Editing Scientology (section)

== Reception and influence ==
Scientology has influenced various therapy and spiritual groups formed since the 1960s.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} Much past-life therapy was influenced by Dianetics,{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} while [[Werner Erhard]]'s [[Erhard Seminars Training]] therapy system also drew on Scientology.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} [[Paul Twitchell]], who founded [[Eckankar]], had also been a staff member at the Church of Scientology and plagiarised some of Hubbard's writings.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}} In the 1960s, the [[Process Church of the Final Judgement]] was established by former Scientologists.{{sfn|Bainbridge|2009|p=42}} In 1986 Harry Palmer&nbsp;– who had previously run a Scientology franchise mission in Elmira, New York, for around a decade&nbsp;– established his own group, the [[Avatar Course]].{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=264}}

Barrett noted that "vast amounts" have been written about Scientology, both in support and opposition to it.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=446}} Much of this literature has been heavily polarised.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=6}} Scientology has attracted negative publicity since its founding,{{sfn|Cusack|2009|p=395}} with criticism of the Scientology organization coming from government agencies, the media, and anti-cult groups.{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=1|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=335}} Much material critical of the organization was written by ex-members such as [[Cyril Vosper]], [[Bent Corydon]], and [[Jon Atack]].{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=446}} Many of the organizations's critics have utilized the internet, for instance to disseminate leaked OT documents.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=23}} The Church of Scientology has sought to sue various websites, including the [[Usenet]] group alt.religion.scientologist, for disseminating Hubbard's writings.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1pp=471-472|2a1=Urban|2y=2012|2p=360}} Urban noted that Scientologists have long maintained that theirs is "a legitimate religious movement that has been misrepresented, maligned, and persecuted by media witch-hunters and McCarthy-style government attacks."{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=2}}

Relations between the Scientology organization and German government are largely hostile.{{sfn|Richardson|2009|p=289}} The German government banned members from working in the public sector, pointing out that the organization is a threat to democracy.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=471}} In France, [[conspiracy theories]] have spread alleging that the Church of Scientology controls the US government or that it is a front for [[American imperialism]], perhaps run by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2009|1pp=311, 315-16|2a1=Rigal-Cellard|2y=2009|2p=325}} French Scientologists have reported being fired or refused jobs because of their beliefs,{{sfn|Palmer|2009|p=314}} and bombs have been thrown at French Scientology centers; in 2002 one Scientologist sustained permanent injuries as a result.{{sfn|Palmer|2009|pp=296, 302}} A 2022 [[YouGov]] poll on Americans' attitudes toward religious groups ranked Scientology as the country's least-favored group, with around 50% of respondents indicating a negative view of the practise, alongside [[Satanism]].<ref>{{Cite report |author=YouGov |date=23 December 2022 |title=Americans' views on 35 religious groups, organizations, and belief systems |url=https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2022/12/23/americans-views-religious-groups-yougov-poll |publisher=YouGov |access-date=27 May 2023}}</ref>

=== Media, popular culture, and academia ===
{{main|Scientology in popular culture}}

[[File:South Park Xenu.jpg|thumb|The depiction of Xenu in the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "Trapped in the Closet"]]

Scientology has received an "extraordinary amount" of media interest.{{sfn|Graham|2014}} In his writings, Hubbard often described journalists in negative terms, for instance calling them "merchants of chaos".{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=6}} He discouraged Scientologists from interacting with journalists, a tendency that, Westbrook argued, has contributed to negative press portrayals of the movement.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=11}} Many journalists examining the organization have been concerned about potential human rights violations.{{sfn|Bigliardi|2016|p=671}}

