WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTOLOGISTS?
The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) is an unincorporated membership organization open to all Scientologists from all nations.
The IAS was formed in 1984 at a time when the religious freedom of Scientologists was imperiled. Delegates from Scientology Churches world over assembled at Saint Hill Manor (L. Ron Hubbard’s home from 1959 to 1966) in recognition of the need to unite all Scientologists as an international body. To confirm their dedication toward the Aims of Scientology, those first IAS delegates formulated and signed The Pledge to Mankind.
The purpose of the IAS is: “To unite, advance, support and protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world so as to achieve the Aims of Scientology as originated by L. Ron Hubbard.”
The IAS was formed to guarantee that Scientologists will always be free to practice their religion and assists Churches of Scientology and Scientologists subjected to religious persecution. The IAS works further to guarantee religious freedom for all.
Today, Scientology is expanding at an ever-increasing rate and the time for defense alone has long since passed. Accordingly, the IAS now funds grants to sponsor campaigns that are truly reshaping the destiny of Earth. IAS members seek out fissures in the social fabric that have traditionally brought on the collapse of civilizations and inject solutions based on L. Ron Hubbard’s works. Donations from IAS members have funded grants to establish international facilities for secular social betterment utilizing Mr. Hubbard’s discoveries, including:
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Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma, one of the largest drug rehabilitation facilities in the world, which also serves as an international training center for drug rehabilitation professionals and volunteers.
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Applied Scholastics International, a 100-acre educator training campus in St. Louis, Missouri.
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The Way to Happiness Foundation International in Glendale, California, coordinating the worldwide distribution of L. Ron Hubbard’s common sense moral code.
The IAS has also made grants to fund public information campaigns aimed at addressing key societal ills, including:
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The world’s largest nongovernmental anti-drug initiative, reaching tens of millions annually.
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The world’s largest nongovernmental human rights campaign, broadly promoting the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Global literacy programs helping tens of millions of underprivileged students in America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
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The Scientology Volunteer Minister program bringing emergency relief to more than 10 million people at every major disaster site throughout the last decade.
IAS grants have funded new Church facilities in Harlem, Inglewood, California, Johannesburg, New York, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Rome, Washington, DC, Brussels and elsewhere.