Does anybody think Scientology is a religion like Christianity and Judaism? I don't know since I have never been a part of that group. I think it's like with the rest of the religion since it brainwashes people like Christianity and Catholicism.

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everything is not what it
appears to be

Actually, I believe it qualifies as a cult. It wrenches money from it's followers and uses subtle brainwashing techniques, as well as actively recruits people. I've heard on the news that in Germany they would actually follow people down the sidewalk, yelling at them and hounding them until they took a pamphlet or agreed to join. (On an ironic note, when the German government began having them arrested for harassment, they began crying "Nazism" because they were being "persecuted for practicing their religion", conveniently ignoring the persecution they were committing on the citizenry.)

Christianity, when it first started, was viewed by the Romans as little more than a cult that appealed largely to the peasant class. At what point, though, does a group go from cult to religion? I'm sure that if you asked the members of a cult, they would aver that they are not in a cult, but are members of a genuine religion. Most agree that cults involve strong, and essentially unverifiable, beliefs in a person, thing, or concept. Beyond that there is much disagreement. Some argue all religions are cults, while most use the term to refer to relatively small entities. Many use "sect" to refer to offshoots of traditional religions, reserving "cult" to designate substantially different approaches. Yet what is "substantially different" depends largely on the eyes of the evaluator. Thus some believe the Mormons are a "cult", while others do not. Many even question whether the concept of religiousness must be involved. Indeed, in popular usage, the relatively unorganized activity of fans surrounding sports teams, Elvis Presely, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have all been refered to as cultish.

--Charles G. Waugh and Martin H. Greenberg
Cults!: An Anthology of Secret Societies, Sects, and the Supernatural

c.1983 reprinted 1996 Barnes & Noble Books

Hence, I think it all depends on what side of the fence you're on.

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I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight, kill, and die for your right to say it.

[This message has been edited by Oxygen (edited April 16, 2000).]

Some time ago I have heard that Scientology is illegal in Germany. Does anybody know if it's true or not?

I can only offer two tidbits on Scientology.

* The official name is Church of Scientology, Incorporated.

* The Church has, as a whole, been indicted for practicing medicine without a license, and also for wrongful death in the abuse and destruction of one of their members. A link for this is http://www.lisamcpherson.org

I declare no associations to the above link, and note it here as definitively anti-Scientology, for reasons that I think will be quite apparent.

thanx,
Tiassa :cool:

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We are unutterably alone, essentially, especially in the things most intimate and important to us. (Ranier Maria Rilke)

In every country where they have started they have always been hit by legal challenges as to whether they are a valid religion. So far they have won every case, I think.

The challenge from Germany seems stronger. This seems to be because established religions in Germany are heavily subsidized by the state and enjoy substantial tax priveledges. The challenges are coming from (surprise, surprise) the established religions - they don't want someone else eating into their money cake.

From my recent experience with Scientology I can see that they are clearly a religion. Their 'auditing' techniques are heavily entrenched with strong spiritual beliefs. Their nearest religious neighbor is Budhism.

However, I believe their origins started from a pure profit motive and they should never have been allowed to get started as a religion. This may have been because of a weakness in the more liberal British legal system.




[This message has been edited by Cris (edited April 17, 2000).]

Itcm,

I introduced a topic last month "A Scientology Experience", I suspect you haven't seen this. You might find it useful.

I've heard that for the 'auditing' of your soul, Scientology uses a galvanometer(sic?), an early instrument that measures skin conductivity. The lie detector evolved from that. I don't agree with their beliefs, I guess that L. Ron Hubbert found out two things; 1)that he wasn't a good enough sci-fi writer (Battlefield Earth)and 2)that many people needed something to believe in. So he found a new career, were those 2 things could by melted together. Just a thought.