, News, and News Archive]. Select "Articles" from table of contents list.
*Morgan, Lucy and Tobin, Thomas C. (December 23, 1997). "Scientology sponsored suit against opponent". ''St. Petersburg Times'' [USA]. Republished with commentary by Kisser, Cynthia (Dec. 1997-Jan. 1998) in [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/cpoint7-1.html "Cynthia Kisser responds to Scientology Church's disinformation"] at [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/counterpoint.html ApologeticsIndex website/''Counter''Point#Scientology].
*[http://www.clambake.org Operation Clambake website].</ref> Scientology is classified as a cult by the governments of France and Germany.
*[http://www.xenu.net Operation Clambake website].</ref> Scientology is classified as a cult by the governments of France and Germany.
Christian apologist Craig Branch of Watchman Fellowship begins a documented examination of Scientology by stating,
Christian apologist Craig Branch of Watchman Fellowship begins a documented examination of Scientology by stating,
Such charges are due in part to the tendency of Scientology to engage in intimidation and unethical or unlawful practices against those who have criticized or publicly opposed it, from former members, to national publications, to the [[United States]] government. This has resulted in Scientology being termed a "religious mafia", and "a commercial enterprise that masquerades as a religion."<ref>Multiple references:
Such charges are due in part to the tendency of Scientology to engage in intimidation and unethical or unlawful practices against those who have criticized or publicly opposed it, from former members, to national publications, to the [[United States]] government. This has resulted in Scientology being termed a "religious mafia", and "a commercial enterprise that masquerades as a religion."<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s04.html ApologeticsIndex website/Church of Scientology: Research resources, News, and News Archive]
*[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s04.html "Table of Contents"]. ApologeticsIndex website/Church of Scientology: Table of contents: "News, News Archive and News Background Information" and "Archives"]
*cf. Methvin, Eugene M. (October 1981). [http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/ReadersDigest2.htm "Scientology: the sickness spreads"]. ''Reader's Digest'', reprint, p. 2. Republished at Lermanet.com: Exposing the Con website/The News Archives.</ref> In response to journalist Paulette Cooper's 1972 book, ''The Scandal of Scientology'',<ref>Cooper, Paulette (1972). [http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos.html ''The Scandal of Scientology''] (New York, NY: Tower). Republished at Operation Clambake website/Scientology booklist.</ref> Scientology launched 19 lawsuits against her,<ref>Cooper, Paulette (2007). [http://www.paulettecooper.com/scandal.html "The scandal behind ''The Scandal of Scientology''"], 2013 ed. Paulette Cooper website.</ref> contrived a false bomb threat made in her name, and planned and implemented various other attempts over the course of almost 15 years. A strategy called Operation Freakout sought "To get P.C incarcerated in a mental institution or jail, or at least to hit her so hard that she drops her attacks."<ref>Multiple references:
*cf. Methvin, Eugene M. (October 1981). [http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/ReadersDigest2.htm "Scientology: the sickness spreads"]. ''Reader's Digest'', reprint, p. 2. Republished at Lermanet.com: Exposing the Con website/The News Archives.</ref> In response to journalist Paulette Cooper's 1972 book, ''The Scandal of Scientology'',<ref>Cooper, Paulette (1972). [http://www.xenu.net/archive/books/tsos/sos.html ''The Scandal of Scientology''] (New York, NY: Tower). Republished at Operation Clambake website/Scientology booklist, November 28, 1997. Mirrored at http://www.xenu.net</ref> Scientology launched 19 lawsuits against her,<ref>Cooper, Paulette (2007). [http://www.paulettecooper.com/scandal.html "The scandal behind ''The Scandal of Scientology''"], 2013 ed. Paulette Cooper website.</ref> contrived a false bomb threat made in her name, and planned and implemented various other attempts over the course of almost 15 years. A strategy called Operation Freakout sought "To get P.C incarcerated in a mental institution or jail, or at least to hit her so hard that she drops her attacks."<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.shipbrook.net/jeff/CoS/docs/pcof1.html "[Transcript of] Operation Freakout [internal document of the Church of Scientology]" matching purported copy of Exhibit 34 of Sentencing memorandum of ''USA v. Jane Kember and Morris Budlong''] (April 1, 1976). Jeff Lee's Homepage website/Scientology/docs. PDF document copy located at [http://www.xenutv.com/blog/what-is-scientology-2/snow-white/snow-white-documents/ "Snow White documents"#USA v Jane Kember and Morris Budlong#Appendices#Exhibit 34"] (December 6, 1980). Mark Bunker's Xenu TV website/What is Scientology/Operation Snow White/Snow White documents
