How Many Scientologists Are There Really?

A Christian’s Guide to Scientology: Answering Your Toughest Questions

In a world filled with competing voices and spiritual claims, it is natural for a follower of Christ to feel a sense of curiosity, and perhaps concern, about groups like the Church of Scientology. You may have seen their polished commercials during the Super Bowl, read an interview with a famous celebrity member, or perhaps you know someone personally who has become involved. These encounters often leave us with more questions than answers. What do they really believe? How many people are actually involved? And most importantly, how does it stand in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

This guide is written for you—the concerned parent, the caring the faithful pastor, and the curious Christian. Our purpose is not to sensationalize or attack, but to walk together through the facts with compassion and clarity. We will look at the evidence, compare the teachings, and uncover the truth, all through the lens of biblical faith. Our prayer is that this article will equip you with the understanding needed to “make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

What Is Scientology and What Do Its Followers Believe?

To understand Scientology, we must first look to its creator, a prolific science fiction author named L. Ron Hubbard.¹ In 1950, Hubbard published a book that would become the foundation of his movement:

Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.² Initially presented as a form of therapy or self-help, Dianetics promised to cure people of their anxieties and irrational behaviors. A few years later, between 1952 and 1954, Hubbard expanded these ideas into what he called an “applied religious philosophy,” and the Church of Scientology was born.³

The path into Scientology often begins not with overtly religious concepts, but with promises of self-improvement and mental wellness that can appeal to anyone seeking answers in a confusing world. This structure effectively presents a secular-sounding therapy at the entrance, while reserving its more unusual, science-fiction-based doctrines for those who become deeply invested.

The Founder and His Book

At its core, Scientology is built entirely upon the writings and lectures of L. Ron Hubbard. His works are considered the exclusive and perfect scripture of the religion; no alteration or independent interpretation is permitted.⁴ This complete reliance on one man’s teachings is a critical first point of understanding.

Core Beliefs for Beginners

For those new to Scientology, the teachings are presented through a unique vocabulary and a series of foundational concepts designed to address personal problems.

• Thetans: Scientology teaches that human beings are not their bodies or their minds. Instead, they are immortal spiritual beings called “thetans”.² According to Hubbard, you 

  are a thetan, a being with unlimited potential that has forgotten its true, god-like nature over countless lifetimes.¹

• Engrams and the Reactive Mind: The source of human suffering, according to Scientology, is not sin, but traumatic memories called “engrams.” These are painful or unconscious moments from this life and past lives that are stored in a part of the mind called the “reactive mind.” These engrams are said to cause all manner of irrational thoughts, fears, and psychosomatic illnesses.⁶
• Auditing and the E-Meter: The central practice of Scientology is a form of one-on-one counseling called “auditing”.² During a session, a trained “auditor” asks a series of specific questions to help a person locate and confront their engrams, with the goal of erasing their negative effects.⁵ These sessions utilize a device called an electropsychometer, or “E-meter,” which measures tiny electrical changes in the skin. Scientologists believe the E-meter helps the auditor pinpoint areas of spiritual distress.⁷
• The Bridge to Total Freedom: A Scientologist’s spiritual journey is mapped out on a chart called “The Bridge to Total Freedom.” This is a long, hierarchical path consisting of numerous courses and auditing levels.² The first major goal is to reach the state of “Clear,” where one is supposedly free from the influence of their own reactive mind. From there, they progress through the advanced “Operating Thetan” (OT) levels, where they are promised the return of their original, god-like abilities, including the power to control life, matter, energy, space, and time.¹

Secret, Higher-Level Beliefs

One of the most controversial aspects of Scientology is that its full cosmology is kept secret from all but the most advanced members.⁴ After investing years of their lives and often hundreds of thousands of dollars, members who reach the level of “Operating Thetan III” are finally given the hidden creation story.

