What is Scientology?

Answer 1

Mainly bad I'm afraid, my overall opinion is that the Church of Scientology is a destructive cult...

Included in this answer is evidence that has come to light from numerous court trials, government investigations and by the efforts of ex-members.

I personally believe the Church of Scientology to be a destructive 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.

“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.

"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" L Ron Hubbard
http://www.skeptictank.org/readdig.htm

Scientology believes it has the only workable technology to help mankind of its problems, using theories and ‘tech’ from Hubbard to do so.

“Scientology indoctrination usually begins with the Communication Course Training Routines or "TRs". These are supposed to enhance the ability to communicate, but have been called by one expert "the most overt form of hypnosis used by any destructive cult".

Read here for the techniques used by scientology: http://www.clambake.org/archive/techniques/

Hubbard has not discovered anything about the true nature of man, nor was he educated or qualified to do so. He was undoubtedly a clever man but also with many psychotic tendencies, that never cleared his own problems let alone anyone else’s. He died on the psychiatric drugs he had campaigned so hard against. He had a reoccurring stomach ulcer, and continued to claim military disability allowance. By personal accounts he had a wild temper, mild OCD, & respiratory problems, despite the fact that his new discoveries were meant to fix all man’s problems including physical ailments. Tom Cruise is quoted as saying it will cure tuberculosis for example.

Scientology originated out of Hubbard’s book Dianetics. Dianetics is a rewrite of Freudian memory regression into a complex and ill-worded theory, along with occult magick from Aleister Crawley with Hubbard’s experience as a sci-fi writer thrown in. Scientology has never submitted it methods to the scientific community, nor is it endorsed by any such body. Hubbard was not a scientist and seemingly knew nothing of the scientific method, nor has any of his ‘extensive research’ ever come to light. What has come to light is the social & mind control techniques that take place in scientology, and how people are duped into following this money & alien orientated cult.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/apobs/
http://www.clambake.org/archive/lrhbare/

This only formal study of dianetics done near the time it appeared showed dianetics did not achieve any of its stated aims or benefits.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/fischer/

Here is an archive of official studies critical of scientology
http://www.clambake.org/archive/audit/

Here are court trials and investigations:
http://www.scientology-lies.com/investigation.html
http://www.clambake.org/archive/CourtFiles/

"[The court record is] replete with evidence [that Scientology] is nothing in reality but a vast enterprise to extract the maximum amount of money from its adepts by pseudo scientific theories... and to exercise a kind of blackmail against persons who do not wish to continue with their sect.... The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard." "
Judge Breckenridge, Los Angeles Superior Court

See more on what judges have to say about scientology:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/judge_quotes.html

You cannot progress in scientology without a belief in re-incarnation, and then little alien souls that inhabit your body, so it is not compatible with other people’s faith, it just says it is. OT's are also meant to have a variety of seemingly supernatural abilities.
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/xenu
http://www.clambake.org/archive/ot/

Most people have now heard of Xenu, the Intergalactic Space Lord who trapped alien souls on earth who now inhabit our bodies and cause problems… Well “This is what Scientologists actually believe” and South Park is accurate as these court documents will show:

Here is an extract in his Hubbard's handwriting confirmed by the Church's lawyers in a Court of Law:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/OTIII-scholar/

Here is another court freed document which concerns the whole of OTIII which came up in court during the Fishman Affidavit, you can check out other OT levels here too; see OTVIII for an interesting comment about Jesus.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/fishman/index2.html

Here is a summary from an ex-member:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/OTIII-scholar/atack-ot3-summary.txt

Scientology is a Destructive Cult:

They lie to members to gain and keep them.

They report for example that there are 8 million adherents worldwide; there are in fact only about 100,000.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/COS_members.html

They say it has been thoroughly researched using the scientific method when it hasn’t. Where are the peer reviewed scientific papers? Where is the extensive research that Hubbard carried out?

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

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

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

Here are some tragic stories within Scientology:
http://www.whyaretheydead.net

Here is a website with many video's of scientologists behaviour, interviews and media coverage:
http://www.xenutv.com

Seen as that was all quite heavy and maybe a little 'overbearing' to quote another user, here is some light humour to do with the subject, including the south park episode.