Academic research into Scientology was for several decades comparatively limited compared to the media and public interest in it.{{sfn|Graham|2014}} This has been attributed to the organization's secrecy,{{sfnm|1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=ix|2a1=Graham|2y=2014}} its reputation for litigiousness,{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2009a|1p=4|2a1=Cowan|2y=2009|2p=53|3a1=Richardson|3y=2009|3p=284|4a1=Urban|4y=2011|4p=ix|5a1=Graham|5y=2014}} and a lack of academic access to documentary material about the organization.{{sfn|Cowan|2009|p=68}} Early studies included [[Roy Wallis]]' ''[[The Road to Total Freedom]]'' (1976) and Harriet Whitehead's ''Renunciation and Reformulation'' (1987).{{sfnm|1a1=Cowan|1y=2009|1p=56|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2022|2p=3}} Research intensified in the early 21st century,{{sfnm|1a1=Thomas|1y=2021|1p=161|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2022|2p=1}} and in 2014, the first academic conference on the topic was held, in [[Antwerp]], Belgium.{{sfnm|1a1=Graham|1y=2014|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=viii|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=5}} Several academics who have studied the movement have described the organization paying close attention to their work by telephoning them and sending representatives to attend their talks on the subject.{{sfn|Graham|2014}} Some observers of Scientology have also been critical of scholars studying it, noting that they frequently act as apologists for it.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=8}}

Documentaries about Scientology have typically focused on allegations about the Scientology organization's intimidating behavior, greed and brainwashing.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=36-37}} Popular examples include [[Louis Theroux]]'s 2015 documentary ''[[My Scientology Movie]]'',{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=31}} and [[Leah Remini]]'s documentary series ''[[Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath|Scientology and the Aftermath]]'' and her book ''[[Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology]]'', drawing on her experience as a member of the Church of Scientology.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=34}}<ref name="variety">{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/leah-remini-scientology-documentary-ratings-1201930528/|author=Oriana Schwindt|magazine=Variety|title=Leah Remini Scientology Doc Premiere Draws 2.1 Million Viewers for A&E &#124; Variety |date= November 30, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> [[Paul Thomas Anderson]]'s 2012 film ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]'' features a religious organization called "The Cause" that has similarities to Scientology and a protagonist who has similarities to Hubbard.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lane |title=So This New Paul Thomas Anderson Movie Is Definitely About Scientology, Right? |website=New York Magazine |date=December 3, 2010 |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/12/so_this_new_paul_thomas_anders.html |access-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lane |title=Universal Passes on Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology Movie |website=New York Magazine |date=March 17, 2010 |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/03/why_does_paul_thomas_andersons.html |access-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/26/scientology-hollywood-film-studio |title=Church of Scientology snaps up Hollywood film studio |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |website=[[The Guardian|Guardian.co.uk]] |date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=June 12, 2011}}</ref> Comedy series have also critiqued Scientology.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=37}} The most notable was the 2005 ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[Trapped in the Closet (South Park)|Trapped in the Closet]]", which satirized the Scientology founding myth of Xenu, accompanied by an onscreen caption reading "This is what Scientologists actually believe".<ref name="arp">{{cite book|editor-last=Arp|editor-first=Robert|others=William Irwin (Series Editor)|title=South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today|publisher=Blackwell Publishing (The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series)|date=December 11, 2006|pages=27, 59, 60, 118, 120, 132, 137, 138, 140, 224|isbn=978-1-4051-6160-2|title-link=South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today}}</ref> After explaining these beliefs, the character representing the Church of Scientology's president ultimately reveals to [[Stan Marsh]] that the organization is in reality a [[Confidence trick|money-making scam]].{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=vii, 37-38}}<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Trapped in the Closet |episode-link=Trapped_in_the_Closet_(South_Park) |url=https://southpark.cc.com/full-episodes/s09e12-trapped-in-the-closet |access-date=August 25, 2020 |series=South Park |series-link=South Park |first=John |last=Smith |network=Comedy Central |minutes=17:00 |quote=This is a scam on a global scale. Do you fucking get me now? |date=November 16, 2005 |season=9 |number=912}}</ref> There have also been theatre shows about Scientology, such as Cathy Schekelberg's 2017 one-person show ''Squeeze My Cans'' about her former life in the organization.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=38}}