Do you consider Scientology a cult?

Question

If so, why?

Answer 1

Yes of course I do. Why? Because the organization is structured and operates just like a cult. If it looks like a cult and acts like a cult and thinks like a cult, it IS a cult.

Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:

(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members.

Read here about the use of mind control and brainwashing in Scientology: http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/pignotti/
This article was written by Monica Pignotti, Cult Intervention Specialist and former Scientologist.
Here is more information about Scientology "TR's", or Training Routines (which are billed as a way to improve communication skills, but whose real purpose is to plant the seeds for thought control): http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/TR/

(2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society.

It is official Scientology policy to label anyone who disagrees with the practices of or questions the validity and/or benignity of Scientology as a “Suppressive Person”. The policy also requires members to “disconnect” from them.

(3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & has charisma.

Meet L. Ron Hubbard:
http://www.xenu.net/entheta/entheta/media/tv/secret/secret.html
http://www.xenutv.com/int/secretlives.htm
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/Bare%20Faced%20Messiah.pdf
http://slate.msn.com/id/2122835/?nav=ais

(4) It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds & recruit people.

Absolutely. After all, Hubbard DID create his own religion on order to scam people out of their money: http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/scientology/hubbard.htm
Scientology is, in fact, seen as nothing more than a business in many countries (which is why, in those countries, it is appropriately NOT regarded as a religion). Here's the Wikipedia article on "Scientology as a business": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business
And nothing is too low for them: if people leave the church under unfavorable conditions, the church then charges them a "free-loader debt" which is basically retroactive billing for any auditing received or any Scientology training received while in the Sea Org, which can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/history/history15.html#European

(5) Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

The only "benefit" to society that Scientology claims 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

In addition, it's doctrinal teachings are structured in typical cult fashion: the more benign, seemingly beneficial teachings are kept on "the outside", meaning they will teach it to anyone who wants to know as a way to lure in victims, a way to show how truly dedicated the cult is to helping and saving mankind. The more bizarre and sinister teachings are kept secret at the cult's inner core, and the victim must be assimilated and indoctrinated before they can be exposed to the REAL fundamental doctrines of the cult. This is EXACTLY what Scientology does.

Scientology talks of creating a world without hate, without war, etc etc. It offers it's "auditing" and "ethics" which on the surface seem a bit outlandish but possibly effective. The victim then begins pumping more and more money into the cult, paying for "a path to salvation" and all the while becoming more and more reprogrammed by the cult. Scientology's higher level of "Operating Thetan 3" is attained only by members who jump through numerous, VERY expensive hoops (the expenses total in the hundreds of thousands).

Once they've FINALLY reached "OT 3", Scientology teaches them this:
http://xenu.net/archive/leaflet/Xenu-Letter.pdf

Answer 2

This word "cult" has been recently deliberately redefined by certain vested interests via the media ( You can very this by looking in a good English dictonary for correct definitions so you know this for yourself.)
So unfortunately today when you ask a question like this
about a religion you are automatically asking for agreement with a "negative label".

Which is exactly what those vested interests intended.

Yet another example of the manipulation of "public opinion" via the media and a deliberate attempt to prevent people from looking at the facts for themselves.

Just for the record as a Scientologist myself for the past 36 years I can say with some actual personal knowledge of it,
that I consider Scientology a religion.

Answer 3

A cult turns into a religion after 100 years.

Answer 4

No, I practice Scientology. It is a Religion which happens to have it's technical basis codefied fully.

Foe the gentleman above me
Scientologist's work tirelessly to help people in all areas of life. Go to www.volunteerministers.org for the truth.

I am a Scientologist, I went to a fire zone in Victoria last year to assist locals and firefighters. I spent my money to get there and other Scientologist also put up money for our accomodation. We helped 600 firefighters and many local people. We cleaned gutters, gave assists to firefighters, helped serve meals, set up tent, helped organise the CFA staging area with all the other Department of Natural Resourse people.

