Gerhard Lenski, in his influential study "The Religious Factor," defines religion as "...a system of beliefs about the nature of the force(s) ultimately shaping man's destiny, and the practices associated with, shared by members of a group."

        If one were to use these definitions of religion, one would     surely conclude that Scientology is a religion.

                                                                            Gary D.  Bouma
                                                                            October 30, 1979
 
 

        At the time he wrote this, Dr.  Bouma was on the faculty of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.