why do so many people bash Scientology when they have no true concept what it consists of outside propaganda?

Question

I have known a great deal of people, in which I have known for 6 (+) years, who have been profoundly influenced and helped in ways they never imagined possible by Dianetics. It seems so many people who know absolutely nothing about the practice of scientology or what it is truely about enjoy bashing this study of the human mind and how powerful it can become. So many people bring up the fact that the classes cost money, but that is what they are...CLASSES of STUDY. Why are people so afraid of things in which they truely do not understand? You cant judge what an apple is if you have never seen, held or tasted one.

Answer 1

Church of Scientology: What Is It?
The Church of Scientology International was founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. Based principally on his book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950), Hubbard created a “religious” institution to promote his unique psychological theories. Organizations associated with Scientology include Applied Scholastics, Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Concerned Businessmen of America, Hubbard Dianetics Centers, Narconon/Criminon, Religious Technology Center, Sterling Management Systems, and The Way to Happiness Foundation. Publishing ventures include New Era Publications, Bridge Publications, Inc., and Freedom magazine.

The Church of Scientology sprouted from the creative genius of Lafayette Ronald Hubbard. Born in 1911, he spent much of his childhood on his grandfather’s Montana ranch while his parents served abroad in the U.S. Navy. During the 1920’s, Hubbard started to visit his parents in Asia, where he was introduced to Taoism, Buddhism, and other eastern philosophies.

Hubbard later developed a career as a science fiction writer and claimed to have explored the world. He allegedly received near fatal wounds in World War II, and developed his unique theories of science and philosophy while healing. These “discoveries” were later revealed to the public in his book, Dianetics.

In 1954, Hubbard formed the Church of Scientology to promote his ideas and techniques as a religious movement. His books and “church” spread worldwide, while Hubbard became a secretive recluse. He died in 1986, after spending most of his last years traveling around quietly on his yacht.

Church of Scientology: What Does It Teach?
The Church of Scientology teaches that mankind is immortal and divine. Man is composed of three dimensions: soul (“thetan”), mind (an accumulation of all experiences in multiple lives), and body (the temporary and physical dimension).

God is a vague concept. Scientology defines the Supreme Being with terms such as “infinity” and the "allness of all."

“Engrams” are the unconscious mental images that we record in our “reactive mind” that have negative effects on our present and future lives. They are learned from our past lives, prenatal experience, and early childhood, and prevent us from realizing our divine nature and experiencing a happy and fulfilled life. Engrams can only be removed from our mind through dianetic counseling. This process of counseling is called "auditing," and involves an "E-meter" (Electropsychometer), a device invented by Hubbard that helps a client discover and remove engrams from the unconscious mind. The goal of auditing is to travel from “preclear” to "clear," where a person is expunged of all engrams and their negative effects on the mind and body.

Since people experience many thetan reincarnations over thousands of years, auditing usually requires the clearing of engrams from past lives. The ultimate goal of auditing is to completely liberate the thetan from “MEST” and attain total spiritual awareness and oneness with infinity. MEST is an acronym derived from matter, energy, space, and time, which composes the physical universe and hold the thetan captive. The “doctrine” of Scientology has been compiled by the Church of Scientology International in the book, What is Scientology? (1978). Dianetic auditing sessions may cost as much as $1,000 per hour.

Church of Scientology: Who Cares?
The Church of Scientology has been called a "thriving cult of greed and power. . .a ruthless global scam. . ." (Time magazine, May 1991). It has also been declared a "dangerous cult. . .a racket disguised as a religion. . ." (Reader's Digest, October 1991).

Scientology always seems find its way into the popular media. If it’s not a multi-million-dollar lawsuit, it’s a famous personality making a controversial statement. All we know is that Hubbard was an absolute genius. He was a fantastic speaker and prolific writer who sold millions of books and made millions of dollars by creating and marketing his own religion. In 1949, L. Ron Hubbard was quoted as saying, "If a man wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." Well, it seems that Mr. Hubbard proved himself right.

Church of Scientology-how does it compare to Christianity?


Scientology believes that man is an immortal, spiritual being with unlimited capabilities whose experience extends beyond a single lifetime. Through Scientology he is able to not only solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also achieve new, higher states of awareness and ability.

Christianity believes that only God is immortal, and only He is the key to salvation. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible, the authoritative Word of God. Jesus was God in the flesh, and He died for our sins. He arose from the dead three days later. The only way to salvation is accept him as our Lord and Savior.


Scientologists do not ask anyone to accept anything on faith or belief. Each person reaches their own “truth” according to what is true for them, and every person’s truth is different.

John 14:6 says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the truth, and eternal life only comes through Him.

Answer 2

Because on this forum "bashing" religions has become a sport.
Pretty much every religion gets bashed on here and Scientology is no exception.
Unfortunately the general tone of society has sunk to an all time low. The media, which constantly bashes and ridicules or tries to alarm and promote a dangerous environment, has destroyed independant thinking and personal observation for the most part. Especially among the younger generation which is the main demographic on Yahoo.
People prefer to live in their own heads or keep them stuck on TV's or Internet sites or video games rather than actually look for them selves.
There are many things that people have no true concept of. Scientology is just one more.
Scientology specializes in making people more able and aware. But they have to have at least some self awareness to appreciate the fact that this might be needed in the first place.

Answer 3

I don't know that I've ever bashed Scientology, but give me a chance, you might be surprised.

I have engaged in in-depth conversations with them and I've come to the conclusion that the religion is bogus. It doesn't do what it promises.

