Scientology means what?

The Today Show interviewed a Scientology defector this morning (per the video above).  And that really got me interested in researching this often criticized religion.  Ordinarily making fun of someone's religious beliefs, no matter how unusual they may be, is not something I condone.  I do have a problem though, with a religion that is based on the words of a science fiction writer and that judges a person's status in the religion by how much money they contribute to the church.  Far be it from me to short-change a religion based upon ignorance and hearsay, so I figured I'd do a little research.

There is quite a lot of information out there for those that wish to learn more about Scientology, but very little information about what actually goes on in this secret society.  For example:
-- Why does their leadership mimic that of naval officers?  The only answer I can see is that L. Ron Hubbard's daddy was in the Navy and he thought that was cool, so his made up religion involves ships and psuedo-seamen. 
-- Why are there secret teachings that no one but the elite Sea Org and Operating Thetan (OT) levels can know about?  Apparently finding out this secret information too far in advance "may be harmful to unprepared readers".  The highest OT levels receive their secret information on at sea lest Uncle Sam, Big Brother, or Enquiring Minds ease-drop on their discussions of the "space opera" chronicles.
-- Why do they base their membership on money?  If they were truly an enlightened religion, wouldn't they accept the hungry, the poor, the needy?  Granted their website is really big on promoting their humanitarian programs, but doesn't every religion espouse the belief that caring for your fellow man (or woman) is important?

If a religion basis itself of the precept that knowledge and self-enlightenment is the way to happiness, then why not share that knowledge with everybody?  Because this secret knowledge probably includes additional sci-fi writing about Xenu and how our souls came down in airplanes to a volcano where a hydrogen bomb was detonated releasing our "thetans" (souls) which took on physical form and have forgotten their ways.  That previous statement is part of their belief system and is not something I just made up.  They were probably hoping to hold on to that bit of info as hearing it would be "harmful" in that it would cause the person to laugh and not take the religion seriously.

There are some good philosophic beliefs that Scientology professes, but those beliefs would best be expressed through a variety of Eastern religions or a mixture of several religions.  There's no need to include the science fiction-esque beliefs of L. Ron Hubbard into a religious format.  This has all the ear-markings of a cult.
- They're secretive
- You have to pay to get in
- You can't just up and leave without going through a lengthy process
- If you leave the religion you will effectively be cut-off from your friends and family
- Those that speak out against the religion are called "suppressive persons"
- Those that communicate with suppressive persons are called "Potential Trouble Sources"
- If you do anything they consider against their moral code you will be "rehabilitated" 

Now I'm just waiting for the J.R.R. Tolkien religion to get underway.  I'm sure we can find a lot of people willing to pay to discover the mysteries of the Silmarillion.  I'll be the first to apply to become a member of the elite order of the Ringbearers.