Timeline of Scientology

This is a timeline of Scientology, particularly its foundation and development by author L. Ron Hubbard.

1938

* In an unpublished manuscript "Excalibur", L. Ron Hubbard delineated the common denominator of existence as "survive" and outlined the theory that "life is composed of two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.Fact|date=February 2008

1940s

1949

* 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.Fact|date=February 2008

1950s

1950

* L. Ron Hubbard's "Dianetics — The Modern Science of Mental Health" is published. [cite web | title = Of Two Minds | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,812852,00.html | work = TIME Magazine | date = 1950-07-24 | accessdate = 2008-10-02 ]

1952-02

* After learning that the "Hubbard Dianetic Foundation" of Wichita, Kansas would be liable for the debts of the defunct "Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation" of Elizabeth, New Jersey, the board of directors, led by Don Purcell, voted to file for voluntary bankruptcy over Hubbard's objections. Hubbard forms a rival "Hubbard College", also in Wichita, and disputes control of the copyrights of the Dianetics materials.Miller, Russell " [http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/bfm/bfmconte.htm Bare-faced messiah: The true story of L. Ron Hubbard] " (free online version) also by publisher M. Joseph (1987) ISBN 0-7181-2764-1]

1952-05

* Hubbard publicly announces the formal establishment of the philosophy of Scientology and the formation of the "Hubbard Association of Scientologists International", demonstrates the E-meter, and moves to Phoenix, Arizona. [cite web | title = Remember Venus? | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889564,00.html | work = TIME Magazine | date = 1952-12-22 | accessdate = 2008-10-02 ]

1952-07

* July 1952: published.Fact|date=February 2008

1953

* 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.Fact|date=February 2008

1954

* The Church of Scientology is incorporated in California and Arizona.Fact|date=February 2008

* The Internal Revenue Service grants a tax exemption to the Church of Scientology of California (CSC).Fact|date=February 2008

1955-07

* The Founding Church of Scientology was founded in Washington, DCFact|date=February 2008

1957

* The church is recognized as a tax-exempt religious organization in the United States.

1959

* Hubbard moved to England and bought Saint Hill Mansion in Sussex, from which he would direct international operations and expansion until 1967.Fact|date=February 2008

1960’s

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".Fact|date=February 2008

1966

* Narconon founded.

1965

* Australian government bans Scientology in three of its states.Fact|date=February 2008

1967

* The IRS strips the Church of Scientology in California, Scientology's headquarters, of its tax-exempt status, asserting that its activities are commercial and operated for the benefit of Mr. Hubbard, rather than charitable or religious reasons.

* 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.Fact|date=February 2008

1967

* The Sea Organization (or Sea Org) officially established.Fact|date=February 2008

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.)Fact|date=February 2008

1970s

1970-02-22

* Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles founded.Fact|date=February 2008

1975

* Scientologists buy former Fort Harrison Hotel and old Bank of Clearwater.Fact|date=February 2008

*Scientology is recognized as a non-profit organization in South Africa, despite the 1972 report of a formal government Commission of Inquiry that recommended otherwise. [ [http://www.emanationinc.com/Chidestr/pagei.htm Scientology: A Religion in South Africa by David Chidester, University of Cape Town, South Africa] ]

1977

* Various locations of the Church of Scientology are raided by the FBI.cite web | first = Robert W. | last = Welkos | coauthors = Sappell, Joel | title = Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientologysidec062490,0,7034344.story | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 1990-06-24 | accessdate = 2008-10-02 ]

1979

* 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)

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.Fact|date=February 2008

1980s

1980

*Acquisition of the former White Rats Club building at 227 West 46th in the Broadway theatre district in New York City. The building was built in 1912 and the church acquired it from the Church of Seventh Day Adventists. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE2DE1E3CF932A35750C0A961948260]

1982

* Clearwater's government holds hearings to explore allegations that the church is a cult.Fact|date=February 2008

