5. Dr. Frank K. Flinn
Adjunct Professor in Religious Studies, Washington University, Missouri

Dr. Flinn has been studying emerging religions since 1962. He took the classic three-pronged approach discussed above, concluding that Scientology unquestionably is a religion: “I can state without hesitation that the Church of Scientology constitutes a bona fide religion. It possesses all the essential marks of religions known around the world; (1) a well-defined belief system, (2) which issues into religious practices (positive and negative norms for behavior, religious rites and ceremonies, acts and observances), and (3) which sustain a body of believers in an identifiable religious community, distinguishable from other religious communities.”