A friend of mine who has since died (he was considerably older than me) often told a story of having been approached by a young man when in college about becoming a partner in a business venture involving the creation of a new religion. That young man's name was Lafayette Ronald Hubbard. I also met people who were former Scientologists who had all manner of horror stories.
When I was a visiting parent, I once saw glossy Scientology ad copy on her table. We were on pretty good terms because I was instrumental in her escape from her abusive second husband.* I looked at that shit and said OK, you know how I buy clothes and toys and hand you money in addition to child support? If you get involved with that I will move to providing only what the law requires.

*Only much later did I learn the extent of that guy's abuse of my son. I have no idea where he is but if he were standing before me and I had a gun I would not hesitate even one second before blowing his motherfucking brains out.