Is Scientology a cult? or is it an actual religion?

Answer 1

It's a farce.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rational-Debate
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Answer 2

Scientology can be considered a religion where its members holds a set of personal practices related to a communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from a shared conviction.
However it could also be seen as a cult where there is a cohesive social group with beliefs rules and practices considered to be ‘problematic’or outside the currently accepted democratic culture of that country.

Answer 3

Yes Scientology is a cult! Any time you take Jesus out of the picture and replace it with something like aliens or Buddha, Mohamed you become a cult.. WHY DO ALL MAJOR religions recognised JESUS? Because the people who started the Religion knew that Jesus is the only way and want to be like him, so they started the false religion!!!!!!!! The only way to GOD is through Jesus! Please take this time to ask for forgiveness and except Jesus!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Definition of cult: A group of people where the leader claims that he is inspired by God and the followers believe everything he says.

Definition of religion: A cult that has been successful and grown in the number of followers.

Answer 5

A cult founded by a kooky dingbat, so-so scifi novelist L. Ron Hubbard. There are even direct quotes in print of him making remarks to journalists saying more or less "Writing books to make money is for suckers, if you really want to make a lot of money, start up a religon." He made these remarks mere MONTHS before debuting Scientology in a scifi magazine of short stories.

Answer 6

There isn't really a difference... Cults are defined as being religions outside of the mainstream, and scientology does technically fall into that definition... If being outside of the mainstream doesn't count for anything, they're as valid a religion as any other. (despite the fact that they were created by a science fiction writer wanting to make money).

Answer 7

It's easy to stick a label on something that you don't understand or don't know .
The word cult is used and redefined on this forum (and in general society) to mean something bad or dangerous.

Here's a factual description of Scientology, read it and make your own decision about what label you want for it.
The label doesn't actually change anything or make it any better understood.

Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. It is a very practical religion.
All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyone’s faiths of beliefs in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual as part of his life.
It is also not a messianic religion. This means there is no worship of prophets or messiahs in Scientology. It is not belief or faith based. A truth should be true according to ones own observation and experience.
The dictionary definition that applies:
Religion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.

The most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.
The whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. and life.And to rehabilitate his native goodness, abilities and potential.
When you do this the sphere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.

How this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit. The basic religious philosophy and knowledge of Scientology is very old, going back 10,000 years at least to the Veda or Vedic Hymns from the East. L. Ron Hubbard researched and made new discoveries about the human spirit. He developed technology from these discoveries to apply to increase spiritual awareness and ability.
He completed his research before his death in 1986 and left all of his results and copyrights
to the Church of Scientology along with most of his considerable personal estate, when he died.

He published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"
There are currently over 10 million Scientologists in more than 163 countries world wide. However we are a new religion, only 53 years old.
The true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:
1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.
2. People find it interesting.
3. People find it works.
4. People pass it along to others.
5. It grows.

This is just an overview.
L. Ron Hubbard explained fully the theology and technologies of Scientology in more than 500,000 pages of writings, including dozens of books and over 3,000 tape-recorded public lectures.

Answer 8

It is a cult. It is evil. It is dangerous. How do I know this? By what they have done to people I know, things which have occurred in my city and through a lot of research.

The following links are news stories about a girl with schizophrenia, whose parents refused to allow her to take her medication because they were Scientologists. She had a severe psychotic episode because she wasn’t on her meds and killed her father and sibling, almost killing her mother too.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22069705-28737,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22045262-5001021,00.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/scientology-denied-daughter-help/2007/07/09/1183833431861.html

Did you know Scientologists believe they have the right to torture or kill ‘Suppressive Persons’ (SP) people who oppose Scientology?
“ENEMY: SP Order. Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.”
http://www.fairgamed.org/fairgame.htm

Scientology also has its own navy, called ‘Sea Org’. Sea Org members sign billion year contracts and are punished for perceived transgressions by being thrown over board (sometimes tied hand and food and blindfolded) and are thrown from various heights according to their ‘transgression’. Alternatively they may be locked in a chain-locker. ‘A chain-locker is "a dark hole where the anchor chains are stored; cold, wet and rats,”’

http://www.xenu.net/archive/so/index.html

Answer 9

A cult that forced the American judicial system to give it religious status.

Most other western countries see it as a cult.

Answer 10

Both cults and religion are worthless to God.

I definately don't think God is glorified by scientology.

Answer 11

Cult.