Changes

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 "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>

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>

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:

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&#93;/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&#93;/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 ==

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