Is Scientology any sillier than Christianity?

Answer 1

Balaam's talking donkey isn't silly? its in the bible, so its a TRUE STORY ... right?

teaching kids in science class that the earth is 6000 years old isn't silly? (well, actually, its more pathetic than silly)

Adam and Eve isn't a silly story?

Noah and the ark isn't a silly story?

shall i go on?... there're LOTS more examples

Answer 2

The person who said scientologists dont believe in medicine for their kids has the wrong group. I think they mean christian scientists (which is christian). There is a difference between medicine and just drugs.

And yes scientology doesnt believe it giving 10% of your income to the church so they can give it as charity to people. They believe that charity doesnt solve a problem. Consider the "teach a man to fish" proverb. Altho they do show up on all the disaster teams and search squads.

But Im guessing that none of that is whats meant by the question. The "silly" parts of Scientology are easier to find on the net than the "silly" parts of Christianity even though there are more sites for the christianity thing. I guess the anti-scientology sites just have better PR people.

It might also help if you tightened it abit. How many christian groups do you want to include? the no-medicine group? the dance with poisonous snakes group? the moonies? the mormons? Waco? templars? baptists? catholics? monks? nuns? the vatican? (satanists?)

Answer 3

What is your purpose with this question?
Are you looking to bash 2 religions at the same time?
I suppose your ecomomy with your Yahoo Answers points in your pursuit of general religion bashing should be acknowledge at least (?)
Just for the record, here is an accurate description of the religion of Scientology:

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 53 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.

But I don't consdier any religion "silly" and I get 2 points for saying so !!! Thanks for the opportunity.
I think my economy of "points" is much more efficient than yours actually.

Answer 4

Scientology is WAY sillier, since Christianity isn't silly at all.

Answer 5

Well, imagine a troupe of dancing pigs ... now that would be silly! But, in all seriousness, I don't think there's anything all that silly about Scientology or Christianity.

Both have been established as bonafide religions. They are different, but they are actually compatible with each other. A Christian can be a Scientologist as Scientology has no specific dogma as to the nature of God, but rather allows each person to decide this for themselves.

Here is some more info on Scientology that you might be interested to know:

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’s commitment to social betterment activities also includes rehabilitating criminals and teaching people right from wrong.

The aims of Scientology are a civilization without war, without insanity and without criminals, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights and man is free to rise to greater heights.

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

What do you mean there is nothing silly about Christianity, except not realizing you need a Savior

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S,and the fullness thereof;the world,and they that dwell therein.

2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,a workman that needeth not to be ashmed rightly dividing the word of truth.
Here a surprise your one of the people that dwell in the earth,and he Loves You Just Because he does.
once you come to realize you need a Savior and this is a daily walk you'll be fine
Have a Blessed Life & read your Bible everyday.

Answer 7

They are about the same, the only difference being is that we are able to prove that the guy that came up with Scientology was on mental meds, Christianity is much too old.

Answer 8

Im getting to feeling you dont really know what scientologists believe. let me give you an Idea

Scientology 101

Scientologists believe that a long time ago an alien leader in the galactic confederacy gathered up a bunch of aliens from every where flew them to earth, positioned them around the volcanos and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. The souls of these aliens are now running around wreaking havoc in our world today.

They also believe the only way to get rid of these aliens souls is to pay the church money so they can tell you how clearly you are (or arn't depeneding on how you look at it lol) thinking.

They guy who started this cult was also a science fiction writer.

Now we all know what christianity's story is and although there are many unexplained things in the bible, At least it makes sense and our offerings that we give to church helps towards the greater good of the world. When scientologists pay money to get their level of clarity checked their money goes towards paying of a huge cruise ship that john Travolta gets to go on alot

Answer 9

I don't know much about scientology. I do know that the first word in Christianity is Christ. Christ is real. He is the son of God. A Christian is a person who follows the teachings of Christ. Since Christ is real , how can that be silly? Sorry to answer your question with a question, but there it is.

