68 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 10, 2019
groups.103 However, in terms of consumer
choice, perhaps Scientology is overpriced in the
limited religious marketplace in Australia.
Conclusion
When Scientology opened its new regional base
in West Chatswood, Sydney, in September
2016,104 effectively for a relaunch of the brand,
it was hardly an “A-list” affair. While 2,500
reportedly attended the opening ceremony
conducted by David Miscavige, it was also
reported that “some claimed the church
struggled to fill the event, and was forced to fly
in members from Taiwan.”105 Interestingly,
while Scientology has been accused at times of
playing down the religious dimension when
convenient,106 the speakers at the event included
some religious scholars of religion, who endorse
the religious status of the organisation and in
one case dismissed concerns about Scientology
as “a lot of press beat-up.”107
Despite these supporters, media reports of the
opening were generally sceptical and critical.
Probable cause for this media scepticism is the
persistence of complaints about the organization
and controversy surrounding its activities.108
103 “Most organized religions have been riddled with
commercialism, this being an integral part of the drive by their
leaders for social authority and power” (Church of the New Faith
v. Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax [Victoria], p. 161).
104 Reportedly with the grandiose title “Ideal Advanced
Organization and Continental Base for Australia and the Asiatic
region” see A. Sharp, I. Walker, “The Church of Scientology buys
land in West Chatswood for $37 million to build new Australasian
headquarters,” The Sunday Telegraph, 1 November 2014,
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-church-of-
scientology-buys-land-in-west-chatswood-for-37-million-to-build-
new-australasian-headquarters/news-
story/3a478dbae4941ad1749b1c0686c60d74
105 E. Reynolds, “Sucked in by Scientology: Church’s relentless
contact,” The New Zealand Herald, 7 September 2016,
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=
11705306
106 S. Cannane, Fair Game, p. 142.
107 A. Klan, “Scientologists fight falling numbers with Asian HQ,”
The Australian, 10 September 2016,
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/scientologists-fight-
falling-numbers-with-asian-hq/news-story/
db80da8598c3de7943c92fea0c16c366
108 Recent controversy has involved Narconon, “an international
group inspired by the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron
Hubbard.” An investigation by the Victorian consumer affairs
agency, “triggered by complaints to the state’s Health Services
Commissioner, found there was a ‘lack of scientific methodology’
in the foundation’s [Get Off Drugs Naturally Foundation] claims.
As a result, the foundation will remove claims from its websites,
Indeed, it seems that Scientology will continue
to invite negative media scrutiny while it attracts
substantive complaints from former members109
and while it is perceived to behave in an
unacceptably aggressive manner towards critics.
In addition, while associations in the media with
celebrity and the reporting of sometimes
successful lobbying campaigns might provide
some superficial attraction, it would seem that
after consideration, and before commitment,
many potential recruits probably come to the
conclusion that there is something “not quite
right” about the organization.110
While there are suggestions by some scholars of
religion that on balance, the stream of
information emanating from media sources is
unfavourable and unfair to Scientology, these
suggestions are questionable, and any links to
recruitment are speculative at best. Nevertheless,
some scholars would like to limit media
criticism of what they tend to see as another
persecuted new religious movement, through the
implementation of religious vilification laws, or
by “educating” reporters, but these attempts to
impose restraints on free speech and to
monopolize narratives should be viewed with
great caution.
Caution is warranted not only because of the
divided, contested nature of scholarly opinion
but because of the disparity in power between
the organization and many complainants, the
litigious propensity of Scientology,111 and the
pay a fine of $3,000 and publish information about the
undertaking” (M. Johnston, A. White, “Scientology-inspired drug
rehabilitation clinic under fire over cure claims,” Herald Sun, 11
May 2015, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/
scientologyinspired-drug-rehabilitation-clinic-under-fire-over-
cure-claims/news-story/b8bfb110d2f44799e75c093f8ec63c2c)
109 See e.g. G. Fernando, “Steve Cannane’s book reveals disturbing
new claims about the Church of Scientology,”
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/wtf/steve-cannanes-
book-reveals-disturbing-new-claims-about-the-church-of-
scientology/news-story/dfe8c28a7153e5c96360b29b2b70adfe (28
September 2016).
110 Another stream of information, the propaganda (or
proselytizing) material distributed by the organization, might also
be off-putting to potential recruits, particularly Scientology
produced magazines such as Freedom, which in tone can at times
be quite confronting.
111 In a relatively recent example Scientology used a high powered
legal firm to send a legal letter threatening to sue and seek punitive
damages from an Australian volunteer cult victim group for
publishing a brochure allegedly labelling the group a “cult” see M.
groups.103 However, in terms of consumer
choice, perhaps Scientology is overpriced in the
limited religious marketplace in Australia.
