Am I a Hypocrite?

[Hawkeye16]

I am American, and strongly against discrimination against Muslims on the grounds that discrimation against people based on race or religious belief is wrong, however I regularly look down upon and take (verbal!) shots at scientologists. Does this make me a hypocrite?

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Scientology is not a religion, it's a hobby for ripping off rich celebrities. So stop worrying.

 

[strum4h]

No because muslims actually believe in a set of rules and teachings to live by. Scientology is about conning people out of money.

 

[Baby Tea]

Scientology has far more in common with a cult then a real/regular religion.
That being said, making fun of, and actual discrimination of a particular worldview are very different. I makes jokes about fellow Christians, Muslims, Atheists, pagans, and all sorts. But I would never, ever, discriminate against them because of their worldview. Even if I think their beliefs might be way off base, they are still people.

A light ribbing is one thing.
Discrimination is another.

 

[DeepComet5581]

Scientology is bullshit that has no discernable history, no leaders of any value to society and the morals of a 12 year-old on LSD, and makes about as much sense.

Islam is a good religion, just taken too far by some people.

 

[Irridium]

Scientology has far more in common with a cult then a real/regular religion.
That being said, making fun of, and actual discrimination of a particular worldview are very different. I makes jokes about fellow Christians, Muslims, Atheists, pagans, and all sorts. But I would never, ever, discriminate against them because of their worldview. Even if I think their beliefs might be way off base, they are still people.

A light ribbing is one thing.
Discrimination is another.

I was going to say this, only he said it in a much better way than how I would have said it.

No one's going to hate you for pulling a few punches on others(except maybe the extremists/politically correct folks).

 

[spartan231490]

Sorta, yeah. You're discriminating against a group when u advocate non-discrimination. but don't worry about it, "everyone's a little bit racist."

 

[FamoFunk]

You are. But they're seriously messed up, so it's cool.

 

[Arawn.Chernobog]

Technically yes, you are being hypocritical if you discriminate BECAUSE they are scientologists...

However, if you look down upon scientologists involved in the money laundering, related homicide cases and anti-medical propaganda that is affiliated with the core church... you're still technically discriminating... but I wouldn't hold it against you.

I have an easier solution out of this: I hate all religions and would much prefer people to keep their faiths to themselves, be them a zombie carpenter son of a man on the clouds or pink-unicorn from planet Xobnob

 

[(sic) humor]

You could say that you find Islam a much more valid religion with its history and dogma and mode of worship. If you look down on Scientologists because you believe that their "religion" is more of a hodge-podge of incoherent memes strung together by a not-so-spiritual science fiction writer, then I wouldn't call that hypocrisy.

You could never equate Muslim with terrorist, because one has nothing to do with the other, but you could at least make a case that Scientologists aren't rational or sincere with their beliefs if you focus on their belief system and whether or not it is a valid religion.

Edit: It's cool that you at least took the time to consider whether your views of a particular group of people were ethically justified, though.

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

Eh, it's not a serious hypocrisy. Technically I suppose it is, but honestly, it's pretty difficult to understand how people can take scientology seriously as a religion.

 

[WorkerMurphey]

I think the rule for taking religions seriously is that if the religion hasn't been linked to genocide/human rights violation or hasn't been involved in at least one significant war said religion doesn't count.

 

[Daffy F]

Does this make me a hypocrite?

Nope. Scientology is bullshit.

 

[DarthFennec]

I don't think what you're doing is discrimination. I make fun of Scientologists too, not because they believe in Scientology, but because some of their practices are fucking moronic (and by this I mean that the fact that you have to pay good money to be part of that cult is moronic). I also make fun of hardcore, fundamental Christians, not because they believe in Christianity, but because their practices are moronic (jerking off is the most evil thing you can possibly do, let's go stand out with picket signs and protest Comic-Con and funerals and every other social gathering ever, let's do our very best to get our creation story taught as a fucking science in public gradeschools, etc). There's a difference between discrimination and thinking something someone does is stupid. In my mind, as long as you're open to breaks in the stereotype, and as long as you hate people because of who they are and what they do (not what they look like or what they believe in) it's not discrimination. I hope I've been of help to you.

