Any scientologists out there? I have to say Tom Cruise isn't exactly a good representative of that particular..em..religion. Is it true that is was founded by a sci-fi film director and why does it just seem a little craazzzzzyy? Am interested to know what the story is with it.
2006-12-02 01:35:46 · 16 answers · asked by confused 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Of course it's craaaazzzzzy... It's a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The “church” harasses & 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 & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. (visit this link to read about the uses of hydoxyzine: 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 (these souls are "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us & cause many of our mental & physical ills. Members who know about Xenu will attempt to deny it or pretend like it doesn’t matter. They are required to sign a contract binding them to silence on the matter. Lower level members don’t know about Xenu & accordingly deny everything because they honestly don’t know.
To rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" & 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 & 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) & 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.
2006-12-02 04:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I am a Scientologist. There are those who like to believe that Scientology is a load-o'-tripe. But what do they know. They've never been to a Scientology Church or read a Scientology book. If they did, then they would probably have something more intelligent to say.
For what it is worth, Tom Cruise is probably the most famous actor on Earth, he has lots of money, a beautiful wife, great kids, a young baby, nice houses, great personal connections. I don't know...doesn't sound like something wrong to me. Perhaps it is just the opinions of others that make him seem weird.
How can you say something is crazy when you don't even know what it is?
L. Ron Hubbard has 19 New York Times bestsellers. With over 230 millions copies of his works sold. Making him the world most published and translated author.
http://mediaresources.lronhubbard.org/press/page08.htm
L. Ron Hubbard wrote a secular booklet called The Way to Happiness. Over 60 million distributed so far. This book is improving societies the world over.
http://www.twth.org/results/
L. Ron Hubbard was a philosopher and his works led to Dianetics and Scientology which is now a fast growing religion, helping millions across the world.
http://www.dianetics.org/
http://www.scientology.org/
L. Ron Hubbard was also a poet/lyricist, musician, professional sailor and an explorer.
http://www.ronthepoet.org/
http://www.lronhubbard.org/yachtsmn/
http://adventurer.lronhubbard.org
L. Ron Hubbard obtained his Master of Steam and Motor Vessels license on 17 December 1940 from the US Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, and his Master of Sail Vessel license for “Any Ocean” on 29 March 1941.
http://www.scientology.org/html/en_US/l-ron-hubbard/professional-dozens-fields/master-mariner/sea-captain/index.html
He was also a professional photographer. And you are right he was also a film maker.
http://www.lronhubbard.org/eng/philoart/index.htm
Your are right also that L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer. He also wrote in numerous other genres too. In the 1930s he wrote in over 200 pulp magazines.
http://lronhubbard.com/eng/philoart/pulp.htm
He wrote a book called "Fear" which Stephen King stated "One of the few books in the chiller genre which actually merits employment of the overworked adjective ‘Classic,’ as in ‘this is a classic tale of creeping surreal menace and horror.’"
He wrote a book called "Final Blackout" which Robert Heinlein stated "Final Blackout is as perfect a piece of science fiction as has ever been written."
He later founded the "Writers of the Future" contest, which encourages new writers to create science fiction. The panel of which consists of many famous authors such as Frederik Pohl, Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey and many other great authors.
http://www.writersofthefuture.com
Science fiction author? Yes. Film maker? Yes. I think it is time you found out for yourself who L. Ron Hubbard really is.
2006-12-05 22:43:05 · answer #2 · answered by HeyNowBrownCow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scientology was created by L Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author, not a film director, although at least one of his books has since been made into a movie.
He figured that a religion would be a better way to make money after he saw the way his books sold.
In his later life L Ron Hubbard sailed the seas in a cruise ship stoned on barbiturates and other prescription drugs which his own religion proscribes.
The religion involves a systematic form of brainwashing that the followers themselves pay for.
