---
category: Private Organization
created: 2025-07-22
description: Scientology is a body of beliefs and practices invented by American author
  L. Ron Hubbard, often described as a cult or a new religious movement.
location: Clearwater, Florida
start: 1954
summary: Scientology is a controversial religious movement founded by L. Ron Hubbard
  whose relevance to this vault lies in the fact that several key figures in the early
  SRI remote viewing program - including Hal Puthoff, Ingo Swann, and Pat Price -
  were former members.
tags:
- organization
- religion
- philosophy
title: Scientology
updated: 2025-07-22
---

[Scientology](/organizations/scientology/) is a body of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard. In the context of the [Stargate Project](/programs/stargate-project/), several key figures involved in the early remote viewing research at [SRI](/organizations/stanford-research-institute/) were former members of Scientology, including [Hal Puthoff](/people/hal-puthoff/), [Ingo Swann](/people/ingo-swann/), and [Pat Price](/people/pat-price/). This connection has led to speculation about the possible influence of Scientology's practices and theories on the development of early remote viewing protocols.[^1]

---

[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997.