Does anyone in here belive that scientology really is effective, and is worth looking into?

Question

Maybe not so much as a religon because I've heard you can practice scientology as well as being a catholic... I keep hearing they have very good tools to use for dealing with situations in life... or is it all just a bunch of non-sense?

Answer 1

It's a bunch of nonsense.

Their "Dianetics" program s the basis of the cult of Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard (the science fiction writer and prophet of Scientology) called Dianetics "The Modern Science of Mental Health".

Part of Dianetics is something called "auditing". This consists of holding 2 tin cans which are connected to a machine capable of detecting changes in the electrical resistance of skin. The person being audited is told to recount negative incidents from this "and past" lives in order to "clear" themselves of the "engrams" associated with these incidents.

In Dianetics and Scientology, an engram is defined as an unconscious, painful memory. It is stored in the stimulus-response unconsciousness (the "reactive mind") rather than as a normal memory.

It could conceivably be classified as a "personal development" book as it claims to be able to assist adherents in becoming "able to function at his or her full potential". Of course, Dianetics mainly exploits the suggestibility of participants, putting them almost into an hypnotic trance, while employing semi-legitimate forms of psychotherapy. It is NOT a science as it claims and has repeatedly been dismissed as pseudoscience or quackery by scientists, medical doctors and science historians.

The only "benefit" to society that Scientology claims (besides 'treating the Thetan' through auditing) is it's drug rehabilitation program (which is utterly ineffective and whose "success" statistics have been manipulated or outright doctored by Scientology) and it's "stand" against psychiatry.

This is a site that takes a critical look at their drug rehabilitation program which goes by the name of "Narconon": http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/index.html

And here's an article entitled "Scientology's War On Psychiatry": http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/07/01/sci_psy/index_np.html?pn=1

Answer 2

Some people do believe that it is effective. And I'll even go out on a limb here and say that for some few people it actually does provide beneficial results. I think I can safely say the same about almost all religious institutions.

BUT I will say that it is simply not the case that Scientology provides all the benefits described in the book 'Dianetics'. The supposed endpoints of Scientology, 'clears', used to actually be presented for public view until they were all horribly, horribly debunked. If Scientology really did rid people of all their negativity and unlock massive mental and physical resources, I would think this would be all but blatantly obvious to everyone around.

Yet people who leave the organization report almost the opposite experience - leaders who are sometimes spiteful, greedy, and as emotional as everyone else, and NO manifestations of supposed superhuman feats. Even if these are the exceptions, one would expect that if the top of the top really were especially well-operating, all these exceptions would be exceptionally easy to find and eliminate. But this does not happen.

Still, even if it doesn't work as a rule, that doesn't mean it can't work from time to time. Keep an open and rational mind, discern what truth can be found, and then move on.

Peace.

Answer 3

I personally do not believe that scientology offers anything to a person worth using as a tool for helping in life I also think that is a cult. but I am a firm believer in doing research before making any belief desicions in your life -- so do the research -- see how it works with your own beliefs and religion -- if it can work give it a try if not well thats why you did the research.

(I am catholic and I can tell you that nothing in scientology makes sense to me or my own beliefs as a christian)

Answer 4

Boethius states that goodness is happiness, so if anything is really worth looking into, it is good things that will make you happy.

Buddha states that the purified mind is the absolute soul. Any sort of cleansing scientology is trying to do is intentionally or unintentionally trying to clean the mind of corruption. So either way, there's a good chance that a man with a pure mind will not be a slave to money.

Answer 5

This religion is a bunch of non-sense. If you are looking for tools to deal with life, then go to church or start reading the I-Ching book. If you have a lot of money and want to donate it to a bunch of weirdo's then proceed with the scientogy religion.

Answer 6

I don't. No it's not worth looking into. Look into having faith in Jesus Christ. It's not a religion. Being a Christian is a way of life. Trying to live as Christ would. He loves you and wants a personal relationship with you.

Answer 7

I think that it is a form of Gnosticism, and it should be judged in accord with its claims and its merits. As far as what it provides for people, it provides a system of convictions about human existence that aids its adherents in terms of personal meaning and purpose for one's life. As far as its basic principles, metaphysics and foundational narrative-- it seems, in my own estimation, more than a little bit far fetched, especailly in its reaction against the modern psycho-therapeutic movement, which it counters by advocating another form of modern therapy. I think that you might garner more in terms of wisdom for life by studying Plato or Aristotle.

Answer 8

It is a wacko cult. It was started by a wacko. There is no connection between Scientology and Catholicism.

Answer 9

I don't think so. Since L. Ron Hubbard made it all up, he became very rich. In fact a quote from him states that a good way to make money is to make up your own religion.

Answer 10

It is the second option: a bunch of nonsense.Just a way to get money from naive people.