Editing Scientology (section)

=== The Operating Thetan levels ===
{{See also|Operating Thetan}}
[[File:Freewinds starboard.jpg|thumb|200px|The Scientology organization's cruise ship, the ''[[Freewinds]]'', staffed by Sea Org members, with OT symbol on side of ship]]
The degrees above the level of Clear are called "Operating Thetan" or OT.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1a2=Stark|1y=1980|1p=133|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=452|3a1=Bainbridge|3y=2009|3p=43|4a1=Harley|4a2=Kieffer|4y=2009|4p=190}} Hubbard described there being 15 OT levels, although he had only completed eight of these during his lifetime.{{sfn|Urban|2012|p=356}} OT levels nine to 15 have not been reached by any Scientologist.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=81-82}} In 1988 the Scientology organization stated that OT levels nine and ten would only be released when certain benchmarks in its expansion had been achieved.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|p=31}} The Church of Scientology has gone to considerable length to try to maintain the secrecy of the texts, but they remain widely available on the internet. This is partly due to litigation involving Scientology, whereby the [[Fishman Affidavit]] was leaked to the public.{{sfn|Urban|2011|pp=103, 183}} Materials have also been passed on to other sources and made available by publishers such as the media organization [[WikiLeaks]].{{sfn|Urban|2021|page=174}}

To gain the OT levels of training, a member must go to one of the Advanced Organisations or Orgs, which are based in Los Angeles, Clearwater, East Grinstead, Copenhagen, Sydney, and Johannesburg.{{sfnm|1a1=Bainbridge|1a2=Stark|1y=1980|1p=133|2a1=Westbrook|2y=2019|2p=30|3a1=Westbrook|3y=2022|3p=32}} Conservative estimates indicate that getting to OT VIII would require a minimum of payments to the Scientology organization of $350,000 to $400,000 ({{inflation|US|400000|2011|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{sfn|Urban|2021}}{{inflation/fn|US}} OT levels six and seven are only available at Clearwater.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=32}} The highest level, OT eight, is disclosed only at sea on the Scientology ship ''[[Freewinds]]'', operated by the Flag Ship Service Org.{{sfn|Westbrook|2019|pp=30, 33}}<ref name="DavisNRMRL45-47">Derek Davis ''New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America'', pp. 45–47, Baylor University Press, 2004 {{ISBN|978-0-918954-92-3}}</ref> Scholar of religion Aled Thomas suggested that the status of a person's level creates an internal class system within the Scientology organization.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=82}}

The Scientology organization claims that the material taught in the OT levels can only be comprehended once its previous material has been mastered and is therefore kept confidential until a person reaches the requisite level.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=47, 81}} Higher-level members typically refuse to talk about the contents of these OT levels.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=454}} Those progressing through the OT levels are taught additional, more advanced auditing techniques;{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=46}} one of the techniques taught is a method of auditing oneself,{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=47}} which is the necessary procedure for reaching OT level seven.{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=32}}

==== Space opera and the Wall of Fire ====
{{See also|Space opera in Scientology}}
[[File:Xenu BBC Panorama.jpg|right|thumb|Xenu as depicted by ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'']]

The mythological framework which forms the basis for what Scientologists view as the system's path to salvation is the story of [[Xenu]].{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=365–366}} Reflecting a strong science-fiction theme within its theology,{{sfn|Westbrook|2022|p=15}} Scientology's teachings make reference to "[[space opera in Scientology|space opera]]", a term denoting events in the distant past in which "spaceships, spacemen, [and] intergalactic travel" all feature.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=377}}

Hubbard wrote about a great catastrophe that took place 75 million years ago.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=452}} According to this story, 75 million years ago there was a [[Galactic Confederacy]] of 76 planets ruled over by a leader called [[Xenu]]. The Confederacy was overpopulated and Xenu transported millions of aliens to earth and killed them with [[hydrogen bombs]].{{sfnm|1a1=Bromley|1y=2009|1p=91|2a1=Rothstein|2y=2009|2pp=372-373}} The thetans of those killed were then clustered together and implants were inserted into them, designed to kill any body that these thetans would subsequently inhabit should they recall the event of their destruction.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=372-373}} After the massacre, several of the officers in Xenu's service rebelled against him, ultimately capturing and imprisoning him.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=372}} Hubbard claimed to have discovered the Xenu myth in December 1967, having taken the "plunge" deep into his "time track".{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=372-373, 375}} Scientology teaches that attempting to recover this information from the "time track" typically results in an individual's death, caused by the presence of Xenu's implants, but that because of Hubbard's "technology" this death can be avoided.{{sfnm|1a1=Rothstein|1y=2009|1pp=375-376|2a1=Thomas|2y=2021|2p=84}}

[[File:XenuWithE-Meter.jpg|thumb|A man dressed as Xenu carrying an E-meter; Scientology's critics often use Xenu to mock the movement.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|pp=14, 86}}]]

The Scientology organization says that learning the Xenu myth can be harmful for those unprepared for it,{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|pp=368-369}} and the documents discussing Xenu are kept secret from most members.{{sfnm|1a1=Shermer|1y=2020|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=452|3a1=Bromley|3y=2009|3p=94}} The teachings about Xenu were later leaked by ex-members,{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=367}} becoming a matter of public record after being submitted as evidence in court cases.<ref name="DoubleCrossed">{{Cite web |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |title=Double Crossed |date=December 23, 1999 |work=[[Phoenix New Times]] |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/double-crossed-6431852 <!--reprint version omits original photographs--> |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312025501/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/double-crossed/full |archive-date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=September 16, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Loss">{{Cite web|first=Matt|last=Hines|title=Scientology loss keeps hyperlinks legal|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html|website=[[CNET]]|date=September 8, 2003|access-date=September 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116233523/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-5072581.html|archive-date=November 16, 2006}}</ref> They are now widely available online.{{sfn|Thomas|2021|p=83}} Members who have been given the teachings routinely deny these teachings exist.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=137}} Hubbard however talked about Xenu on several occasions,{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=381}} the Xenu story bears similarities with some of the science-fiction stories Hubbard published,{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=453}} and substantial themes from the Xenu story are in Hubbard's book ''Scientology – A History of Man''.{{sfn|Rothstein|2009|p=375}}