Scientology: Sect, Science, or Scam?

The present piece surveys different discussions of “religion” — especially in the legal realm — which have had a bearing on Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard adopted the religion label for practical reasons; in his mind, Scientology was a science, not a religion. However, it is clear that Scientology actu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Numen
Main Author: Lewis, James R. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2015
In: Numen
Further subjects:B Dianetics Scientology L. Ron Hubbard Free Zone religion New Religious Movement
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:The present piece surveys different discussions of “religion” — especially in the legal realm — which have had a bearing on Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard adopted the religion label for practical reasons; in his mind, Scientology was a science, not a religion. However, it is clear that Scientology actually is a religion — at least in the sense of functioning as a religion in the lives of participants — parading as science; instead of, as Hubbard thought, a science parading as religion. This becomes particularly clear upon examination of individuals participating in the so-called “Free Zone” (ex-CoS members who continue to identify as Scientologists), for whom Scientology remains their primary religious identity.
ISSN:1568-5276
Contains:In: Numen
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685276-12341364