Is Scientology a Religion?
- Thread starter mrhotdice
- Start date
No. It's a business. Not unlike most churches in this country.
I'd argue any church that REQUIRES payment to join isn't really a religion.
If by religion you mean 'cult', then, yes, it qualifies. It was made up in the 60s by L. Ron Hubbard who was, politely, a kook. How he melded feel-good pop psychology with the basic structure of a Ponzi scheme was genius. Anyone who falls for their hoo-ha deserves to be fleeced, imo.
All religions are cults with political power.
Christianity was a cult too until it gained more and more political power by adopting popular aspects of other cults in Rome gaining more followers until it was recognized by Constantine’s “conversion”.
Same with Islam. Same with Judaism. Scientology is on the same path.
It's a religion based on science -- even says so in the name.
It’s a cult just like any other religion.
1. Follows one set of textual teachings
2. Claims to be the one and only source of truth
3. Members who leave are threatened with shunning or eternal consequences
4. Money is requested from memebers
5. We are right, every other faith is wrong
1. Follows one set of textual teachings
2. Claims to be the one and only source of truth
3. Members who leave are threatened with shunning or eternal consequences
4. Money is requested from memebers
5. We are right, every other faith is wrong
These seem to also apply to political issues if you think about it. Anti-abortion fanatics, climate change, COVID, etc all seem to check the boxes, if looked at in a certain way. Not sure your list is totally right but it's really a good list.It’s a cult just like any other religion.
1. Follows one set of textual teachings
2. Claims to be the one and only source of truth
3. Members who leave are threatened with shunning or eternal consequences
4. Money is requested from memebers
5. We are right, every other faith is wrong
Faith and belief in a higher power or Karma or whatever, I'm fine with. Organized religion and us vs. them and all the things you listed, no thank you.
Some sects call themselves a religion for tax purposes, imo. Can't convince me otherwise.
In my younger years I had a pastor tell me something that set me down the path I find myself today:
God makes faith. Man makes religion.
God makes faith. Man makes religion.
Given how many Hollywood elite are part of it, are you sure about that? Hollywood stars love them some little boys…
And the political elite love them some young girls.
You think Trump and Clinton and Prince Andrew were palling around with Epstein because he was hilarious at parties?
Wealth, power, privilege…they make being an abuser and a predator much, much easier. But those people would be doing the same things without all those. Just much less successful.
As many terrible things you can accuse Trump of, and Clinton, I have followed the Epstein case pretty closely and do not recall any of the young women accusing either one of doing anything to them. They had really bad taste in who they hung out with yes, but abusing under age girls tied to Epstein, don't think so.
A preacher friend told me last year that politics and religion are in competition today. Said politics is mimicking religion: lifestyle tenets, messiahs, finances, etc. He based it on family being involved in the Qanon conspiracies and thinks that has the potential to become a religion.
Churches have credit card kiosks set up to take money. Never thought I would see that.
Mine allows you to make donations automatically through debits from your checking account. To be honest everybody takes payments like that, I don't see a problem with it
Ok but if you walked into the majority of Christian churches and asked about Jesus, the minister won't direct you to the kiosk. Some will, and they are awful, but the majority would not.
Sounds like most Branch CovidiansIt’s a cult just like any other religion.
1. Follows one set of textual teachings
2. Claims to be the one and only source of truth
3. Members who leave are threatened with shunning or eternal consequences
4. Money is requested from memebers
5. We are right, every other faith is wrong
My point was that makes it feel like a business to me. And fees take a small percentage that could be of use to the church. I just don’t like it.
I get that. I’m old school. And from the country. You drop you $20 or whatever in the offering plate. Way I was raised.
Well I was raised in the city and we used to pay for everything in cash. Now I barely write 1 or 2 checks a month almost everything is done by credit card or debit
In fact at my 1st real job at a grocery store we got paid in cash every Saturday.
I don't even have a checking account, and it's been years since I've paid for anything in cash.
What part of my post mentioned Trump? Are some people so obsessed with Trump that they see him in everything? Sounds like something you should get psychiatric help for. Good luck.
You're the one that had to bring up all the left politics into the discussion. Get some psychiatric help for being so obsessed with it!
I'm just evening it up. If you don't like it, then toughen up, snowflake!
Trump knew him because they were both New Yorkers. Clinton and PA like young girls on a Caribbean Island so their involvement was not social. Clinton 29 times to the Island and Andrew was friends with maxwell
Trump called him a great wingman. Also been verified trump flew on his plane. Don’t be naive.
Here's my limited knowledge of the "Church" of Scientology... Give us your money...then we will determine how far up the CoS food chain you go up based on the amount of money you provide to the "Church" of Scientology.
Now, someone break down the CoS beyond that...
Now, someone break down the CoS beyond that...
And both billionaires (half a billionaire, whatever that pos was) and lived in teh same part of Florida.
The key difference is that Trump kicked him out of his club, excommunicated him, while others continued their relationships with him even after full knowledge of what he was.
The very mention of Scientology makes my blood boil. Back in the 70's they set up headquarters in my hometown, Clearwater, FL, and have pretty much destroyed it as a place to live. They took over the entire downtown. Bought up all of the property, buildings and took over the school board and city counsel. They have the police in their back pocket through payments and bribes.
I was in a church softball team when they first arrived. We were just a bunch of boys playing pure amateur ball and the league was fun and the way things should be. Then the Scientologist showed up. They brought in former professionals and semi pros and joined the league as a "church". You can guess what happened. One of the rules was if you play on a church's softball teams you must attend that church. Most Scientologist had never been to church. Any church. So the church league had to sue to keep them out of the league and fortunately the judge agreed and told them they were out. The city had an industrial league and the judge told them they qualified for that. The judge became their enemy and they realized they had to control the judges and courts to carry out their "Master Plan"
Since they set up their headquarters in Clearwater they have total control. The downtown area is pristine and beautiful but dead. No one goes down their to shop. In fact downtown is pretty much cut off and there is a very large bridge taking you over to the Beach which bypasses the city.
I am providing a link that gives a little history. Their master plan to destroy the city and totally control it worked. And I hate it because I had to move away as did most of my friends and family.
https://www.fsunews.com/story/life/2017/03/19/history-scientology-clearwater-florida/99381438/
I was in a church softball team when they first arrived. We were just a bunch of boys playing pure amateur ball and the league was fun and the way things should be. Then the Scientologist showed up. They brought in former professionals and semi pros and joined the league as a "church". You can guess what happened. One of the rules was if you play on a church's softball teams you must attend that church. Most Scientologist had never been to church. Any church. So the church league had to sue to keep them out of the league and fortunately the judge agreed and told them they were out. The city had an industrial league and the judge told them they qualified for that. The judge became their enemy and they realized they had to control the judges and courts to carry out their "Master Plan"
Since they set up their headquarters in Clearwater they have total control. The downtown area is pristine and beautiful but dead. No one goes down their to shop. In fact downtown is pretty much cut off and there is a very large bridge taking you over to the Beach which bypasses the city.
I am providing a link that gives a little history. Their master plan to destroy the city and totally control it worked. And I hate it because I had to move away as did most of my friends and family.
https://www.fsunews.com/story/life/2017/03/19/history-scientology-clearwater-florida/99381438/
Anti-abortion is left politics? COVID is left politics? Pretty sure you misinterpreted my post. Not a surprise at all.
Scientologists:
* Have a rigid moral code based on a belief in a higher supernatural being or beings
* Believe that the supernatural permeates our lives through sacred (and profane) people, places, and things
* Perform various ritual acts (praying, singing, giving money, etc.) that often involve other like-minded followers
* Have tax-exempt status as a group as of 1993
Why wouldn't Scientology be considered a religion?
* Have a rigid moral code based on a belief in a higher supernatural being or beings
* Believe that the supernatural permeates our lives through sacred (and profane) people, places, and things
* Perform various ritual acts (praying, singing, giving money, etc.) that often involve other like-minded followers
* Have tax-exempt status as a group as of 1993
Why wouldn't Scientology be considered a religion?
Thetans, Xenu, DC-10s, and John Travolta.
