Scientology ... we hear a lot about it .. but not what it is... Please explain?

Question

There must be some adherents to the Scientology philosphy here ... please explain it in simple terms. What does it stand for? What are the core beliefs? Thanks, please keep it simple don't preach.

ZERO COOL... What part of keep it simple and don't preach did you NOT understand?

Answer 1

Been there, done that. Tried it for abit then quit.
Its not really much of beliefs. They are non-denominational (you can be any religion or belief). Its mostly self-help courses. Communications, studying, kicking peer pressure, kicking drug habits, etc. The rates start out low and reasonable for things like the communications course then get more and more expensive for the really deep-into-your-problems stuff. Most people take the first couple courses then leave.

Most of the "beliefs" and "philosophy" are about that stuff. Look inside you for fixes to your problems, not praying. Medicine to fix a problem is cool but drugs to mask a symptom isnt. Pain (physical and mental) should be avoided. The triangle of communication (raise one corner and you raise the others), the triangle of knowledge. Its all pretty easy stuff.

I guess that at the top it gets pretty strange but then what religion doesnt? :) Anyone wanting to become a priest has to accept some pretty nutty things in most religions. Or at least say they do.

Answer 2

properly this is glaring what you think of. whether, in case you are able to positioned your fixed innovations, opinions etc ,to one area for a minute, i will supply you a proof of what Scientology certainly is. (whether, be certain i'm under no fantasy which you will surely gain this) Scientology is an utilized non secular philosophy. as quickly as I say "utilized" I mean you certainly apply it to your life to alter or advance cutting-edge circumstances. this isn't comparable to a non secular prepare. All religions in case you hit upon out approximately them have someone-friendly philosphy, yet they even have specific dogma, rituals and observances, and a definite faith or perception is needed. there is not any longer something incorrect with this, yet Scientology isn't that variety of religion. It does not interfere on anyones faiths of ideals fairly interior the element of God , the very superb Being, or the limitless. This section is left completely as much as the indivdual, that's why you may properly be a practising Jew as an occasion and nonetheless use and be conscious the priniciples of Scientology on your life. It does not conflict. If something this is going to advance your expertise of your favored non secular prepare. And that's barely actual for you in accordance on your individual remark and adventure with it. the main person-friendly concept of Scientology is which you're your individual immortal soul, that this is fairly not a "element" you have yet what you certainly are. the entire purpose of Scientology is to extend a individual's expertise and expertise of himself. And thereby his community skills . once you try this the sphere and zone of his advantageous impact will strengthen and strikes outward into his life, his kinfolk ,his friends, his communities and mankind which he's area of. How this effect is performed is the "technologies" of Scientology, which grow to be stepped forward via L.Ron Hubbard after his huge study and the discoveries he made, related to the human spirit. He revealed a e book in 1951 to talk the person-friendly innovations he got here across mentioned as: " Scientology The Fundementals of concept"

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

It's a space-age religion that abounds in galactic tales, and its deepest secrets are known to few. Basically Hubbard created a way to make lots of money and pray on the confused and weak minded.

This link will give you a quick overview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgBvq4O26SE

Check out the sources I listed for more detail. Google Clear Water, Florida while you are at it.

Answer 5

A cult started by Sci Fi writer L.Ron Hubbard, who was at one time a follower of Aleister Crowley. They use a process called "audititng" which is really just hypnosis.

Answer 6

The science fiction writer, L Ron Hubbard, found a way to extract money from the unsuspecting, who were brainwashed into his religion.

Answer 7

i read that they think we came from aliens so they worship those aliens from the planet zoltar or something

pretty strange

Answer 8

Scientology, which questionably calls itself a new "religion", is the brainchild of science fiction writer & occult enthusiast L. Ron Hubbard. The organization, by means of Hubbard’s self created psychotherapy technique called “Dianetics”, claims to be able to help rid members of any & all mental constraints including but not limited to emotional scarring (from this & "past" lives) due to "engrams" (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind), psychological disorders & chemical imbalances (the solution is to convince members that these things don't actually exist) & drug dependence (including legally prescribed psychopharmaceuticals which counteract the effects of psychological disorders Scientologists believe to be nonexistent). Their “treatment” of substance abuse includes little more than massive doses of vitamins and extended sessions in a sauna.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics#Scientific_evaluation_and_criticisms
Dianetics review: http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/06/28/dianetics/index.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,812852,00.html
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/detox.htm