 

[sir.rutthed]

From a purely objective point of view, if you mock someone because of their beliefs it doesn't matter what their beliefs are or if they make sense to the rest of us. You're being prejudiced. There are aspects of every belief system that seem ridiculous to those on the outside, but that doesn't mean we should mock the people who follow it. That said, nobody's perfect; least of all Scientologists so have some fun at their expense.

 

[hctib_elttil]

humans are hypocritical by nature
we all see something wrong with our selves
yet expect (or hope) others to be better then this

 

[teisjm]

Well, the way i see it, i would not look down on christians, muslims, jews, hindus, scientologists, spaghettimonster-ists (can't rememebr the name) or whatever because they're different than me, but if they take their relegion to an extend that i find stupid i do consider them stupid.

I don't see relegion as an excuse to to stupid stuff, i don't care if people have what i would consider silly rituals or other stuff like that, i prolly do lots of stuff they find solly as well.
But if someone uses relegion as a way to scam people off their money (liek scientology) i see them as con artists, not cause of their relegion, cause it's just a tool, but because of the scams they pull.
If people kill others in teh name of their relegious figures, i don't look down on them as murderers due to their relegion, but due to their murdering. the relegion was just a "convenient excuse".
If people beat of homosexuals due to their relegious beliefs, i don't blame them for their relegion, but for their homophobic biggotry, and violent acts, the relegion was again just a "convenient excuse".

Summed up, you shouldn't look down at people due to their relegion, but you shouldn't think bad stuff they do is okay, just because it's part of their relegion either, their relegion isn't a shield that can cover their bad/evil acts.

Hope it makes sense.

 

[Trivun]

You aren't a hypocrite for that, because Scientology isn't a religion. It's a scam. I have every sympathy for, and do not look down on, those caught up in it, but I do look down on the people at the top, the people who try and convert everyone to it, and so on. Although to be fair, as a Christian I also hate people who try and convert people to Christianity. If you belong to a religion, then fine, I'm happy for you regardless of what that religion is. But don't try shoving it in my face, especially if I'm already part of it, jerks.

Anyway, in this case you aren't a hypocrite. Although more than likely you are a hypocrite about something. I know I am, and I know that pretty much everyone is a hypocrite somehow, somewhere. Humanity itself is inherently corrupt, and everyone is a hypocrite of some degree, it just varies on exactly what that is... although that's just my own opinion. If you're an optimist about life itself, then fine, and have a nice day. Sucker.

 

[Simalacrum]

Scientology has far more in common with a cult then a real/regular religion.
That being said, making fun of, and actual discrimination of a particular worldview are very different. I makes jokes about fellow Christians, Muslims, Atheists, pagans, and all sorts. But I would never, ever, discriminate against them because of their worldview. Even if I think their beliefs might be way off base, they are still people.

A light ribbing is one thing.
Discrimination is another.

You see, moments like this just remind me of why the Red Guard got to where they are now.

Bravo sir, fine words - I couldn't have put better myself.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

In a technical sense, yes. But if you're directing your ire to the core conspirators that perpetrate this fallacy for profit, then I can't say much against you because I'm right there with you.
I had the misfortune of living near a Scientology complex, and there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't have one of their recruiters try to talk to me about my thetan levels or some crazy crap. I really wanted to hit those people but I felt sorry for some as I feel they're lost and lonely people in search of something to believe in that get caught up in a bullshit scheme. I have a hard time coping with people who believe wholeheartedly in the writings of a horrible Sci-Fi author like L. Ron Hubbard.
I'd feel the same way about Mormons but they don't try to convert me, and generally are pretty nice people... a little nuts for believing what they do but nice people in general.