South Park:
http://www.xenutv.com/cruise/sp-closet.htm
http://www.chefgate.info/

Other:
http://www.zipperfish.com/free/yaafm11.php
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/lampoon/lamp1.htm
http://home.snafu.de/tilman/cos_fun/

Tom Cruise:
http://www.scientomogy.info/
http://www.tomcruiseisnuts.com/
http://65.58.242.81/scientomogy.com.php

Answer 2

It's a lot like wytchgypsy says, with a couple of additions. While you're holding those metal handles you are A) remembering every bad thing that ever happened to you and B) paying the dianetics auditer about $200 an hour. You think of all the bad feelings you ever had and integrate their subconscious damage into your conscious control. It works- it's based on sound psychology. You could do it for yourself at home if you were willing to take one more personal discipline step. All meditational practices do exactly the same things. You can waste your money on any crazy stuff you want, but a well-funtioning mind is still up to the discipline of the user of that mind.
Make no mistake- Scientology will help you figure out just how much expendable money you can possibly come up with. People have been known to sell houses, cars, boats and other property to pay for dianetic counselling. That's because of transferrance: any counselling subject wants the approval of the counsellor. You do what they tell you to do, whether it's money they want or sex or whatever. Ethics is so important when it comes to psychology.
And then there's the space travel stuff. All the upper-level scientology people are waiting for the mother ship to come and save them. Again, whatever.
I recommend committing yourself to a close relationship with another human being, promising to love that person no matter what. That's about all the personal growth most people really need. But if you want to believe in space heaven and you want to spend a lot of money and you are too lazy to take charge of your own mind, then scientology might be just the thing. You may meet Tom Cruise at a convention some day! Again, whatever.

Answer 3

Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew,for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.
You can have no specific religious beliefs and still benefit from using it.
And it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.
It is a non denominational religion . The dictionary definition that applies:
Religion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.

The most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.
The whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .
When you do this the sphere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.

How this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit. The basic religious philosophy and knowledge of Scientology is very old, going back 10,000 years at least to the Veda or Vedic Hymns from the East. The developement of the technology is new.
He completed his research before his death in 1986 and left all of his results and copyrights
to the Church of Scientology along with most of his considerable estate., when he died.

He published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"
There are currently over 8 million Scientologists in more that 150 countries world wide. However we are a new religion, only 55 years old.
The true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:
1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.
2. People find it interesting.
3. People find it works.
4. People pass it along to others.
5. It grows.

Answer 4

Watch the movie Battlefield Earth - written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and produced/acted by Scientologist John Travolta.

Next, try if you can to imagine a religion that is as God-awful, lame, silly, and cheezy as this movie! Then you will truly understand the essence of Scientology.

Answer 5

Fork over your life savings to the Church of Scientology, and you will know the "truth":

75 million years ago, extraterrestrial beings were sent to planet Earth by intergalactic ruler, Xenu, who then blew up the aliens with hydrogen bombs in a volcano (because molten lava just isn't enough to kill those pesky aliens).

The resulting explosion caused millions of alien spirits to be released into the air. The spirits were then trapped and brainwashed into believing in God and religion, Christ, Moses, Mohammed, Willy Wonka, and Zade.

Today on Earth, all the spirits of these aliens have attached themselves to our bodies, and are the root cause of all the false reality. These attached spirits are called Body-Thetans (or BT's).

In order to become cleared and get rid of those nasty BT's that are keeping you down, you have to be audited with a tool called an E-meter. To use it, you have to hold two metal rods in your hands.

Sounds simply adorable, doesn't it?

Answer 6

it is actually a total joke.. it originates from a science fiction writer who *somehow* convinced people that one of his books were true. The premise of the faith uses people's curiosity about their origins and their desires to explain conciousness/"soul" to convince them that we are all, in fact, aliens. The famous and controversial south park episode may in fact be the best explanation of scientology i have ever encountered

Answer 7

Tax Exempt

Answer 8

a group of people who read a study by a scifi author and based a religion on it. like all religions theres truth and syllogism to them but what all religions have in common is they are made up by mankind. God isn't a religion, He is a Being who wants individual relationships between us all

syllogism = 1. God is Love 2. love is blind 3. ray charles is god

Answer 9

A cult popularized by the air-head Hollywood types.

Answer 10

Just a joke. Look at Tom Cruise and decide for yourself.

Answer 11

A religion founded by a dead science fiction writer, and a lousy one at that.