Free Zone (Scientology)

Free Zone, Freezone, and Independent Scientology are umbrella terms for the groups, organizations, and individuals who practice Scientology beliefs and practices independently of the Church of Scientology (COS).^[1] Such practitioners range from those who closely adhere to the original teachings of Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard, to those who have adapted practices far from COS beliefs and practices.

The International Freezone Association, the group whose name became adopted as a generic term for independent Scientology, was not the first independent Scientologist group; the California Association of Dianetic Auditors, the oldest breakaway group still in existence,^[2] claims a founding date of December 1950, predating the Church of Scientology itself.^[3]

Skeptic Magazine described the Free Zone as: "a group founded by ex-Scientologists to promote L. Ron Hubbard's ideas independent of the Church of Scientology".^[4] A Miami Herald article wrote that ex-Scientologists joined the Free Zone because they felt that Church of Scientology leadership had "strayed from Hubbard's original teachings".^[5]

^ Cite error: The named reference grossman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (June 29, 1990). "When the Doctrine Leaves the Church". Los Angeles Times. p. A49:1. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
^ "California Association of Dianetic Auditors -- Who We Are". Retrieved April 14, 2007.
^ Lippard, Jim; Jacobsen, Jeff (1995). "Scientology v. the Internet. Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway". Skeptic Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 3. pp. 35–41.
^ Alter, Alexandra (July 2, 2005). "Scientology: What's behind the Hollywood hype?". Miami Herald. pp. 8E – via newspapers.com. Some followers of Scientology say the church leadership has strayed from Hubbard's original teachings. Many belong to the Free Zone, a group of Scientologists who believe in the religion's practices but not the organization.

[grossman-1] Cite error: The named reference grossman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Doctrine-2] Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (June 29, 1990). "When the Doctrine Leaves the Church". Los Angeles Times. p. A49:1. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2007.

[3] "California Association of Dianetic Auditors -- Who We Are". Retrieved April 14, 2007.

[4] Lippard, Jim; Jacobsen, Jeff (1995). "Scientology v. the Internet. Free Speech & Copyright Infringement on the Information Super-Highway". Skeptic Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 3. pp. 35–41.

[5] Alter, Alexandra (July 2, 2005). "Scientology: What's behind the Hollywood hype?". Miami Herald. pp. 8E – via newspapers.com. Some followers of Scientology say the church leadership has strayed from Hubbard's original teachings. Many belong to the Free Zone, a group of Scientologists who believe in the religion's practices but not the organization.

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