Talk:Xenu

Warning?

Should there be a warning at the top stating that "if you read this article you may be subject to eternal damnation and death by pneumonia"? Flight Risk (talk) 21:15, 11 January 2023 (UTC)

Not unless you have an independent reliable source that says so. Grorp (talk) 00:32, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Sadly, that is not in the standard wiki tools, like "Citation Needed". Perhaps we should add that. It could be helpful on the Spanish Inquisition page too. Billyshiverstick (talk) 23:40, 20 September 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 23 December 2024

This text is out of date:

which is often well over US$100,000 (roughly £77,000)

It source dates from 2006, so please change it to:

which in 2006 was often well over US$100,000 (roughly £77,000).

Thank you. 101.119.89.89 (talk) 06:24, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

 Done Yup, makes sense. Thanks. Grayfell (talk) 06:33, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 23 December 2024 (2)

If I understand rightly, the "Research essay describing OT 3 as a drug induced hallucination" external link was posted to a web forum. Such pages shouldn't even be linked, and because this link goes to a different website, it's possible that this site is infringing the original poster's copyright. Please remove the link. 101.119.89.89 (talk) 06:33, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

 Done Perhaps an argument could be made for including this, since it mostly cites and summarizes other sources, but it agree that this isn't a reliable source and doesn't seem appropriate for an external links section. Grayfell (talk) 06:40, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

Should it state that Xenu is fictional

I don't mean mythological, or theological complete fictional because there is a credible author on who wrote him. With, that he was known for making fictional sci-fi stories similar to how Xenu's story is written. Virtualgreen (talk) 20:38, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

I don't see any conclusive sign that Xenu is fictional (as opposed to just false). Hubbard taught his followers that these were real events that occurred millions of years ago. That he separately wrote a fictional screenplay with very similar events doesn't show that the OT3 story itself was meant as fictional. Part of his belief system was that memories of events from past lives could be "restimulated" with imagery, so within those beliefs, there's a reason for writing a sci-fi screenplay that describes historic events. MartinPoulter (talk) 22:40, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

Didn't he say something about he could make a religion and make profit off of it? Virtualgreen (talk) 22:53, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

Per WP:NOTFORUM, "article talk pages exist solely to discuss how to improve articles", so we should stay focused on the specific question.

On your earlier point about whether Xenu should be described as "fictional", Wikipedia doesn't label religious figures as fictional, even when the described events aren't accepted as historical. Scientology presents Xenu as a real figure within its teachings, so the lead reflects that by describing him as a figure in Scientology's upper-level teachings.

The change to "character created by Hubbard" isn't supported by reliable secondary sources and implies fiction, so I reverted it. If you find high-quality sources that explicitly describe Xenu that way, feel free to bring them here for discussion.   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 07:44, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

What about him as mythological then? Virtualgreen (talk) 00:10, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

@Virtualgreen: What about you present some reliable sources right here on this talk page?   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 00:48, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

https://academic.oup.com/book/2335/chapter/142498410

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/295173524_His_name_was_Xenu_He_used_renegades_Aspects_of_Scientology's_Founding_Myth

https://longreads.com/2017/02/01/xenus-paradox-the-fiction-of-l-ron-hubbard/

https://www.lawrencewright.com/books/going-clear-scientology-hollywood-the-prison-of-belief

https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/miller/ Virtualgreen (talk) 23:18, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

Adding my response below Slatersteven's comment.   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 01:44, 19 May 2026 (UTC)

What do the rs say? Slatersteven (talk) 10:11, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

@Virtualgreen:I think you are conflating "fictional characters" with "mythic or doctrinal figures". The sources you listed (Rothstein, Wright, Miller, and Nevala-Lee) describe Xenu as part of Scientology's upper-level doctrine or as part of its origin myth. In religious studies terminology, "myth" does not mean "fiction"; it refers to a sacred narrative within a belief system. Even Nevala-Lee, writing about Hubbard's fiction career, still refers to "the figure of Xenu".

Even though Hubbard wrote actual fiction with themes similar to the Xenu narrative, Scientologists do not treat Xenu as a fictional character. Within Scientology, Xenu is presented as a real historical figure.

Wikipedia does not label religious figures as fictional unless reliable secondary sources explicitly do so. If a figure is presented as real within the belief system, Wikipedia reflects that by attributing the belief to the religion. Adding wording like "fictional" or "character created by Hubbard" without explicit sourcing is original research and synthesis.

If there is a significant number of reliable sources that explicitly frame Xenu as fictional -- more than a fringe view -- that could be mentioned in the body of the article. But it does not belong in the lead, and certainly not in the form you proposed here.   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 01:44, 19 May 2026 (UTC)

Ok, I got it but shouldnt It apply to other religious figures still worshipped like Zeus, Anubis, etc.? Virtualgreen (talk) 19:41, 19 May 2026 (UTC)

I'm glad you got it.   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 19:52, 19 May 2026 (UTC)