Conclusion
When Scientology opened its new regional base
in West Chatswood, Sydney, in September
2016,104 effectively for a relaunch of the brand,
it was hardly an “A-list” affair. While 2,500
reportedly attended the opening ceremony
conducted by David Miscavige, it was also
reported that “some claimed the church
struggled to fill the event, and was forced to fly
in members from Taiwan.”105 Interestingly,
while Scientology has been accused at times of
playing down the religious dimension when
convenient,106 the speakers at the event included
some religious scholars of religion, who endorse
the religious status of the organisation and in
one case dismissed concerns about Scientology
as “a lot of press beat-up.”107
Despite these supporters, media reports of the
opening were generally sceptical and critical.
Probable cause for this media scepticism is the
persistence of complaints about the organization
and controversy surrounding its activities.108
103 “Most organized religions have been riddled with
commercialism, this being an integral part of the drive by their
leaders for social authority and power” (Church of the New Faith
v. Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax [Victoria], p. 161).
104 Reportedly with the grandiose title “Ideal Advanced
Organization and Continental Base for Australia and the Asiatic
region” see A. Sharp, I. Walker, “The Church of Scientology buys
land in West Chatswood for $37 million to build new Australasian
headquarters,” The Sunday Telegraph, 1 November 2014,
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-church-of-
scientology-buys-land-in-west-chatswood-for-37-million-to-build-
new-australasian-headquarters/news-
story/3a478dbae4941ad1749b1c0686c60d74
105 E. Reynolds, “Sucked in by Scientology: Church’s relentless
contact,” The New Zealand Herald, 7 September 2016,
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=
11705306
106 S. Cannane, Fair Game, p. 142.
107 A. Klan, “Scientologists fight falling numbers with Asian HQ,”
The Australian, 10 September 2016,
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/scientologists-fight-
falling-numbers-with-asian-hq/news-story/
db80da8598c3de7943c92fea0c16c366
108 Recent controversy has involved Narconon, “an international
group inspired by the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron
Hubbard.” An investigation by the Victorian consumer affairs
agency, “triggered by complaints to the state’s Health Services
Commissioner, found there was a ‘lack of scientific methodology’
in the foundation’s [Get Off Drugs Naturally Foundation] claims.
As a result, the foundation will remove claims from its websites,
Indeed, it seems that Scientology will continue
to invite negative media scrutiny while it attracts
substantive complaints from former members109
and while it is perceived to behave in an
unacceptably aggressive manner towards critics.
In addition, while associations in the media with
celebrity and the reporting of sometimes
successful lobbying campaigns might provide
some superficial attraction, it would seem that
after consideration, and before commitment,
many potential recruits probably come to the
conclusion that there is something “not quite
right” about the organization.110
While there are suggestions by some scholars of
religion that on balance, the stream of
information emanating from media sources is
unfavourable and unfair to Scientology, these
suggestions are questionable, and any links to
recruitment are speculative at best. Nevertheless,
some scholars would like to limit media
criticism of what they tend to see as another
persecuted new religious movement, through the
implementation of religious vilification laws, or
by “educating” reporters, but these attempts to
impose restraints on free speech and to
monopolize narratives should be viewed with
great caution.
Caution is warranted not only because of the
divided, contested nature of scholarly opinion
but because of the disparity in power between
the organization and many complainants, the
litigious propensity of Scientology,111 and the
pay a fine of $3,000 and publish information about the
undertaking” (M. Johnston, A. White, “Scientology-inspired drug
rehabilitation clinic under fire over cure claims,” Herald Sun, 11
May 2015, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/
scientologyinspired-drug-rehabilitation-clinic-under-fire-over-
cure-claims/news-story/b8bfb110d2f44799e75c093f8ec63c2c)
109 See e.g. G. Fernando, “Steve Cannane’s book reveals disturbing
new claims about the Church of Scientology,”
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/wtf/steve-cannanes-
book-reveals-disturbing-new-claims-about-the-church-of-
scientology/news-story/dfe8c28a7153e5c96360b29b2b70adfe (28
September 2016).
110 Another stream of information, the propaganda (or
proselytizing) material distributed by the organization, might also
be off-putting to potential recruits, particularly Scientology
produced magazines such as Freedom, which in tone can at times
be quite confronting.
111 In a relatively recent example Scientology used a high powered
legal firm to send a legal letter threatening to sue and seek punitive
damages from an Australian volunteer cult victim group for
publishing a brochure allegedly labelling the group a “cult” see M.
