Scientology as Cult

The Cult of Scientology

Many controversies have arisen regarding Scientology, which was started in 1952 and declared itself a religion in 1953 when it was incorporated as the Church of Scientology. Scientology can be identified as being both a cult and a complex pyramid scheme in which people are coerced or convince to donate money in order to attain spiritual salvation. Scientology has encountered several legal, ethical, and moral dilemmas during its brief history and demonstrates many characteristics that allow for the "religion" to be classified as a cult.

The definition of a cult depends on the perspective that is being taken. For the purpose of this report, a universal definition, as opposed to a secular or Christian definition will be applied to Scientology. The universal definition of a cult contends that a cult is "any group which has a pyramid type authoritarian leadership structure with all...
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