The most recent published census data indicate that there were about 25,000 followers in the United States (in 2008) around 2,300 followers in England (2011) and about 1,700 in each of Canada (2011) and Australia (2016). It has been variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religious movement. Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. For other uses, see Scientology (disambiguation). For the organization, see Church of Scientology. This article is about the beliefs and movement.