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Glite Dictionary
Church of Scientology

Church of Scientology

4 7.9
A religious group that teaches people to improve their spirit and overcome past problems
  • noun
  • /tʃɜrʧ əv saɪənˈtɑlədʒi/
translation icon : Iglesia de la Cienciología
  • Look inside the Church of Scientology's massive new studio and media complex.

It's like being a a top level executive in the Church of Scientology and being a scientological scholar, right?

Examples

  • Founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology advances the belief that humans are naturally good, nonmaterial spiritual beings.

    Academic text (2004)

  • A lot of people have become members of the Church of Scientology and are happy enough with it.

    Blog text (21)

  • The prosecutor had no choice but to drop the case against the Church of Scientology.

    Blog text (8)

  • Actress Kirstie Alley was raised Methodist but is now a practicing member of the Church of Scientology.

    Blog text (12)

  • His parents were important members of the Church of Scientology in Britain, although he himself is no longer a member.

  • Astra Woodcraft, apostate and defector, is the latest enemy of the Church of Scientology.

Synonyms

Scientology
vsChurch of Scientology
9.0

A religion that teaches people to use spiritual help to overcome past painful experiences

is described as a religious movement highlighting self-knowledge and spiritual growth

Surface Forms

Church of Scientology singular
Churches of Scientology plural

Morphology

church + of + Scientology

The meaning is directly compositional: 'church' + 'of' + the proper noun 'Scientology' denotes the religious organization associated with Scientology. This follows a common cross-linguistic naming pattern (e.g. 'Church of X'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Church of Scientology was named by L. Ron Hubbard in 1955; he made the word Scientology from science and the idea of study, so it meant a 'study of knowledge or the mind'. That's why the name fits today: the church teaches methods to help people understand themselves and grow.