what is scientology?

Question

im all for a science-religion, like actually trying to find out what created the universe and where thought comes from and the like but dont scientologists believe we are all aliens or alien spirits or something? wheres the proof! u cant claim stuff without proof..........unless your a religion so hmmm, what is scientology, someone break it down for me and yea yea yea i know tom cruise is a member so noone needs to mention him... (now where do i post this question, in science or religion, its a thinker isnt it?)

Answer 1

Scientology is just like all other religions....man made
study up on it you might get A good laugh

Answer 2

Some bits of info, although there is plenty of info online.
Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard, a science-fiction writer. He believed that aliens had entered us and controlled our thoughts and actions. They are known as Thetans. In order to clear these Thetans from ourselves it is necessary to go through various levels of clearing. This mainly involves recording all desires, feelings you have ever had in order for the negative Thetan controls to be made clear. In the fascinating book Religion Inc, a expose (alledged) of the Scientology organisation, they show how peoples recorded sessions were used against them if they left the 'church' and turned against the teachings. And although granted religious status, many states are in the process of reversing this decision as they see scientology as more of a cult/organisation using religion as a way of avoiding paying taxes. Although I am not an advocate of scientology and personally think its a joke. I also have to say that every religion, cult or spiritual grouping has its supporters and detractors. So It is up to each individual to come to their own conclusion as to the merits or negatives of scientology.

Answer 3

If you want a science religion then go into Quantum Physics. It has great answers for the creation of the universe, the future, and God. (really)

On the other hand if you want some great help for getting along in this world now, being confident and outgoing, not being stopped by non-specific things you might call "stuff"... then check out Scientology.

Answer 4

Scientology is a criminal conspiracy that preys upon gullible persons who do not realize that they are being taken to the cleaners. It costs over $250,000 to do the entire Scientology program from start to finish. All of its texts are kept secret.

No real religion will charge you $250,000 to read all of its sacred texts. No other religion does this.

A Church's Lethal Contract
By Dr. David S. Touretzky and Peter Alexander

Imagine a church so dangerous, you must sign a release form before you can receive its "spiritual assistance." This assistance might involve holding you against your will for an indefinite period, isolating you from friends and family, and denying you access to appropriate medical care. You will of course be billed for this treatment - assuming you survive it. If not, the release form absolves your caretakers of all responsibility for your suffering and death. Welcome to the Church of Scientology.

No other religion does this.

Scientology rips off those gullible enough to join it and then tortures or kills those attempting to leave its clutches.

Answer 5

Scientology is about the individual man or woman. Its goal is to bring an individual to a sufficient understanding of himself and his life and free him to improve conditions in the way that he sees fit.

The Scientology religious philosophy contains a precise system of axioms, laws and techniques, exhaustively researched and documented as workable. As such, it provides the individual with the ability to dramatically improve conditions, not only in his own life but in the world around him.

In a word, Scientology works.

And this is why millions of people the world over use its principles in their daily lives, why a growing number of people find such relevance in Scientology for themselves, their families, their organizations, their nations and this entire civilization.

All Scientologists are drug-free, and spearhead effective actions in countries around the world to get others off drugs. Scientologists have helped millions of underprivileged children to dramatically improve their reading level, vocabulary and comprehension, and the record of Scientology’s fight for human rights is unparalleled.

Scientology is not authoritarian. There is no enforced belief. Rather, a maxim in Scientology is that only those things which one finds true for himself are true. In Scientology one learns to think for himself – it is a voyage of self-discovery.

Answer 6

Scientology is a scam cult started by A SciEnCe FiCtiON WRITER meant only for the people foolish and gullible enough to believe their lies.

http://www.scientomogy.com/

Answer 7

Scientology has nothing to do with the combination of Science and religion... it is a cult

Answer 8

watch the southpark show about it, its funny and true as all get out. They believe a sci-fi writer correctly came up with the truth, sounds more like a bad novel but its a funny read.

Answer 9

An other new age religion, same nonsens different package

Answer 10

I'm afraid to say that the documented evidence shows scientology to be a destructive cult. Definitely not a science question... Nothing in it is scientific, the name is a mixture of greek and latin and means 'knowing to know' in a loose sense.

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.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

Don't believe they really believe in Xenu, see the Court agreed documents on the OT levels...
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/fishman/index2.html

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_qu...

So why do people follow it? What about all the good things they tell you about? See here for an article on why people join scientology:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

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

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