Church of Scientology of Madrid featured in "White Nights" Festival

More than a thousand people visited the new permanent Scientology exhibition during Madrid's famous La Noche en Blanco (White Night) cultural festival, an all-night extravaganza, which takes place each year on one night in September.

The Church was proud to participate in "White Night," an initiative announced by Madrid Mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, to promote culture and the arts. The Scientology exposition was featured on the White Night Web Notice Board of free activities for the District Center of Madrid.

The new Scientology exhibition is located on the ground floor of the Church of Scientology of Madrid, a few meters' walk from the Spanish Parliament. The Church opened its new headquarters in the historic Barrio de las Letras just 4 years ago and the Scientology religion was recognized as a religious entity almost a year ago by the Spanish National Court.

During the "White Night" celebration, people of all ages, professions and walks of life browsed through displays that include more than 100 photographs illustrating the life of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Visitors also viewed over 150 explanatory videos that detail various aspects of the religion and its social campaigns. There were information booths where visitors participated in free "stress testing" and got answers to any questions they had about the Scientology religion.

Ivan Arjona, national Scientology spokesperson, said "At last year's festival we were visited by some 300 people, and we are very happy to have more than tripled the attendance this year. With 12 places of worship in Spain, we are creating greater interest in our activities than ever before."

Visitors to the Scientology church also toured the historic premises, one of the few Art Deco buildings in Madrid, which Scientologists have restored to its original splendor.

The first Scientology church was opened in 1954 in the United States. There are now more than 7700 churches, missions and groups in 164 countries and 10 million followers worldwide, with some 11,000 in Spain.

Scientology is a religion in the deepest traditional meaning, because it covers no less than the full rehabilitation of the spirit of man—his innate abilities, state of mind, certainty of his own immortality and his relationship with the Divine. Scientology has, in common with many of the world's oldest religions, the belief that man is here to find his own salvation. Scientology holds that man is basically good and that one's salvation depends upon oneself, his relationship with his fellow man and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe. For more information, visit www.iglesiadescientology.es