POV: date=September 2008

Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially created by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard.The World Encyclopedia (2005) refers to "Hubbard, L. Ron ( Lafayette Ronald) (1911–86) US science fiction writer and the guiding spirit of the Church of scientology." (World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005.) The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English ( 2008) states that Scientology "was founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86) in 1955."

Hubbard developed Scientology teachings in 1952 as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Hubbard later characterized Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy" and the basis for a new religion with the first Church of Scientology being established in December 1953.

The major organization promoting Scientology is the Church of Scientology, a hierarchical organization founded by Hubbard, while independent groups using Hubbard's materials are collectively referred to as the Free Zone. Whereas the Church of Scientology promotes Scientology's spiritual rehabilitation philosophy and techniques,Paper, The Church of Scientology: In Pursuit of Legal Recognition, Section: Scientology: A Brief History of Belief and Practice, by Derek H. Davis, 20 June 2004, Baylor University, Waco, Texas other Scientology organizations promote Scientology morals, ethics, detoxification, education and management. Strict control of these organizations is maintained by Religious Technology Center, the organization that owns the trademarks and service marks of Scientology and licenses the use of these trademarks and service marks to compliant organizations.

Scientology and the organizations that promote it have remained highly controversial since their inception. Former members, journalists, courts and the governing bodies of several countries have described the Church of Scientology as a cult and an unscrupulous commercial enterprise, accusing it of harassing its critics and abusing the trust of its members. Scientologists have successfully litigated most legal actions against their Church, ensuring their right to practice, but still face opposition in many countries.

Prime among the Scientology tenets is the belief that man is an immortal spiritual being (termed a thetan) that has lived many lifetimes and has unlimited capabilities; and that these capabilities can be realized. Scientology argues that no one in Scientology is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith; and that an individual discovers for himself if Scientology works by personal observation and experience. Most controversial among the Scientology beliefs is that the thetan is currently trapped on planet Earth in a body and that before its arrival on Earth, the thetan lived among extraterrestrial cultures. It is believed in Scientology that while the thetan was in contact with these extraterrestrial cultures he was subjected to a series of mental implants to make him more manageable and keep him trapped in a “meat body”.