1983

* The High Court of Australia overturns the Scientology ban, declaring that "The applicant has easily discharged the onus of showing that it is religious. The conclusion that it is a religious institution entitled to the tax exemption is irresistible."High Court of Australia [http://www.uniset.ca/other/cs6/154CLR120.html "CHURCH OF THE NEW FAITH v. COMMISSIONER OF PAY-ROLL TAX (VICT.) 1983 154 CLR 120"] ]

* The Church of Scientology of Toronto is raided. (See R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto) [cite web | first = W. Richard | last = Reynolds | title = Scientology church on trial in Canada | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/50624765.html?dids=50624765:50624765&FMT=FT | work = St. Petersburg Times | date = 1991-04-23 | accessdate = 2008-10-03 ]

1985

* The Church of Scientology acquires yacht "La Boheme" after its yacht broker, Bud Fields, is murdered by Yvonne Mott. After purchase, the COS renames "La Boheme" to "Freewinds".Fact|date=February 2008

1986-01-24

* Hubbard dies at his ranch near San Luis Obispo, California. [cite web | title = L. Ron Hubbard, Church of Scientology founder, dies | url = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/archives/1986/8601020951.asp | work = Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date = 1986-01-28 | accessdate = 2008-10-03 ]

1986

* David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of the Author Services Inc., becomes head.Fact|date=October 2008

1990s

1991

*After the completion of a 4-year long program to reissue the books and courses of Dianetics and Scientology, a general amnesty is declared for members.Fact|date=February 2008

1992-6

* The Church of Scientology is found guilty on two counts of breach of the public trust in Ontario, Canada in R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto.Fact|date=February 2008

1993-12

* The Internal Revenue Service of the United States grants full religious recognition and tax exemption to all Scientology Churches, missions and social betterment groups in that country. [ [http://home.snafu.de/tilman/krasel/da/da_germany1.html 1994 IRS letter to German government minister] ]

1994-12

* On December 24, a number of Scientology's confidential Operating Thetan documents are published on the newsgroup "alt.religion.scientology" through an anonymous remailer. This marks the beginning of Scientology's online activities, often referred to as Scientology versus the Internet.Fact|date=February 2008

1995

* 1995-07-20 The Supreme Court of Canada upholds the largest libel award in Canadian history against the Church of Scientology. (See Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto)Fact|date=February 2008

1996

* The Church launches the Golden Age of Tech program to improve the training of its practitioners.
* The Church of Scientology of Paris is closed due to non-payment of taxes (the French government actually refuses the money). A new church reopens immediately.Fact|date=February 2008

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.Fact|date=February 2008

1997

* February 1997 A wrongful-death lawsuit is filed in the McPherson case.Fact|date=February 2008
* The Church of Scientology, operating as the Greek Center of Applied Philosophy, is ordered closed in Greece. Decision upheld in 1998. [cite news |first = Lucy |last = Morgan |title = Abroad: Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology |url = http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html |publisher = St. Petersburg Times |date = 1999-03-29 |accessdate = 2006-09-15]

1998

* Sonny Bono, a practicing Scientologist, pushes for the passage of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which extends the copyright protection of all copyrighted works (including Scientology teachings) an extra 20 years.Fact|date=February 2008

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.Specify|date=February 2008Fact|date=February 2008

1999

*The UK Charities Commission denies the Church of Scientology's application for charitable status, ruling that it is not a religion and that there is no established "public benefit arising out of the practice of Scientology". [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90206.htm U.S. Department of State – 2007 Report on International Religious Freedom: United Kingdom] ] cite web | url = http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/registration/pdfs/cosfulldoc.pdf|title = Decision of the Charity Commissoners for England and Wales |date = 1999-11-17|publisher = Charity Commission | accessdate = 2006-07-06 (PDF)] The Church does not appeal the decision.

