Is Scientology really a cult?

Answer 1

Absolutely. It is 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. However, the truth deserves to be told, so here is the REAL truth:

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.

Answer 2

No, it's really a religion.
(but you should check out the actual definition of the word cult, since it now seems to have aquired a derogatory definition that isn't in the dictionary)
Scholastic criteria for a religion :
1. A belief in some Ultimate Reality, such as a supreme or eternal truth that transcends the here and now of the secular world;
2. Religious practices directed towards understanding, attaining or communing with this Ultimate Reality; and
3. A community of believers who join together in pursuing this Ultimate Religion.
Based on these criteria, ever scholar who has examined Scientology has concluded that it has the required elements of a religion.

Here are some of the names of those who have done independant studies of Scientology and made these conclusions:
Dr Bryan Ronald Wilson Oxford University England
Regis dricquebourg, Prof of Sociology of Religion Lille University France.
Prof Lonnie D. Kliever American expert on religion.
Dr J. Melton Founder/Director Institute for the Study of American Religion (Santa Barbara)
Dr Frank K. Flinn Prof in religious studies at Washington University.
Dr M Darroll Bryant Prof of Religion and Culture Universit of Waterloo Ontario Canada.
James A Beckford Prof Warick University England.
Michael A Sivertsev. Chrm for New Religions Russia
Mr Fumio Swanda One of Japans foremost authorities on religion and former director of Sophia University.
There are many more studies available. These are just a few.
With Scientology expanding to well over 10 million members in over 163 countries world wide the opinion of a dozen posters on Yahoo Answers will not change the fact that Scientology is a bonafide and expanding new religion in the 21st century.

Answer 3

No, Scientology is a religion that is persecuted because we are relatively new and therfore people don't understand our beliefs and practices. It really frustrates me when people make scientology out to be this evil and secretive group when they aren't even prepared to do actually find out anything about it. All I can say is that everyone is entitled to their opinion however, the common misbeliefs about scientology are not fair and we are not a cult.

Answer 4

Scientology is handiest fairly much less harmful than leaping into an energetic volcano. Study their teachings when you wish, however avoid their church. Noone will have to must spend four occasions what they make in a life-time to turn out to be enlightened.

Answer 5

Any 'religion', or form of belief, that is not grounded on the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross as the final sacrifice to save the world of their sins if they believe and accept Him is a cult. So yes, scientology is a cult.

Answer 6

Neither Thetaalwa is right nor ZERO COOL. Both are wrong so far as the Scientology is concerned.

Answer 7

A religion is simply a cult with political influence

Answer 8

Yes. The entire religion was made up by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard.

Answer 9

Yes, and one of the worst ones. It promises enlightenment and the entire point of it is making money for those who run it. It's founder, L. Ron Hubbard once said publicly 'The best way to make a lot of money and become powerful in this country is to start a religion.'
That's exactly what they did.

Answer 10

No of course not. Would all those Hollyweird types join a cult?