Country United States Publication date August 2000 Pages 80 Genre Non-fiction Subject Church of Scientology | Language English Media type Print (Paperback Originally published August 2000 Page count 80 Publisher Signature Books | |
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Series Studies in Contemporary Religions Similar J Gordon Melton books, Scientology books | ||
The Church of Scientology is a 2000 book about the Church of Scientology by religious scholar J. Gordon Melton. It is the first of a series of books on new religious movements published by the Center for Studies on New Religions.
Contents
Summary
Melton deals with the history and development of Scientology, covering such matters as church's structure and organization, ethics, and nonprofit initiatives. He also deals with the church's views regarding religious freedom and human rights, as well as its members efforts to win their own religious freedom and human rights. He also deals with the question the Church itself has often been asked, whether it does qualify as a religion.
Reception
The book was well-received on publication. Derek Davis in the Journal of Church and State said "Few books pack as much information into so little space." Catherine Ritchie in Library Journal called it a brief, well-balanced guide to the controversial movement, and a good choice for public libraries. Jana Riess in Publishers Weekly said it was a rare, welcome impartial treatment of the subject by an outsider and that it did an admirable job covering the bases and showing the views of both the Church and its detractors.