1999-2000

*In November 1999, the government of Sweden declares that the Church of Scientology is a charitable, non-profit organization with a religious purpose. A year later, the Church's ministers are granted the right to perform marriages, completing official recognition as a church in Sweden.

2000s

2000

*In March, the Italian Supreme Court upholds Scientology's religious status in Italy while reaffirming that Narconon is a non-tax-exempt for-profit business. [ [http://www.cesnur.org/testi/scie_march2000.htm Italian Supreme Court decision] ]

*Scientology ministers are granted the right to perform marriages in South Africa.cite web |url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/scient_SouthA.htm |title = Scientology Marriage Officers Approved in South Africa |date = 2000-04-11 |accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher = CESNUR]

*In the United Kingdom, the Church of Scientology is exempted from value added tax on the basis that it is a not-for-profit body.Harry Wallop: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/08/11/cntax11.xml Scientology tax victory could cost Revenue millions] , Daily Telegraph, 11 Aug. 2006]

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.Fact|date=February 2008

2002

*The government of New Zealand issues an official decree fully recognizing the Church of Scientology of New Zealand as an exempt religious and charitable organization.cite conference
first =Derek H.
last =Davis
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Church of Scientology: In Pursuit of Legal Recognition
booktitle =Zeitdiagnosen: Religion and Conformity
pages =
publisher =Lit Verlag
date =2004
location =Münster, Germany
url =http://www.umhb.edu/files/academics/crl/publications/articles/the_church_of_scientologypursuit_of_legal_recognition.pdf
doi =
id =
accessdate =2008-05-10 ] cite web |url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3048935 |title = Scientology gets tax-exempt status |accessdate = 2007-08-01 |date = 2002-12-27 |work = New Zealand Herald |quote = the IRD said the church was a charitable organisation dedicated to the advancement of religion]

*The Austrian tax office concludes that the work of the Church of Scientology in Vienna is for the public benefit rather than anyone’s personal profit, and grants that church tax-exempt status as a charitable religious organization. [ [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27825.htm U.S. Department of State – 2003 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Austria] ]

*In July, a Paris judge rules that a 13-year-old case against the Church of Scientology alleging fraud and illegal practice of medicine cannot go to trial, due to lack of progress in the investigation.Citation
last =Staff
first =
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =FRANCE Statute of limitations nixes case against Church of Scientology
newspaper =The Salt Lake Tribune
pages =
year =2002
date =31 July 2002
url =http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SLTB&p_theme=sltb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=100E45F960F3F599&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM .] The judge rules that the statute of limitations has expired.

2003

*In March, the National Ministry of the Interior for Taiwan recognizes the Church of Scientology of Taiwan as a charitable religious institution, officially adding it to the rolls of the country's recognized religions.

2004-05

* The church and the estate of Lisa McPherson reach a private settlement.Fact|date=February 2008

* David Miscavige announces the Golden Age of Knowledge, a Church program intended to make all Scientology materials available. It starts with the release of 18 congresses.Fact|date=February 2008

2005

*The U.S. Department of State's 2005 Report on International Religious Freedom announces that the Church of Scientology has been registered as a religious group by the Kyrgyzstan State Commission on Religious Affairs. [ [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51562.htm U.S. Department of State – 2005 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kyrgyzstan] ]

2006

*Scientology applies for status as a religious confessional community in Austria, but later withdraws its application. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71367.htm U.S. Department of State – 2006 Report on International Religious Freedom: Austria] ]

2007

* In the next major step of the Golden Age of Knowledge program, 18 revised books and 11 lecture series are released.Fact|date=February 2008

*In April, the European Court of Human Rights rules against Russia for repeatedly refusing to consider the Moscow Church of Scientology's application for the status of a legally valid religious association. The court finds that the reasons given to deny re-registration of the church by the justice department and endorsed by the Moscow courts have no legal basis. [ [http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=815108&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649 ECHR, Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia, application no. 18147/02, 5 April 2007] ] [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_World&set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20070405161359229C589107 IOL, April 5, 2007] ]