The official Scientology organization is composed of a number of “levels”. One begins as a “preclear” & works their way up. One must purchase virtually every service crucial to advancement directly from the "church" & at staggering prices. "Auditing", for example, is purchased in 12½ hour blocks, costing anywhere from $200-$750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions. Basically, Scientology claims to possess exclusive knowledge of the path to religious redemption & then charges obscene amounts of money for every tiny incremental step towards this end. Visit this link to see how $380,000 is a conservative estimate for the total cost of moving all the way up the Scientology hierarchal ladder: http://www.xenu.net/archive/prices.html
These are the total costs for auditing alone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_business#Costs
Here’s an explanation of what “auditing” is: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061224182319AA2nnd6

At level OT III (Operating Thetan 3), some very strange & fiercely guarded secrets are imparted upon worthy members who have paid enough money to advance to such a level (and no, this isn't a joke): The evil alien ruler Xenu killed millions of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by kidnapping them, bringing them to earth in golden DC-8 “space-planes”, stacking them around volcanoes & blowing them up by dropping “h-bombs” into the volcanoes. Scientologists believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") were captured, brainwashed & released; they then attached themselves to our ancestors (and according to Scientology’s belief in Thetan immortality, they also attached to us during “past lives”) & cause many of our mental & physical ills to this day. Auditing is said to “clear” us of these Body Thetans as well as the “mental implants” they supposedly impose on our minds.
http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/spaink-ot3.html
http://www.spaink.net/cos/essays/atack_ot3.html
http://xenu.net/archive/leaflet/Xenu-Letter.pdf

Scientology has taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional during everyday life. It doesn’t recognize legitimate conditions like autism, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ANY neurological disorder / chemical imbalance at all, & the “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from members (often with harmful & deadly results). The “Church” blames psychiatry for the Holocaust, as well as school shootings & even September 11th. It’s been suggested that Hubbard’s vehement opposition was born of the psychiatric community’s rejection of his “tech” as a valid treatment method, but it’s also possible that Hubbard chose psychiatry as a scapegoat. Organizations like Scientology are notorious for villainizing a specific out-group because their “stand against the enemy” fosters cohesion within said organization, & psychiatry was an effective rallying point considering many people already distrust & oppose the mental health profession.
http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/usa-scientology.htm
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=3137&IssueNum=136
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/07/01/sci_psy/index_np.html?pn=1
http://perkinstragedy.org

L. Ron Hubbard, the man behind the creation of Scientology, was & still is a controversial figure. Biographies & lists of personal accomplishments differ greatly between Scientology & non-Scientology publications as the “church” tends to exaggerate & outright lie about his early life, his education, his travels, his achievements etc, preferring to paint a distorted, flattering picture. Several books & articles present facts which flatly contradict these church-published accounts (links to free online copies of these books & articles are provided below), showing conclusively that he was NOT the brilliant, accomplished figure revered by Scientologists. During his autopsy, the sedative Vistaril™ was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. It had also been said by many who knew Hubbard personally that at the end of his life he was “a psychopathic insane person screaming about BT's [Body Thetans]…”
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/Bare%20Faced%20Messiah.pdf
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/atack/contents.htm
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/mom/Messiah_or_Madman.txt
http://skull.piratehaven.org/~atman/factnet/lrhbare.txt

To be blunt, Scientology is a cult. It employs semi-legitimate psychotherapy & self-help methods to keep people loyal & convinced of its merit while it simultaneously sucks them dry financially & attempts to keep them far away from ANYONE, even friends & family, who would dissuade them from remaining in such a harmful situation. It bullies all known critics, opponents, “enemies”, etc, often through malicious litigation & character assassination. It’s a particularly greedy as well as manipulative & dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits.
http://www.solitarytrees.net/racism/harass.htm#start
http://www.factnet.org/Books/SocialControl/scs.html#toc
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Tampabay/The_unperson.shtml
http://www.xenu.net/archive/personal_story/funkydonny.html