Answer 10

About Scientology

One day a few years back a local deputy sheriff handed me a copy of a beautifully presented 590-page paperbound book entitled What Is Scientology? A guidebook to the world's fastest growing religion. He told me that someone just that week had delivered a big box of these books to the local county jail to be distributed without charge to any prisoner who would accept one. He thought that I might also be interested in seeing a copy. He was right. The subject of religion always interests me, and I am particularly interested in any religion that is said to be growing faster than all others worldwide.

Of course I had heard of Scientology before reading this book. In general, my impressions have not been positive, perhaps due in part to the decidedly negative disposition of the American media on the subject. The critical pieces have been ongoing and widespread, including the October '91 Reader's Digest article that termed Scientology a "dangerous cult...a racket disguised as a religion..." Five months earlier, Time magazine's cover story had referred to Scientology as a "thriving cult of greed and power...a ruthless global scam..." There are also all those multi-million dollar lawsuits that Scientology seems to constantly be filing. Many famous people like John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and Tom Cruise are associated with Scientology, but often in controversial ways, as was the case when it was learned a few years ago that Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson was actually being used as bait to recruit her husband, Michael Jackson, into the church. All in all, it's been fairly difficult to be very objective in my analysis.

By reading this book, published by the Church of Scientology itself in 1993, I felt that perhaps I might be able to give Scientology a fairer hearing. I made a sincere attempt to compensate for my predisposed orthodox Christian bias and instinctive tendency to measure what I read against Christian Scripture. Yet even from a purely objective point of view it occurs to me that there would be problems with the credibility of Scientology on at least two counts. Let me address them separately, and directly, to any of our readers who may be scientologists. If you choose to respond, perhaps we can pursue the dialogue further.

1. If Scientology and Dianetics is "the only thing that can show you who you really are" (text, p431), what about all those who came before Scientology and Dianetics? Why would such a "helpful" and "tested" route to truth and self-improvement have been withheld (by God?) from the human race until one Lafayette Ron Hubbard finally came along in the middle of the twentieth century? The fact that Hubbard alleges Taoism to be "an ancestor to Scientology" and the scientologist "a first cousin of the Buddhist" notwithstanding, certainly no one had ever heard of ARC breaks, engrams, electropsychometers, pre-Clears, MEST, Operating Thetans, disconnection, and hatting before 1911. Might it rather be that this absolutely ingenious, brilliant, multi-talented man who traveled thousands of miles, spoke and wrote over 40 million words on the subject of Scientology during his lifetime, sold millions of books, and made millions of dollars, had actually, deliberately gone about fulfilling his own 1949 musing (related six years before establishing the Church of Scientology in W.D.C.), that "if a man wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."

2. How can Scientology be considered credible when it insists that it "respects" and "does not conflict with other religions" (text, p435) that clearly conflict with it? How can Scientology say "there is no attempt to change a person's beliefs, or to persuade him away from any religion to which he already belongs" (text, p435) when to identify with Scientology may necessarily involve the categorical denial of doctrines that a particular religion affirms? For instance, in terms of Scientology and Christianity, consider that Scientology "has no dogma concerning God" (text, p436) but Christianity does. Further, Scientology denies orthodox Christian teaching regarding hell, sin, the exclusivity of salvation through Christ ("There are probably many types of redemption", p435), and the fallen nature of man ("Scientology is based on the premise that man is basically good" (text, p434).

For Scientology to try to "include" Christianity is a little like the Mafia announcing that all FBI agents are cordially welcome to join the Mob. The two, by definition, stand in diametrical opposition to one another. You can¹t have it both ways and, by implying that you can, Scientology clearly loses credibility.

Sources and further references: What Is Scientology? (see above), The Phoenix Lectures, Hubbard, © 1969, Church of Scientology

Author: Daryl E. Witmer of AIIA Institute

Answer 11

If scientology is silly as well as christianity, it's good to know that your breathing oxygen and not carbon dioxide.