Hubbards religion states that trillions of galactic criminals were flown to earth on a fleet of DC-10 airplanes and bombed to death by nuclear weapons while imprisoned in volcanos.
The spirits of these galactic criminals (called THETANS) are what causes all the problems in humanity which otherwise would be godlike in power.
2006-12-02 01:53:36 · answer #3 · answered by angle_of_deat_69 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Scientologists follow the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard. He is the author of many self-help books, the most successful of which is 'Dianetics'. The only problem that I see is that he instructs people in self-help instead of help from God. They are a cult. But a very serious one. They have doctors, lawyers, and many other highline people that belong to them. They have realtors, many money-making people that are in their cult. Politicians. Movie stars. Go to Clearwater, Florida and you will see just how much power they do have. They own close to half of downtown. Fort Harrison Ave. is their epicenter. Everywhere you look, they are there. It's more than a little unnerving. I went for a "job interview" there once when I lived in St. Pete, just south of Clearwater. It was completely ridiculous to me. It was almost as if they were trying to brainwash you to merely get a job. It didn't take me long to figure out that they were trying to recruit people to their 'religion', and not looking to give anyone a job. But they ARE strange! They have their own 'security' force, which tries to equate itself with the Clearwater P.D. ! WEIRD, WEIRD, WEIRD is all I can say about them.
2006-12-02 01:53:57 · answer #4 · answered by Darryl L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was founded like all misguided religions to make money and Tom Cruise is a very good representative of Scientology making loads of money for it. I personally don't care for Tom Cruse but he still has plenty of fans who do. L Ron Hubbard is the founder.
Merry Christmas XX Betty.
2006-12-02 01:48:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear "confused"
Can't say I find your "interest" very convincing. Looks to me
that your quite happy with your "fixed opinions".
There are lot's of Scientologists out here... over 10 million internationally and that figure is increasing at quite a rate these days.
Pretty craazzzzzy huh ??
If you really want a Scientolgist to answer a question of yours on this forum I suggest you ask more politely.
I for one am not going to excuse your rudeness just because you are so "confused".
2006-12-02 04:46:26 · answer #6 · answered by thetaalways 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
L. Ron Hubbard was a bad science fiction writer. He got his books published but they were flops, and then he wrote "Dianetics" which is the "religion" of You are God. Hmm..sound familiar? Looks like a bad re-write of Genesis 2 to me...from the snake's viewpoint. Yet people are always willing to listen to bad advice. So that was how Scientology was born, it's a bad writer's idea of how you can be your own God.
I wonder why people think that someone who failed in one profession think that it makes them experts in another?
2006-12-02 01:45:19 · answer #7 · answered by Dodi 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scientology is just like:
Islamism
Buddism
Hinduism
Christianity
Judism
Wiccanism
Paganism
And More
All Religions have two primary messages they push on all of us.
We have the answer and you don't!
Without us you can never live in paradise!
They only want to trick you. I tell you you this truth.
You are an eternal part of all that is created forever and forever!!!
Religion does nothing but divide humanity.
It this what you want? To divide the human family?
If religion is so wonderful, any religion, why don't you find a
way to unite all human beings?
What the hell or heaven is wrong with souls who embrace
some raging religion and hate others because they don't believe
what you do?
I am not insulting anyone who believes they are religious.
I just want to know why religion of any sort is so cold, so
selfish, so angry!
Every soul who is on this planet is trying to do the best
they can. Every soul who is on this planet wants to live,
to love, and to be safe!
If the god you believe in is so wonderful why don't you show
the rest of us the truth of it?
2006-12-02 01:50:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
honestly, this is the kind of question that should have gone straight to the search engines. scientology is really such a gray area as i believe not may practise that. it seems more like a celebrity religion or something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology
it remains as a controversial religion.
2006-12-02 01:39:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anna D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was founded by L.Ron Hubbard, a 2nd-rate Sci-Fi author. Yes, it's total BS.
2006-12-02 01:44:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