Timeline of Scientology


This is a Timeline of Scientology and its forerunner Dianetics, particularly its foundation and development by author L. Ron Hubbard as well as general publications, articles, books and other milestones.

1938

  • L. Ron Hubbard authors a manuscript called Excalibur which contains ideas incorporated into Dianetics and, later, Scientology.

    1949

  • First published work on Dianetics appeared in the Winter/Spring issue of The Explorers 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.

    1950s

1950

  • April: Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation formed by Hubbard and John W. Campbell.
  • May: Dianetics: Evolution of a Science was published in Astounding Science Fiction, whose editor was John W. Campbell, an early Dianetics enthusiast.
  • May 9: Book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health published.
  • June: Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation established in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
  • August: Hubbard held a failed demonstration to a Los Angeles audience where he unsuccessfully presented a young woman as the world's first Dianetics Clear.
  • October: Medical doctor and Dianetics enthusiast Joseph A. Winter resigns from HDRF over the issue of past lives.

    1951

  • Joseph A. Winter's book A Doctor's Report on Dianetics is published.
  • January: HDRF accused of "operating a school for treatment of disease without a license" in New Jersey.
  • August: Science of Survival book is published.
  • Hubbard begins using E-Meter.

    1952

  • February: 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.
  • May: Hubbard publicly announces the formal establishment of the philosophy of Scientology and the formation of the Hubbard Association of Scientologists, demonstrates the E-meter, and moves to Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is considered the "birthplace of Scientology."
  • July: What to Audit is published.
  • September: Early Dianetics supporter Joseph Winter M.D. breaks with Hubbard, convinced "that it is dangerous for laymen to try to audit each other".

    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 Barbara Bryan. Named as trustees of the Church of Scientology were L. Ron Hubbard, Mary Sue Hubbard, and John Galusha.

    1954

  • February 18: First incorporation of a Church of Scientology in California.
  • December 24: Hubbard announced Scientology is a religion.

    1955

  • April: The Hubbard Association of Scientologists International holds the First Australian Scientology Congress in Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
  • July: The Founding Church of Scientology was organized in Washington, D.C.

    1956

  • Publication of ''Fundamentals of Thought''

    1957

  • The Internal Revenue Service grants a tax exemption to the Church of Scientology of California.

    1959

  • Hubbard moved to England and bought Saint Hill Manor in Sussex, from which he would direct international operations and expansion until 1967.
  • Ronald DeWolf, aka "Nibs", Hubbard's oldest son leaves Scientology.

    1960s

1960

  • April 30: David Miscavige is born.

    1963

  • January 4: The US Food and Drug Administration raided the Founding Church of Scientology and seized approximately 100 of their 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".

    1965

  • The Church of Scientology was banned in several Australian states, starting with Victoria. The ban was based on the Anderson Report, which found that the auditing process involved "command" hypnosis, in which the hypnotist assumes "positive authoritative control" over the patient."
  • Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart released in East Grinstead, United Kingdom

    1966

  • British inquiry starts, which led to the Foster Report.
  • Narconon program founded.
  • Guardian's Office founded.
  • August 1966 - OT I released.
  • September 1966 - OT II released.
  • John McMaster announced as first true clear.

    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.
  • The Sea Organization officially established.

    1968

  • January 1: 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.
  • Introduction to Scientology Ethics is published.
  • August 1968 – Freedom Magazine Founded by Church of Scientology.
  • OT IV, V and VI released.

    1969

  • FDA wins decision ordering destruction of E-meters seized in 1963. The U.S. court of appeals reversed on appeal recognizing e-meters as a "religious artefact" as long as they're labelled as ineffective in treating illness.
  • Standard Dianetics released.
  • Citizens Commission on Human Rights founded in the United States.
  • South African government starts a Commission of Inquiry into Scientology.

    1970s

1970

  • OT VII released.
  • February 22: Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles founded.
  • Criminon founded.
  • November: Hubbard begins delivery of Flag Executive Briefing Course
  • Personal Spiritual Freedoms Foundation – later called Dianology and then Eductivism, established by Jack Horner
  • Scientology: The Now Religion published by journalist George Malko

    1971

  • June 25: Suspicious death of Susan Meister aboard the Apollo.
  • The FDA is ordered to return the materials and E-meters seized during the 1963 raid.
  • Foster Report is published.
  • Paulette Cooper publishes her book The Scandal of Scientology.

    1972

  • Applied Scholastics founded.

    1973

  • Rehabilitation Project Force established.
  • FDA returns seized materials.

    1974

  • January 23, 1974 – Introspection Rundown released.

    1975

  • Scientologists buy former Fort Harrison Hotel and old Bank of Clearwater.
  • Relocated Flag management from sea to Clearwater.
  • 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.

    1976

  • Suicide of Quentin Hubbard.

    1977

  • July 7: Various locations of the Church of Scientology are raided by the FBI.

    1978

  • New Era Dianetics released.
  • New OT V released.
  • Gilman Hot Springs property purchased.
  • Hubbard writes training films.

    1979

  • As a result of FBI raids, eleven senior staff of the Guardian's Office were convicted of obstructing justice, burglary of government offices, and theft of documents and government property.
  • March: Hubbard Mark VI E-meter released.
  • December: An estimated 3,000 gather at Clearwater City Hall to protest the Church of Scientology coming to Clearwater. Across the street, Scientologists stage a counter rally, dressed as clowns and wearing animal costumes.
  • December: Purification Rundown released.

    1980s

1980

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.
  • September – Streamlined Bridge to Total Freedom released.