*[http://www.shipbrook.net/jeff/CoS/docs/pcof1.html "[Transcript of] Operation Freakout [internal document of the Church of Scientology]" matching purported copy of Exhibit 34 of Sentencing memorandum of ''USA v. Jane Kember and Morris Budlong''] (April 1, 1976). Jeff Lee's Homepage website/Scientology/docs. PDF document copy located at [http://www.xenutv.com/blog/what-is-scientology-2/snow-white/snow-white-documents/ "Snow White documents"#USA v Jane Kember and Morris Budlong#Appendices#Exhibit 34"] (December 6, 1980). Mark Bunker's Xenu TV website/What is Scientology/Operation Snow White/Snow White documents
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010228062100/http://holysmoke.org/pc/freako.htm "Operation Freakout [eight internal documents of the Church of Scientology Guardian Office'] (1976). JPG document copies republished at Holysmoke.org website/Paulette Cooper as "Scientology's® assault of Paulette Cooper: Operation Freakout" (documents marked zero through seven) (before August 15, 2000). Retrieved from February 28, 2001 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010228062100/http://holysmoke.org/pc/freako.htm "Operation Freakout [eight internal documents of the Church of Scientology Guardian Office'] (1976). JPG document copies republished at Holysmoke.org website/Paulette Cooper as "Scientology's® assault of Paulette Cooper: Operation Freakout" (documents marked zero through seven) (before August 15, 2000). Retrieved from February 28, 2001 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>
*Branch, Rick (1997). [http://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientology_a-history-of-terror-and-abuse "Scientology: A history of terror and abuse"]. ''The Watchman Expositor'', vol. 14, no. 5. Republished at Watchman Fellowship website.</ref>
*Branch, Rick (1997). [http://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientology_a-history-of-terror-and-abuse "Scientology: A history of terror and abuse"]. ''The Watchman Expositor'', vol. 14, no. 5. Republished at Watchman Fellowship website.</ref>
The original objective of Operation Snow White was to expose and expunge "all false and secret files of the nations of operating areas", and included plans to use blackmail, and to infiltrate and steal potentially damaging classified files on Scientology activities in various countries, alphabetically from [[Algeria]] to the United States.<ref>[http://xenu.net/archive/go/ops/go732/go732.htm "Operation Snow White"]. Operation Clambake website/Archive/Scientology Secret Service/Guardian Office Operations</ref> These ranged from Operation Project DIG (AUDITION) in Australia, which called for giving compromising information on Conservative politicians to the Australian Labor Party so that the latter "could give the Federal Labor something to smear Victorian Conservatives with", to Project GRUMPY in Germany, which upheld obtaining files "by any means" from police, Interpol and immigration authorities.<ref>[http://xenu.net/archive/go/ops/go732/go732p.htm "Project DIG"]. Operation Clambake website/Archive/Scientology Secret Service/Guardian Office Operations.</ref>
The original objective of Operation Snow White was to expose and expunge "all false and secret files of the nations of operating areas", and included plans to use blackmail, and to infiltrate and steal potentially damaging classified files on Scientology activities in various countries, alphabetically from [[Algeria]] to the United States.<ref>[http://xenu.net/archive/go/ops/go732/go732.htm "Operation Snow White"]. Operation Clambake website/Archive/Scientology Secret Service/Guardian Office Operations.</ref> These ranged from Operation Project DIG (AUDITION) in Australia, which called for giving compromising information on Conservative politicians to the Australian Labor Party so that the latter "could give the Federal Labor something to smear Victorian Conservatives with", to Project GRUMPY in Germany, which upheld obtaining files "by any means" from police, Interpol and immigration authorities.<ref>[http://xenu.net/archive/go/ops/go732/go732p.htm "Project DIG (AUDITION)"] (May 21, 1973). ''Program Snow White'', p. 16. Republished at Operation Clambake website/Archive/Scientology Secret Service/Guardian Office Operations.</ref>
