Should Scientologists be declared legally insane?

Question

Seriously... It's a cult. Everyone knows this. They believe aliens came at some point and created us or something. Fill me on the weird facts please, do you think scientology should be lowered from religion status to cult status and am I the only one who thinks they are all lunatic sheep who fell for a complex money making scheme?

And dont use this to spout your athiest bullshit either, answer the question or don't answer at all.

1st amendment doesnt concern me either. I don't believe in it. Therefor I am not debating that issue. What is your opinion, not the governments.

Answer 1

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

Here is an article about how people might get sucked in:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

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

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

According to the 1st amendment no one has the right to decide what is and isn't a religion, especially not the government. If they can declare a religion not a religion where do they stop? Christianity, and every other religion, started out as a cult, they only attained mainstream status through time and numbers. If you don't agree with their beliefs, don't join their church, other people have the right to make their own decisions, that is what a free society is all about. If you want to live in a country where religion is subject to government regulation, Iran is nice this time of year.

Answer 3

No, they should not be declared legaly insane, because according to South Park (amen to that show!) the creator of the cult said to stan marsh (the "reencarnation of L. Ron Hubbard, kinda like the writers of the Bible to christians) "You actualy believe all that *beep*? Geez! i knew they were stupid but i thought you were smart enough to no this is all a scam! if you write these books, then everyone will buy your writings and together we can make 3 million dollars! ok?" lol i love that episode. but the people in the "religion" *cough cult couhgh* actualy believe it. so are they legaly insane? idont no maybe, or there just gullible as hell. well scientology is a dumb scam but the people in it are either con artists that no the truth and are trying to pull a global scam off, or gullible jackases. and of course Tom Cruise, whos acting (according to Stan from south park) "It's ok i guess. Imean, your no Leonardo DeCaprio or that guy who plays Nepolian Dynamyte, but your ok" anyone whos seen that episode has got to love it!
"1. im going to shoot you both 2. im going to cap some bititch, 3....... now im in the closet" - R. Kelly on that episode of south park

Answer 4

That's not right. You're declaring Scienctology a hoax and you don't even know the intimate details. You shouldn't judge something before you get to know it. Don't judge things that are different just because you don't understand or appreciate them. Be a little more open-minded. I mean, would you want someone judging you? Don't be unfair to Scientology just because it's different and don't hate Scientologists because they're different. You should learn to respect other people's beliefs or at least try to understand them before you begin criticizing them.

Answer 5

I'm with sheeny Tom Cruise is definitely nuts and he wasn't before Scientology got him. Religion shouldn't be able to be made up by any fiction writer(and a bad one at that!) who has a bit of time on his hand!

Answer 6

Yes Totally!

Answer 7

They are no more loony or insane than any other religious believer. I mean seriously, God magically appeared one day and decided to create this world and everything in it. And the entire human race are descendants from one couple, Adam and Eve. One could claim that anyone who believes this is also insane.

Answer 8

Praise Elron Hubbard, science fiction writer turned cult messiah. You are one of the many doubters. How foolish of all of you to deny the truth written in those books. It is proven fact that alien souls choose to reside in your man bodies and make you depressed. We have proven it. Would you like this cured? Your sadness, we can show you why you are sad.

Answer 9

It's no more weird than any other religion (or at least LDS). And does God not count as an Alien? And if you check the definition of cult, religion, and sect, you'll see it's all semantics.

Answer 10

All religions should be lowered to cult status. That is what they all are. They are all legally insane.

Answer 11

well that interferes with religious fredom, some consider fundalmentalistchristianity and jehovahs witnesss cults, and then they would also have to be declared insane based on their belief system and that is just wrong, if they are not suicidal or homocidal they are sane enough to live in society