Books
Free Zone Scientology: Contesting the Boundaries of a New Religion, London: Bloomsbury (2021).
Book Chapters
‘Scientology Inside Out: Complex Religious Belonging in the Church of Scientology and the Free Zone’ (co-authored with Gregg, S. E.), in Chryssides, G. and Gregg, S. E. (eds), The Insider/Outsider Debate: New Perspectives in the Study of Religions, Equinox, pp. 350-370 (2019).
Journal Articles
‘Toward a Study of “Scientologies”‘, Implicit Religion, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 140-147 (2021).
‘Seeking New Approaches to the Alternative: The Merging of New Religious Movements and the Study of Religion’ (co-authored with Graham-Hyde, E.), Rogue: The Journal for Alternative Academia, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 4-16 (2021).
‘Engaging with the Church of Scientology and the Free Zone in the Field: Challenges, Barriers, and Methods’, International Journal for the Study of New Religions, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 121-137 (2020).
‘Research Notes: A Case Study of Religious Experience in the Adventures of Tintin’, The Theology, Religion and Popular Culture Review, Vol. 1, pp. 5-8 (2019).
Book Reviews
‘Donald Westbrook – Among the Scientologists: History, Theology, and Praxis’, Correspondences Journal for the Study of Esotericism, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 469-473 (2020).
Podcasts and Online Media
2019 ‘Death of a Founder: Louis Theroux and “America’s Most Hated Family”‘, Open University: Contemporary Religion in Historical Perspective, 17 December [Blog]. Available at http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/religious-studies/?p=985.
2019 ‘The Science of Scientology’, Religion and Popular Culture Podcast, 27 November [Podcast]. Available at http://god-mode.org/religion-and-popular-culture-podcast/2019/11/27/the-science-of-scientology-aled-thomas.
2019 ‘Follow What’s Weird’, Religion and Popular Culture Podcast, 17 April [Podcast]. Available at http://god-mode.org/religion-and-popular-culture-podcast/2019/4/17/follow-whats-weird-fieldwork-roundtable-with-aled-thomas-allison-robertson-and-theo-wildcroft.
2018 ‘New Directions in the Study of Scientology’, The Religious Studies Project, 19 November [Podcast]. Available at https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/new-directions-in-the-study-of-scientology/.
2017 ‘”Insider Knowledge”: Seeing the Bigger Picture with New Religious Movements’, The Religious Studies Project, 23 November. Available at https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/2017/11/23/insider-knowledge-seeing-the-bigger-picture-with-new-religious-movements/.
2017 ‘Taking a “STAND”: Scientology’s Latest Campaign for Religious Legitimacy’, Open University: Contemporary Religion in Historical Perspective, 27 March [Blog]. Available at http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/religious-studies/?p=377.
Conference Papers and Roundtables
“Authenticity, Innovation, and Breaking Down Boundaries in Free Zone Scientology” – The Conference at the End of the World (alt-ac.uk) (14/07/2020)
‘”I Know I’m Immortal … I Don’t Fear Death”: Approaching Notions of Immortality in Free Zone Scientologist Spheres’ – INFORM Seminar (Immortality: Beliefs and Practices), King’s College London, UK (01/02/2020).
‘Taking a STAND: The Church of Scientology, Media Exposés, and Religious Legitimacy’ – British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, Leeds Trinity University, UK (02/09/2019).
‘“Clear Body, Clear Mind”: An Analysis of the Church of Scientology’s Purification Rundown’ – British Association for the Study of Religions / Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions (Joint Conference), University of Belfast, UK (03/09/2018).
‘The Challenges for Scholarly Engagement with the Church of Scientology and Free Zone in the Field’ – Contemporary Religion in Historical Perspective: Publics and Performances, The Open University, UK (21/02/2018).
‘Making Connections’ (Roundtable) – Contemporary Religion in Historical Perspective: Publics and Performances, The Open University, UK (20/02/2018).
‘The Material Culture of Scientology: The Evolution of Hubbard’s Auditing “Tech” and E-Meters’ – American Academy of Religions Annual Meetings, Boston, USA (20/11/2017).
‘A Weekend at Hubbard’s: The Conflicting Narratives of the Life and Death of L. Ron Hubbard in Various Scientologies’ – British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, University of Chester, UK (06/09/2017).
‘Developing the Theory and Physical Technology of Scientology: Approaching the Study of Hubbard’s Auditing “Tech”’ – British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, University of Wolverhampton, UK (06/09/2016).
‘Scientology Beyond the Church: The Practice of Auditing in the Free Zone’ – British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, University of Kent, UK (08/09/2015).
‘“The End of the World is at Hand!” – Religious Experience and Mental Illness in The Adventures of Tintin’ – British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK (04/09/2014).
‘Outsider Perspectives of the Auditing Process within Scientology: An Examination of the Influence of the Media’ – Scientology in Scholarly Perspective, Faculty for Comparative Studies of Religions, Antwerp, Belgium (25/01/2014).
Scholarships and Awards
CHASE Student Placement Award (2017)
CHASE (Consortium for the Humanities and the Arts South East England)
PhD Scholarship (2016)
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council
British Association for the Study of Religions Bursary (2015)
The Holy Scriptures of the Shopping Mall 