Forums → WEPR → Church of $cientology

It is B.S. it is just a crappy studythat is not even religion it can go and fuck itself

its a goofy and fake illusion of a religion, if you can even call it that. there is no scientific or historical evidence that this is even possible. its a scam.

u stole that story from my friend stan marsh! lol but still Linda Ron Hubbard was a homeless person who made a story to make money, is that not what all athours do though? just some people take it literaly

this is such a stupid cult

Hehe, yes, it is ridiculous.

People who think of joining, or have already joined are fueled by thoughts that they might one day become superior to the rest. Their brain is clouded by ideas of becoming a God. You can't really blame them - everyone wants to be superior, that's why Karl Marx wasn't right.

Although I really wouldn't pick Scientology as my guide to godliness. The story itself is just completely unbelievable - but I suppose if they feed you enough lies you will eventually be sucked into it, I heard they're pretty good liars.

This is probably the first time I see religious people and athiests get along in a thread about religion here

I have to say, Christianity is a lot more believable than this. Aah! Look at me, making false statements like that without deep thinking. I actually wrote that because Christianity has a lot of followers - that does kind of add to the credibility, but I can't really think of other reasons why I would think any religion is any different from this.

Scientology claims there is a ruler called Xenu 75 million years ago. Christianity claims there is a God who lived for all time, and will live for all time. Scientology claims we need to practice for a long period of time to get rid of these spirits(?) inside us. Christianity claims we must follow Jesus to go to heaven, and we can only truly be happy through him.

I can name a few points, but I was writing an essay on energy sources, and I am tired.

The point is - the main 'characters' in both 'stories' are supposedly immortal (apparently, Xenu is still alive, and he was alive 75 million years ago, so it's safe to assume he is immortal.) Also, both Christianity and Scientology want to send the same message through: Follow our religion or be unhappy.

-Skyla <3

I agree with the general similarities of mainstream Christianity. I had to write a semester report in college and chose cults as my thesis. This is not meant to offend, but is simply what I learned.

1.Cults tend to mostly EXPAND on what is christian. Using
scriptures that refer to "faith with works", they seduce
followers and make them believe that they are not only
following Gods law, but improving it. Examples of this are
Mormonism, Jehovahs Witness and the Christian Science
Movement. Most have theology based around the Bible, but
make their own "divine" books or documents to fit
themselves in. Christianity has one book that has writing
that is vague enough to make it applicable for any
situation.

2.Most cults will isolate their members for a time in order
to indoctrinate them more thoroughly. In Scientology, for
instance, some of the "classes" involve brainwashing
techniques, such as forcing the member to sit still at a
table while a teacher screams obsinities and insults at
them, or forcing them to look at a point on the wall for
hours at a time, while listening to doctrine via earphone.
In christianity, members read and are read from the Bible
constantly, hammering home the scriptures. Many people
pride themselves with bieng able to quote scripture from
memory and cite scriptures as answers to problems.
3.Most cult leaders consider themselves divine, or touched
by divination. They are the Mouthpieces through which
their god speaks to them. Their will is also absolute,
which means you don't cross them. Some will allow members
to leave, giving them the "free will" to return. If the
cult has done its job, the member will almost certainly
return back to the flock. While most christians would
think this doesn't apply to them, most church pastors will
usually refer to their congregation as a "flock", which
they are leading. Need I even mention the Pope as another
example?

4.Most cults require large amounts of money from their
members, either from labor, tithing or donations. The vow
of poverty is quite a common theme, as well as the view
that everyone works for the good of the cult. Scientology
and Mormonism are excellent examples of this. The church
asks for a tithe, or requires classes in order to be a
good member. Christian churches are no different. Asking
for donations is not only common practice, it is thought
to be shameful if a member passes the plate without adding
to it.
5.Most cults historically base their teachings around the
concept of fear. Fear of death, fear of worthlessness,
fear of failure and so on. Most have at least some
doctrine that refers to some sort of cataclysmic event,
or apocolypse that is doomed to come to pass. People who
are not good members will not ascend into paradise, or
achieve salvation (in whatever form is taught). This
underlying fear is enough to keep most members on the
straight & narrow. The Bible dedicates an entire book to
this very scenario. The final battle between good and evil
where everything on Earth is obliterated in fire &
brimstone. In all cases, the rightous members are spared
this agonizing demise. ("The Rapture" is actually a fairly
new idea, started in the late 19th century as a happy
ending for nervous church-goers).

All in all, religion is religion. Whether through thebean-
removing sessions, baptism by immersion or mass suicide, the final goal of all religion is to give people a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves. Life can be very difficult, scratching out a living, going through all of the problems that make up an existence. The thought that at the end of it all only death awaits, in my opinion, scares people more than anything else. In that context, a loving deity and a condo in the clouds sounds pretty bloody good.

