Scientology

 and a singular anomaly of crank magnetism masquerading as a religion that was dreamed up by L. Ron Hubbard, a writer of crappy science fiction. More than one of Hubbard's science fiction writer-colleagues from the 1940s noted that Hubbard had an especial interest in getting rich.[2][3]

As a dilettante student of various sciences and a creative writer, Hubbard wrote a 1950 article in Astounding Science Fiction — later a book called "Dianetics™"[note 1] to, essentially, start an unscientific experiment in human psychology based upon hypnosis, Freudian ideas, Buddhism, and other philosophies. A few years later, in 1953, he founded the Church of Scientology after claiming to have discovered the soul. What followed became more and more ridiculous, as he produced everything from sacred recipes for baby-formula to scriptures about alien overlords to massively expensive promises of supernatural abilities for dedicated followers.

Though all cults tend to be draconian about their dogma, after the advent of the internet, the Church of Scientology became especially draconian in its attempt to stifle open discussion about Hubbard, Dianetics, and Scientology.

So, you know, a perfectly ordinary religion.

https://firstindependentchurchofscientology.org/definitions/dead-agent/