S.reuters.000 for a "contract" (no additional information on that one)." $5," according to the .C. but left before graduating to launch a career as a fiction writer gravitating toward science fictionAfter serving in World War II Hubbard published a series of articles and then a book on a what he described as a new approach to mental health which he called Dianetics His book by the same name The success provoked Hubbard to establish a foundation that began to train people in his auditing techniques In 1954 the first Church of Scientology opened in Los Angeles with other churches opening soon after Hubbard died in 1986 The church is now Why is the church so controversialMany groups and individuals have challenged Scientology's legitimacy as a religionScientologists have faced opposition from the medical community over the religion's claims about mental health from the scientific community over its claims about its E-meters and from other religious groups about its status as a religion"It's part therapy part religion part UFO group" says Bromley "It's a mix of things that's unlike any other religious group out there"For a long time the Internal Revenue Service denied the Scientologists' attempts to be declared a church with tax-exempt status But the IRS granted them that status in 1993Many members say the church is largely about self-improvement "What I believe in my own life is that it's a search for how I can do things better whether it's being a better man or a better father or finding ways for myself to improve" Tom Cruisemagazine "Individuals have to decide what is true and real for them"What does Scientology teach about psychiatryL Ron Hubbard rejected psychiatry and psychiatric drugs because he said they interfered with the functioning of the rational mind Scientologists continue to promote that ideaThe Church of Scientology's website says that "the effects of medical and psychiatric drugs whether painkillers tranquilizers or 'antidepressants' are as disastrous" as illicit drugsHow many Scientologists are thereThat's a matter of considerable disputeThe Church of Scientology says it has 10000 churches missions and groups operating in 167 countries with 44 million more people signing up every yearScholars say that despite the global proliferation of church buildings the membership numbers are much lower than the church claims likely in the hundreds of thousands Some of the church's followers are celebrities and as a Jew,My hope is that no one in Boston is left intimidated by this attack. msnbc. left.