Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology is a religious organization founded in the early 1950s by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It teaches that individuals can achieve spiritual enlightenment and personal improvement through a process called "auditing," which involves guided self-exploration and the use of an electronic device called an E-meter. Scientology promotes the concept of the "thetan," an immortal spiritual being that individuals seek to understand. The church has drawn both followers and significant controversy, particularly regarding its practices, treatment of members, and aggressive defense against critics, raising questions about its status as a religion.