It is not passing itself off as a science. It did that in the beginning and it failed. So much so that hubbard, who was all into survival, knew that his con had lost the science cloak and could be stopped for claiming scientific value it never had, and that included medical benefits it promised. In order to survive as a scammer, hubbard had to recloak his scam in a cloak which put him beyond reach of those who could shut him down. And so religious cloaking was adopted. Tax benefits were an extra advantage.
It is quite simple.
There are MANY places where Hubbard defines and describes his subject as a "technology". That word alone has FAR MORE connotations as "science" than it does as "religion".
Admin Technology
Ethics Tech
Sales Tech
First dynamic technology (auditing).
The word "technology" along with the idea that Scientology contains various methods and techniques that always WORK when correctly applied, is also FAR MORE "scientific" sounding than "religious".
KSW constantly uses the word "technology". How many times do you see the word "technology" mentioned in this short section of KSW?
One: Having the correct technology.
Two: Knowing the technology.
Three: Knowing it is correct.
Four: Teaching correctly the correct technology.
Five: Applying the technology.
Six: Seeing that the technology is correctly applied.
Seven: Hammering out of existence incorrect technology.
Eight: Knocking out incorrect applications. (of technology)
Nine: Closing the door on any possibility of incorrect technology.
Ten: Closing the door on incorrect application. (of technology)
The word is in seven out of ten sentences. And in point 3, the word "it" refers to this "technology", and in the other two points the word "application" refers to "application of the technology".
KSW is the rock upon which the Church of Scientology is built. All stems from THAT one policy - its most "sacred scripture". (it always cracks me up when I see the word Scientology mentioned in the same sentence as the word "scripture")
Public and staff in Scientology are indoctrinated day after day that Scientology involves TECHNOLOGY. They use this word constantly. I can guarantee that if you could bug places where Scientologists talk freely, you would hear the word "technology" at least 500 times more than the word "religion".
This is just another of many contradictions and cases where Scientology wants to have it BOTH WAYS. The talk of Scientology as a religion has little concern on INTERNAL lines and matters, and the idea has very little to do with what any adherent studies and practices. The talk about Scientology as religion exists primary on EXTERNAL lines, again, as we all can agree on, as a defense tactic and as a way to gain unfair commercial advantages.
So, no LOST, you ARE "lost" on this one.
Yes, as you say, Hubbard did re-frame his scam in a "cloak which put him beyond reach of those who could shut him down". That was the PR on EXTERNAL lines. But for those on the INSIDE, Scientology is ALL about "technology" - which means "science" in just about every interpretation possible.
Scientology is a work of art in terms of being what it needs to be for any person or public - so as to get what it wants. It will change into whatever it needs to appear as (like a chameleon) TO WIN. It appears as a study based on careful research with a wide range of workable technologies to the participants who accept and believe it. And, it appears as a religion to those on the outside who have the power to grant in various legal loopholes. Hubbard is very clear that one presents DIFFERENT MESSAGES to DIFFERENT PUBLICS, depending on the situations and needs of the group. These messages can be, and often are, quite contradictory. Thus, "Scientology is a science", or "Scientology is a religion".
Just as with so much of Scientology, this word "technology" is a BUTTON. It involves the realm of slogans and catch-phrases that are designed to bypass rational thought and hit straight on an emotional response level.
It IS passing itself off as "science" to those IN the cult. If you ask just about ANY Scientologist what Scientology is and involves, they will say, "a series of technologies that when applied can better conditions".
From Wikipedia:
"Technology (from Greek τέχνη, techne, "art, skill, cunning of hand"; and -λογία, -logia[1]) is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function."
In fact, Scientology satisfies that definition in many ways. For example, there is "PR Tech". It involves various methods to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Granted, it often involves lying and trickery as PART of that "tech", but hey, sometimes it WORKS! Just because something involves a technology does not mean that it is decent or moral. The SS used various "technologies" to gas the Jews. It WAS "scientific" and very concerned with "economy", BUT also, it was evil and horrible. The same is true in some regards with Scientology.
PR Tech is used on everybody, both inside and outside of the cult. The Scientology public is PR'ed in various unique ways. The staff and Sea Org are PR'ed in various unique ways. Wogs are PR'ed in various unique way. And, so forth. The content of the PR Messages are often very different. Per Hubbard survey (and listing) tech, one finds "what reads", and then spits it back to the person or group. There is NEVER any concern for facts or truth - only with "what reads" as a button or item to the person or group.