What is scientology? is it a cult or a religious organisation?

Answer 1

It is most certainly a cult.

Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:

1. It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members
2. It forms an elitist totalitarian society.
3. Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma.
4. It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds & recruit people.
5. Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

Are Cults Harmful?

To remain within the strict mental and social confines of a cult for even a short time can have the following disastrous effects:

Loss of choice and free will.
Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary and sense of humour.
Reduced use of irony, abstractions and metaphors.
Reduced capacity to form flexible and intimate relationships.
Poor judgement.
Physical deterioration.
Malnutrition.
Hallucinations, panic, dissociation, guilt, identity diffusion and paranoia.
Neurotic, psychotic or suicidal tendencies.


To experienced newbie: I don't WANT Scientology to pass any test. It simply does. That's it. Just because you DON'T want it to pass the test doesn't mean it didn't.

Answer 2

Scientology defines itself as an applied religous philosophy.

It is very popular, and has grown rapidly across the globe. It has been attacked by psychiatrists globally because it proved that ones IQ is not constant and can be changed, which violated a tenant of Psychiatry.

Scientologists speak out and protest barbarisms of Psychiatry such as Electroshock and psycho-surgery, which has garnered them some friends, some allies and some enemies. They believe that first you must do no harm.

The IRS fought them for years and then granted them non-profit status as a religious organization.

A cult can be defined as "any group with strong personal beliefs" which definition would include all religions. Detractors and the media will often brand something a Cult. That's a quick way to ratings and viewers, and that sells commerical advertising which is their motivation.

Scientology Organizations and Churches have inexpensive and free introductory services and courses, many of which have been very valuable to me.

One definition of Scientologist: "A person who improves conditions in life for themselves or others by using Scientology Technology" still applies to me. I haven't been in a Church of Scientology in over a decade, but what I've learned there is valuable to me and I still use it to help myself and others, therefore, by that definition I am a Scientologist.

To Zero Cool and those whose answers are that the Church of Scientogy is simply a cult I respond thusly: sorry, but the behavior of the Church of Scientology toward me does not justify your answer. My experience is different than yours. Just because you want it to meet the test for a Cult doesn't make it so.

Answer 3

I see Scientology as more of a group or club. I think it is fairly expensive to be a member but so is any religion. True, you don't have to give a tithing but you are normally looked down upon if you don't.

Like all organizations, people fear what they don't understand. Tom Cruise has done the scientologists a HUGE disservice-my hunch is that he has effectively embarrassed many.

But, like all religious groups and/or organizations, there are always going to be fanatics. Fanatics do not make the entire group bad.

Am I a scientologist? No.

I am Gnostic in my beliefs but, I also was a practicing witch (not wiccan) for a while as well -so I do know about the irrational fears and beliefs that ignorance causes.

It's never a good idea to point fingers at others because there are tons who will in turn, point the finger (and I do mean THE finger) at you.

Answer 4

A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith. It is very important that we recognize cults and avoid any involvement with them. Cults often teach some Christian truth mixed with error, which may be difficult to detect. There are some features common to most cults:
They do not adhere solely to the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. They add their "special revelations" to the Bible as equally authoritative.

They do not accept that our relationship to Jesus Christ is a reality "by grace through faith" alone, but practice instead a salvation by works.

They do not give Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, full recognition as the second Person of the Trinity, composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Some of these groups are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists, Scientologists, and others.

Answer 5

Kerri, from what I've read about it, it is more or less a personal philosophy - more or less putting all the attention onto yourself to make yourself as good as you can be and as successful as you can be. It is not god related so I would not say it is a religion - very misleading in that regards. They do not believe in a supreme being, an afterlife, sin, etc. Christianity for example puts the emphasis on being humble and taking your attention off yourself and onto others and of course your creator, God. Also, it almost could be considered a cult as most scientologists will only marry other scientologists or those who will agree to being one and as you can see from Tom Cruise's latest episodes, they can be very aggressive. I was going through Clearwater for the first time and saw this big building with people going in and out like bees at a beehive with little clipboards in their hands. Later that week out of curiosity, I walked by the building and saw the sign "home of Scientology". I got a very eerie feeling, almost demonic and said, get me out of here. Anyway, that is my take on it. Hope that helps.

Answer 6

A very dangerous cult, members of which have been convicted of manslaughter in Florida, totally isolates its members, and feeds them propaganda on a 24/7 basis. Cult, cult, Cult. I am rooting for bring out the Kool Aid at their next party.

Answer 7

a million) Jehovah's Witnesses are not from now on a cult 2) Jehovah's Witnesses are in all diverse lands & international places international 3) Likening the KKK to Jehovah's Witnesses is ridiculous. that's exciting to computer screen that Jehovah's Witnesses reject the bypass used in worship as all of us know the pagan origins of it. The Ku Klux Klan on the different hand, used the bypass as a emblem of hatred and intimidation hostile to Black people. See the link there? 4) u . s . a . isn't the centre of the universe. it would want to be prudent to honestly carry out a touch study into different countries, before asking this kind of query contained in the destiny

Answer 8

Scientolgoy is a religion and a cult. Because all religions started out as cults.

Answer 9

Depends on who you ask. They think there religious everyone else thinks there a cult. Then again there ideas are not so far fetched, compared to other religions. You can believe that were descended from aliens, or that some virgin gave birth, to a guy who walked on water and turned water into wine. They are both a little far fetched.

Answer 10

A cult of materialism