What is Scientology

Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, who lived from 1911 until 1986.

In 1950, Hubbard published DIanetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, explaining the process of auditing, in which a counselor guides a subject to recall traumatic memories and resolve the associated negative emotions. In 1953, having lost the rights to Dianetics, Hubbard created an expansion called Scientology and incorporated the Church of Scientology in Camden, New Jersey. Scientology teaches that people are immortal beings who have forgotten their true nature.

From its inception, Scientology has been one of the most controversial of the new religious movements. The church is often characterized as a business, a criminal enterprise, or a cult. In 1978, top-ranking members were convicted of espionage after infiltrating, wiretapping, and stealing documents from the offices of federal attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service.Members framed a journalist for making bomb threats. In France, Hubbard was tried for fraud and convicted in absentia, that is, in the absence of defendant Hubbard, who had gone into hiding.

In 1986, Hubbard died after years in hiding. David Miscavige emerged as leader of Church of Scientology, while many others practice Scientology independently.

Critics contend the church practices brainwashing and fraud against its members, and that it uses psychological abuse, character assassination, and vexatious litigation against its perceived enemies.The Church of Scientology has consistently used litigation against its critics, and its use of aggressive harassment has been condemned.Scientologists make the controversial claim that psychiatry is destructive and abusive and must be abolished. Further controversy has focused on the fact a typical Scientologist must spend several years and about $100,000 in auditing fees before reaching OT III:The Wall of Fire, which reveals the story of Galactic Dictator Xenu.

The group's legal classification is often a point of contention. Some jurisdictions, such as the United States, grant the group tax-exempt status, while other jurisdictions, such as Germany and France, classify it as a "anti-constitutional sect" or a cult (French secte).

Scientology is affiliated with the pseudo-scientific Narconon drug rehabilitation program, the prisoner rehabilitation program Criminon, the Applied Scholastics program to assist school students, the business-focused World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, the faith-healing group Volunteer Ministers, and the promotional booklet The Way to Happiness.

9 Religions You have never heard for

9 Religions You've Never Heard Of

  We've all had at least some exposure to major religions like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and others, but what about those obscure or ancient traditions we've never heard of? Here we provide a selection of some of those traditions that are often missing in the religious conversation.

Sikhism: 23,000,000 followers, Indian Origin — The Sikh tradition is monotheistic, but rejects divine incarnations. Sikhs hold that liberation results from absorption into God. Click for more on Sikhism >>>Religion Library: Sikhism

  Soka Gakkai: 12,000,000 followers, Japanese Origin — Sōka-Gakkai teaches that happiness is the goal of life, attained through the values of goodness, beauty, and prosperity. Click for more on Soka Gakkai >>>read more

Wahhabi Islam Wahhabi Islam: 15,000,000 followers, Arabian Origin~`Wahhabi Islam emphasizes the oneness of God and advocates a return to the rituals of the original teachings of Islam. Click here for more on Wahhabi Islam. >>>read more

    Jainism religy Jainism dates to the 6th       century B.C.E. in India. The religion derives  its name from the jinas ("conquerors"), a title  given to twenty-four great teachers  (tirthankaras or"ford-makers"), through whom  their faith was revealed.Mahavira,the last of  the...>read more

Religion Library: Jainism

Formed	550 BCE
Origin	India
Followers	6,000,000
Deity	None / Jinas, Tirthankars
Sacred Texts	Jaina Sutras
Headquarters	None

Jainism dates to the 6th century B.C.E. in India. The religion derives its name from the jinas ("conquerors"), a title given to twenty-four great teachers (tirthankaras or "ford-makers"), through whom their faith was revealed. Mahavira, the last of the tirthankaras, is considered the founder of Jainism. The ultimate goal of Jainism the liberation of the self (jiva) from rebirth, which is attained through the elimination of accumulated karma (the consequences of previous actions). This occurs through both the disciplined cultivation of knowledge and control of bodily passions. When the passions have been utterly conquered and all karma has been removed, one becomes a Jina ("conqueror"), and is no longer subject to rebirth. Jainism conceives of a multi-layered universe containing both heavens and hells. Movement through these levels of the universe requires adherence to the Jainism doctrines emphasizing a peaceful and disciplined life. These principles include non-violence in all parts of life (verbal, physical, and mental), speaking truth, sexual monogamy, and the detachment from material things. As part of the disciplined and non-violent lifestyle, Jains typically are strict vegetarians and often adhere to a quite arduous practice of non-violence, which restricts the sorts of occupations the may follow (no farming, for instance, since insects are inadvertently harmed in plowing). Jainism's ethical system is based on the idea that right faith, knowledge, and conduct must be cultivated simultaneously.

