Scientology

[sherbtail]

I just finished watching "Scientology and me", a BBC documentary about scientology, unfortunately, most of you won't have seen it, but I know more heated clips have been posted on youtube.

Basically it was a pretty damning documentary of their practices and treatment of members and critics.

After watching the documentary I quickly got wiki-ing and scouring the net for information about them, and to be honest, they all sound like a bunch of suppressive and frankly quite scary crooks.

So my question to you is, do you think the 'church' of scientology deserves the status it has in America as being a recognised religion, complete with tax breaks?
It has not been labelled a religion by our government yet, and I hope it never is.

[mellonxcollie]

Re: Scientology

Watch "The Bridge".

[Maid]

Re: Scientology

Scientology is way worse than you standard run of the mill religions.

You have to pay to move up ranks so you could get access to more (knowledge?) about Scientology.

[Coolgamer]

Re: Scientology

They are a cult, pure and simple. They actually landed someone in jail once for protesting outside of their main office.

Dare say anything bad about them, risk a lawsuit thread.

[aperson]

Re: Scientology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white

They're a bit more sinister than you'd suspect.

[devonin]

Re: Scientology

my favourite aspect of the Church of Scientology is that the entire thing was created by L Ron Hubbard as a bet. It was wagered that he couldn't create a convincing church that would actually gain members, and well yeah, I think Hubbard won the bet.

Though when the founder of your church dies in prison on fraud charges...it becomes difficult to take them all that seriously.

[archbishopjabber]

Re: Scientology

Does anyone have a link to the entire documentary? I'd like to watch it.

[slipstrike0159]

Re: Scientology

You do realize that there is a church that worships satan right? I really dont think you could get 'scarier' than that. In any case i think it would be a joke for it to actually be considered a religion, i see it somewhat like being athiest which is more like an absence of religion and just a general outlook rather than a teaching.

[AriesMalvis]

Re: Scientology

well with that whole deal...i don't like it
but i do believe more in the science side of things than from a religious view

[Kilroy_x]

Re: Scientology

my favourite aspect of the Church of Scientology is that the entire thing was created by L Ron Hubbard as a bet. It was wagered that he couldn't create a convincing church that would actually gain members, and well yeah, I think Hubbard won the bet.

I hear this often, but I'm not sure if it's actually truthful or not.

Though when the founder of your church dies in prison on fraud charges...it becomes difficult to take them all that seriously.

Yes. There are certainly no religions in history that have had leaders prosecuted by the authorities of the time.

Don't get me wrong, I think Scientology is pretty nuts, but your post just struck me as somewhat silly.

[Kilroy_x]

Re: Scientology

In any case i think it would be a joke for it to actually be considered a religion, i see it somewhat like being athiest which is more like an absence of religion and just a general outlook rather than a teaching.

Scientology is based almost entirely on untestable, provably false, and otherwise supernatural beliefs.

but i do believe more in the science side of things than from a religious view

...and it has absolutely nothing to do with science.

[slipstrike0159]

Re: Scientology

I hear this often, but I'm not sure if it's actually truthful or not.



Yes. There are certainly no religions in history that have had leaders prosecuted by the authorities of the time.

Don't get me wrong, I think Scientology is pretty nuts, but your post just struck me as somewhat silly.

Haha yeah, SURELY the church is false because of a jail sentencing. I thought it was interesting how the LDS church was the only one in US history to have an extermination order against them while Joseph Smith was being placed into jail numerous times for things he was innocent of.

[devonin]

Re: Scientology

Yeah, but I mean he was tried and convicted of fraud and other charges involving directly his handling of the money he took in from worshippers. Persecution for your religious beliefs is not the same as just buggering off with the cash box and getting caught.

Also, Slipstrike, any church that -worships- satan has 100% completely missed what the satan in christian mythology was about.

[purplepopcorn]

Re: Scientology

http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/

go ahead and say ytmnd=fail, but it's actually done pretty well. The music is ****ing creepy, and it's a little nsfw (dead people), but it's a good summing up of how bull**** it all is.

[slipstrike0159]

Re: Scientology

The Church of Satan draws its name from the mythological and cultural concepts of Satan. Satan stands as the central symbol for many different gods, including Ahriman, Loki, Set, Amon, and Belial, all seen as symbolic of the same ideals and archetype. The Church of Satan claims that every individual can be his or her own god and is responsible for his or her own destiny. (In their usage, "Satan" denotes a symbol and metaphor rather than a literal anthropomorphic deity.) People who follow this belief system are called "Satanists".

Wow, sounds a lot like many of the athiests i know...

Also, it does have teachings that represent some of the things Lucifer suggests.

The Church of Satan is very vocal in announcing its desire to see all criminals brought to swift and appropriate justice. The Church of Satan does not hesitate to expel members for engaging in illegal activity, or to cooperate with law enforcement to bring them to justice.

Is that not unlike how Lucifer wanted unrelenting perfection giving glory to man over God, as well as not providing a means of repentence or explanation?