Roy Wallis (1945–1990)[1] was a sociologist and Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the Queen's University Belfast.
He is mostly known for his creation of the seven signs that differentiate a religious congregation from a sectarian church, which he created while researching the Church of Scientology.
He introduced the distinction between world-affirming and world-rejecting new religious movements.
[2][3] After publishing his book The Road to Total Freedom (1976), an analysis of the sociology of Scientology, he was harassed by the church both legally and personally.
[4][5] Forged letters, apparently from Wallis, were sent to his colleagues.