Scientology

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3661778/Russian-security-service-raids-dozens-Church-Scientology-offices-amid-probe-money-laundering-illegal-business-dealings.html

 

 

Scientology - Defectors Let The Cat Out Of The Bag - from http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/
QUOTE
Scientology leader David Miscavige is the focus of this special report from the St. Petersburg Times. Former executives of the Church of Scientology, including two of the former top lieutenants to Miscavige, have come forward to describe a culture of intimidation and violence under David Miscavige. These former Scientology leaders served for years with Miscavige.
UNQUOTE
Scientology is a cult that robs mug punters. Now solid evidence emerges.

 

Scientology According To The Wikipedia
QUOTE
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986), starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Hubbard characterized Scientology as a religion, and in 1953 incorporated the Church of Scientology in New Jersey. Scientology teaches that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature. Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counseling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past, in order to free themselves of their limiting effects...........

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 [ allegation/claim/fairy story/lie ] that souls ("thetans") reincarnate and have lived on other planets before living on Earth.  
UNQUOTE
The Wiki sounds fairly sympathetic.

 

David Miscavige
QUOTE
David Miscavige (born April 30, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is the chairman of the board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology, and "holds the ultimate ecclesiastical authority regarding the standard and pure application of L. Ron Hubbard’s religious technologies." RTC is a separate corporation from the Church of Scientology and Miscavige is officially described as "worldwide ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion."
UNQUOTE
The Wiki is not telling all or even very much about the man.

 

Scientology's Money Trail
QUOTE
South Park has ridiculed it, protesters have attacked it, and Germany has tried to outlaw it. Yet the Church of Scientology still operates in 160 countries, with an extremely complex economic model that makes it hard for opponents to go after its finances. Ever since the 1980s, when it faced a potentially lethal class-action lawsuit and intense scrutiny from the U.S. government, the group has reportedly spread its revenues—and its liability—among a vast array of independent trusts, corporations, and nonprofits. All are reportedly tightly controlled by David Miscavige, a second-generation Scientologist who has run the church since the 1986 death of its founder, science-fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. Tax filings from the early 1990s show that the church was earning about $300 million a year back then, but the paper trail disappears after that. The church won tax-exempt status in 1993 and is not required to file annual returns with the I.R.S., so it’s extremely difficult to tell just how much Scientology takes in during a given year...............

Fundraising..........
Estimated revenue: $50 million to $100 million

Membership Fees Scientology boasts hundreds of organizations, centers, and missions around the world, which charge fees to members.
Estimated revenue: $400 million

Consulting.......
Estimated revenue: $50 million

Bottom Line As long as Scientology can keep generating huge donations while fending off lawsuits, its doors will likely stay open. 
Total estimated annual revenue: $500 million to $550 million
UNQUOTE
The tax free status makes a lot of businessmen envious or join in.