fabulous persondouche Posted:

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.

in response:

Rastanarcharismarx Posted:

however you try to look at it they still remain a cult.

They tend not to like any critique against them. I haven’t heard of the Vatican suing people for mocking their religion or calling it a cult in the 21st century.

Scientology doesn’t take no for an answer and doesn’t respect people who decide to leave Scientology because they have opened their eyes and decided not to believe in their theories. When I quit frequenting church I didn’t haven’t been stalked by my church even though most people there knew me and my family, neither did anyone bug me (unless people pbuming greetings to me qualifies as bugging), nor was I spammed mbumively by the church except for the collective Saturday evening suppers for which I specifically asked to be bugged for since I out of student-principle do not refuse an occasion for FREE FOOD.

The Holy Catholic Church also respects the secrecy of confession: never have I heard any secrets of any friends leave the confession booth, nor has any friends of mine ever been blackmailed by a priest. I’ve never even heard any secrets from friends in non-catholic churches leave the building even though I know many members often share secrets with reverends at the church for advice and yet in most countries in non-catholic chuches secrets are not even legally protected concessionary secrets.

sadfaise Posted:

Cult or religion, it IS a set of beliefs. It can be outright bull****, but people still believe it. I think it’s the organization – the so-called CHURCH which is the leech. But personally, I’d call it a cult. I’ve never come across any other major religion where donations or fees are forced in order to improve the practitioner.

In Islam, they have the compulsory concept of zakat. Zakat, however, is giving alms. So a Muslim will have to fork out his own cash and look for people to donate to. He doesn’t make any bull**** payments to a mosque so they can renovate the place, or for a set of enlightening jockstraps when the zakat is meant to help people who actually need it.