All new religions in their early years have had to endure trials of acceptance. The same was true of Scientology. But with the Church’s growing prominence and visibility came recognition and understanding. Today the religiosity of Scientology has been fully acknowledged by courts and governments throughout the world.

Courts in the United States have always held that Scientology is a religion; indeed, in a September 1993 federal appeals court ruling, the judges pronounced that there had not been a single instance in which a United States court held otherwise.

The most significant official recognition of the Scientology religion came in October 1993 when the United States Internal Revenue Service granted full religious recognition to all churches of Scientology and related social betterment organisations, concluding after an exhaustive and thorough review that Scientology churches are established and operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes. The IRS also determined that Scientology is a bona fide religion and that the Church of Scientology met the detailed criteria of the IRS to qualify as a “Church.”