At the heart of Scientology’s teachings is the belief that humans are immortal spiritual beings called “thetans” who inhabit physical bodies. According to the faith, thetans have lived through countless past lives, and after death, they are reincarnated into new bodies.
These core ideas — including the process of “auditing” to clear the mind of traumatic past experiences — form the central practice of the religion. Despite being followed by many, the teachings have also attracted criticism for their secretive nature and costly progression system.
Leah Remini vs Church of Scientology
In August 2023, actress Leah Remini, a former Scientologist turned vocal critic, filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige.
The King of Queens actor joined the Church of Scientology as a child in 1979 but left more than three decades later.
Remini criticized the organization for serious abuses of power.
In 2016, she released the documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which she produced and co-created. The series won three Emmy Awards.
