what does scientology stand for? i want to know pros and cons!?

Question

I am really confused, the first time I heard of this so called "religon" was on E news talking about Tom Cruise. Then I go to the website and everthing is great, they talk about improving yourself, your marriage, making your children brighter. Then you strart researching and people are saying its a cult, or that it was a get rich quik scheme by Ron Hubbard (the founder). There is so much mixed info I just dont know what to think. And how is it a religeon? The only was I determined that they consider themselves a religeon was because it was mentioned on the same story about cruise. The scientology website seems to point more at the fact like they a self help organization. very odd. any info or thoughts would be helpful!

Answer 1

I answered your other question on this as well, but here is another answer...

What is Scientology?

“Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy.”
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/scientology

See here for a critic’s view:
http://www.clambake.org/roland-intro.html

See here for scientology’s own view:
http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/index.html

Scientology is considered a religion in some countries, a profitable organisation in others, and in some it is considered a cult whose practises have been banned. For example, the US gives Scientology tax exempt status, whereas Germany and Belgium have called it a “totalitarian cult” and a “commercial enterprise”. France in 1995 classified it as a dangerous cult. The UK refused charitable status in 1999. Russia has a pending court trial over their refusal to register scientology as a religion.

I personally believe scientology to be a dangerous cult that lies to and tricks adherents into believing they are improving themselves and the world around them, while they are for the most part doing the exact opposite. It is made up of good people with good intentions that have been unfortunately deceived just because they do want to help others and themselves live better lives. It appeals to a person’s good intentions, and therein lies the trap.

It seems to have been set up to make money, and indeed they have been very successful at it – although the money is all at the top and not with the actual people delivering the services.

What do they believe?

Scientologists’ beliefs differ depending on how long they have been in the church, as the higher levels are considered secret and even dangerous to the initiated or unprepared. This is part of why I believe it to be a cult, it hides its true teachings from new members in order to gain & keep adherents.

Scientologists believe that L Ron Hubbard came up with the only workable technology/practises/teachings to help and unlock mankind’s potential. It is believed that by taking part in scientology auditing and learning all the various ‘tech’ a person will become more capable, becoming firstly a ‘Clear’ and then an ‘OT’. Various spurious claims have been made about the state of a ‘clear’ and ‘OT’ amongst which are immunity to illness, removal of physical ailments, perfect memory, increased IQ, increased health & fitness (and thus longevity), and then moving on to the more strange such as being able to exteriorse at will (out of body experiences) and control of MEST (ability to change matter, energy, space and time at will). Needless to say scientology has never successfully demonstrated any of the claims they make about their ‘tech’.

Scientologists believe:
- Man has an immortal soul called a thetan.
- You have a primitive reactive mind which is the source of much of man's problems, which collects "engrams" from traumatic times or when you are unconscious.
- A lot of physical illnesses/problems are psychosomatic caused by "Engrams".
- You can 'audit' engrams out and this will solve your issues and clear up your health. They also believe it makes you a more intelligent, aware and reasoned individual.
- Reincarnation and the ability to know these past lives and get to more engrams this way.
- Paying lots of money to scientology for there tech, courses, and auditing.
- Getting more people into scientology so they too can become ‘clear’ and thus save the world…

If they have got to OTIII, then the belief changes slightly.
- The universe is quadrillions years old.
- Xenu the Intergalactic Space Lord ruled a confederation of overpopulated planets.
- Xenu took a load of these aliens from each planet and brought them to earth.
- They were then exploded in volcanoes 75 million yrs ago.
- Their souls were then caught on ribbons and taken to implant stations, where Xenu brainwashed & confused them so they wouldn't leave the planet. This includes implanting all the world religions.
- These Alien souls called Body Thetans have attached to humans, and are infact the real cause of your problems and why you get and retain engrams...
- You audit these body thetans out by auditing there engrams and taking them back to the Xenu incidents I & II.
- People have jaw aches from when they were a clam in human evolution....hence the name of the main critical site Operation Clambake.
http://www.clambake.org
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/xenu

What do they do?

Take classes,
Read Hubbards’ books,
Have auditing done,
Promote scientology,
Perform auditing on others,
Pay lots of money to scientology
Attending some services.
Lots are staff members, and perform a variety of duties ranging from administration, to sales, to management, to performing criminal activity – normally to silence a critic, and much more. It is a large complex organisation.

How are they different to other religions?

The church often claims it is unjustly persecuted, and to show such files normally countless of libels every year and other such court cases to silence criticism; no other religion hounds and harasses its critics. I believe that scientology is different from other religions, the main one being that potential members are lied to when they start. See below, under ‘Why it is often described as a cult’ for all the reasons.

Why are they often described as a cult?

They lie to members to gain and keep them.
Try to find the story of Xenu at the scientology site for example.

They say it has been thoroughly researched using the scientific method when it hasn’t.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/techniques/
http://www.clambake.org/archive/lrhbare/

They hound and harass critics:
http://www.suppressiveperson.org/

They use mind control techniques: http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/documents/scientology/pignotti

They limit outside information via censoring, condemning it the work of criminals, as well as via disconnection with family.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/events/censorship/
http://www.xenu.net/archive/infopack/15.htm

More on similar stuff here:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/co_pls.html


For some in-depth research I recommend reading some books written by ex-members.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books

"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionably and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."
Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/judge_quotes.html

Here you can see scientologists in action:
http://www.xenutv.com

http://www.clambake.org
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://www.scientology.org

Answer 2

In my opinion it is a cult driven by a desire to make money, not to improve anyone's life. They basically believe that in the beginning of time Martains inhabited the Earth and that those Martians contaminated people and that that contamination is the reason we have imperfections. They claim that they can cleanse your for a fee of course. Also the religion is based on a science fiction book and is harder on women.

Tread lightly! Tom Cruise is only an actor.

Answer 3

yes, they are oficcially a religion, and claim to be one so they dont have to pay taxes.
they just dont like to tell people that they are technically a religion.

they start off as a self help group, but it quickly grows into more than that. the basic scam is that they make you go through 'audits', where you tell someone all kinds of personal information about yourself, then they tell you the only way to fix whats wrong with you is to pay them for classes. if you try to leave, they threaten to reveal all the personal info you told them.

google "xenu" to find out lots of info about them. there was a south park episode last year that gave lots of real info about them also.

Answer 4

If you find out I would like to know also. I guess we will have to find one and ask them. I hear all of this far out stuff about them from other people, but when you read their web site or a book I have on what the cults believe, it doesn't sound anything like what I hear people on here saying. I doubt I would try to educate myself about it from a south park cartoon either.

Answer 5

that scientology is a joke a real hoot.it didnt help criuse did it?he was married to nicole shes a doll and what a looker.this brand of whatever is the science of science. these nuts depend on GOD to do everything for them. if they are ill they think GOD will hel them. im a christian and GOD has healed me many times but you have to be civilized about things.if you sick go to the doctor. thats why we have them.GOD wants you to go so why dont they go?stupidity. there is no pro only cons to this organization.in my opinion.

Answer 6

I don't know about the pros but one of the cons would be ending up stupid like Tom Cruise.

Answer 7

check out www.Zenu.com for all your scientology needs. Its the anti-scientology site with a great link to the southpark cartoon made about it.

Answer 8

It stands for.....Tom Cruise is acting like a fool