Of all the people who you say have been helped, how many are living eternally right now? If the religion can't do that, then it is, at best, a useful belief system only as long as you're here on this earth. At worst, it's a scam to get your money.

You can always make an educated guess by assessing the ethical standards of those in management. If the leaders are liars, they are setting a policy standard that the rest of the company will follow. I've seen L. Ron Hubbard in 30-minute adds, and he looks to me like a double-talking slime ball that I wouldn't trust with anything.

Before you offer your life to anything, you owe it to yourself to demand evidence. If your life is worth something to you, certainty is not too much to ask, and I don't think that Scientology can offer it.

Christianity can. You can have a free sample any time you want, and you can go straight to God to get it without ever giving your money to anyone else, without following anyone else's formula, without joining any organization.

You don't get a more honest and transparent religion that this one.

Answer 4

Well, you can study Scientology without joining the cult. I guess you havent been in it long enough to see its corruption, but I have no doubt you will. Although there are alternitives....That are guesss what "FREE" Forever...NO cost.....

Here is the link for Free Zone America...It is a site for people who want the benefits of scientology without having to pay to join thier cult. Dianetics is a wonderful tool and does work!!!!!!! The church is corrupt unfortuantly tho.....(it also has absoulutely no connection with the church of scientology.

Answer 5

I dont know about "Bashing", what I do know is the one experience I had. That made me not real keen on the religon. I was working as a care-giver for this elderly lady. When I came in one morning I saw that she couldnt even move. The evening before, she had fallen. Her hip was swollen, bruised and I couldnt touch her without hurting her. When I asked her family to call for a doctor, they said they call one of the "elders?" To pray for her, which to me was all fine, but what about a doctor. I was told they wouldnt take her to a doctor, that if God wanted her healed she would be. Now Im not saying this is how others believe, but when I asked what religon. I was told Scientology. Their mother was in pain, and they didnt do anything. She did died, because developed Pnemonia.

Answer 6

I have spoken to former members and read testimony of people who have been severely burned by Scientology. It is based on money and lies, period. It preys on ignorant people who are looking for something in their lives that is missing and the people there tell them everything they want to hear.

Watch the South Park episode about Scientology... it answers a whole lot of questions in a very humerous manner.

It's extremely sad that people buy into the garbage they are selling. What they teach gives people completely WRONG information (worse that the Christian bible), outright lies. It preaches against drugs but the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, was on several different types of antidepressants even as he ran the church from his boat.

A quote by Mr. Hubbard:

"I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is."
L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd A. Eshbach, in 1949; quoted by Eshbach in OVER MY SHOULDER: REFLECTIONS ON A SCIENCE FICTION ERA, Donald M. Grant Publisher. ISBN 1-880418-11-8, 1983

It was all his dream to make money and too many people fell for it. They treat children horribly, using them as housekeepers while preaching that they provide them with schooling. It's a horrible organization (NOT a religion, no matter how much they scream that it is). Even L. Ron said it is not a religion. "Scientology...is not a religion." -- L. Ron Hubbard, THE CREATION OF HUMAN ABILITY, ISBN 0884044300, 1954, p. 251 Yet they screamed they are so they could get tax breaks and non-profit status.

It's a sham, every single bit of it. And all of those people are too ignorant to know better.

Answer 7

Because unlike other religions you have to pay tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds to get up to the secret levels of OT only to find out that an evil warlord, Xenu, has trapped us all on this Earth, brainwashed us and that's why we have so many problems. What these OT's do is nothing but convince themselves that they have these body thetans that they need to get rid of because Xenu planted them there. Complete science fiction, if you ask me, but buy the time you've paid a few hundred thousands pounds into the cult, you WILL convince yourself that it is for real and all that money hasn't gone into waste. Power of the mind? Anyway, check out www.xenu.net you'll get lots of information on it. I have seen a very close friend waste his life away with these lunatics. Before, he was a successful business man and now ended up begging on the streets.

Answer 8

I think youre confusing people bashing scientology with people bashing Tom Cruise.

Or maybe the people who are bashing are confusing Tom Cruise with scientology.

Either way, in all honesty, hes not the greatest person to have representing your belief system. His arrogance and such get on peoples nerves. If youre trying to get people to look into and learn about your ideas, having Cruise spread your message definitely isnt the best way.

I think thats why many people have a lets say...pre-disposition to bashing scientology.

Answer 9

I can tell that murder is a bad thing without ever having committed one. No, really, I can. Maybe you can't, but I can. This is what I'm talking about: http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/

And I know that keeping a person from harming himself and others is a GOOD thing... which SHOULD have happened in the case of Jeremy Perkins if his parents hadn't been Scientologists and prevented him from taking the medication that would have stabilized him and kept him from stabbing his mother to death: http://www.scientomogy.com/jeremy_perkins.php

And you want to hear it from the horses mouth? Fine... just take a look here:
http://www.watchman.org/sci/sciscoop.htm
http://www.whyaretheydead.net/mirror/xenu.ca/ex/index.html
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/exsci.htm?FACTNet
http://www.xenu.net/entheta/entheta/1stpersn/

Answer 10

I thought Tom Cruise acting like a loon was enough for me. They also covered up a murder in Florida while I was down there. I don't remember the specific details....but they seemed VERY shady.

I think all religions are silly....but the more recent ones seem more silly. Scientology is recent.

They seem to target those with money for conversion. That makes me highly suspicious.

It was started from a sci-fi book...from a mediocre writer at that.

Answer 11

Scientology works off the concept that even if you have the knowledge of how the apple tastes, you didn't get it from us so your knowledge isn't valid. Thats why.