It is a modern 'religion' created by author L Ron Hubbard, and famous because a number of famous people - Tom Cruise and John Travolta spring to mind, are followers. Best thing is to put the name into a search engine like Google, and watch the forest of sites crop up, and check it out from there. It's premise seems to be equality for everyone, which sounds fair enough, but I don't know enough detail to make any further comment than that.
Thanks Andy. Have done the Google thing - just wanted to see people's general opinions on the subject and if anyone could outline the basic principles.
As this cult has a huge base in my town I can give you my views, but like thousands of people regularly bombarded with the 'Dianetics' papers and accosted by very aggressive members they wouldn't be favourable, so have a read of their website - and also this one
If any Scientologists at your local shopping centre hand you their "Truth About Drugs" literature you really should have a read of that too, it's chuffing hilarious.
Mental and moral justification for their place in a world where people with a little play-acting or musical skill are paid millions of dollars per piece of "work", while half the world grinds along in abject poverty and starves. It's a self-justification thing, that tells them its OK for those who are the very "best" to rise to the top and have the very "best".