over Scientology's alleged abuse of its members and its tax-free status as a church. ]] Scientologists draw a distinction between the Church of Scientology and the beliefs and rituals of Scientology in that they believe that the action of the managers of the Church of Scientology should not affect the entire subject of Scientology. Indeed, there are those who utilize Scientology-based practices entirely outside the Church of Scientology (they affiliate under the name Free Zone), although the Church considers this an illegal use of Scientology materials. In the case of Scientology, however, boundaries between the organization and the religion are often unclear, as well as semantically problematic given the US trademark status of the term for religious goods and services. Some of the issues below relate to actions of Church leaders, some to L. Ron Hubbard's private behavior, and some to the sacred texts of Scientology written by Hubbard.
Related material is available in several other articles, including L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology beliefs and practices, Church of Scientology, Scientology and the legal system, and Scientology and psychiatry.
