So....What the hell is scientology?

[kouriichi]

its a bunch of people worshipping "War of the Worlds" and hanging out with Tom Cruse.

Oh wait, that was mean wasnt it?
My bad. continue on.

 

[Dimbo_Sama]

It is

A) A religion that is also a hacknied replacement for psychology

B) A cult, based on Sci-Fi books by L. Ron Hubbard, that sucks up your money and makes life difficult for you if you leave

C) A way for Tax dodging, yacht owning, psychologist fearing, pedophile L. Ron Hubbard to avoid paying taxes for his income and spend his time on his yacht surrounded by young boys.

 

[Rainforce]

As hubbard once said: If you want to make money, start a religion.
He was AWFULLY successful, apparently.
EDIT: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard

 

[ejb626]

A scam the entire premise is that they make people think they're unhappy and need help then they say "In order to get help, you need to pay us" and its all bullshit. They have somewhat of a multi-tiered mythology of something so the higher up you are the more of the mythology you learn and guess how you get higher up, with your wallet.

Spoiler: this is the whole story they actually believe this

A long time ago there was an intergalactic federation of planets led by a tyrant named Xenu. Earth was one of the planets in this federation. Anyway (this is where it gets really stupid) Xenu didn't like that the people in the federation were rebelling and so he (yes really) had them rounded up and dropped in volcanoes on Earth than as if that wasn't enough he dropped atomic bombs in the volcanoes to kill them. But they're souls of Thetans survived so he somehow corrupted them and then the corrupted souls of the dead aliens latched onto people and corrupted them. The only way you escape the corruption is to pay them so they can do a bunch of bullshit rituals or something, they basically believe all problems are caused by alien souls

 

[Cakes]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

 

[The_Echo]

It's a cult. No doubt about it.

 

[Eldarion]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

The catholic church makes a lot of money. They just don't let their priests see any. To be fair, a lot of it goes to various charities. Spreading good will and hope and all that. So at least you can respect them.

Scientology on the other hand, they just want your money.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

A long time ago there was an intergalactic federation of planets led by a tyrant named Xenu. Earth was one of the planets in this federation. Anyway (this is where it gets really stupid) Xenu didn't like that the people in the federation were rebelling and so he (yes really) had them rounded up and dropped in volcanoes on Earth than as if that wasn't enough he dropped atomic bombs in the volcanoes to kill them. But they're souls of Thetans survived so he somehow corrupted them and then the corrupted souls of the dead aliens latched onto people and corrupted them. The only way you escape the corruption is to pay them so they can do a bunch of bullshit rituals or something, they basically believe all problems are caused by alien souls

what kind of soviet union bullcrap is that?! its only slightly more crazy than every other religion in the world! (oh snap!)

Besides, everyone knows the hoky egyptian religion on trading cards is the only true religion. (guess what abridged series I've been watching lately)

 

[Irken Invader]

Religions are cults with more people.

 

[ejb626]

A long time ago there was an intergalactic federation of planets led by a tyrant named Xenu. Earth was one of the planets in this federation. Anyway (this is where it gets really stupid) Xenu didn't like that the people in the federation were rebelling and so he (yes really) had them rounded up and dropped in volcanoes on Earth than as if that wasn't enough he dropped atomic bombs in the volcanoes to kill them. But they're souls of Thetans survived so he somehow corrupted them and then the corrupted souls of the dead aliens latched onto people and corrupted them. The only way you escape the corruption is to pay them so they can do a bunch of bullshit rituals or something, they basically believe all problems are caused by alien souls

what kind of soviet union bullcrap is that?! its only slightly more crazy than every other religion in the world! (oh snap!)

Besides, everyone knows the hoky egyptian religion on trading cards is the only true religion. (guess what abridged series I've been watching lately)

Exactly they're mythology makes no sense yet they continue to dupe people into believing, and I'm going to guess Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series

 

[Cakes]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

The catholic church makes a lot of money. They just don't let their priests see any. To be fair, a lot of it goes to various charities. Spreading good will and hope and all that. So at least you can respect them.

Scientology on the other hand, they just want your money.

That right there is the point that should be remembered.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

A long time ago there was an intergalactic federation of planets led by a tyrant named Xenu. Earth was one of the planets in this federation. Anyway (this is where it gets really stupid) Xenu didn't like that the people in the federation were rebelling and so he (yes really) had them rounded up and dropped in volcanoes on Earth than as if that wasn't enough he dropped atomic bombs in the volcanoes to kill them. But they're souls of Thetans survived so he somehow corrupted them and then the corrupted souls of the dead aliens latched onto people and corrupted them. The only way you escape the corruption is to pay them so they can do a bunch of bullshit rituals or something, they basically believe all problems are caused by alien souls

what kind of soviet union bullcrap is that?! its only slightly more crazy than every other religion in the world! (oh snap!)

Besides, everyone knows the hoky egyptian religion on trading cards is the only true religion. (guess what abridged series I've been watching lately)

Exactly they're mythology makes no sense yet they continue to dupe people into believing, and I'm going to guess Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series

ATTENTION DUELISTS: your right. ^.^

 

[Carlston]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

The catholic church makes a lot of money. They just don't let their priests see any. To be fair, a lot of it goes to various charities. Spreading good will and hope and all that. So at least you can respect them.

