Does Scientology have a "Pope" or Head Guy?

[NAO]

Do they have some kind of Apostolic Succession like the xtians? Even the Mormons have a "Prophet" who is the human head of the church.

Do Scientologists have a Leader? Is he the successor to L. Ron Hubbard? Is his identity secret?

[Dogmudgeon]

1. David Miscavige

He's the head of the Religious Technology Corporation.

When Ron Hubbard died, he passed the power on to a couple, Pat and Anne Broecker, but Miscavige got them bounced out on "ethics violations". He and his cronies then took over and kicked out nearly all of the older staff and Hubbard's old friends. It was basically a coup. And although Hubbard had never been exactly democratic, the new regime was far more oppressive.

Most of the books about Scientology published after LRH's death go into some detail about this.

--p!

[madrchsod]

4. i just saw his little creepy face tonight!

he`s the guy who gave tommy boy a brand new gold medal for being the best little believer in the world. there are two other guys that are in line for his job and they usually stand by him at the conventions. these people really creep me out...

[Lexingtonian]

2. you're asking about David Miscavige

Who was, indeed, L. Ron Hubbard's best and truest acolyte. Yes, he has some sort of nominal corporate title of the shell corporation (RTC, iirc) that owns the corporation (CST) that owns the copyrights of Hubbard's writings and other materials.

I haven't followed the Scientology story for a couple of years, though the raid on Dennis Ehrlich was what got me started in Net-based activism. It was quite the lesson in civil rights law and corporate law.

There is an internal Scientology hierarchy based on the 'levels' and such, but at the top it's essentially about fealties and nepotism and surviving internal "ethics" purges (or rather, manipulating them to knock out your rivals).

It was good fun following the story for a couple of years on A.R.S. and figuring out what Scientology really is. Then it seemed the whole thing was in decline and going to fade out. But John Travolta and Tom Cruise have, unfortunately, partially revived it recently.

[VPStoltz]

3. Yes, but it lives on some far flung planet.

[Vexatious Ape]

5. Silly ass memes.

I'll never be able to figure out how seemingly normal people can allow religious/cultist memes into their head. It's understandable when people have it shoved down their necks by their parents when they're young and don't know any better but......

[NAO]

6. Is that Xenu from Tegiack?

[madeline_con]

7. L. Ron Hubbard

Isn't it?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. Give me $10,000 and we'll tell you n/t

[BayCityProgressive]

9. Okay coming from someone

who believes in a god or universal spirit...how does scientology rank as a cult but not Jehovah Witnesses, Jews, Catholics, Muslims, or Mormons???? I mean of course it has waaaay out there stories but so does every single other religion..I have not looked into scientology so I can say absolutely nothing about it...I am just wondering. I am a Kabbalist...Kabbalism is not a religion but more of a compliment of whatever religion you may be. Lately the Kabbalah has been a very controversal thing so I just kind of feel sad for people who are ridiculed for their beliefs.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

10. Most European countries consider Scientology

to be an organisation responsible for fraud, kidnapping and brainwashing. It's no different to gangsterism.