There's a very interesting site about Scientology that was created by a group called CESNUR - Center for Studies on New Religions. It has documents and articles that give a good perspective on how Scientologists have had to defend their right to practice their religion. It has not been that unusual for new religions to run into intolerance in the past. Mormonism, Quakers, even Christianity had to contend with alarming false reports about them that turned people against them when they were new. But now we have instant global communication and access to the enormous amounts of information, so there is the potential to overcome this tendancy.

Another interesting page about Scientology is by by Jack Nation, ThM, Pastor . He gives a pretty balanced statement about the Scientology religion.

Also a bibiography that apprears in the Marburg Journal of Religion about Scientology, compiled by by Marco Frenschkowski lists out the primary references on Scientology, most of which can be found in libraries, and all of which can be ordered online through the official site of the Church of Scientology. The best way to understand what people really believe and do is to read the texts that comprise the basis of their religious philosophy.