What is wrong with Scientology?

Question

It seems a lot of people don't like it. Why?

Answer 1

It is a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The church harasses and bullies anyone who they deem an "enemy" (basically anyone who has anything negative to say about the "church"). They will RUIN YOUR LIFE if you speak out against them long enough.

The founder is L. Ron Hubbard, the science FICTION writer who once told a friend that the best way to make lots of money is to start your own religion. Though being a very outspoken critic of psychiatric drugs, it was discovered upon Hubbards death that the anti-anxiety drug hydroxyzine (Vistaril) was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric and pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. (link to page explaining what hydroxyzine is: http://www.drugs.com/MTM/V/Vistaril.html )

Scientologists believe the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by bringing them to earth & blowing them up inside volcanoes. They believe the souls of these aliens (called "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us & cause many of our mental & physical ills. Even members of the Church of Scientology who know of Xenu will publicly deny the existence of Xenu & Body Thetans, or attempt to minimize their importance. Scientology has many graduated levels through which one can progress. Many who remain at lower levels in the church are unaware of much of the these doctrines, which mostly begin at Operating Thetan level three, or "OT III". Because the information imparted to members is to be kept secret from others who have not attained that level, the member must publicly deny its existence when asked. OT III recipients must sign a waiver promising never to reveal its secrets before they are given the manila envelope containing the Xenu knowledge.

To rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" and also “engrams” (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind) so that we can become “clear”, we have to go through "auditing" with a member of the “church” who uses an "e-meter" to measure our “reactive mind”... & we have to pay lots and lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions) and to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”. The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional in everyday life. They deny the reality of chemical imbalance & profound mental disturbance & accordingly do NOTHING to effectively stabilize the dangerously unstable. The “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from member (with deadly results).

Scientology is undeniably a cult. For more information on what a cult is & what their damaging effects are, please visit the link provided at the bottom of the sources. Just know that Scientology DOES qualify by meeting these 5 criteria:

(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & 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.

Answer 2

From my viewpoint there must be a lot more people who really like it since it is now expanding at an unprecedented rate. Scientology is a new religion (less than 55 years old). So far there are over 10 million Scientolgists in more than 163 countries worldwide.

Must be an awful lot of things right about it for that kind of expansion.... and we are just starting, comparatively.
Here are some facts about 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 personal 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 10 million Scientologists in more than 163 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.

This is just an overview.
L. Ron Hubbard explained fully the theology and technologies of Scientology in more than 500,000 pages of writings, including dozens of books and over 2,000 tape-recorded public lectures.

Nothing WRONG with that!
While people's opinions on this forum may be of interest to you, you should be aware that "opinions" may or may not be based on any actual facts.

Answer 3

It is a cult founded by a science fiction righter named L. Ron Hubbard he believed that we came came from a great intergalactic alliance that was ruled over by an evil lord Margot who gathered up aliens from other galaxies froze the put there bodies in the Hawaiian volcanoes captured there souls brained watched them to think like humans and the souls went in the bodies of monkey and they evolved into people .Ive hurd crazy er story it basically takes the money of people without direction or meaning in there life make them feel important there are allot better things they could spend there money on if you don't want it some poor starving children in the U.S would like it.

Answer 4

They kind of have this slow process of sucking you out of all of your money with promises of revealing the 'truth.' They use celebrity members as a kind of hook into it and really don't start telling you a lot of the wacky stuff until you progress along the stages of what they see as your development. Basically they believe we are the spawn of aliens and they teach you the whole alien story that L.Ron Hubbard was supposed to be privy to. Hubbard was basically a zero in life until he hit on Scientology. He used to live on a boat with tons of women in the 50's before establishing the 'cult' in Tampa Florida. While I envy the man for the sex he must have had my advice to you is to stay as far away from them as you can.

Answer 5

As with all relgiions, hatred of women, Except, it goes a step further and says a woman in labor during this time of excruciating and almost unbearable pain must be absolutely quiet, have no drugs, and can't even cry. I'm a mother of two. I've been in labor, The first time, it was so bad they had to give me an emergency c section because I was in so much pain I started being unresponsive and wouldn't take the drugs. You could hear me three blocks away in the beginning. THe second time, itw as a planned section and all was calm.

That's one screwed up religion. Inhumane.

Answer 6

rather then the whole lot? in which the jews have been quite indians dwelling in the united states, and the entire different men and women have been additionally in the united states. in which you govern your possess planet and turn out to be a god? there is simply such a lot... i do not suppose they scouse borrow cash, however should you quite desire to understand, you can need to do your possess seek and notice for your self. and no longer simply concentrate to conjecture, that is how hatred begins. uncover a scientology web site, learn the ebook in which it got here from and notice for your self... it is even sillier than the stuff within the bible.

Answer 7

first they say they are against psychology. but the man they follow was psychologist and his findings are based on psychology he just didn't use one facet, he combined them all. you can't hate something if you are using it and incorporating it into your daily life.

second (this is personal) they call the churches "celebrity centers" it is very clear whom they want to attract.

third when you go to the church before you can attend a service you have to take a personality test and they want your ssn#.

fourth even if you liked the church and wanted to go and take apart you have to pay.

fifth (once again this is purely personal) i went to that church just curious and the people (well 2people in particular, but they were the reps of the church in NYC) were extremely rude and condescending.

to me that's enough to garner a "don't like".

furthermore Scientology claims that you can practice your chosen religion and be a Scientology's. God said "a slave can't serve two masters you must love one and hate the other"

whats up with the whole the planet was invaded by aliens and we have to cleanse our phyches from the "thetans" I believe they are called.

Answer 8

It would take a lot less time to answer the question "what isn't wrong with scientology?"

Answer 9

I think the main problem with it is just because it's so new. I don't know enough about it to have a real opinion about the religion istelf (does it suck? Is it legit?), but to me it just seems like a fad. Too many people are flocking to it in such a small time span, when most other religions take hundreds of years to gather any sort of spiritual momentum.

Answer 10

What is right about scientology?
it seems like a lot of insane people follow it. Why bother?

Does that answer your q....