Founded by the science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is a controversial practice. Based on the self help technique of Dianetics, the church boasts many prestigious members, most notably Tom Cruise.

Many former members have described the Church as a cult, stating that followers believe in bogus technology and that the human race was a result of an alien crash landing. Scientologists adamantly deny this, defining their beliefs as the "study of truth".