Scientology Religion - Background, Theology and Religious Practice

Scientology Religion - Background, Theology and Religious Practice
A Comprehensive Overview of the
Background, Theology and Religious Practice of
The
Religion
FEATURED
NEW VIDEO
Dr. David Bennett
AC, QC and former Solicitor General of Australia
NEW VIDEO
Rabbi
Adjunct Professor, Comparative Religion
NEW VIDEO
Rev. Joseph J. Jones
Senior Pastor, Mount Hermon Baptist Church
NEW VIDEO
Dr. J. Gordon Melton
Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion
NEW VIDEO
Lt. Col. Carlos Peña
Education Director
Colombian Anti-Narcotics Department
Religious Freedom Blog
Jan 20, 2025
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Scientology is a truly unique contemporary religion
—the only major religion to emerge in the twentieth century. Scientology is fully developed, by definition of
religion,
in its theology, religious practice and organization. The breadth and scope of the religion include more than eleven thousand Churches of Scientology, missions and related organizations in countries all over the world.
Millions of Scientologists around the world sincerely believe in the
religious tenets and practices of Scientology
. For every one of these individuals, Scientology is their religion and fulfills their deepest spiritual needs.
This is the most important test of any true religion of the world—indeed, it is the test used by the United States Supreme Court and high courts in many other countries.
Nevertheless, if an individual relies on secondary sources, then courts, scholars and governmental agencies around the world have repeatedly determined that Scientology is bona fide in all respects. This website provides an overview of these
international recognitions
and
expertises
. As Scientology addresses the spirit and the relationship of humanity to the universe and the Supreme Being, it can be nothing
other
than a religion in the fullest sense of the word.
Find out more
VIDEOS
Religious Scholars, Government Representatives and Dignitaries on the Church of Scientology, Its Religious Purpose and Its Social Betterment Activities
Liang Chi Tan, National Policy Advisor to the President of Taiwan
Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion
HRH Sephan Mmirwa Pheeha, Tribe Prince, Gauteng, South Africa
Lung-Hui Chung, Chairman, International Foundation for Peaceful Elimination of Opium Crops
Annie Heart, Chair of the Inter-Religious Action Network, Portland, Oregon
Prof. Juan Ferreiro Galguera, Religious Freedom Law, University of Coruña, Spain
Jean Huysmans, Public Affairs Committee, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sebonyane Tsetsane, Regional Commissioner of Correctional Services
Capt. John Galindo, Director of the National Circle of Aid Technicians
Rev. Dr. Paul Baiden-Adams, Youth and Family Counselor
Sheikh Hussain Abu Rukun, Head of Druze Trustees, Israel
Lt. Col. Carlos Peña, Education Director Colombia, Anti-Narcotics Dept.
Mr. Hugo Coveliers, Member of the Belgian Senate
Mr. Joseph K. Grieboski, Founder and President of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy
Dr. Derek Davis, Attorney and Director of the International Academy for Freedom of Religion and Belief
Imam Muhammad Hatim, Ph.D., Professor of African American Muslim Studies
Mr. Abdellah Mechnoune, President of the Islamic Organization of European Arab World
Mr. Gelek Yakar, President, Mandala Center for the Cultural Preservation of Tibet
Ms. Pamela Carn, Executive Coordinator, Interfaith Children’s Movement
Minister Tony Muhammad, Western Regional Representative Nation of Islam
See All Videos
The Church of Scientology & Freedom of Religion
A Fundamental Human Right
From its beginnings the Church of Scientology has recognized that freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. In a world where conflicts are often traceable to intolerance of others’ religious beliefs and practices, the Church has, for more than fifty years, made the preservation of religious liberty an overriding concern.
A vital component to preserving this fundamental human right is an understanding of the right to freedom of religion or belief and its meaning under universal human rights principles and international human rights law.
In this regard, a new Church of Scientology booklet,
What is Freedom of Religion?
, is designed to inform the public regarding the detailed and complex nature of the right to freedom of religion for believers and religious organizations of every faith.
Religious Recognitions
Scientology is accepted as a religion throughout the world and its religious bona fides have been unequivocally recognized. See key international religious recognitions of the Church of Scientology.
See the International Recognitions
Religious Expertises
The world’s foremost experts in the fields of comparative religion, history of religion, religious studies and sociology agree that Scientology is a world religion.
See All Studies
Background & Beliefs
Scientology follows a long tradition of religious practice. Its roots lie in the deepest beliefs and aspirations of all great religions, thus encompassing a religious heritage as old and varied as Man himself.
Featured Treatises on the Scientology Religion
by the World’s Leading Religious Scholars
Scientology, Social Science and the Definition of Religion
by James A. Beckford, Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick, England
Social Change and New Religious Movements
by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University
The Church of Scientology
by Juha Pentikäinen, Marja Pentikäinen, University of Helsinki, Finland
The Relationship Between Scientology and Other Religions
by Fumio Sawada, Eighth holder of the secrets of Yu-itsu Shinto, the oldest religion in Japan; President, Ahlul-Bait Center
The Religious Nature of Scientology
by Geoffrey Parrinder, Methodist minister, Professor, Comparative Study of Religions, University of London
Religious Philosophy, Religion and Church
by G.C. Oosthuizen, Professor of Science of Religion, University of Durban-Westville, Natal, South Africa
Scientology a New Religion
by M. Darrol Bryant, Department of Religious Studies, Renison College, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Apostates and New Religious Movements
by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University
Scientology: An Analysis and Comparison of its Religious Systems and Doctrines
by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University
The Reliability of Apostate Testimony About New Religious Movements
by Lonnie D. Kliever Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
The Sea Organization and its Role Within the Church of Scientology
by Frank K. Flinn Ph.D. Adjunct Professor in Religious Studies
Brief Analyses of the Religious Nature of Scientology
by J. Gordon Melton, Baylor University, Samuel Hill, Gary Bouma, Irving Hexham
Congregational Services of the Church of Scientology
by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University
Is Scientology A Religion?
