Can Atheists, Christians, Muslims, etc be Scientologist?

Question

I was browsing around the net and I came across a site that had a person stating he was an Atheist and also a believing member of Scientology. I've also heard from various sources that Christians can be Scientologist. Would this then make Scientology more of a philosophy than a religion?

Answer 1

Atheists yes, Christians and Muslims, yes but belief in God won't "jive" with Scientology doctrine so eventually they'd probably have to choose one or the other.

If you look closely at the position of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder & "prophet" of Scientology, you'll see that while Scientology claims that its members are free to believe in God and be Christians, it just doesn't make sense to be both. The fundamental beliefs are too much in conflict, and the "infallible" word of Hubbard teaches that Jesus didn't exist.

Christianity, as it's core tenet, teaches that Jesus Christ is our savior and messiah. Hubbard's teachings about Christ, however, deny this outright. In an earlier writing he states that Christ never existed but was only an idea electronically implanted in our minds (this implant is called "R6" by Hubbard).

"Somebody on this planet, about 600 B.C. found some pieces of 'R6.' I don't know how they found it; either by watching madmen or something. But since that time they have used it. And it became what is known as Christianity. The man on the cross; there was no Christ!"

Christianity teaches that, through Christ, one achieves redemption, making one worthy of heaven in the afterlife. Scientology, on the other hand, teaches that we are all immortal "Thetans", or spirits, which never actually die. According to Scientology, Thetans exist in many many physical bodies through time, but the death of the physical body never destroys the Thetan. Thus, the Thetan reincarnates over and over and never passes on to any "afterlife".

Christianity teaches that Heaven exists (and most denominations teach that Hell exists as well). Hubbard specifically denounced the idea of the existence of Heaven and Hell. Christianity also teaches that God (Yahweh) exists, and Hubbard was very skeptical of the idea of a "Big Thetan" ruling a place called "Heaven", a place he didn't believe exists.

Answer 2

Somehow, Scientology managed to get non-profit status in the US. Who knows what arms had to be twisted in Congress to get that one passed? I think this would be worth doing some research on!

The US is the only country on the entire planet that recognizes that organization as a "religion." All other countries classify it as a sect or cult and dangerous to public welfare. In quite a few European countries they are under police surveillance.

I guess one could be an atheist and still subscribe to certain belief systems that have nothing to do with God.

But when it comes to real religions, there is no such thing as
bigamist or dual religious beliefs.

I mean, it's not possible to be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time, is it?

But then again, Scientology is not a religion anyway. But thinking about incompatability, I suppose someone could not be a Scientologist (a lover of science, supposedly) and a Luddite (a rejecter of science and modern inventions) at the same time.

Your question about bigamist religious beliefs is really moot, null and void as Scientology is not a religion.

Answer 3

Scientology IS a philosphy, at least as was written about by L. Ron Hubbard. The CHURCH of Scientology, however, has developed it into a religion. It's not the same thing.

In the philosophy, yes, you could be a Christian AND a Scientologist. I know a lot of jewish+scientologists and mormon+scientologists and christian+scientologists. And certainly (since Scientology does not talk about God) I know many athetist+scientologists.

But if you join the CHURCH of Scientology, likely you'll have no time left for "your other church/religion" and also likely will be pressured to spend no more time with it.

Answer 4

A Christian, in the true sense of the word, cannot be a Christian and a Scientologist at the same time. I can't speak for the other religions. I think that most Christians would view Scientology as a cult or at the very least, a religion that does not support the teachings of Christ.

Answer 5

of course.

Scientology is an ALL denominational religion. It is an applied religious philosphy that is all about using pratical tools and answers to better ones life in the hear and now.

I believe that i know where you may have heard of this. Beliefnet.com has many areas where you can read up on Scientology, including many pro scientology message boards.

But the best area to learn about Scientology is by visiting your local church or mission of Scientology. Or by reading one of L. Ron Hubbards books. Like

Dianetics-the modern science of mental health
Scientology-fundamentals of thought, or
Scientology-a new slant of life

by just using scientology principles in one of these books or any others published by the church in whatever area in your life, you are a scientologist.

and we could care less about your race, color, background, or your religion.

Answer 6

Scientology is a "church" for NPO priveleges. They claim to be more of a business philosophy but when you get higher up the weirder it gets. They believe that we are alien spirits that attached to bodies and we can ascend that by holding on to two metal bars and "clearing" our spirits by sending a small electrical shock through your system. Scientology is a scam created by L ron hubbard in a bet in the 50's that he could make money off a religion if he created one. go to operation clambake on the net. it is pretty good. or watch the southpark of it. that one is actually a really good representation.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

It can be how we make it to be, as a christian I choose to keep it more bible logic. Philosophy is a way of making an op ion making up there own sense they felt the should believer just like science but you have to ask yourself how you are going to recieve it ??

Answer 9

they are all mutually exclusive viewpoints. I guess technically you could be an atheist and a scientologist, but I would question their atheism if they lacked the critical thinking skills to fall for scientology

Answer 10

Scientology + Christianity = No!