Understanding Scientology: Dianetics, Auditing, Thetans, Clear, Operating Thetan, the E-Meter, and Controversy

Los Angeles became one of the major public centers of Scientology, including major Church buildings and administrative locations.

History and Origins of Scientology

Scientology began with L. Ron Hubbard’s earlier work Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, first published in 1950. Dianetics presented a system for addressing painful mental recordings called engrams through a counseling-like method that later became connected to auditing.

In the early 1950s, Hubbard expanded Dianetics into Scientology, which he presented as a religious and spiritual system. Scientology moved beyond the mind to focus on the thetan, past lives, spiritual freedom, and the development of abilities through a structured path of auditing and training.

The Church of Scientology became formally organized in the 1950s and later expanded internationally through churches, missions, publications, training programs, public outreach, celebrity centers, and affiliated social programs.

Auditing and the E-Meter

Auditing is one of Scientology’s central practices. It involves a trained auditor who asks structured questions and guides a participant through memories, reactions, or spiritual barriers. The goal is to increase awareness and reduce the influence of harmful mental or spiritual material.

Many auditing sessions use an E-Meter, short for electropsychometer. The Church of Scientology describes the E-Meter as a religious artifact used to assist auditing, while stating that the device itself does not diagnose, treat, or prevent disease.

Common Terms Connected With Auditing

• Auditor: the trained person who conducts an auditing session
• Preclear: a person receiving auditing before reaching the state of Clear
• Engram: a harmful mental recording from a painful or unconscious experience
• E-Meter: a device used in auditing to measure changes interpreted within Scientology practice
• Clear: a major spiritual state connected with freedom from the reactive mind
• Bridge: the structured path of auditing and training levels

The E-Meter is one of the best-known objects associated with Scientology auditing and public demonstrations.

Scientology uses public church buildings, centers, books, symbols, courses, and outreach programs as part of its institutional identity.

Symbols, Books, and Public Identity

Scientology’s most recognizable public symbols include the Scientology cross, images of L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics book covers, the E-Meter, and large Church buildings in major cities.

Important Scientology texts include Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, The Way to Happiness, and many lectures, bulletins, policy letters, and course materials by Hubbard.

Scientology Controversies and Public Debate

Scientology is one of the most debated modern religious movements. Supporters describe it as a practical religion that improves lives through auditing, study, ethics, and spiritual technology. Critics describe it as secretive, controlling, expensive, litigious, and harmful to some former members.

Major controversies include high financial costs for courses and auditing, legal disputes, treatment of critics, alleged pressure on members, the policy known as disconnection, allegations involving the Sea Org, and disagreements over whether Scientology should be treated as a religion, business, or high-control organization in different countries.

A fair article should not flatten Scientology into either propaganda or mockery. It is a real religious movement for adherents and a serious object of criticism from former members, journalists, scholars, courts, and governments.

The Church of Scientology’s Celebrity Centre in Hollywood reflects Scientology’s long-standing connection with entertainment, public image, and institutional visibility.