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This is a timeline of Scientology, particularly its foundation and development by author L. Ron Hubbard.
- L. Ron Hubbard becomes a prolific author. Although he was known mostly for his science fiction, he also worked in other genres including mystery, western and adventure. He was also a screen writer. His lifetime output of published fiction was over 200 novels, novelettes and short stories.
- In an unpublished manuscript Excalibur, he delineated the common denominator of existence as "survive" and outlined the theory that "life is composed of two things: the material universe and an X-factor...that can evidently organize and mobilize the material universe." This fundamental concept was to be the basis of his writings on both Dianetics and Scientology.
- First published work on Dianetics appeared in the Winter/Spring issue of the Explorers Club Journal entitled "Terra Incognita: The Mind". At this time he offered his findings on the mind to both the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Both organizations rejected them.
- L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics — The Modern Science of Mental Health is published.
- Hubbard formed the religious philosophy of Scientology, which is based on his theory that man is most fundamentally a spiritual being — the X-factor.
[edit] 1952-05
- The Wichita, Kansas, Dianetics training center is moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Hubbard publicly announces the formal establishment of the philosophy of Scientology and the formation of the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International.
[edit] 1952-07
- July 1952: "Scientology: A History of Man" published.
- Church of Scientology, Church of American Science and Church of Spiritual Engineering incorporated in Elizabeth, New Jersey by L. Ron Hubbard. Co-signatories were Henrietta Hubbard, L. Ron Hubbard Jr., John Galusha, Verna Greenough and Barabra Bryan. Named as trustees of the Church of Scientology were L. Ron Hubbard, Mary Sue Hubbard (not present), and John Galusha.
[edit] 1955-07
- The Founding Church of Scientology was founded in Washington, DC
- The church is granted U.S. federal tax-exempt status.
- Hubbard moved to England and bought Saint Hill Mansion in Sussex, from which he would direct international operations and expansion until 1967.
[edit] 1960’s
[edit] 1963-01-04
- The US Food and Drug Administration raided Scientology offices and seized hundreds of the Church's E-meters as illegal medical devices. The devices are now required to carry a disclaimer saying that they are a purely religious artifact. They are used in a Scientology counseling technique known as "auditing".
- Australian government bans Scientology.
- The IRS strips Scientology of its tax-exempt status.
- OT III is made available to Scientologists. This level of Operating Thetan contains the story of Xenu, which becomes a source of enormous controversy for Scientology from the 1990s onward.
- The Sea Organization (or Sea Org) officially established.
[edit] 1967-12-27
- The first Advanced Organization, offering the advanced levels of Scientology to the public, was established aboard the Royal Scotman, the flagship of the Sea Organization. (This ship was later renamed the Apollo.)
[edit] 1970-02-22
- Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles founded.
- Various locations of the Church of Scientology are raided by the FBI.
- As a result of FBI raids, Eleven senior people in the church's Guardian's Office were convicted of obstructing justice, burglary of government offices, and theft of documents and government property. (See Operation Snow White)
[edit] 1979-12
- An estimated 3,000 gather at Clearwater City Hall to protest the church coming to Clearwater. Across the street, Scientologists stage a counter rally, dressed as clowns and wearing animal costumes.
- Clearwater's government holds hearings to explore allegations that the church is a cult.
- The High Court of Australia overturns Scientology ban.
- The Church of Scientology acquires yacht "La Boheme" after its yacht broker, Bud Fields, is murdered by Yvonne Mott. Some claim that Fields was murdered because of his refusal to sell La Boheme to the COS.[citation needed] After purchase, the COS renames "La Boheme" to "Freewinds".
[edit] 1986-01-24
[edit] 1992-6
[edit] 1993-12
- Internal Revenue Service of the United States granted full religious recognition and tax exemption to all Scientology Churches, missions and social betterment groups in that country.
[edit] 1994-12
[edit] 1996-12
- The public learns that Clearwater police are investigating the 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, who had been in the care of the church in Clearwater for 17 days.
- February 1997 A wrongful-death lawsuit is filed in the McPherson case.
- The Church of Scientology, operating as the Greek Center of Applied Philosophy, is ordered closed in Greece. Decision upheld in 1998.[1]
[edit] 1998-11
- After reviewing the McPherson case for 11 months, State Attorney Bernie McCabe charges the Church of Scientology with two felonies: practicing medicine without a license and abuse of a disabled adult. Also, the church begins building its massive Flag Building, launching a $160-million construction campaign downtown.
[edit] 2000-06
- McCabe drops the criminal case against the church, noting that the medical examiner's change of opinion about the cause of McPherson's death undercuts the prosecution's effort to prove the criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt.
[edit] 2004-05
- The church and the estate of Lisa McPherson reach a private settlement.
[edit] References
- ^ Morgan, Lucy. "Abroad: Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology", St. Petersburg Times, 1999-03-29. Retrieved on September 15, 2006.
[edit] External links
