Scientology, a cult, a religion, or money-makers ?

Question

Hello, i met some people from scientology, and they have a lot of media-coverage, like Tom Cruise and others as media-idols for scientology. In Germany scientolgy is in 1 line with al-qaida and are officially labeled Terror-elements, so in Germany Scientology is forbidden.

What is scientology, a cult, a true religion, or are they just making money , for asking enourmous amounts of money for their lessons ?

PS: no offence to scientology, just wondering...

Answer 1

Definitely a cult.

Scientology, which questionably calls itself a new "religion", is the brainchild of science fiction writer and occult enthusiast L. Ron Hubbard. The organization claims to be able to help rid members of any and all mental constraints including but not limited to emotional scarring (from this and "past" lives) due to "engrams" (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind), psychological disorders and chemical imbalances (the solution is to convince members that these things don't actually exist) & drug dependence (including legally prescribed psychopharmaceuticals which counteract the effects of psychological disorders Scientologists believe to be nonexistent).

The official Scientology organization is composed of a number of “levels”. One begins as a “preclear” and works their way up. One must purchase virtually every service crucial to advancement directly from the "church" and at staggering prices. "Auditing", for example, is purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions. Visit this link to see how $380,000 is a conservative estimate for the total cost of moving all the way up the Scientology hierarchal ladder: http://www.xenu.net/archive/prices.html
These are the total costs for auditing alone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business#Costs

At level OT III (Operating Thetan 3), some very strange and fiercely guarded secrets are imparted upon worthy members who have paid enough money to advance to such a level (and no, this isn't a joke): the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by kidnapping them, bringing them to earth in golden DC-8 “space-planes” & blowing them up inside volcanoes with hydrogen bombs. Scientologists believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") were captured, brainwashed and released; they then attached themselves to our ancestors (who passed them all the way down to us) & cause many of our mental & physical ills to this day. Auditing is said to “clear” us of these Body Thetans as well as the “mental implants” they supposedly impose on our minds.
http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/spaink-ot3.html
http://xenu.net/archive/leaflet/Xenu-Letter.pdf

Scientology has 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. The “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from member (with deadly results). Suspiciously, it was discovered upon Hubbard’s 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.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/ronthenut/16.gif
(visit this link to read about the uses of hydroxyzine: http://www.drugs.com/mtm/v/vistaril.html )

To be blunt, Scientology is a cult. It employs semi-legitimate psychotherapy and self-help methods to keep people loyal & convinced of its merit while it simultaneously sucks them dry financially and attempts to keep them far away from ANYONE, even friends and family, who would dissuade them from remaining in such a harmful situation. It’s a particularly greedy as well as manipulative & dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits. See this link for more information: http://www.lisamcpherson.org/

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Driven Brainwashing Cult

Answer 4

Personal opinion here but I think it is all of the above....I believe it is a religion of what exactly I couldn't tell you, but I do believe money plays a big factor in it, and it is a bit cult like, although they do have people who represent the Scientology movement ie Tom Cruise and others it is very secretive...I mean really what do you know about their fundamental beliefs.....It is hard to classify Scientology, that why I believe it's all of the above....but that's just my opinion....

Answer 5

Night hawk,
Provocative questions today, thank you!

Scientology has a pamphlet out that hacks the 10 commandments!
"You should not steal..."
"You should be honest..."
... I have read it and laughed!
They make a fool of people and mimick the goodness of the Holy Bible's wisdom, all while taking God out of the equation.
* It is a sad fraud.* RELIGION is to serve God, not man.
*****
Scientolgy is about self empowerment and self improvement so they should NOT call it a religion.
*****
They are an empty and vain, damned vessel with out the indwelling Holy Spirit and that is exactly what the devil wants.
The devil seeks to destroy, confuse and sedduce the masses.
Sadly, he has succeeded for some. Why not make a pawn out of the rich, powerful and famous to spread his blasphemy!
Honestly, God deserves SO MUCH better!
I can only earnestly thank God, that he lets me have the honor, of loving him.
There is hope for everyone including scientologists, it is never to late to get on the right track! God is excellently forgiving, patient, powerful and understanding. Just pray in Jesus Christ's name it is that simple and they are on there way! YEA!

Answer 6

I'm surprised no scientologists have responded to this question. The religion was founded by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard. I think John Travolta was in a movie made from one of his novels a couple of years ago.

The only other thing I know about scientology is this: L. Ron Hubbard said the best way to get rich is to start a religion. And then he did.

Answer 7

It's a screwy system. My wife's family has a few cousins caught up in it and when we had Christmas dinner 2 years back, they didn't say a word to us, wouldn't look up from their plate and would walk around the house in a big group. And considering that when they were in their teens, they were very outgoing and sociable people, Scientology is a cult. I'll go as far as to say it's a disease of the modern world.

Answer 8

I know Scientology since 1981, and what i received from Scientology was the answers that i have been search.

As spiritual religion For me is the mother of all the religions, as give the spiritual answers. And the evidence is that the life become more simple as one progress in Scientology.

If you want the real answers, please see the answers that give you in official Scientology sites. because other wise will be only interpretations.

Answer 9

It's a money-grubbing cult that operates like the mob, only there is no witness protection program to protect those who speak out against Scientology.

Answer 10

It's a cult.

South Park did a good job spoofing them in the episode "Trapped in the Closet".

The movie Bowfinger, made fun of them with their parody cult, Mindhead.

Answer 11

It's a cult masquerading as a religion in order to make money.