Editing Scientology (section)

=== Views on Hubbard ===

Scientologists view Hubbard as an extraordinary man, but do not worship him as a deity.{{sfnm|1a1=Bigliardi|1y=2016|1p=665|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=27|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=14}} They regard him as the preeminent Operating Thetan who remained on Earth in order to show others the way to spiritual liberation,{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=665}} the man who discovered the source of human misery and a technology allowing everyone to achieve their true potential.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=88}} Church of Scientology management frames Hubbard's physical death as "dropping his body" to pursue higher levels of research not possible with an Earth-bound body.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=89}}

Scientologists often refer to Hubbard affectionately as "Ron",{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Bigliardi|2y=2016|2p=662|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2019|3p=24}} and many refer to him as their "friend".{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=24}} The Scientology organization operates a calendar in which 1950, the year in which Hubbard's book ''Dianetics'' was published, is considered year zero, the beginning of an era. Years after that date are referred to as "AD" for "After ''Dianetics''".{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Grünschloß|2y=2009|2p=229}} They have also buried copies of his writings preserved on stainless steel disks in a secure underground vault in the hope of preserving them against major catastrophes.{{sfn|Bromley|2009|p=88}} The Church of Scientology's view of Hubbard is presented in their [[Pseudobiography of L. Ron Hubbard|hagiographical biography]] of him,{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=88–89, 99|2a1=Lewis|2y=2009b|2p=133}} seeking to present him as "a person of exceptional character, morals and intelligence".{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=22}} Critics of Hubbard and his organization claim that many of the details of his life as he presented it were false.{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=89|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=338}} Every Scientology Org maintains an office set aside for Hubbard in perpetuity, set out to imitate those he used in life,{{sfnm|1a1=Cowan|1y=2009|1p=63|2a1=Palmer|2y=2009|2p=295|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2019|3p=22}} and will typically have a bust or large framed photograph of him on display.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=22}}