Scientology Questionaire?

Question

The following questions are for anyone that is a Scientologist. Please answer honestly. I am NOT looking for links to other websites... I just want personal opinions/beliefs. Thanks for the help!
1. What is Scientology?
2. What does the word Scientology mean?
3. Does Scientology believe in God?
4. Why is Scientology a religion?
5. Is Scientology a cult?
6. In what way does Scientology differ from other religions?
7. Who was L. Ron Hubbard, what was his role in the Church, and do Scientologists believe that he was like Jesus Christ?
8. What moral codes/ethics do Scientologists live by?
9. Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial?

Answer 1

Wow. I think I am the first Scientologist to answer!

Okay. Here is my bit.

1. What is Scientology?
It is an applied religious philosophy. One learns things about life to better it, then applies it. Most people stick with it and keep learning as what they find actually helps their lives.

2. What does the word Scientology mean?
It comes from "Scios" - knowlede or knowing and "logos" - study of. Essentially it means the study of knowledge or knowing how to know.

3. Does Scientology believe in God?
Sure.

4. Why is Scientology a religion?
It is a religion because it deals with man, his spiritual self, and his relationship with all parts of life, including the supreme being.

5. Is Scientology a cult?
I see Scientology referred to as a "cult" so often in YAHOO ASK. But "cult" is usually meant in a disparaging sense to imply a secret or closed group with limited membership and mysterious beliefs, or a departure from some main line of religious belief. Religious scholars point out that the term has become almost meaningless, since its modern use reflects a growing prejudice against all religions. Hasidic Jews, Baptists and even the YWCA have all at one time or another been labelled as "cults" Even Protestant Christianity broke away from Catholic and Christianity from Judiasm. Religions grow and endure to the degree that they assist people in their spiritual lives. Scientology is fully codified, broadly published and available to anyone, and its churches and missions are open to the public. So to answer your question, based on the above conception, no I do not believe it is a cult.

6. In what way does Scientology differ from other religions?
It is not dogmatic. If a person finds that something is not true for him, he is not forced to believe things. It is also not faith based.

7. Who was L. Ron Hubbard, what was his role in the Church, and do Scientologists believe that he was like Jesus Christ?
Three questions in one!! L. Ron Hubbard was a a man who wanted better things for others (I corresponded with him when I was a teenager.). He founded the church and ran the international church until 1966. No, we do not look to him as Christians look to Jesus Christ. Most Scientologists you will meet or talk to would probably refer to him as a good friend or a friend to humanity.

8. What moral codes/ethics do Scientologists live by?
Hubbard wrote a secular (non-religious) code - The Way to Happiness. That's pretty good and many Scientologists adopt it as a guiding code. We also have a code for the counselors and a code of conduct as a Scientologist. The codes are too lengthy to go into here. But you can easily find them and read them. The library probably has the book WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY. Go there and read the codes from that book.

9. Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial?
(My opinion only)
Well, probably for the same reason that the Copernican Theory was considered controversial in Gallileo's day. It poses some ideas that don't necessarily follow the "status quo."
Besides, controvery sells papers and newscasts.

Answer 2

1. What is Scientology? Something L. Ron Hubbarb made up when he was between writing science fiction novels as a way to make some money.
2. What does the word Scientology mean? It's the name he gave it to make it sound as though it was based in scientific fact, when it was simply his musings.
3. Does Scientology believe in God? In an off-handed way, yes.
4. Why is Scientology a religion? Because people have formed a basis to practice its "methods" religiously (Look up the word "religiously". It has nothing to do with religion).
5. Is Scientology a cult? In as much as any deluded following is, yes.
6. In what way does Scientology differ from other religions? Its founder is alive and it is based on pure fiction, nothing more.
7. Who was L. Ron Hubbard, what was his role in the Church, and do Scientologists believe that he was like Jesus Christ? His role is as stated above, to make some money. If anyone believes he is Jesus Christ then those in the science fiction community are probably laughing their asses off.
8. What moral codes/ethics do Scientologists live by? None. It's all about oneself and not a code of conduct for how you treat others.
9. Why has Scientology sometimes been considered controversial? Because its origin is based on a science fiction writer trying to come up with an idea to make some money, and people take it seriously.

Answer 3

Per your request, I will only provide links which redirect back to answers I've provided on this website.

1. Scientology is a business and a cult. For more information, see this overview (written by me): http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070612230505AAjZNnX

2. According to the organization, it means "knowing how to know".

3. Scientology CLAIMS that it is compatible with other religions including belief in God, but the doctrines are too much in conflict. See my answer here for more information: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070324130735AAGhdiD

4. It isn't. It's considered a religion in the United States because it receives tax exempt status, but many many other countries around the world do NOT recognize it as a religion.

5. Yes, Scientology is most certainly a cult. It fits the criteria perfectly. See my answer here for a full explanation:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070621142028AAxdnan

6. Scientology was created by a science fiction writer. Scientology teaches we do not die with our bodies, but rather jump from body to body eternally. Scientology teaches that we are each infested with alien souls (no, I'm not kidding).

7. L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer and occult enthusiast. He had been heard to say "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion". He was the self-appointed founder, leader and prophet of Scientology. He greatly exaggerated his accomplishments and exploits, possessed no professional knowledge of psychology, stole money from his own "church", went to jail for it, and then died in hiding several years later. Scientologists never treated him as Christ, but considered his word infallible. They keep sculptures of his head in every official Scientology building.

8. L. Ron came up with his own "ethics". I'd give you a link, but you don't want links... so I'll just leave it at that. He created his own "ethics".

9. Scientology has become controversial because it's manipulative, litigious and dangerous. Under an official Scientology "operation", they carried out the largest infiltration into the United States government in history. It has caused the death of numerous individuals. It attacks and attemps to destroy all those who criticize it. See my answer at this link for more information:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070607152816AAUZFAi

Answer 4

You forgot to add:

10. How superficial do you have to be to belong to this quasi-religion?

11. How expensive is it to get to the higher echelons and why must you be wealthy to belong?

12. Why would anyone follow a religion created by a sci-fi writer?

Answer 5

Call Tom Cruise.

Answer 6

Save yourself a great deal of time and please look up "Operation Clambake" - it exposes scientology and scientologists for what they really are.