by Alan W. Black, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Is Scientology a Religion?
by Dean M. Kelley, National Council of Churches
Religious Toleration & Religious Diversity
by Bryan R. Wilson,
Emeritus Fellow in Sociology, Oxford University
Scientology A Religion In South Africa
by David Chidester, Professor of Comparative Religion, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Scientology: A True Religion
by Urbano Alonso Galan, Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Gregorian University of Rome
Scientology: A Way of Spiritual Self-Identification
by Michael Sivertsev, Moscow Academy of Sciences
Scientology: A Worshipping Community
by Lonnie D. Kliever, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
Scientology and Contemporary Definitions of Religion in the Social Sciences
by Alejandro Frigerio, Professor of Sociology, Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires
Scientology and Islam an Analogous Study
by Fumio Sawada, Eighth holder of the secrets of Yu-itsu Shinto, the oldest religion in Japan; President, Ahlul-Bait Center
Scientology and Religion
by Christiaan Vonck, Rector, Faculty for Comparative Study of Religion, Antwerp, Belgium
Scientology: A Comparison with Religions of the East and West
by Per-Arne Berglie, Professor of History of Religion, University of Stockholm
Scientology Its Cosmology, Anthropology, System of Ethics and Methodologies
by Régis Dericquebourg, Professor of Sociology of Religion, University of Lille III, France
Scientology – Its Historical-Morphological Frame
by Dario Sabbatucci, Professor of History of Religions, University of Rome
Scientology: Its True Nature
by Harri Heino, Professor of Theology, University of Tampere, Finland
Scientology: The Marks of Religion
by Frank K. Flinn, Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies Washington University
See All Expertises by Category
Landmark Victories for Religious Freedom
and the Church of Scientology
March 11, 2016
Belgian Court Dismisses All Charges in Baseless Case Against the Church of Scientology in Landmark Victory...
On 11 March 2016, in a landmark decision, the First Instance Court of Brussels found in favor of defendants and completely dismissed all charges against the Church of Scientology of Belgium…
December 11, 2013
UK Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision Regarding the Scientology Religion
On 11 December 2013, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom issued a unanimous, landmark ruling declaring that the Chapel at the London Church of Scientology must be recognized as a place of religious worship under UK law.
October 31, 2007
National Church of Scientology of Spain Officially Recognized as World Religion
The Church of Scientology is officially recognized as a religion in Spain. On 31 October 2007, the National Court in Madrid issued a unanimous landmark decision affirming the right to religious freedom in Spain by recognizing that the National Church of Scientology of Spain…
October 1, 1993
Church of Scientology IRS Tax Exemption
Church of Scientology International (CSI)—the Mother Church of the Scientology religion—and more than 150 affiliated Churches, missions and social-reform organizations in the United States were recognized as fully tax-exempt religious organizations by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), America’s federal tax agency, in October 1993.
October 27, 1983
1983 Australian High Court Decision: Church of Scientology
The Australian High Court’s decision regarding the Scientology religion in
Church of the New Faith v. Commissioner of Payroll Tax
(1983) is recognized as a landmark legal decision, establishing
the standard
for the definition of
religion
and
religious charities
in both Australia and New Zealand, and, indeed, throughout the Commonwealth of Nations.
See All Landmark Decisions
CHURCHES OF SCIENTOLOGY
Around the World
At the forefront of the greatest era of expansion in Scientology history stand new Churches of Scientology opening in major cities and cultural centers world over.
Flag Land Base, Clearwater, Florida
Freewinds
Advanced Organization Los Angeles, California
American Saint Hill
Organization Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
San Diego, California
Mexico City, Mexico
Paris, France
Austin, Texas
Ventura, California
Columbus, Central Ohio
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Miami, Florida
Chicago, Illinois
Inglewood, California Community Center
Orange County, California
San Fernando Valley, California
Kansas City, Missouri
Pasadena, California
Sacramento, California
Inglewood, California
Atlanta, Georgia
San Jose, California
Portland, Oregon
Denver, Colorado
Twin Cities, Minnesota
San Francisco, California
Phoenix, Arizona
Las Vegas, Nevada
Washington, DC
Salt Lake City, Utah
Silicon Valley, California
Los Gatos, California
Greater Cincinnati, Ohio
Tampa, Florida
Harlem, New York
Buffalo, New York
Detroit, Michigan
New York, New York
Seattle, Washington
Mexico City, Mexico
Dallas, Texas
Bogotá, Colombia
Cambridge, Canada
Nashville, Tennessee
Québec, Canada
Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel Aviv, Israel
Advanced Organization & Saint Hill Europe
Brussels, Belgium
Basel, Switzerland
Berlin, Germany
Hamburg, Germany
Malmö, Sweden
Stuttgart, Germany
Milan, Italy
Rome, Italy
Padova, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
Madrid, Spain
Ideal Saint Hill United Kingdom
London, United Kingdom
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Dublin, Ireland
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Church of Scientology in South Africa at Castle Kyalami
Melbourne, Australia
Tokyo, Japan
Sydney, Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
RELIGIOUS RECOGNITIONS
United States
Worldwide Recognitions
Landmark Decisions
EXPERT STUDIES
Expertises by Category
World’s Foremost Experts
BACKGROUND & BELIEFS
L. Ron Hubbard
The Aims of Scientology
The Creed of the Church of Scientology
The Code of a Scientologist
David Miscavige
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
What is Freedom of Religion?
International Human Rights Standards
Proclamation on Religion
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