Scientology is utterly bananas! Thoughts?

Question

Enlightenment that is ridiculously expensive? They're a church (when it comes to taxes) but not a church when it comes to recruiting? Is cult a good word?

Answer 1

Yes it is but there is a dangerous side to it as well

http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/
http://www.whyaretheydead.net

http://www.clambake.org

http://www.xenutv.com

Cult on its own is not actually a negative word, although it has negative connotations. So the Church of Scientology is a Destructive Cult...

It can cost around $380,000 but normally a lot lot more...
http://www.clambake.org/archive/prices.html

Here is an article that explains why people might be duped into believing this stuff:
http://www.clambake.org/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html

Have you heard about Xenu, and that's what you thought was bananas?
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/xenu
http://www.xenutv.com/cruise/sp-closet.htm

Well its true, and here is the evidence... It all came out in a court trial where the Church confirmed these were the real OT levels, which also explained about Xenu, and the Body Thetans we are all inhabited with and most audit out of us (for more money of course, even though you audit them out yourself!).
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/fishman/index2.html

Answer 2

Your question is confusing. What do you mean by "recruiting" ?
All Churches, religions, promote themselves and seek to
increase there membership.
It seems you are upset by the Scientology Church's system of payment for it's services.
If that is the case here is some more information that might help
you to understand.
I think it's better to have more information before you decide whether something is "bananas" or not.

It is true that Scientology has various fixed donations for it's services. The amount depends only on the cost to deliver them and support the specific Church or Mission that is doing so.
The reason for this unusual financial set up for a Church is that Scientology is a new religion, only 53 years old. It does not have hundreds of years of accumulated wealth and property like other religions. It must operate and establish itself in the world according to the economics of today's society.
It selected the donation system it has as it's primary method of funding itself because it is the most equitable (fair) method.
Those who want the training and individual spiritual councelling should be the ones who contribute most to maintain the facilities that provide it.
Actually it is the individual spiritual councelling that is the more expensive to provide since it involves many highly trained professional staff, some of whom are trained at church expense for sometimes as long as 2 or 3 years, to be able to properly deliver it.
Doing the less expensive training courses includes spiritual councelling at no additional cost to the individual and is encouraged as the best route. But it is really up to the individual in terms of time and circumstances.

Clearing unwanted factors from your mind can be done at almost no cost through Dianetics. Infact if you read the book," Dianetics The Modern Science of Mental Health " it explains how to do it.
The Church provides very inexpensive Seminars and Basic Courses as well as free services, to train individuals in this technique, and other self improvement knowledge, which are simple to learn. This is something you can then also help another with and receive similar help in return.
Churches will also provide free Dianetic therapy and Scientology councelling to individuals who request it or are in need of help.

If you still think it's utterly "bananas" that's OK.
We are not trying to "recruit" you.

Answer 3

Scientology is not a cult, nor is it "bananas", it has been established both by scholars in academia and by court victories around the world as a bona-fide religion. The Church of Scientology even runs a website, cited at the bottom of my answer, explaining the tenets of the Scientology religion:

More than a system of belief, Scientology is an applied religion that plays a vital role in both the lives of its congregation and the community at large. It brings spiritual enlightenment to man by way of religious practices that advance him to higher states of spiritual ability and understanding, while providing practical solutions to every facet of day-to-day living.

"For scholars in the field of the history of religions, sociology and/or comparative religion, there is no doubt that Scientology is a religion." -- Dr. Christiaan Vonck, Rector, Professor of Philosophical Theology, Faculty for the Comparative Study of Religions, Belgium

Courts in the United States have always held that Scientology is a religion; indeed, in a September 1993 federal appeals court ruling, the judges pronounced that there had not been a single instance in which a United States court held otherwise.

The most significant official recognition of the Scientology religion came in October 1993 when the United States Internal Revenue Service granted full religious recognition to all churches of Scientology and related social betterment organisations, concluding after an exhaustive and thorough review that Scientology churches are established and operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes. The IRS also determined that Scientology is a bona fide religion and that the Church of Scientology met the detailed criteria of the IRS to qualify as a “Church.”

The IRS examination was not limited to the United States, but specifically included reviews of the financial affairs and activities of Church organisations from Australia to Europe. Its findings were uniform — churches of Scientology operate for the benefit of the public interest.

European governments have since then rendered similar recognitions of the religious and charitable status of churches of Scientology. Often, they were preceded by rulings of the leading courts.

Answer 4

Cult is not a good word nor a good thing.

Scientology seems to be a (religion?) or organization having wealthy individuals and some secretive happenings.

Answer 5

It scares me that so many "powerful" people are involved in it. Just look at what's happened to Tom Cruise lately........that's all the proof anyone needs as to the sanity of Scientologists.

Answer 6

Not any worse than the others but don't you think science fiction writers have a great sense of humor?

Answer 7

This is a question?

No, sorry, but I dont agree with anything you said. What are you comparing it to? Have you talked to any?

Answer 8

I don't like cutting up other religions but wow, that's something they believe in

Answer 9

can i have some ice cream some strawberry sauce and a cherry then?

Answer 10

@SS-backward is a better word!