Scientology

Scientology has been surrounded by controversies since its inception. It has often been described as a cult that financially defrauds and abuses its members, charging exorbitant fees for its spiritual services. The Church of Scientology has consistently used litigation against such critics, and its aggressiveness in pursuing its foes has been condemned as harassment.

Further controversy has...focused on Scientology's belief that souls "thetans" reincarnate and have lived on other planets before living on Earth.Former members say that some of Hubbard's writings on this remote extraterrestrial past, included in confidential Upper Levels, are not revealed to practitioners until they have paid thousands of dollars to the Church of Scientology.

Another controversial belief held by...Scientologists is that the practice of psychiatry is destructive and abusive and must be abolished.