Editing Scientology (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of Dianetics and Scientology}}
{{For timeline}}

Hubbard established an organization to promote his ideas about the mind, which he called Dianetics,<ref name="auto6" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Spellman |first1=Frank R. |last2=Price-Bayer |first2=Joan |title=In Defense of Science: Why Scientific Literacy Matters |date=2010 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |location=Lanham |isbn=978-1-60590-735-2 |page=81 |url=https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781605907116/In-Defense-of-Science-Why-Scientific-Literacy-Matters |archive-date=May 15, 2025 |access-date=May 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515153209/https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781605907116/In-Defense-of-Science-Why-Scientific-Literacy-Matters |url-status=dead }}</ref> in 1950. The organization went bankrupt, and Hubbard lost the rights to his book ''[[Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health|Dianetics]]'' in 1952. His ideas were rejected by the scientific community.<ref name=Ma12>{{cite journal |last1=Manca |first1=Terra |title=L. Ron Hubbard's Alternative to the Bomb Shelter: Scientology's Emergence as a Pseudo-science During the 1950s |journal=[[Journal of Religion and Popular Culture]]|location=Berkeley|publisher=University of California Press|date=March 2012 |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=80–96 |doi=10.3138/jrpc.24.1.80}}</ref>{{sfn|Kent|Manca|2014}} As the 1950s developed, Hubbard saw the advantages of having his Scientology movement legally recognized as a religion.{{sfn|Urban|2011|p=58}} In an April 1953 letter to Helen O'Brien, his US business manager, he proposed that Scientology should be transformed into a religion: "We don't want a clinic. We want one in operation but not in name...It is a problem of practical business. I await your reaction on the religion angle".{{sfnm|1a1=Beit-Hallahmi|1y=2003|2a1=Urban|2y=2011|2p=65}} In reaction to a series of arrests of his followers, and the prosecution of Hubbard's Dianetics foundation for teaching medicine without a license, in December 1953 Hubbard incorporated three organizations – Church of American Science, Church of Scientology, and Church of Spiritual Engineering.{{sfn|Kent|1996|pp=30–32}}<ref name="Bare-faced Messiah220">{{harvnb|Miller|1987|pp=[https://archive.org/details/barefacedmessiah00mill_0/page/140 140–142]}}</ref> By 1954, Hubbard had regained the rights to Dianetics.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 1959, Hubbard purchased [[Saint Hill Manor]] in East Grinstead, Sussex, United Kingdom, which became the worldwide headquarters of the Church of Scientology and his personal residence.
With the organization often under heavy criticism, it adopted strong measures of attack in dealing with its critics.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=463}}

In 1962, amid FDA concerns, Hubbard announced Scientology's future was "being planned on a religious organization basis", but advising followers the change was "entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors".{{Sfn|Kent|1996|loc="Hubbard returned once again to religious claims in late October, 1962, apparently after he learned that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had become 'interested' in his organisation's e-meters. Fearing the worst, Hubbard issued a policy letter entitled 'Religion', in which he specifically justified the devices by insisting that Scientologists used them 'to disclose truth to the individual who is being processed and thus freehim spiritually'. Regarding the future direction of his organisation, Hubbard announced that "Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world". He reassured his members, however, by adding that "[t]his will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors" (Hubbard, 1962: 282)."}}

In 1966, the organization established the [[Guardian's Office]] (GO), a department devoted to undermining those hostile towards Scientology.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=466|2a1=Melton|2y=2009|2p=25}} The GO launched an extensive program of countering negative publicity, gathering intelligence, and infiltrating organizations.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=25}} In "[[Operation Snow White]]", the GO infiltrated the IRS and numerous other government departments and stole tens of thousands of documents pertaining to the Scientology organization, politicians, and celebrities.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=467}} In July 1977, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] raided Church of Scientology premises in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, revealing the extent of the GO's infiltration into government departments and other groups.{{sfn|Melton|2009|pp=27-28}} Eleven officials and agents of the Church were indicted. In December 1979, they were sentenced to between 4 and 5 years each and individually fined $10,000 ({{inflation|US|10000|1979|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=28}}{{inflation/fn|US}} Among those found guilty was Hubbard's then-wife, Mary Sue Hubbard.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=467}} Public revelation of the GO's activities brought widespread condemnation of the Scientology organization.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=28}}

In 1967, Hubbard established a new group, the [[Sea Organization]] or "Sea Org", the membership of which was drawn from the most committed members of the Scientology organization.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1pp=464-465|2a1=Lewis|2y=2009a|2p=5|3a1=Melton|3y=2009|3p=26}} By 1981, the 21-year-old [[David Miscavige]], who had been one of Hubbard's closest aides in the Sea Org, rose to prominence.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=468}} Hubbard died at his ranch in Creston, California, on January 24, 1986, and David Miscavige succeeded Hubbard as head of the organization.{{Sfn|Miller|1987|pages=374-5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/l-ron-hubbards-last-refuge/Content?oid=2947906|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217013657/http://www.newtimesslo.com/cover/2628/l-ron-hubbards-last-refuge/|url-status=dead|title=L. Ron Hubbard's last refuge|first=Colin|last=Rigley|archive-date=December 17, 2013|website=New Times San Luis Obispo}}</ref> In 1993, the [[Internal Revenue Service]] dropped all litigation against the Scientology organization and recognized it as a religious institution.{{sfnm |1a1=Urban|1y=2011|1p=3 |2a1=Lewis|2y=2009a|2p=7}}