In 1991 [[Time magazine|''Time'']] magazine wrote a major exposé of Scientology, describing it as "The cult of greed," being <blockquote>
In 1991 [[Time magazine|''Time'']] magazine wrote a major exposé of Scientology, describing it as "The cult of greed," being <blockquote>
a hugely profitable, global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.... "Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious, and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen."<ref name=Behar>Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/time-behar.html "The thriving cult of greed and power"]. ''Time'', pp. 32-33. Republished at Carnegie-Mellon University website/School of Computer Science/Dave Touretzky's page/Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz. Copyrighted material; for fair educational use only.</ref></blockquote>
a hugely profitable, global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.... "Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious, and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen."<ref name=Behar>Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/time-behar.html "The thriving cult of greed and power"]. ''Time'', pp. 32-33. Republished at Carnegie-Mellon University website/School of Computer Science/Dave Touretzky's page/Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz. Copyrighted material; for fair educational use only.</ref></blockquote>
Scientology unsuccessfully sued ''Time'' magazine over the revelatory story.<ref>Branch, Rick (1997). [http://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientology_a-history-of-terror-and-abuse "Scientology: A history of terror and abuse"]. ''The Watchman Expositor'', vol. 14, no. 5. Republished at Watchman Fellowship website.</ref>
Scientology unsuccessfully sued ''Time'' magazine over the revelatory story.<ref>Branch, Rick (1997). [http://www.watchman.org/articles/scientology/scientology_a-history-of-terror-and-abuse "Scientology: A history of terror and abuse"]. ''The Watchman Expositor'', v. 14, no. 5. Republished at Watchman Fellowship website.</ref>
Numerous other [[author]]s and publications have been additional targets of Scientology retaliation.<ref>[http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/index.html Lermanet.com: Exposing the Con website/The News Archives.]</ref> In 1995, ''The American Jurist'' magazine published "Dangerous science: The Church of Scientology's holy war against critics", which notes, <blockquote>
Numerous other [[author]]s and publications have been additional targets of Scientology retaliation.<ref>[http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/index.html "The News Archives"]. Lermanet.com: Exposing the Con website/The News Archives.</ref> In 1995, ''The American Jurist'' magazine published "Dangerous science: The Church of Scientology's holy war against critics", which notes, <blockquote>
It is typical of the Church of Scientology to use lawsuits—very many of which are dismissed as frivolous—to intimidate, harass and quell its critics and defectors into silence. This scheme is even written into the church's doctrine.<ref>Ascalon, Eric J. (November 1995). [http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/amjurist1195.html "Dangerous science: The Church of Scientology's holy war against critics"]. ''The American Jurist'', vol. 9, no. 2. Republished at Lermanet.com: Exposing the Con website/The News Archives.</ref> </blockquote>
It is typical of the Church of Scientology to use lawsuits—very many of which are dismissed as frivolous—to intimidate, harass and quell its critics and defectors into silence. This scheme is even written into the church's doctrine.<ref>Ascalon, Eric J. (November 1995). [http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/amjurist1195.html "Dangerous science: The Church of Scientology's holy war against critics"]. ''The American Jurist'', vol. 9, no. 2. Republished at Lermanet.com: Exposing the Con website/The News Archives.</ref> </blockquote>
Many other authorities have voiced concurring opinions,<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/judge_quotes.html "Quotes about Scientology"]. Operation Clambake website. Quotes by state judges.</ref> and/or provided documented examples.<ref>Multiple references:
Many other authorities have voiced concurring opinions,<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/judge_quotes.html "Quotes about Scientology"]. Operation Clambake website. Quotes by state judges and executive officers.</ref> and/or provided documented examples.<ref>Multiple references:
*http://www.lermanet.com/scientologyscandals/criminal.htm
*[http://www.lermanet.com/scientologyscandals/criminal.htm "The only 'sin' in Scientology is getting caught"]. Lermanet.com website.
