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einstien5201 -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (10/30/2009 9:50:58 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: subtlebutterfly
I'd rather consider it to be a cult.
What's the difference between a cult and a religion? Is there a set number of followers a belief system has to obtain in order to 'graduate' from one to the other? In my experience, cult has been used primarly as a scare tactic when one religion slanders another.
quote:
ORIGINAL: rulemylife
re⋅li⋅gion
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
By my reckoning, Scientology meets at least definitions 2 and 3. 4, 5, and 6 are for different usages of the word, so we'll ignore them. I'm not sure if Scientology addresses the creation or purpose of the universe as a whole, but I suspect that some other religions that are commonly accepted similarly deal only with the purpose of humanity and life on earth, so I'll give them that aspect. I'm not sure if there is a moral code in the belief structure. I suspect there is, though it may be significantly skewed from the one I follow. Clearly there are devotional and ritual observances (from what I've heard mostly financial in nature), so I think we're good on number 1 also. So, according to dictionary.com, Scientology qualifies as a religion under 3/3 (100%) of the relevant definitions. Sounds like a lock to me.
I don't agree with the beliefs espoused by the Church of Scientology. I think it's absolutely absurd, and I laughed as hard as I ever had at the South Park episode which explained (accurately, as far as I can tell), what the beliefs of the church are. But just because I disagree with them does not mean that they aren't a religion. Our culture and law, at least here in the United States, are based on the idea that as long as you're not hurting anyone, you're free to do as you wish. I leave you alone, you leave me alone. I'd like to think we inherited most of this from our culture's European ancestry, and that it is still shared across the Atlantic.
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