Do you think Scientology qualifies as a religion?

Question

I'm not putting scientology down. I just think it should have stayed a profitable business as it started out to be. They don't worship anything (such as God or Buddha). Going to church on Sunday consists of studying more LRH doctrine. There is no mass. I mean couldn't Psychiatry become a Religion too?? Or what about Alcoholics Anonymous?? And you only have to pay $1 (if you have it) to go to an AA meeting. I'm curious to see what others think about this.

Answer 1

As many things in this country, Scientology is a misguided subject. Its name means the "Study of Science" which should apply to every Science, but it's wrongly attributed to religion. It has religion overtones, but it's not a religion. There are only Three Original Religions in this world, the rest are churches, sects, cults, that conveniently distort the principles of each religion.

Answer 2

Probably not in ways that most people think of religion. Altho after reading that dictionary definition that was posted Im not so sure since it apparently has all that even the way the anti-Scientology sites talk about it. But remember that back in the 1950's to claim that you could "fix people" you had to be either medical or religion.

Now there are splitoffs like the FreeZone scientologists that do what you said. They do all the courses and stuff but without the "Church of" stuff. I think there are 3 or 4 organizations like that now.

Thats not counting all the organizations that the Church of Scientology does such as:
» Applied Scholastics
» Citizens Commission on Human Rights
» Concerned Businessmen's Association of America
» Foundation for Religious Freedom
» Narconon
» Criminon
» ABLE the Association for Better Living and Education
» Way To Happiness Foundation
» World Institution of Scientology Enterprises (WISE)

All of those are basically what you said. Of course they draw fire as being "front organizations" instead of seperation of Scientology methods from the Church of Scientology. I guess you cant please everyone. :-)

Answer 3

Despite that I think the beliefs in Scientology are somewhat strange, religion is a subjective belief. Technically anyone can make up a religion if they wanted to. I just don't know how many followers some random person would accumulate with the major religions of the world (ie christianity, judaism, and islam). I say major only because of the number of followers, not importance.

Answer 4

... yah don't know much about Scientology, do ya? The purpose of it is not to worship any deities. There is no "sunday church" stuff. I think the beliefs themselves qualify as a religion. I have absolutely no problem with Scientologists. The actual CHURCH of Scientology is a different story, however.

Answer 5

L.Ron Hubbard invented Scientology. He became an exceptionally undesirable technology fiction author. Many sci-fi recommendations have been located as intergral areas of Scientology. the completed alien courses element, i think of it truly is stupid. that's like worshiping Stephen King and Carrie is the virgin mom, Cujo is a spirit handbook, and Pennywise the Clown is an angel. once you die while you're undesirable you bypass to Salem's Lot yet once you're sturdy you bypass to fort Rock, Maine. hiya....I also have a clean faith, anybody decide to get baptised at the instant? yet truly, all religions have quirks which could be made exciting off. I do exactly unlike Tom Cruise utilising action picture advertising excursions as Scientology advertising excursions. i like movies, i do unlike Scientology.

Answer 6

From dictionary.com

1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

Seems to me like it would qualify on def. 2 but not on def. 1

Answer 7

Any idea that at least two people share could theoretically be considered a religion of sorts.

Answer 8

L. Ron Hubbard was in a bar and made a bet with his intellectual buddies that he could start his own religion...

He knew, as do we atheists, that most people can easily be suckered into any religion, if you play on their basic insecurities.

Answer 9

Of course it does. If profiting and making money made it exempt, Christianity would NEVER have been deemed a religion.

Answer 10

I think Scientology qualifies for the loony bin!