The Church of Scientology

Movement·Founded 1954 CE·Sharply disputed. The church has claimed membership in the millions. National census counts and independent surveys return figures two to three orders of magnitude lower, and the church does not publish auditable numbers.

The Church of Scientology

Church of Scientology InternationalThe recordThe Anderson Report (1965) — full text of the Victorian Board of InquiryThe recordScientology and the IRS — the litigation and closing-agreement documents

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The Sea Organization signs for a billion years.

Founded in 1967 aboard three ships, the Sea Org is the religious order that staffs the senior organisations. Members sign a symbolic billion-year contract, wear uniforms and work under naval-style ranks.

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How you joinBuy a course or a book, then move up the Bridge service by service
Who leadsDavid Miscavige, as chairman of the board of Religious Technology Center, since 1987
The unitThe org, the mission, and the Sea Organization — the religious order that staffs the senior levels
Understanding it — context, not catechism: how this passage is held

The Sea Organization was formed in 1967 aboard a small fleet Hubbard operated in the Mediterranean, and it kept the naval form after it came ashore: uniforms, ranks, watches, and a symbolic contract for one billion years. It staffs the church's senior organisations and the upper-level delivery, and members live communally on a small allowance. The church presents it as a religious order comparable to a monastic one, and Sea Org members describe the commitment in those terms. Former members have given evidence to Australian, British and American inquiries about hours, pay, the treatment of pregnancy and the internal disciplinary programme, and the church rejects those accounts.

From the sources — the passages this rests on; concise renderings, cited

Members sign a pledge of service for one billion years.

Church of Scientology, FAQ on the Sea Organization (rendered)

The church describes the contract as symbolic, comparable to vows in other religious orders.

The same ground, other faiths

claims that share this one's ideas
The Rule of St Benedict. Christianity · scripture Open the book →
Do not waste, even at a river. Islam · precept Go deeper →
The ashram rule. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church · precept Go deeper →
N Nikolai Fyodorov — who gave his salary away. Russian Cosmism · figure Meet them →
Hanuman leaps the strait. Hinduism · story Read it in full →
The alms round. Buddhism · rite Go deeper →

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The Church of Scientology's Community roomback up one layer Propose a change to this passageone button — it routes to the review pool

Numbers count Panfaith activity only — never real-world adherence.

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