Scientology on the other hand, they just want your money.

Eh well last I check Rev Jerry Falweld died with a cool billion from his donations... and if it didn't make his tv empire grow he gave nothing to those in need...

 

[Eldarion]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

The catholic church makes a lot of money. They just don't let their priests see any. To be fair, a lot of it goes to various charities. Spreading good will and hope and all that. So at least you can respect them.

Scientology on the other hand, they just want your money.

That right there is the point that should be remembered.

I know, the person you quoted is off base. But the church does rake in the cash. However, like I said it goes to a lot of good causes. That and the fact that they gather money legitimately, by passing around the donation plate. Scientology requires payment to advance. Its crazy.

 

[Carlston]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

The catholic church makes a lot of money. They just don't let their priests see any. To be fair, a lot of it goes to various charities. Spreading good will and hope and all that. So at least you can respect them.

Scientology on the other hand, they just want your money.

That right there is the point that should be remembered.

I know, the person you quoted is off base. But the church does rake in the cash. However, like I said it goes to a lot of good causes. That and the fact that they gather money legitimately, by passing around the donation plate. Scientology requires payment to advance. Its crazy.

Reason I no longer am Roman Catholic is when my local church started calling me, telling me how much I made last year and how much I should donate to them or charity work I am "required" to do in good standing.

Bad enough I was in the military at the time...but that behavior is unacceptable.

 

[Eldarion]

All religions just want money, how you think they fund the churches?

Logic says if the invisible man in the sky is all knowing, seeing and everywhere. You can pray at your bed side... if a religion heard that they'd freak knowing there was that many people NOT paying for their church and their mansion, and their two dozen cars...

I know, there are so many rich priests out there.

The catholic church makes a lot of money. They just don't let their priests see any. To be fair, a lot of it goes to various charities. Spreading good will and hope and all that. So at least you can respect them.

Scientology on the other hand, they just want your money.

That right there is the point that should be remembered.

I know, the person you quoted is off base. But the church does rake in the cash. However, like I said it goes to a lot of good causes. That and the fact that they gather money legitimately, by passing around the donation plate. Scientology requires payment to advance. Its crazy.

Reason I no longer am Roman Catholic is when my local church started calling me, telling me how much I made last year and how much I should donate to them or charity work I am "required" to do in good standing.

Bad enough I was in the military at the time...but that behavior is unacceptable.

Wow man, that sounds bad. We went to methodist church back before my mother decided to stop trying with me, they never bothered us at all.

 

[VivaciousDeimos]

Its a money making scheme and method of tax fraud created by a bad American writer.

Also the Bible isan't fantasy its allegory. Only idiot Americans actually believe eveything in the bible is real rather than tales and fables in order to explain the basic concepts behind gods commandements for hummanity (guys be nice to one another and don't forget old dad), as well as try and explain the universe in a way a primitive soceity could understand. Even in the 6th century they weren't taking genesis seriously. c.f. St Augustine. Remember the bible is a historical record with a hell of alot of censorship and whats in it comes down more to the political demands of the time it was codified.

There are a lot of Americans who understand what I bolded. And a lot of people who claim that usually only do so to justify ignorance or bigotry. And it's basically what I was going to point out. A lot of religious people understand that the stories presented are just that, stories, and though I don't consider myself a Christian anymore, the times that I would go to church that's what a lot of the lessons were. Read a section of the bible, and then the priest talks about what you can learn from it, and how to apply it to modern day life. And that's just fine. Scientology, from what I understand, everyone pretty much takes the source material at face value, rather than taking some sort message or lesson from the text.

And as been pointed out before, though the Church may take in a lot of money (and I don't really count the evangelical types--I put them in the same category as tv psychics who do cold reads on people) they give a lot of it back. I don't think I've ever seen a Scientology Soup Kitchen, though.

Honestly sometimes the sheer amount of religious bigotry around here both amazes and saddens me.

 

[GrimTuesday]

One of my friends made this video for our Gov. class.

 

[miscelaneous]

Scinetology being a cult has NOTHING to do with what they believe in. All people have the right to believe whatever they want, no matter how silly or crazy.

No, what makes Scientology a dangerous cult is the fact that it is responsible for human trafficking (aka forced labor) in the US, coerced abortions, harrassing/threatening/physically assaulting their critics, the deaths of several of their members due to neglect or murder, and much more. They function more as a business than a church and their most dedicated members (not public members) live in compounds in which they are almost prisoners, forced to completely cut contact with any disapproving family members and often threatened if they attempt to leave.

I have friends in real life who have had to literally escape from this church. If you have to escape from a church, it is a cult.

Are you talking about the unification church serious?

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

"You're not a religion, you're a pyramid scheme!" Cookie for reference, but I'm sure many know this one.

Anyway, it's a weird religion similar what the Catholic Church was before the Reformation - they outright require you pay them (called condelences) for you to advance in the religion.

It's beliefs is beyond me, since I've heard mixed reports on it.