*MacLaughlin, Jim and Gully, Andrew (March 19, 1998). [http://www.solitarytrees.net/pickets/sp944.htm "Church of Scientology probes ''Herald'' reporter—Investigation follows pattern of harassment"]. ''The Boston Herald''. Republished at Solitary Trees website/Pickets and Scientology/Scientology and Harassment.
*MacLaughlin, Jim and Gully, Andrew (March 19, 1998). [http://www.solitarytrees.net/pickets/sp944.htm "Church of Scientology probes ''Herald'' reporter—Investigation follows pattern of harassment"]. ''The Boston Herald''. Republished at Solitary Trees website/Pickets and Scientology/Scientology and Harassment.
*http://www.scientology-lies.com</ref>
*[http://www.scientology-lies.com Scientology Lies website]</ref>
In 1996, the popular Cult Awareness Network, abbreviated as CAN, a primary Scientology critic, was forced into bankruptcy by Scientology. An undercover Scientologist had infiltrated CAN, then 50 Scientologists filed suit against it, many containing almost identical language, after having sought to join the organization almost simultaneously and being denied. CAN's link to cult deprogramming enabled Scientology to file a lawsuit which resulted in a massive fine which added to CAN's legal debt, forcing bankruptcy. Legal maneuvering resulted in Scientology having control of the name and equipment, etc. and files of the old CAN, through Scientology associates. The files were then turned over to the Foundation for Religious Freedom,<ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c19.html</ref> one of many which serve as a "front" group for Scientology, or which are inordinately favorable to them.<ref>Multiple references:
In 1996, the popular Cult Awareness Network, abbreviated as CAN, a primary Scientology critic, was forced into bankruptcy by Scientology. An undercover Scientologist had infiltrated CAN, then 50 Scientologists filed suit against it, many containing almost identical language, after having sought to join the organization almost simultaneously and being denied. CAN's link to cult deprogramming enabled Scientology to file a lawsuit which resulted in a massive fine which added to CAN's legal debt, forcing bankruptcy. Legal maneuvering resulted in Scientology having control of the name and equipment, etc. and files of the old CAN, through Scientology associates. The files were then turned over to the Foundation for Religious Freedom,<ref>[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c19.html "About the Scientology-backed 'Cult Awareness Network'"]. Apologetics Index website.</ref> one of many which serve as a "front" group for Scientology, or which are inordinately favorable to them.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/f00.html#ffrf "Religious cults and sects: Apologetics research resources [index]/F#Foundation for Religious Freedom"] (Aug. 2003 or bef.). ApologeticsIndex website.
*[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/f00.html#ffrf "Religious cults and sects: Apologetics research resources [index]/F#Foundation for Religious Freedom"] (Aug. 2003 or bef.). ApologeticsIndex website.
*http://www.xenu.net/archive/IRS/#VIII
*[http://www.xenu.net/archive/IRS/#VIII "CoS / IRS Closing Agreement"] (1993). Operation Clambake website.
