RE: Is Scientology a religion?

RE: Is Scientology a religion? (Full Version)

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RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 5:41:41 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: wendyrosa Yeah, and Scientology is just one big fat global scam. Differentiating it from other religions how, exactly? http://www.instantrimshot.com/ [;)]

Moonhead -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 7:14:56 AM)
The taste for nuisance law suits, mostly.

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 7:17:35 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead The taste for nuisance law suits, mostly. Good point. Plus, they don't tend to blow people they don't like to bits. Sue em to bits, yes, but not immolate or explode them.

Moonhead -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 8:04:04 AM)
I dunno about that: in most cases there's a political side to religious bombings (and religious violence in general) and that factor's just used to justify something that's done more for other reasons to whichever halfwit is actually suckered into doing the dirty work. $cientology, on the other hand, is notorious for being the only religious body in existence that maintains a war chest (have a look on wiki, which I think names a few prominent contributors: I know people who've stopped buying Beck records over that) in order to sue and otherwise harass enemies of the church, and a distaste for the cult seems to be the only factor at work there. The $Sea org don't seem to have any agenda for doing that besides $cientology. I don't think there's another religion in existence that does that. That said, if they could go around killing people with the same impunity, I'm sure they'd be happy to try that as well. It's a downside of the cult being composed of rich westerners rather than dirt poor and appallingly poorly educated types from the middle east. Still, I'm sure that's a weight of James Randii's mind, isn't it?

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 8:22:11 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead I dunno about that: in most cases there's a political side to religious bombings (and religious violence in general) and that factor's just used to justify something that's done more for other reasons to whichever halfwit is actually suckered into doing the dirty work. $cientology, on the other hand, is notorious for being the only religious body in existence that maintains a war chest (have a look on wiki, which I think names a few prominent contributors: I know people who've stopped buying Beck records over that) in order to sue and otherwise harass enemies of the church, and a distaste for the cult seems to be the only factor at work there. The $Sea org don't seem to have any agenda for doing that besides $cientology. I don't think there's another religion in existence that does that. That said, if they could go around killing people with the same impunity, I'm sure they'd be happy to try that as well. It's a downside of the cult being composed of rich westerners rather than dirt poor and appallingly poorly educated types from the middle east. Still, I'm sure that's a weight of James Randii's mind, isn't it? The point being though, that they never have utilised murder for their own ends, unlike branches of most other churches, be it Catholics, Muslims, whatever. I'm not saying they're not evil, unprincipled scumbags, because I happen to think they're about as evil as certain other religions which embrace physical (as opposed to the Scientologists' psychological) violence, but I find it interesting they haven't gone down that route. Presumably they can get done what they have to by the application of money alone?

mnottertail -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 8:23:58 AM)
I say, old cheeze, excellent rapier, but when I click on it, I hear no fugue? how's that? Ron

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 8:27:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail I say, old cheeze, excellent rapier, but when I click on it, I hear no fugue? how's that? Ron The fugue is internal, old chap. You're supposed to provide your own. I mean, really; I can't go around giving out fugues willy-nilly! Think of the expense, man! Remember; the value of fugues may go down as well as up. And a fugue is for life, not just for Christmas [;)]

wendyrosa -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 8:56:21 AM)
Dude. It's the line Stan used in South Park when he figured out it was time to get rid of the Scientologists, get em out of town. Don't be so sensitive. They are a big fat scam, and they sue people every time someone points it out. In fact, they are the only organized religion with a clear origin, a beginning and end to their myths, making it truly a fake system. Come to your own conclusions about the other religions, but I can guarantee you none of the other religions have as clear a path of origin-including Christianity, which clearly borrows from older myths. A distant second would be Mormonism, but even they have roots in something else. Scientology has no basis in any of the basic mythological archetypes that circle human cultures--and it has no connection with any national or religious epic. In short, it really is a global scam. It's bad science fiction, at best. I could care less, btw. It's all bullshit. quote: ORIGINAL: RapierFugue quote: ORIGINAL: wendyrosa Yeah, and Scientology is just one big fat global scam. Differentiating it from other religions how, exactly? http://www.instantrimshot.com/ [;)]

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:01:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: wendyrosa Don't be so sensitive. lol. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/projection Note item 11.

tazzygirl -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:06:52 AM)
Scientology, as shown earlier in this thread, was born of the need for nothing more than a means to make more money.