Sōka-Gakkai

Formed	1930
Adherents	12,000,000
Deity	None (N/A)
Sacred Text	Lotus Sutra
Origin	Japan
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan

Sōka-Gakkai, literally the "Society for Creating Values," is a lay religious movement derived from Nichiren Shoshu, a Japanese Buddhist denomination that dates back to the thirteenth century. Sōka-Gakkai was founded in 1937 as a religious movement under the leadership of Makiguchi Tsenusaburo and Toda Josei; the movement saw a dramatic increase in membership in the 1950s due to an aggressive proselytization strategy called shakubuku ("break and subdue") and the distribution of its journal, Kachi Sozo ("The Creation of Value"). Like many Nichiren Buddhist sects, initially Sōka Gakkai had a strong exclusivist ideology, but since the 1970s has become considerably more liberal. The primary sacred text for the Sōka-Gakkai is the Lotus Sutra. Sōka-Gakkai teaches that happiness is the primary goal of life, attained primarily through the values of goodness, beauty, and prosperity. This happiness may even include material success and all of the benefits that accompany it. Sōka-Gakkai has continued to grow, extending beyond Japan into other parts of the world, including France and the United States. Sōka-Gakkai claims a membership of six million members. The movement has also experienced significant political influence (and considerable persecution), especially through educational activities and the distribution of its journal. In 1964 Sōka Gakkai established its own political party called Kōmeitō ("Clean Government" Party); since the 1980s, the Kōmeitō has become the third largest political party in Japan.

Religion Library: Sikhism

Formed	1450 CE
Origin	India
Followers	23,000,000
Deity	God (Ik Onkar) (monotheistic)
Sacred Texts	Shri Guru Granth Sahib
Headquarters	Amritsar, Punjab, India

The Sikh tradition was founded by Guru Nanak in the late 15th century C.E. in the Punjab region of what are today India and Pakistan. According to Sikh beliefs, the same revelatory spirit inhabited Guru Nanak and his nine successors. Today, this spirit can be found in the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, the foundational scripture of the Sikh tradition. The Guru Granth Sahib's hymns describe and praise God, and provide moral guidance for all Sikhs. Sikhs reject ideas of divine incarnations, and hold that liberation results from being absorbed into God. Sikhs also reject the social doctrine of caste, and adhere to practices of equality in worship and life. The centers of Sikh worship are known asgurdwaras ("house of the Guru") and langar (communal refectory). All Sikhs must enter a gurdwara with bare feet and a covered head. A Sikh worship service includes prayer and singing hymns from scripture. The service is concluded by the distribution of karah prasad, a sacramental food made of flour, butter, and raw sugar that is shared by all to demonstrate equality and the rejection of caste. Sikhs attempt to live balanced lives of worship, work, and charity centered on community. Besides gurdwara worship, festivals are also important community activities.

Jainism: 6,000,000 followers, Indian Origin Religion

Jainism: 6,000,000 followers, Indian Origin — The ultimate goal of Jainism is the liberation of the self from rebirth, which is attained through the elimination of accumulated karma. Click for more >>>read more

                                          

Wahhabi Islam: 15,000,000 followers, Arabian Origin

Wahhabi Islam: 15,000,000 followers, Arabian Origin — Wahhabi Islam emphasizes the oneness of God and advocates a return to the rituals of the original teachings of Islam. Click here for more on Wahhabi Islam.

Wahhabi Islam is a movement within Islam that was founded in the 18th century CE by Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab in central Arabia. It emphasizes the oneness and uniqueness of God (tawhid) and advocates a return to the rituals and practices of what the movement sees as the original teachings of Islam. The Wahhabis claim the majority of Muslims have abandoned faith in One God and have perverted the faith through innovations (bid'a). They thus reject the practices or innovations that they see as polytheistic, such as venerating saints and visiting shrines and tombs. Wahhabi doctrine teaches a literal belief and interpretation of the sacred texts and calls for the establishment of a unified, truly Muslim state determined by Islamic law. They forbid any luxury in life and reject any cultural importation from other societies. They claim that all others who do not accept their position are heretics, especially Shi'a Muslims. Essential to the history of Wahhabi Islam is its partnership with the Sa'ud family in 1744, an alliance that allowed for the territorial expansion throughout most of the Arabian Peninsula including the capture of Karbala (a Shi'ite holy city), Mecca, and Medina. In 1932 the establishment of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave religious and political control of the region to the Wahhabis, including the introduction of the mutawwi'un, a form of private religious police that monitors both public and private conformity to Islam.