ESSAY ON: The Church Of Scientology - Cult Or Religion?

Number of Pages 45

This research paper: A 45 page paper that discusses the issue of whether Scientology is a cult or a religion. The paper begins by defining the two words, then provides an overview of the growth of cults and religions in the 20th century. An historical overview of the beginning and expansion of the Church of Scientology is provided next, beginning with the publication of Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health in 1950. Hubbard went on the lecture circuit almost immediately, opened a research foundation, opened the first Scientology church in 1954 and continued writing a great deal while he also began developing different techniques like auditing. Hubbard did not declare Scientology a religion until 1962 and even vacillated on the label after that. This essay reports the major principles of Scientology, the criticisms and lawsuits, and the tactics used by the church against those who criticize it. The essay then reviews the characteristics of a cult and those of a religion and draws a conclusion as to whether Scientology is a cult or a religion and why. Bibliography lists 40 sources.


File: MM12_PGscntl.rtf


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