Scientology Comes to Seminole Heights

Reportedly the Church of Scientology is moving into the former appliance store at Nebraska and Louisiana. This property is or was owned by Phil Alessi of Alessi's Bakery. (Update: They moved into the 2 story residence just behind the store, at 902 Louisiana)

"Yesterday they were fixing it up. . . . .(One resident) could not even drive down the street to get home. He and (another resident) received brochures on their porch announcing the opening of a mission and welcoming everyone to services! "

This follows their move into West Tampa, Ybor and Plant City.

Scientology was started by L. Ron Hubbard. You might know of him, because a movie, Battlefield Earth, was made out of his book, starring Scientologist John Travolta.

I grew up in Clearwater at the time when the Scientologists came in there.

More on Scientology in Wikipedia.

"Scientology's doctrines were established by Hubbard over a period of about 34 years, beginning in 1952 and continuing until his death in January 1986. Most of the basic principles of the Church were set out during the 1950s and 1960s. Scientology followed on the heels of Dianetics, an earlier system of self-improvement techniques laid out by Hubbard in his 1950 book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. By the mid-1950s, Hubbard had relegated Dianetics to a subfield of Scientology. [citation needed] The Church says that Scientology is concerned with "the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life," [11] but they say that Dianetics is only concerned about getting rid of the reactive mind.[12] Scientology also covers topics such as ethics and morality (The Way to Happiness), drug and chemical residues as they relate to spiritual wellbeing (the Purification Rundown), communication, marriage, raising children, dealing with work-related problems, educational matters (study technology), and the very nature of life (The Dynamics)."

Scientology is very controversial.

"The controversial organization has attracted much criticism and distrust throughout the world because of its closed nature and strong-arm tactics in handling critics.[5] Lawmakers, including national governing bodies of several countries, have characterized the Church as an unscrupulous commercial organization, citing harassment of critics and exploitation of its members.[6] Scientology's principles have been characterized as pseudoscientific by scientists, medical doctors and psychotherapeutic practitioners. Although some religious scholars have deemed Scientology a religion [2] it has frequently been perceived as a cult and a pseudoreligion. [7]"