Answer 5

What is a cult?
In accordance with dictionary.com a Cult is:
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
Under this definition all religions are cults!
But the definition that is used the most is:
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
Any religion that you consider false is a cult (but Scientologist don't live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader).
So any religion can be a cult depending of the point of view of the observer.
For example: Jesus Christ was persecuted, captured and killed because he was considered to be a cult leader. Christians were persecuted and killed for centuries because they were considered to be cult members. To this day Christians in China have to worship in hiding (members often living outside of conventional society) . And in some Muslim countries the punishment for spreading the cult Christianity is death.
I'm not trying to put down Christianity or any other religion. I'm just trying to explain that any religion can be considered a cult depending on your point of view.

Answer 6

I've always wondered when does a group become a cult?

every stage of development has it's groups that we wind up one way or the other linked to..

there are plenty of groups that little is known about..unless you are presented with the opportunity to have had a first-hand experience.

labeling groups is looked down on generally by this culture..
it seems though that there is a large number of us that look to find fault..with groups..even the Boy Scouts have been targeted..

Answer 7

I consider Microsoft a cult.

Answer 8

I happen to know Scientology for many years now and I can tell you frankly that it is the best thing that has happened to my life.


Scientology began with L Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics in 1949. It is the only book to have become a New York Times best-seller in 2 different decades-1950s and 1980s, in addition to being a perennial best-seller. This book is basically about Auditing, the fundamental Scientology technique for handling incidents of emotional and physical pain in a person’s past (technically called engrams). As L. Ron Hubbard audited more and more people, he noticed that as these incidents of physical and emotional pain in a person’s past are effectively handled and erased through auditing process, the person:

1. Becomes more intelligent
2. Becomes saner
3. Becomes better able to handle his environment.
4. The amnesia on time-track becomes to diminish, i.e., the person is able to recall earlier incidents in his life. The earliest incident you are able to recall in your life is, may be, 1.5-2 years. Few people are able to recall earlier. Yet, you were alive earlier!


As people were thus audited, they were able to recall their pre-natal life. This led LRH to hypothise that memory is a property of the cells, since in intra-uterine life brain is not fully formed.


As the process went ahead, people were eventually able to recall their past lives. That was the birth of Scientology, because it indicated that there must be something that survives death and carries on to next life. This something is called soul in traditional religion and theta body in Scientology.


Scientology brings to humanities the exactitude of science (as LRH put it). By actual demographic studies, it has become the fastest growing religion in the history of mankind. It has come a long way sine its early beginning. Today you can actually go to an advanced Scientology organization and walk on the “bridge” to freedom. The decision is yours. The choice is yours.



“I do not sing what I believe, I only give them fact.
If they believe quite otherwise, it still will have impact.
For truth is truth and if they then decide to live with lies,
It’s their choice not mine, my friend, they are free to fantasize.”
--- L. Ron Hubbard


“Get on the road to freedom,
Help us fee all mankind,
The pain and all the sorrow,
Are only in your mind.”
---L. Ron Hubbard


Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 9

Yes, because the religion of scientology follows a single charismatic leader(who is dead).

What Is a Cult?

The term “cult” is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of its connotations. To prevent confusion, some theologians actually avoid using the term.

The World Book Encyclopedia explains that “traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance.” By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word “cult” has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that “since the mid-1900’s, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. Today, the term is applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.”

Endorsing the popular usage of the term, Newsweek magazine explains that cults “are normally small, fringe groups whose members derive their identity and purpose from a single, charismatic individual.” Similarly, Asiaweek magazine notes that “the term [cult] itself is vague, but it usually denotes a new religious creed built around a charismatic leader, who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God.”

The language used in a joint resolution of the 100th Congress of the State of Maryland, U.S.A., also conveys the derogatory connotation of the term cult. The resolution states that “a cult is a group or movement exhibiting excessive devotion to a person or idea and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the goals of its leaders.”

Clearly, cults are generally understood to be religious groups with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior. Usually they conduct their religious activities in secrecy. Many of these cultic groups actually isolate themselves in communes. Their devotion to a self-proclaimed human leader is likely to be unconditional and exclusive. Often these leaders boast of having been divinely chosen or even of being themselves divine in nature.

Answer 10

Since you asked, I consider all religions to be cults. They all depend on people blindly following the words or teachings of some "prophet".
Believe whatever you like, but keep it to yourself.