I can’t really see an awful load of difference between Scientology and any other religion. Fundamentally, Scientology preaches improbable and totally unprovable events as being real; at the end of the day, so does Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Paganism etc. However, at least these religions (besides Islam and the Old Testament of the Bible) teach somewhat admirable ethical stances whereas Scientology teaches only to empty your wallet for them. Scientology does indoctrinate people and coerce them with what is essentially propaganda, but so does the afore mentioned religions; children have no choice in the religion they are brought up in, and a belief in Hell etc often is just as traumatic and long reaching as being brainwashed by Scientology. Scientology also semi-worships L Ron Hubbard, which some say is indicitave of a cult; but do Christians not worship Jesus? Is it not essentially a cult revolving around worship or a dead man, a cult of the personality perhaps akin in definition to that of Nazi Germany and Hitler? However, Jesus, by Biblical reports (which are hardly reliable, but non-the-less continues to be theoretically practised by it’s followers) was a thouroughly wonderful man; a tireless and beautiful individual who taught forgiveness, love and peace. Hubbard and Hitler did not; Hubbard was a money grubbing, lame author and Hitler was an ehtical monster regardless of the temporary prowess he provided for Germany (at the cost of over 6 million lives.) I really don’t know what else would qualify something to be a cult, but by the preceeding definitions Scientology is no more a cult than every other organised, thiest religion.