Gluskin 1
Shelby Gluskin
Ms. Plummer
English 211
17 April 2018
Scientology’s Life Span
Introduction: Scientology is constantly being questioned on how it is staying afloat and poorly talked about, but if anything, the Church has many factors, positive and negative, that allows it to continue to survive.
Thesis: Scientology is able to maintain its’ status through celebrity endorsement, excessive funding, and the exclusive actions of the Church.
Body Paragraphs:
I. With the ability to keep negative and threatening secrets out of the way from the public’s eye,
Scientology is a thriving religion.
A. The Church of Scientology is able to keep their actions under the radar through
intimidation of both members and critics of the organization.
1. In the early 1980’s about eleven Scientologists were convicted of infiltrating
more than one-hundred agencies, government and private. The goal of their
actions was to stop and to hinder investigations into Scientology.
2. These mafia like actions according to Joe Nocera of the New York Times
prove that the Church will go above and beyond to attract new followers and
become a mainstream religion.
B. A main threat to Scientology was the Cult Awareness Network. The Network had
around twenty chapters monitoring cults and no organization caused more phone calls
pleading for help than Scientology did (Behar 50). Gluskin 2
1. Scientology took notice of this and in 1997 put the Network into bankruptcy
with a lawsuit, and took over the Cult Awareness programs (51).
C. When people become members of Scientology, the Church practically brainwashes
them to avoid discussing the organization outside of the Church.
1. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, has a form of training that
convinces new members that sources outside of the Church like the internet of the
News Papers are lying and will do anything to put an end to something decent like
Scientology (Nededog).
2. Members are taught to believe that the smartest and safest decision it to talk to
truthful good human beings, and the only people who qualify are Scientologists.
D. Every conversation between the Church and members are recorded and videotaped
for the protection of the Church (Nededog).
1. If someone feels the need to talk about the Church in a negative manner, the
recordings are utilized to discredit what you are saying. This allows most conflict
to be instantly put to rest, and in this type of case the member would be shunned
with nothing to their name.
2. In order to stay away from a negative connotation, all members of the Church
of Scientology are restricted from reaching out for legal services against another
members. All situations are handled internally so nothing will scare people away
from joining (Nededog).
II. The people operating Scientology are extremely intelligent, even though some actions could be considered insane if not criminal.
A. To be considered a member, one must devote two and a half hours per day, at least
forty years of your life, and a minimum of two-hundred thousand dollars (Nededog). Gluskin 3
1. That alone is just about fifteen million dollars in global membership
(Recessionista). Donations, real estate holdings, and revenue from its many
corporation’s average approximately five-hundred million dollars annually. This
does not even include the various fees the Church charges for other organizations
who wish to be affiliated, counseling sessions for members, and the hundreds of
books published by L. Ron Hubbard that are sold for profit (Recessionista).
2. This money provides the Church and the Sea Organization, which is run the
Scientologists a security blanket to never be in harm’s way.
B. Scientology is known as the religion of seeking spiritual fulfillment through study
(What Is Scientology). They are actually able to set their own salaries as they are a Non-
Profit because they are an official religious organization (Hubbard).
1. Unfortunately, Sea Organization members who are known to run the church
typically get paid very little per week (Miscavige et al.). Since the members are
used to the strict rules of the church this is considered allowable to the employees
(Augustine). Becoming part of the Sea Org is considered a huge honor. The most
devoted Scientologists join the Sea Org and agree to serve Scientology for one
billion years (Goodstein).
2. This one-billion-year sentence is because Scientologists believe in
reincarnations, so when someone passes they are still expected to return and serve
is the next life (Goodstein).
3. However the big way the Church saves money is by making it a requirement
for those who are not members of Sea Org to volunteer for the Church to show
devotion. These members can volunteer almost fifty hours a week as well as
work outside of Scientology to support their families and the church (Reeve). Gluskin 4
4. Unless members have left the Church, many do not realize the extreme
conditions because of Hubbard’s training when entering the Church.
C. The largest financial benefit of Scientology comes from the Church’s status as a
religion.
1. This benefit is what is known as a religious tax exemption.
2. According to James Kirchick, Scientology was originally founded by Hubbard
as a for-profit in 1952, but he soon realized the little benefit that would be
achieved because of this status (14).
3. After the Church officially became non-profit, the International Revenue
Service still did not recognize Scientology as a religion and would not allow a
tax exemption (Nocera).
4. After multiple lawsuits, the IRS conducted a two-year detailed examination to
decide whether or not Scientology could be granted a religious tax exemption,
and because of the Church’s ability to hide any and all flaws they are
considered a religion in the eyes of the IRS (Church of Scientology IRS Tax
Exemption). This exemption and government approved standing not just
saves the Church almost twenty-eight million dollars because of property and
income taxes, but also means it would be extremely difficult to destroy the
Church of Scientology (Matthews).
III. Celebrities do not just provide millions of dollars to the Church, but also provides massive endorsement and public relations (Nededog).
A. Everyone wants to be and exactly what celebrities do, so when famous people opt to
become a part of the Church of Scientology, many normal people think highly of
Scientology. Gluskin 5
1. Many artists, famous and not, are Scientologists because of the idea of self-
knowledge. This appeal and the exceptional approach to celebrities draws them
in, and when a celebrity becomes a Scientologist, they are, “walking success
stories of Scientology” (Bashir et al.).
2. This priority treatment that the celebrities receive is not just to attract more
celebrities, but also to get them to publicly endorse the religion (Nededog). Many
celebrities also appear on the newly launched Scientology TV channel (Kirby).
B. As Scientologists, there is the belief that mental illnesses are not valid diagnoses
(Nededog).
1. This belief paints a perfect picture in the eyes of those looking in on the
religion.
2. Without the problem of mental illness, celebrities and other members of
Scientology appear happy which allows for good public relations.
Conclusion: Scientology has the goal to improve every aspect of life, and with the exclusive actions of the church, excessive funding, and celebrity endorsement nothing will get in the
Church’s way. Gluskin 6
Works Cited
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Scientology, 4 Apr. 2018, www.survivingscientologyradio.com/tag/jeffrey-augustine/.
Bashir, Martin, et al. “How Scientology Attracts Celebrities.” ABC News, ABC News Network,
24 Oct. 2009, abcnews.go.com/Nightline/scientology/scientology-attracts-
celebrities/story?id=8871475.
Behar, Richard. The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power. Time Magazine, 1991. Magazine.
“Church of Scientology IRS Tax Exemption.” Scientology Religion, Church of Scientology
International, 2017, www.scientologyreligion.org/landmark-decisions/church-of-
scientology-irs-tax-exemption.html.
Goodstein, Laurie. “Defectors Say Church of Scientology Hides Abuse.” The New York Times,
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scientology-tv-channel-not-a-cult/.
Kirchick, James. “What Makes Scientology Different.” Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2017, p. 14.
Newspaper.
Matthews, Chris. “How Much Does Scientology Pocket from Its Tax Exempt Status?” Fortune,
Time Inc., 8 Apr. 2015. fortune.com/2015/04/08/scientology-tax-exempt/.
Miscavige Hill, Jenna, and Astra Woodcraft. “Sea Org.” Ex-Scientology Kids,
exscientologykids.com/sea-org-2/.
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the Church.” Business Insider, Business Insider Inc., 29 Nov. 2016. Gluskin 7
www.businessinsider.com/leah-remini-secrets-of-scientology-reddit-ama-2016-11.
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effect.html.
Recessionista. “Scientology Is Bigger, Richer And Growing Faster Than You
Realized.” Business Insider, Business Insider Inc., 20 July 2012.
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fbi-investigation/342337/.
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