Scientology is obviously a joke, heh, but, what makes it any different than any other organized religion? :}?

Question

They are all based upon what you are told to believe, rather than what you can learn and experience and see for yourself. So in the end, they are ALL basically the same. Be it buddhism, hinduism, judaism, christianity or all the other freakjobs out there. Yet, just as christianity was once scoffed at for being a cult, the same "christians" and most all the other differing religions these days, say the same thing about every OTHER religion out there. Poor misguided souls, or so they presume... All of them make me laugh, but I would like an opinion besides "the bible (or koran or whatever else) says this" so it HAS to be true...

Answer 1

Organised religion is a crock

Answer 2

What is Scientology?

Scientology is a religion which recognizes that man is basically good and offers tools anyone can use to become happier and more able as a person and to improve conditions in life for himself and others, and to gain a profound understanding of the Supreme Being and his relationship to the Divine. Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology technology provides exact principles and a practical technology for improving spiritual awareness, self-confidence, intelligence and ability.

The word Scientology comes from the Latin word scio, meaning “know” and the Greek word logos, meaning “the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known.” Thus, Scientology means knowing about knowing.

Scientology comprises a body of knowledge which extends from certain fundamental truths. Prime among these:

Man is an immortal spiritual being.

His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime.

His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized.

Scientology further holds man to be basically good, and that his spiritual salvation depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe.

Scientology is not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked to believe anything on faith. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by applying its principles and observing or experiencing the results.

The ultimate goal of Scientology is true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for the individual.

http://www.scientologytoday.org/Common/question/pg04.htm

Answer 3

Well here are the differences which I have personally observed between trying abit of time with both the Scientologists, and born-again Baptists.

Both can be helpful if you are troubled and want counseling. I found the advice of the scientologists abit easier (courses in communication, better study habits, shaking peer pressure and reliance on drugs) instead of the Baptists (put your faith in God and turn over your life to Jesus).

The Scientologists help came at flat rates which were cheaper than college courses. I had no problem with that. The Baptists had this thing about "tithing" 10% of your income. Both were pretty extreme if you want to climb to the top inside their religion but the Scientologists were still a flat rate (more than I would ever want to spend though) and the Baptists were a straight "give up all of your worldly possessions" which did seem more extreme.

Most people I saw come and go simply tried it and left for both groups. Altho I will say that it was easier to "escape" from the Scientologists than it was from the Baptists. It was the Baptists who kept coming by and calling me trying to shame me into coming back.

All in all I found the Scientologists to be more open and confident and happy. I know that the Baptists said that their way was the way to happiness but in truth I saw very little of it.

Just IMHO
Gandalf Parker

Answer 4

Scientology relatively is distinctive than the different faith as a results of fact Scientology isn't a faith in any respect. that is declared as a faith for tax and PR applications. i do no longer say this based on the writings of others on my own. I take place to have very own adventure with that business enterprise. Do you? It suits the classic definition of the suggestions administration cult. no ought to take my observe, verify it out for your self in case you're so prone yet carry close on on your wallet.

Answer 5

It's really not a religion, though. It's 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 (this article was written by Monica Pignotti, Cult Intervention Specialist and former Scientologist): http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/s/scientology/pignotti/

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.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml

(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 6

Well for one important thing, there is no god involved. Just about if not every other religion has some sort of god associated with it!!!

Answer 7

Every religion is fighting for superiority and they're all basically the same thing.

Answer 8

Well, for starters, I don't have to be electrocuted to rid myself of the bad souls of aliens which are somehow attached to my body.

Wait, lemme think a minute....





NOPE, no one at any church I've ever attended has ever said I needed electronic (shock) auditing/cleansing to rid myself of alien souls.

I've also never been charged a penny to learn what my faith is about.

Answer 9

And you get your information from, what? The Jerry Springer Show? No doubt.