WASHINGTON — Most Americans do not believe Scientology is a real religion, according to a recent poll by “60 Minutes” and Vanity Fair. The survey, conducted by CBS News, found that 70 percent of Americans say that Scientology is not a true religion; 13 percent believe it is; and 18 percent either do not know or do not care.
Out of the more than 1,000 people polled, Christian Americans were even more likely to question Scientology’s status as a religion — 79 percent of evangelicals, 74 percent of Protestants and 72 percent of Catholics surveyed responded they did not think Scientology was a religion.
L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author, established Scientology in 1952, and the Church of Scientology has been acknowledged as a religion in the United States since 1993. Scientology is known for its celebrity followers such as actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
It is not certain how many people practice Scientology in the U.S., but the church’s website claims growth of more than 4.4 million adherents each year.
Share with others: