General Discussions

**Minaki** · 04-19-2006, 11:17 AM

Just wondering what people's views are on Scientology... having been quite bored, I've been reading about it all day I've made up my mind that it's a pretty dangerous cult. Just wondering what everyone else thinks...?

Scientology website: www.scientology.org
Wikipedia on Scientology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology
Operation Clambake (Against Scientology): http://www.xenu.net/

**dk01** · 04-19-2006, 11:35 AM

I am fine with people expressing their religious views but I feel that some of the things practiced by scientologists are dangerous and a bit loony. I guess there are worse things out there but still it seems odd and a bit foreign to me.

**stOx** · 04-19-2006, 01:17 PM

There is a fine line between religion and cult, Or maybe the line is imaginary, I think it is. I can't think of a single difference between any religion and any cult besides peoples perception and willingness to accept it as "normal".

As for scientology, It's just another fruit offering "truth" and "understanding" in exchange for your money, so i think that qualifies it as a religion.

But to be honest, I don't trust anyone who needs someone else to tell them how to live thier life. Wether that be a christian, scientologist or ATWA.

**dk01** · 04-19-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dk01

I am fine with people expressing their religious views but I feel that some of the things practiced by scientologists are dangerous and a bit loony. I guess there are worse things out there but still it seems odd and a bit foreign to me.

As an atheist. I agree.

**Kane Hill** · 04-20-2006, 07:34 AM

Yeah, there is something about that cult arr.. I mean religion. It is crazy nuts and it seems people are just hoping on board. Not me.

**Harvey** · 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St0x

As for scientology, It's just another fruit offering "truth" and "understanding" in exchange for your money, so i think that qualifies it as a religion.

I like the discreet irony there but to be fair most religions are reasonably charity giving etc.

I'd call it a cult:

Quote:

Originally Posted by From answers.com:

A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

Although maybe it's not generally considered to be extremist or false. But it is rather odd, and I wonder how much the "believers" believe, and whether it's more of a rich status.

**Village Idiot** · 04-20-2006, 10:38 AM

cult.

**mysC** · 04-20-2006, 05:17 PM

i cant say its a cult or a religion....i respect people's beliefs. if they believe that they can be better people in that org...

**JeremiahB** · 10:27 PM

It helped Tom Cruise change from this:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

to this:
http://filmacteursc.punt.nl/upload/c...uise_oprah.jpg

I think there's something seriously wrong with it.

Don't the followers ever think "wait a minute, my religion was invented by a science fiction writer"

Hail Xenu!

**Village Idiot** · 04-21-2006, 09:45 AM

ROFL!!

**TonyTwoTime** · 04-21-2006, 10:15 PM

The guy was extremely paranoid, on anti-pychotic medication for much of his life, and reminds me alot of Manson. Not really the guy I want to base my belief system on.

But what do I know. Im Catholic.

**Minaki** · 04-22-2006, 05:46 AM

Quote:

i cant say its a cult or a religion....i respect people's beliefs. if they believe that they can be better people in that org...

From most of the stuff I've read about the Sea Organisation (That's people who sign a billion year contract to work for them for little or no pay), some of the things can be quite horrific.
I was reading an account of one woman, she said that when she was 12 she was in an 'auditing session' and going over bad things in her life. She really didn't want to, but the auditer made her come out with the fact that she'd been molested by her father. The scientology people told her it was her own negitivity 'bringing in' these bad things that had happened to her, and that she had to better herself to prevent it happening again.
How sick is that, telling a 12 year old kid that it's their own fault they got molested?

**KML9870** · 04-24-2006, 06:05 AM

From personal experience: Scientology is an extremely dangerous cult.

Unfortunately my mother got involved with Scientology when I was about 13. I left her home when I was 15 to live with my Aunt & Uncle and a very part of the reason was Scientology. When I left I should have been half way through my sophomore year of high school, but had no high school credits because I was prone to bronchitis and instead of taking me to the doctor to get antibiotic my mother took me to an auditing session. The result was much like that of the 12 year old Minaki was reading about. Where we lived, if you missed more than 10 days in a school year without a doctor's excuse you were dropped - so I was dropped, my freshman year and my sophomore year. Luckily for me I was intelligent enough to be able to catch up and graduate on time, with honors but there are a lot of people that wouldn't have been able to and the result would have damaged their prospects for the rest of their lives.

My mother was an officer of a large Metro "Org" for three years. In that time she worked 12-14 hour days and got paid about 1/2 of minimum wage. As a result, I also worked part-time, tried to go to school and was parenting my sister who is 6 years younger. Hmm....good that be the reason I got sick? I think it probably was.

In the years since, my mother has thankfully gravitated away from Scientology, but still holds some of their ideas as truths. I have a pretty good relationship with her now, but because she does (and a few other reasons) I am glad that she lives 2000 miles away from me and I can say "okay mom", hang up the phone and go about my life.

**johnsongreen** · 04-24-2006, 11:57 AM

And I thought it was just a made up word...

**angele803** · 04-24-2006, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremiahB

Don't the followers ever think "wait a minute, my religion was invented by a science fiction writer"

Thats what I cant understand! How can you knowingly follow a religion that was made up by a science fiction writer?! Maybe they are all brainwashed??

**Village Idiot** · 04-24-2006, 04:47 PM

furthermore, tom cruise believs in it, how good can it be>?

**Minaki** · 04-25-2006, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Maybe they are all brainwashed??

That's pretty much it.

They go in being told Scientology can help them (and even give them 'super powers' once they reach the higher OT levels) and then through the 'auditing' sessions and other things they get up to they slowly get brainwashed. Then they're open to any sort of suggestion from Scientology, such as the need to pay them lots of money, work for s**t all pay, and even 'disconnect' from friends and family who don't support Scientology.

There's a church of Scientology in Brighton down the road from the hotel I'm going to in a couple of weeks... I fancy going in there and asking a few difficult (excuse the pun! lmao!) questions and dropping some anti scientology flyers on my way out...

**Andromeda** · 04-26-2006, 01:57 AM

well.. I thinks it's all a bunch of fad...

**mcbeth59** · 04-26-2006, 12:29 PM

I am pretty sure that L Ron Hubbard died a drunk and a recluse. Scientology didn't seem to do very much for him.

**Harvey** · 04-26-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minaki

There's a church of Scientology in Brighton down the road from the hotel I'm going to in a couple of weeks... I fancy going in there and asking a few difficult (excuse the pun! lmao!) questions and dropping some anti scientology flyers on my way out...

LOL freaky, I know the one!!! In fact, I go past it pretty much every week!