In your opinion, based on your own knowledge however vast or little it may be, how would you classify Scientology?

I have been reading about it today. Personally I don't buy into it, but it's certainly... interesting and different.

I know to each their own, but from the little I know, bunch of weirdos. Lol.

Eh, I don't think they're hurting anyone, but the whole thing is weird to me.

I dont know if the stuff Ive heard is true LOL, but I hope not because Ive heard some crazy nonsense about it.

Quoting Minion:" Eh, I don't think they're hurting anyone, but the whole thing is weird to me."

Obviously I can't say how true it is, but I read the article "What Katie Didn't Know" in Vanity Fair, and if the reports from previous members are true then they are hurting people (mentally).

from what I have gathered from it, it is not a religion at all IMO. To be a part of it, you need to be rolling in the dough. The more money you have, the more chances you are excepted into it. Also, it is something that an author (L. Ron Hubbard) I think that's the guy, of sci-fi stuff made up. But to each their own.

Quoting Chuck Bass:" Obviously I can't say how true it is, but I read the article "What Katie Didn't Know" in Vanity Fair, and if the reports from previous members are true then they are hurting people (mentally). "

Yeah, you do have a point there.

Quoting *Tegan's Mommy*:" from what I have gathered from it, it is not a religion at all IMO. To be a part of it, you need to be ... [snip!] ... Also, it is something that an author (L. Ron Hubbard) I think that's the guy, of sci-fi stuff made up. But to each their own."

Yeah, I've heard that as well.

Just as valid as christianity and Hinduism. The question wasn't if you believed it, but if it is a religion, which it does fit the classic definition of religion.

i live in clearwater which is like scientology capital of the world. its a load of crap. there a cult. the followers all wear the same thing every day. for smurf sake they have there own bus system. i know people that have been threw things with scientologist for disagreeing with them. theres a guy that goes around and give out DVDs and protest around here because his wife unexpectantly died after leaving the church of scientology under mysterious circumstanced. there a bunch of creeps if you ask me.

It's a religion, and no freakier or cultier than any of the other ones. IT's stupid as hell, but so is most of what religious types believe.


They have a big temple thing right by my house. Whatever, at least they're not door knockers.

Just as much a "cult" as all other religions.

Quoting →Ebahϖ:" i live in clearwater which is like scientology capital of the world. its a load of crap. there a cult. ... [snip!] ... died after leaving the church of scientology under mysterious circumstanced. there a bunch of creeps if you ask me."

That doesn't sound any weirder than other religions if you ask me. They wear the same kind of clothes every day? Okay, Muslim women do that. They think something bad will happen to you if you leave the religion? Okay, nearly EVERY religion believes that in one way or another.

Personally what threw the "cult" flag up for me was that you have to pay money to move up levels, they record your confessions ("audits"), and the weird punishment they allegedly use on people who start to questions.

I'm aware they fit the technical definition of religion because of belief in a higher power. I was asking for opinions. And maybe I should have specified that by "cult" I meant "religious cult".

Quoting Chuck Bass:" Personally what threw the "cult" flag up for me was that you have to pay money to move up levels, they ... [snip!] ... belief in a higher power. I was asking for opinions. And maybe I should have specified that by "cult" I meant "religious cult"."

Up until about the beginning of the 1900's, you had to pay the Catholic Priest to absolve you of your sins. There was a pardoner that you had to pay before they would hear you.