Ah, but you assume Christianity means mainstream Christianity. I refuse to attend church for a couple of the reasons you've mentioned. Granted, I think Revelations doesn't refer to the end of the world, but this is the wrong thread for THAT.

I think that all religions are on some level stupid, however scientology crosses the line i mean come on

$cientology is not a religion, people! It may masquerade as one to get the government off its arse, but it's more of a chimera of several rather nasty things, including:

-a pseudo-religious cult of personality
-a pyramid scheme (where only those on top get the money; all others are practically slaves bound by financial debts)
-an anti-governmental terrorist group (specializing in destruction of anything or anyone that incriminates it)
-an organized crime syndicate (specialty spycraft)
-a medical quackery scam
-a hyperlitigous publishing firm who practically makes more money off lawsuits than book sales
-a venomous hate group (biased against the psychiatric realm)
and...
-a totalitarian banana republic with aspirations of world conquest.

I have personally read a modicum of L. Ron Hubbard's (and his ghostwriters' works; half of it is wasted on superfluous glossaries and rather silly (re-)definitions
of common words. Said works insult the intelligence of any non-indoctrinated reader.

ok wotever it is a cult or wotever its still ridiculous

Is this a thread discussing Scientology or flaming Scientology? I see that there are a group of people dropping by to say "Scientology is stupid" and more variations of this senselessness. All of which, based on the previous person/people's posts'.

Scientology may sound silly to you but its the other way around with them and Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and so forth and so on. They believe in something if you find in ridiculous, as some may call it, please state why. Do you believe in the Big Bang? Evolution? Or are you an Atheist, a Pastafarian? Do you study Science? Well, then, if you have relations with the above stated, you have that little bit on Scientologist in you.

Lets see the above posters shall I?

$cientology is not a religion, people!

It may masquerade as one to get the government off its arse

-a pseudo-religious cult of personality

-a pyramid scheme (where only those on top get the money; all others are practically slaves bound by financial debts)

-an anti-governmental terrorist group (specializing in destruction of anything or anyone that incriminates it)

-an organized crime syndicate (specialty spycraft)

-a medical quackery scam

-a hyperlitigous publishing firm who practically makes more money off lawsuits than book sales

-a venomous hate group (biased against the psychiatric realm)

-a totalitarian banana republic with aspirations of world conquest.

I have personally read a modicum of L. Ron Hubbard's (and his ghostwriters' works; half of it is wasted on superfluous glossaries and rather silly (re-)definitions
of common words. Said works insult the intelligence of any non-indoctrinated reader

@ the masquerade number1: you have way too much free time coming up with these counter arguments
number2: if you feel this strongly about defending scientology you are either a closet scientologist (so you are a complete idiot) or you belive that the stroy about xenu is in some way creditable, again you are an idiot.
number3:lots of your arguments are based on incorrect grammar and use of vocab your not a fucking english teacher so shut the hell up.

To sum up anyone dumb enuogh to even try and defend this religion is as dumb as the people who belive in it as the story about xen ucould have been made up by a drunk 4 year old

@ The_Masquerade

I will acquiesce that most of the rank-and-file Scientologists are nice people. However, CoS can get rather rabid when others criticize its actions. Where actual religions might shake off most minor insults, the CoS hivemind snaps back by slinging mud and venom at the person/group in question.

Second, no true religion copyrights its holy texts and then sues people trying to quote passages from same texts even when given due credit

Also, L. Ron Hubbard's motives for founding CoS were not as noble as some might think. He is quoted as saying: "Make money, make more money, make others produce so as to make more money, " and "The best way to make money is to start your own religion."

Ironically, I feel that Hubbard would be rich and alive for a few years more if he had marketed Dianetics and Scientology (yes, the two are linked, though Hubbard would tell you they weren't) as fiction rather than fact.

@ The_Masquerade

Yay! finally someone takes up a stance for it! (oh i'm atheist by the way... well not really.. it's not that i don't believe in god it's that i've decided i don't care whether or not there is one)

your arguments don't really defend Scientology though... they just nitpick on the wordings of other peoples posts

Is this a discussion, or just a place where people dump their hate for a religion which they got biased information from previous posts? From what I've seen from their website, it's a religion for people who are struggling with life a bit. Most of its information is how to help people who made mistakes. It's not something for a critic who wants to enlighten himself with deep, enigmatic stuff. It oversimplifies, yes, but that's because it's for people who want things to be simple. As for the money issue, let's all gasp in horror: Books and psychology sessions cost money. This doesn't make Scientologists greedy. Bibles cost money too, fellas. If you have a problem with a religion that's not for you, too bad.