by Duane Kuehn

Created on: March 29, 2010

Evaluating the organized religion called the Church of Scientology is not an easy task. This because the actual devotions is somewhat hidden in this religion.

Of course, any organized religion is subject to criticism and in Scientology, there can be a lot of criticism meted. In the end though, who is to puff-up the self and claim that views of new age religion is less devotional than another.

Religion itself is humankind's seeking of one's relationship with the Universe. Scientology is, in this respect, certainly a religion and recognized as such in many countries. There are, however, many countries that do not recgonize Scientology as a religion.

Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is basically a psyhotherapy on a new age scale incorporating past incidence in this life and in reincarnated life. The backbone of this being that survival is the essence of life. Survival of the mind (not the brain), comparable to that which in many religions and philosphy's might be called the “soul”.

Scientology should not be confused with either “Christian Science” (which has the spiritual devotion of self-healing above medical help) nor “Divine Science” (which concentrates itself on humankind's connection to that which is called “God”).

Scientology has itself an admittance of a “Supreme Being”, this is not so far out of line with the Judeo/Christian Bible (as one might think). For that which is called “God” in this ancient Bible defines itself as “I AM THAT I AM” with much emphasis and that “the people may call me God”.

Because Scientology is a method of seeking the mysteries of life through individual audit and purchased levels of same, much is hidden in the religious philosophy of Scientology. This being highly criticized by the distrators of Scientolgy. It is said that the courses for these individual levels cost from a beginner course at a bit over $100.00 to higher levels ranging in the area of $20,000.00 per course.

That the founder personally benefitted from church proceeds becoming quite wealthy, the IRS in the United States denied Scientology non-profit religious status. This Church of Scientology then embarked upon a plan of investigating the personal lives of IRS officials. A private meeting with IRS officials then led to Scientology's being given status as a non-profit organization.

The Church of Scientology is the most litigation prone religions in the world. Accused

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