What is Scientology?

If man had a real grasp of the factors which governed his existence, if he had a greater understanding of himself and his fellows, he could improve conditions and thus live a better life. That he lacks this understanding is apparent — a half-hour walk through any urban landscape would convince virtually anyone that life could be a happier proposition.

For millions that understanding has been provided by Scientology.

But, you might ask, what is Scientology?

	The Scientology religion began in the United States 50 years ago, and quickly spanned the country with a growing network of churches, missions and groups. Above left: In Los Angeles, the city council named this street L. Ron Hubbard Way in honour of the founder of Scientology; the thoroughfare is home to a church university providing ministerial training to Scientologists from around the world. Today, the religion continues to expand on an international scale with new churches of Scientology opening at an increasing rate, from San Francisco (left) to Johannesburg (above right).

Scientology is the only major religion to emerge in the 20th century. It comprises a vast body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths. Prime among those truths: Man is a spiritual being endowed with abilities well beyond those he normally envisages.

The fastest-growing religious movement in the world today, Scientology provides the individual the means to not only solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also to achieve new states of awareness he may never have dreamed possible. And he gains the ability to dramatically improve conditions not only in his own life but also in the world around him.

In a word, Scientology works.

The first Church of Scientology of Denmark was established in 1968, later becoming the Church of Scientology’s headquarters for Europe in 1970. Today it is located in Copenhagen, Denmark; included within it is the Advanced Organisation Europe which welcomes multinational Scientologists from across Europe and Africa who come here to pursue higher level studies.

This is why millions of people the world over use its principles in their daily lives and why a growing number find relevancy in Scientology for themselves, their families, their organisations, their cities, their nations and this entire civilisation.

In fact, participation in Scientology brings to many a broader social consciousness, manifested through meaningful contribution to charitable and social betterment activities. This is because Scientology contains effective solutions and answers to society’s most crucial problems, among them drug abuse, crime, illiteracy and declining moral values.

Scientologists are drug-free and spearhead effective actions in countries throughout Europe and around the world to get others off drugs. Scientologists have helped millions of underprivileged children overcome illiteracy and the record of the Church of Scientology’s fight for human rights is unparalleled.

Scientology is not authoritarian. There is no enforced belief or “faith” system. Instead, one learns to think for himself and only those things one finds for himself to be true are true. It is a voyage of self-discovery.