*http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-front-groups-latest.htm</ref>
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180522151518/http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-front-groups-latest.htm "Scientology front groups... what are they?"] (Jun 11, 2002 or bef.) Holysmoke.org website. Retrieved from May 22, 2018 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>
An addition source of controversy has been the death of 36 year old Lisa McPherson at Scientology's Clearwater headquarters, which she was undergoing "care".<ref>http://www.watchman.org/sci/mcpherson.htm</ref>
An addition source of controversy has been the death of 36-year-old Lisa McPherson at Scientology's Clearwater headquarters, which she was undergoing "care".<ref>Branch, Craig (1996). [http://www.watchman.org/sci/mcpherson.htm "A History of Terror and Abuse"]. Watchman Fellowship website/Articles/Scientology.</ref>
Doctrinally Scientology is non-Christian (Hubbard even denied there was a Christ<ref>http://www.lermanet2.com/cos/nochrist.html</ref>), and is seen to be manifesting a form of [[New Age]] belief.<ref>http://www.watchman.org/sci/hubrel03.htm</ref> Famous psychologist Rollo May concluded that it is "an oversimplified form of regular psychotherapy mixed with hypnosis."<ref>Miller, Russell (1988). ''Bare-Faced Messiah'' (New York, NY: Henry Holt), ch. 9.</ref>
Doctrinally Scientology is non-Christian (Hubbard even denied there was a Christ<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041021195224/http://www.lermanet2.com/cos/nochrist.html "(No title)"] (Oct. 2004 or bef.). Lermanet.org website. Retrieved from October 21, 2004 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>), and is seen to be manifesting a form of [[New Age]] belief.<ref>Branch, Craig. [http://www.watchman.org/sci/hubrel03.htm "Hubbard's Religion"]. Watchman Fellowship website.</ref> Famous psychologist Rollo May concluded that it is "an oversimplified form of regular psychotherapy mixed with hypnosis."<ref>Miller, Russell (1988). ''Bare-Faced Messiah'' (New York, NY: Henry Holt), ch. 9.</ref>
It is also pointed out that Satanist [[Aleister Crowley]] was Hubbard's mentor, and that Hubbard lived with Crowley protégé John Parsons, reportedly engaging in sex magic at their black magic mansion hospice.<ref>Multiple references:
It is also pointed out that Satanist [[Aleister Crowley]] was Hubbard's mentor, and that Hubbard lived with Crowley protégé John Parsons, reportedly engaging in sex magic at their black magic mansion hospice.<ref>Multiple references:
*Sappell, Joel and Welkos, Robert W. (June 24, 1990). [http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607 "An exhaustive information source on Scientology: The mind behind the religion"]. ''Los Angeles Times'', p. A1. Republished at Believer's Web website on April 25, 2003.
*Sappell, Joel and Welkos, Robert W. (June 24, 1990). [http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607 "An exhaustive information source on Scientology: The mind behind the religion"]. ''Los Angeles Times'', p. A1. Republished at Believer's Web website on April 25, 2003.
*Cooper, Paulette (1972). [http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos.html ''The Scandal of Scientology''] (New York, NY: Tower), ch. 20, pp. 161-2. Republished at Operation Clambake website/Scientology booklist.
*Cooper, Paulette (1972). [http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos.html ''The Scandal of Scientology''] (New York, NY: Tower), ch. 20, pp. 161-2. Republished at Operation Clambake website/Scientology booklist.
*http://www.watchman.org/profile/sientpro.htm</ref>
*Van Gorden, Kurt (2014). [http://www.watchman.org/profile/sientpro.htm "Profile: Church of Scientology"]. republished at Watchman Fellowship website.</ref>
Liberal religious cult apologist<ref>http://www.rickross.com/apologist.html</ref> J. Gordon Melton dismisses the charge that Scientology is a cult, as he does in regard to certain other dangerous groups.<ref>Multiple references:
Liberal religious cult apologist<ref>Ross, Rick A. (April 1998 or bef.). [https://web.archive.org/web/19980429001130/http://rickross.com/apologist.html "Cult apologists?"] Rick Ross website/General Information/Cult Apologists. Retrieved from April 29, 1998 archive at Internet Archive.</ref> J. Gordon Melton dismisses the charge that Scientology is a cult, as he does in regard to certain other dangerous groups.<ref>Multiple references:
*http://www.apologeticsindex.org/m06.html
*[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/m06.html "J. Gordon Melton: Religious scholar"]. Apologetics Index website/J. Gordon Melton.
*http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c31.html</ref>
*Kent, Stephen A. and Krebs, Theresa (1998). [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c31.html "Academics and doctrinal 'secrets'"]. ''Skeptic Magazine'', v. 6, no. 3. Republished at Apologetics Index website/When scholars know sin: Alternative religions and their academic supporters.</ref>
On October 27, 2009, "A [[Paris]] court convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it more than euro 600,000 ($900,000) on Tuesday, but stopped short of banning the group's activities.
On October 27, 2009, "A [[Paris]] court convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it more than euro 600,000 ($900,000) on Tuesday, but stopped short of banning the group's activities.
== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|1}}
{{liberalism}}
{{liberalism}}