The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard, a former science fiction writer. The organization doesn't present itself as a religion, but as a technology that leads people to true spiritual release and freedom.
Scientology does not emphasize particular beliefs about God or other traditional religious topics, yet it calls itself the "Church" of Scientology and presents many of its teachings in spiritual and religious terms.
Scientology has attracted several high-profile celebrities, most famously Tom Cruise and John Travolta, but is also highly controversial, with some regarding it as a dangerous religious cult or deceptive financial scam.