Friday Release 'The Master': 15 facts about Scientology

New Delhi: Director Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master' is releasing in India this week. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams in the lead roles, and is said to be based on the practice of Scientology.

The custom of Scientology grabbed the headlines when the news of Tom Cruise's divorce with Katie Holmes broke out as many believed that Cruise's obsession with Scientology is the chief reason behind it.

Now, when PT Anderson is all set to thrill the audience with his take on Scientology, we have compiled a list of 15 lesser known facts about it.

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  Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. 202 students took part in the exam and only 24, (10 per cent) of them will be enrolled in Hubei Institute of fine Arts.

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  Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. The Hubei Institute of Fine Arts is regarded as one of the best and most selective academies of fine arts in China.

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  Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Its history dates back to 1920, making it the first private art school in modern China.

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  Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. As one of the three oldest art colleges, it is also one of the cradles of higher education of fine arts in modern China.

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  Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. It is located in Hubei Province's capital Wuhan, known as "the thoroughfare leading to nine provinces".

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  Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. In the mid-1930s, the college reached the heyday in terms of size, talent training and academic achievements, and became one of the most important art education bases in China.

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The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by some followers of a science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.

On its website, the description of Scientology says the cult 'follows a long tradition of religious practice. Its roots lie in the deepest beliefs and aspirations of all great religions, thus encompassing a religious heritage as old and as varied as Man himself.'

According to the website www.scientology.org, Scientology is developed by L Ron Hubbard, and is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature and one's relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being.

Hubbard was an American science fiction writer who developed a self-help system called Dianetics. The Church of Scientology was founded on a set of doctrines and rituals he developed as part of a new religious movement.

Tom Cruise became a Scientologist in 1990 when he was married to his first wife, Mimi Rogers.

Jennifer Lopez's commitment to Scientology was reportedly a bone of contention between the singer and her husband, Marc Anthony.

Vanity Fair's special correspondent Maureen Orth said that in 2004 Scientology embarked on a top-secret project headed by Shelly Miscavige, wife of Scientology chief David Miscavige, which involved finding a girlfriend for Tom Cruise.

Once there were rumours that Tom Cruise signed a billion-year contract of service with the Church of Scientology to protect humanity from aliens. This revelation was made in a book.

Scientology means 'knowing how to know.'

In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith.

The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954, by some followers of a science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.

At 74, L Ron Hubbard died in 1986. David Miscavige became the new Scientology chief at the age of 25.

After several years, when Tom Cruise married Katie Holmes, David Miscavige was his best man.

Many people who cut their connection with Scientology later claimed that David Miscavige has a volatile temper, however the organisation denied it.

Scientology has a good impact among Hollywood celebrities. Once, actress Anne Archer credited Scientology for her personal and professional success.

Hubbard used a device called Electropsychometer to read a person's mind. The process was called auditing.

Dianetics is the self help system used by the followers of Scientology.

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