This story involves a galactic ruler named Xenu who, 75 million years ago, sought to solve an overpopulation problem in his confederation of planets.⁴ He transported billions of his people to Earth (then called Teegeeack), stacked them around volcanoes, and destroyed them with hydrogen bombs. The traumatized souls of these murdered aliens, known as “Body Thetans,” were then captured, brainwashed with false pictures (including the images of God, Christ, and the Devil), and released. According to this doctrine, these disembodied Body Thetans now cluster around modern humans, attaching to them and causing all the spiritual and emotional problems that Scientology auditing is meant to remove.⁴

This strategic concealment of core doctrine is fundamental to how the organization operates. It draws people in with practical promises of a better life, using a pseudo-scientific framework that appears logical and therapeutic. Only after individuals are deeply committed, both financially and socially, are they introduced to the foundational mythology that would likely have been a major barrier to entry at the beginning. This creates a system where the product advertised is vastly different from the one ultimately delivered.

How Many Scientologists Are Really in the World Today?

A central question for anyone trying to understand the scope and influence of Scientology is its size. The answer reveals a powerful and deliberate gap between the image the organization projects and the reality confirmed by independent data. This discrepancy is not just a matter of numbers; it speaks directly to the character and integrity of the organization itself.

The Official Claim: “Millions of Members”

For decades, the Church of Scientology has publicly claimed to have millions of members around the globe. In press releases, advertisements, and official statements, figures ranging from 6 million to 8 million, and even 10 million, have been consistently promoted.¹⁰ In 2007, an official claimed 3.⁵ million members in the United States alone.¹³ These large numbers are used to present Scientology as a major, thriving world religion.

The Reality: Independent Research and Ex-Member Estimates

In stark contrast to these claims, virtually every independent source places the number of active, dedicated Scientologists at a tiny fraction of the official figure.

• Scholarly Estimates: Researchers and scholars who study new religious movements consistently estimate the number of active adherents in the United States to be around 25,000, and the worldwide total to be between 20,000 and 50,000 at most.⁴
• Ex-Member Testimony: High-ranking former Scientologists, who had access to internal statistics, corroborate these lower numbers. Mike Rinder and Jeff Hawkins, both former senior executives, estimate the number of active members worldwide is around 20,000.¹⁷ Another former staffer who worked in the central marketing unit estimated a maximum of 40,000 worldwide, based on international event attendance and participation in services.¹⁸

The Evidence: Government Census Data

The most compelling evidence comes from official government census data in various Western nations, where citizens self-report their religious affiliation. These figures are not estimates; they are direct counts.

• United States: A 2008 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) estimated there were about 25,000 Americans who would identify as Scientologists.¹⁹
• United Kingdom: The 2021 UK census recorded only 1,844 people identifying as Scientologists in England and Wales, a decline of nearly 25% from the 2,418 recorded in 2011.²¹ This is despite the church claiming 118,000 members in the UK.²⁰
• Canada: The 2011 national census reported a total of 1,745 Scientologists across the entire country.¹⁹
• Australia: The 2016 census found only 1,681 Scientologists, down from previous years.²⁰ An earlier claim by the church of having a quarter of a million members there was shown to be off by a factor of about 100.²⁰

Even internal documents tell a different story. A leaked 1987 publication from the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) celebrated a total membership of just over 40,000 at a time when the church was publicly claiming 6 million members.¹⁸

Table 1: Scientology Membership: Official Claims vs. Reality

The systematic and massive inflation of these numbers appears to be a core operational strategy. This is not a simple marketing exaggeration but a calculated deception. Externally, claiming millions of members helps in legal battles, in lobbying governments for religious recognition and tax-exempt status, and in intimidating media outlets from publishing critical stories.²² A movement of 25,000 can be dismissed as a fringe group; a religion of “millions” demands to be taken seriously.

Internally, this grand narrative is crucial for morale. Members are told they are part of a powerful, rapidly expanding movement that is “clearing the planet” and saving humanity.⁸ This vision helps to justify the immense personal and financial sacrifices demanded of them. To admit the truth—that the group is small, and in many places shrinking—would risk a catastrophic crisis of faith among its followers. The inflated number is a necessary fiction for the organization’s survival.

