Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A belief system with certain religious aspects, developed in 1952, focused on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a new religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1955 and characterized by a belief in the power of a person's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences through self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Latin stem scientia ("knowledge"), from scio ("I know") + -logy ("study of").

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Examples

  • I am now the top hit on Google for "cindy mccain scientology" mostly through a coincidence, while I have written a post on the media coverage of the Anonymous protests against Scientology the 'Cindy McCain' part came from the blog-roll down the right hand side.

    Archive 2008-06-01 2008

  • If someone buys a scientology school, sends their kid to a Scientology school, are they a Scientologist?

    CONFIRMED: JADEN SMITH IN ‘KARATE BLACK KID’ 2008

  • Paulette Cooper not only published her book THE SCANDAL OF SCIENTOLOGY, but she also got a court settlement for what Scientology did to her.

    News for Richmond Times-Dispatch 2009

  • Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle under attack over scientology church PREMIER Ted Baillieu has questioned Lord Mayor Robert Doyle's judgment in welcoming one of the world's biggest Scientology churches to Melbourne.

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories 2011

  • The word Scientology comes from the Latin word "scio" meaning "knowing," and the Greek word

    Latest Articles 2008

  • The only reason I am in Scientology is because it has provided a system by which I have been able to better my life.

    Kick Some Scientology Ass 2007

  • Scientology is now shrinking like snow under the sun.

    Flash-mobs on a global scale 2009

  • Scientology is not about good wholesome loony fun.

    Scientology: If you can’t con ‘em, kill ‘em 2009

  • Really, the number of people duped by Scientology is much, much lower than the number of people duped into joining an outfit whose high command is called the “Council of Cardinals” and wears even sillier outfits.

    Matthew Yglesias » Endgame 2010

  • My fundamental respect for diversity normally ends whenever the "Church" of Scientology is brought up.

    Science 2009

Comments

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  • Scientology is a new religious movement based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard (1911 – 1986), a fiction author, who founded the Church of Scientology in 1954. As with many new religious movements, Scientology has attracted much controversy and criticism. Ironically, the critical media attention that Scientology has received has helped to fuel the publicity of the movement. The organization presents itself as a fully integrated system of religious technology dedicated to the rehabilitation of the human spirit. Its teachings have allegedly saved followers from various afflictions including addictions, arthritis, clinical depression, learning disabilities, and personal problems. Popular among Hollywood celebrities, the Church of Scientology claims between millions adherents in over 200 countries worldwide.

    June 15, 2009