A little history about the cult of Scientology is in order. It was literally invented by L. Ron Hubbard in a book called "Dianetics" in which he claims that every event in one's life is recorded cellularly and that the way to remove life's obstacles is to travel back to the unpleasant events in life called "engrams". With a guiding therapist, the "traveler" relives the events that caused the "engrams" and when it is played over and over, the "engram" loses its potency. When all "engrams" are lessened in power, the person is said to be a "clear". Not implausible, perhaps but "out there".

So, L. Ron (who by the way was pretty aggressive and packed heat) decided that one's own life wasn't enough so hence "past life regression". Now you have Scientology as an outgrowth of Dianetics. Now he invents a new god (Xena) and makes up some peculiar machines such as "e-meters" to monitor the regressive "travel". So this borders on a variation of "reincarnation". So L. Ron true to form of every cult leader goes nuts. He's a power broker.

Scientology reinforces the cultish quality of some religious convictions.

The "Cult" is always defined as an organization that when a member leaves, there are always reprisals. Often, communication with that member is no longer honored
by the cult membership. It's a form of "shunning" which is an old religious practice.