What Are the Financial Costs of Being a Scientologist?

One of the most deeply troubling aspects of Scientology is its financial structure, which stands in stark contrast to the Christian understanding of grace. In Scientology, spiritual progress is not a gift; it is a commodity to be purchased, often at an astonishingly high price.

Salvation for Sale

The entire path of a Scientologist, “The Bridge to Total Freedom,” is a price list. Every course, every book, and every hour of auditing comes with a fixed “donation” that is, in practice, a required fee.³

• A single hour of auditing can cost anywhere from $800 to over $1,000.³
• A 12.5-hour package of auditing, called an “intensive,” can cost $12,500.³¹
• The total cost to complete the entire Bridge and reach the highest levels is estimated to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single individual.³

Constant Pressure to Pay

This system is driven by an ethos of aggressive fundraising established by L. Ron Hubbard himself, whose policy letters urged staff to “MAKE MONEY. MAKE MORE MONEY”.³² This translates into relentless pressure on members to pay for the next course or auditing package. Numerous accounts from former members describe being pushed to run up massive credit card debt, take out second mortgages on their homes, and liquidate their life savings to continue their progress on The Bridge.³¹ This has led to widespread accusations of exploitation, with the organization generating an estimated annual revenue of between $150 million and $500 million from its relatively small membership base.³

The Contrast with Christian Grace

For a Christian, this model is the spiritual opposite of the Gospel. The Bible’s message is that salvation is a free gift, offered “without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). While Christians are called to be generous in their giving to support the work of the this giving is a joyful and voluntary response to the grace they have already received through faith in Christ. It is not a transaction to earn or purchase God’s favor.

In Scientology, the financial transaction is not just a support activity; it is the central sacrament. The act of paying for services is the primary expression of commitment and the only mechanism for spiritual advancement. This commodification of salvation creates a powerful psychological and spiritual trap. To stop paying is to abandon one’s own salvation. To question the cost is to question the entire belief system. The financial entanglement is inseparable from the spiritual entanglement.

What Can We Learn from Christians Who Have Left Scientology?

Amid the troubling facts and dark policies, there is a powerful message of hope. It is found in the stories of those who have journeyed into the depths of Scientology and, by God’s grace, found their way out and into a true, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.

A Journey from Self-Salvation to Grace

The testimony of Dr. Michael J. Svigel, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, provides a compelling example of this journey.⁴⁴ Like many who are drawn to Scientology, he was driven by a sincere spiritual hunger and a deep sense of personal brokenness. He found Scientology’s promises of answers and self-empowerment appealing. But his journey took a dramatic turn when he encountered a book that exposed the dark, hidden side of L. Ron Hubbard. This created a crisis of faith in the system he had embraced.

Disillusioned and confused, he remembered the words of a Christian teacher who had warned him this day would come. He reached out, and for the first time, he truly heard the gospel of grace. He moved from a system that demanded he save himself through endless work and payment, to a Savior who had already paid the ultimate price for him on the cross. His story, and others like it, highlights a powerful contrast between the constant striving and anxiety within Scientology and the “perfect peace” that comes from resting in the finished work of Christ.⁴⁵

A Call to Compassion and Prayer

The stories of those who have left Scientology should move our hearts not to anger or contempt, but to compassion. The people still inside are not our enemies. They are men and women, made in the image of God, who are spiritually lost and have been captured by a deceptive system that preys on their deepest needs and hopes.

Our response as Christians should be twofold. We must be grounded in the truth of God’s Word, able to discern falsehood and stand firm in our faith. We must be filled with the love of Christ for those who are lost. We can pray for them, that God would open their eyes to the truth. We can follow the example of those who have been effective witnesses, being ready to befriend those involved without compromising our own faith, and offering a safe and loving landing place for those who find the courage to leave.³⁷ Just as a kind teacher was there for Michael Svigel, we can be there for someone else, ready to share the simple, powerful, and truly liberating news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.