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:09:34 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Scientology, as shown earlier in this thread, was born of the need for nothing more than a means to make more money. A charge that could be levelled against most organised religions. I'm trying to think of one that has absolutely no interest in the financial ... I want to say Buddhism, but I'm not entirely sure, as I don't know it well enough to say definitively.

tazzygirl -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:18:12 AM)
Most other religions... i say most because someone will always find one to dispute... requires little more than reading a book. The purchase (or gift) of a bible, koran, ect, and you begin your religious journey. Scientology teaches that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature.[4] Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counseling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past, in order to free themselves of their limiting effects.[5] Study materials and auditing courses are made available to members in return for specified donations.[6] Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States and some other countries,[7][8][9][10] and the Church of Scientology emphasizes this as proof that it is a bona fide religion.[11] In other countries such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Scientology does not have comparable religious status. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology Seems one of Scientology's requirements for membership is money. I have yet, and im speaking of my own personal experiences, seen a church or congregation turn someone away because of their lack of funds.

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:20:56 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Most other religions... i say most because someone will always find one to dispute... requires little more than reading a book. The purchase (or gift) of a bible, koran, ect, and you begin your religious journey. Scientology teaches that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature.[4] Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counseling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past, in order to free themselves of their limiting effects.[5] Study materials and auditing courses are made available to members in return for specified donations.[6] Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States and some other countries,[7][8][9][10] and the Church of Scientology emphasizes this as proof that it is a bona fide religion.[11] In other countries such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Scientology does not have comparable religious status. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology Seems one of Scientology's requirements for membership is money. I have yet, and im speaking of my own personal experiences, seen a church or congregation turn someone away because of their lack of funds. So you don't consider most other organised religions to be scams? Note that a "scam" doesn't have to be purely about money.

tazzygirl -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:25:19 AM)
Actually, no. Many do, i dont happen to agree with them.

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:27:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Actually, no. Many do, i dont happen to agree with them. Fair enough. I was just curious.

Hierodule -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 9:41:38 AM)
My Mom was a Scientologist for many years. This was after I left home. I never got it and she eventually left the "church." I don't know if I consider it a religion but if the money thing is what disqualifies it for you, some people are welcomed without money. She actually got involved with the church through a non-profit organization that helps people suffering from Leukemia. Apparently the initial cleanse that you have to go through when you join the church (a high dose niacin/sauna/jogging gauntlet) eases chemotherapy sickness. She used to bring patients to the center in LA to do the cleanse and ended up doing it herself. They kind of welcomed her with open arms, even helped her find a better job with another cancer charity. She was being trained as an auditor and never had to pay for her own audit because of her involvement with the "church." From what she told me, it definitely is a hierarchy with "promising" and famous members getting a complete free ride while other "lesser" members are expected to fork over mountains of cash.

Moonhead -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 10:05:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: RapierFugue quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Scientology, as shown earlier in this thread, was born of the need for nothing more than a means to make more money. A charge that could be levelled against most organised religions. I'm trying to think of one that has absolutely no interest in the financial ... I want to say Buddhism, but I'm not entirely sure, as I don't know it well enough to say definitively. If Buddhists had no interest in finance and the material world, would the Dalai Llama be whining about the Chinese taking his country from him? he's getting nearly as much money from Hollywood as the $cientologists by some accounts. (That said, most of his supporters seem far less highly strung at least. It's a pity he's trying spent so long trying to wipe out any other forms of buddhism in the part of India he lives in, but I suppose his set up is careful not to mention that to any visiting celebrities who might talk to the media about it...)

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 10:06:56 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hierodule From what she told me, it definitely is a hierarchy with "promising" and famous members getting a complete free ride while other "lesser" members are expected to fork over mountains of cash. Ah, the Dennis Moore technique.

RapierFugue -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 10:08:12 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead quote: ORIGINAL: RapierFugue quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl Scientology, as shown earlier in this thread, was born of the need for nothing more than a means to make more money. A charge that could be levelled against most organised religions. I'm trying to think of one that has absolutely no interest in the financial ... I want to say Buddhism, but I'm not entirely sure, as I don't know it well enough to say definitively. If Buddhists had no interest in finance and the material world, would the Dalai Llama be whining about the Chinese taking his country from him? he's getting nearly as much money from Hollywood as the $cientologists by some accounts. (That said, most of his supporters seem far less highly strung at least. It's a pity he's trying spent so long trying to wipe out any other forms of buddhism in the part of India he lives in, but I suppose his set up is careful not to mention that to any visiting celebrities who might talk to the media about it...) As I say, I don't know enough about the religion in question to make the statement, hence I didn't. He's still my fave religious leader, mind. Lovely smile [;)]

Moonhead -> RE: Is Scientology a religion? (11/1/2009 10:08:29 AM)
The purple lot in Boulder used to do that as well, didn't they?

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