The first link has quite a good summary.
Then I have included some other links about some specifics.
2006-07-17 01:28:09
·
answer #1
·
answered by ZCT 7
·
0⤊
1⤋
I am not a Scientologist.
The Church of Scientology is the largest organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. Many other organizations exist which claim to practice the "technology" developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard; the Church of Scientology asserts that these other groups are not practicing true Scientology, but unauthorized variants, and regards itself as the only source of "true" Scientology.
More info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology
2006-07-17 08:29:39
·
answer #2
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Scientology is the creation of the LATE Ron l. Hubbard. It basically teaches that Ron L. Hubbard is God. It is a cult, and it costs a lot of money (thousands of dollars) to join and be a member of. It will not get you to heaven, it will only brainwash you and strip you of all your money. The leadership uses mind control to CONTROL the membership. Stay away from it.
2006-07-17 08:30:44
·
answer #3
·
answered by Preacher 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
You can learn about Scinetology be typing in the word "scientology" in the search bar of the search engine of your choice, or you can go to the library and check out books on the subject.
It's a "religion" started by a druggie author.
2006-07-17 08:29:29
·
answer #4
·
answered by margarita 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
It is a cult like loosely based so called religion, which is mainly geared at getting your money. They are headquartered out of Clearwater Florida. Go to their web site www.scientology.org.
I love how some people go to wikepedia, if they don't know they should not offer answers. It is more of a cult, and if you ever lived in florida (I did), you would stay far away from them. They are into reprogramming your mind, cleansing you of what they feel are impure thoughts, and getting your money.
2006-07-17 08:43:32
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Oh dude be careful with that group use critical thinking and be wary of joining a religion a science fiction writer started and watch your wallet enlightenment can't be bought or sold but to each his own... Check out this site and it's references
http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/
2006-07-17 08:31:15
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
LMAO!! It was a movement started by a science fiction writer named L Ron Hubbard (Battlefield Earth fame)
All you got to do hon is type 'Xenu' into Google or dogpile or whatever, you'll get all you need to know.
2006-07-17 08:31:43
·
answer #7
·
answered by ~Donna~ 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
This is the official website of Scientology: http://www.scientology.org/
I tried it out and it was okay but I thought it was a little too complicated. Of course this was when I was like 15.
2006-07-17 08:29:58
·
answer #8
·
answered by shawonda 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Wikipedia actually has a VERY good summary.
2006-07-17 09:14:57
·
answer #9
·
answered by q2003 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
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. Indeed Hubbard is quoted as saying "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion"
http://www.skeptictank.org/readdig.htm
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 - critical
http://www.wikipedia.org - neutral
http://www.scientology.org - pro
Here are the main critical sites:
http://www.xenu.net
http://www.factnet.org
http://www.scientologywatch.org
http://www.suppressiveperson.org/
http://www.spaink.net
http://www.snafu.de/~tilman/
http://www.narconon-exposed.org
http://www.studytech.org
http://www.modemac.com
http://www.truthaboutscientology.com
http://www.scientology-lies.com
http://www.lermanet.com
http://www.freedomofmind.com
http://www.altreligionscientology.org
http://www.xenutv.com
2006-07-17 10:19:40
·
answer #10
·
answered by Xenu.net 5
·
0⤊
1⤋