*A Belgian state prosecutor recommends that a case should be brought against 12 physical persons associated with Scientology and two legal entities – the Belgian Church of Scientology and Scientology's Office of Human Rights – on counts of extortion, fraud, organized crime, obstruction of medical practice, illegal medical practice, invasion of privacy, conspiracy and commercial infractions like abusive contractual clauses. [ [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8REMTI02&show_article=1 Scientology Faces Criminal Charges ] ] cite web | first = Roland | last = Planchar | title = La Scientologie plus près de son procès | url = http://www.lalibre.be/article.phtml?id=10&subid=90&art_id=368037 | publisher = La Libre Belgique | date = 2007-09-04 | accessdate = 2007-09-04 fr icon] The proposal is referred to an administrative court who is to decide at a later date whether charges will be brought. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295693,00.html FOXNews.com - Church of Scientology Faces Criminal Charges in Belgium - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News ] ]

* On October 31, Scientology is formally recognized as a religion in Spainweb cite|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-V0Ui506lPl-r8ImubpdUjFbuYA
title=Spanish court rules Scientology can be listed as a religion
author=
pub=AFP
date=November 1, 2007] web cite|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Audiencia/Nacional/reconoce/Cienciologia/iglesia/elpepusoc/20071101elpepisoc_8/Tes
title=La Audiencia Nacional reconoce a la Cienciología como iglesia
author=
pub=El Pais
date=November 1, 2007 Languageicon|es|Spanish]

*In November, Scientology is officially recognized as a religion in Portugal. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100579.htm 2007 U.S. Department of State – 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Portugal] ]

*In December, South Africa grants the Church tax exemption and issues a certificate recognizing it as a "Public Benefit Organisation". [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=nw20071204183608671C621249 SA Church of Scientology gets tax exemption] ]

*On December 7, German federal and state interior ministers formally express the view that the Scientology organization continues to pursue anti-constitutional goals and ask Germany's domestic intelligence agencies to collect and evaluate the necessary information that would be required for a possible judicial inquiry aimed at banning the organization. [ [http://www.im.nrw.de/inn/doks/imk1207.pdf Sammlung der zur Veröffentlichung freigegebenen Beschlüsse der 185. Sitzung der Ständigen Konferenz der Innenminister und -senatoren der Länder am 7. Dezember 2007 in Berlin] Languageicon|de|German] The move is criticized by politicians from all parts of the political spectrum, with legal experts expressing concern that an attempt to ban the organization would most likely fail in the courts. [http://www.tagesspiegel.de/zeitung/Titelseite;art692,2435009 Scientology – Zweifel an Verbotsplänen] , article in Tagesspiegel, 2007-12-8 Languageicon|de|German] [ [http://www.welt.de/politik/article1439936/Innenminister_fordern_Verbot_von_Scientology.html Innenminister fordern Verbot von Scientology] , article in Die Welt, 2007-12-8 Languageicon|de|German] This view is echoed by the German intelligence agencies, who warn that a ban would be doomed to fail. [cite web | title = Lack of Evidence: Agencies Warn Scientology Ban Doomed to Fail | url = http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,522348,00.html | work = | publisher = Der Spiegel | date = 2007-12-10 | accessdate = 2007-12-18 ]

2008

* Internet-based group Anonymous launches Project Chanology, a worldwide protest against the Church of Scientology, which drew about 7,000 people in more than 93 cities on February 10, 2008.cite news
author=Carlos Moncada
title=Organizers Tout Scientology Protest, Plan Another
url=http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/12/organizers-tout-scientology-protest-plan-another/
work=
publisher=TBO.com
date=2008-02-12
accessdate=2008-02-13 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.scientology.org/wis/wiseng/36/36-50s.htm Scientology.org: Important Dates in Scientology]
* [http://www.xenu.net/archive/books/bfm/timeline.htm] L Ron Hubbard biographical Timeline, including important Scientology dates