Anyone know what the heck scientology is all about?   "Scientologists welcome."?
607209
Go to www.xenu.net . You'll learn everything you need to know about scientology.
220994
It's a money making scheme that is based on the works of science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard's.  It is a complete and total BS and can be downright dangerous at times!
6217
Is Scientology posing a real threat to Christian America or summink?  This is the third or fourth paranoid question about that organisation in a week!\n\nIf they're crackpots let them carry on cracking pots. \n\nYou can ask a similar question about Christian (blind) faith.  How on earth does a Jewish guy being murdered by the Romans on a cross save humanity either then or now - especially as Hebrew scripture forbids (1) human sacrifice and (2) the deification of a human sacrifice?\n\nSome Christians find the real answer to that question and carry on believing in their faith. This is because faith is often the replacement or removal of rational reasoning, facts, evidence, and logic.\n\nWhy is Scientology being held up to higher standards than other blind faiths?
690305
Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew or Atheist,for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.\nAnd it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.\nIt is a non denominational religion . The dictionary definition that applies:\nReligion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.\n\nThe most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.\nThe whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .\nWhen you do this the sphere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.\n\nHow this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit.\nHe completed his research before his death in 1986 and left all of his results and copyrights\nto the Church of Scientology along with most of his considerable estate., when he died.\n\nHe published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"\n\nThere are currently over 8 million Scientologists in more that 150 countries world wide. \nThe true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:\n1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.\n2. People find it interesting.\n3. People find it works.\n4. People pass it along to others.\n5. It grows.\n\nHope this helps answer you question as to what it is about.
321243
I dislike this religion because of many  things. The people my dad works with are all scientologists. The church's money collector comes by ever payday to take part of their wages. Once the secretary was completely broke, only had $10 for gas money, and they took that. Why people continue giving all their money to them is unfathomable to me. Besides, the guy who formed the church (L. Ron Hubbard) was a science fiction writer for goodness sakes...As always, to each their own, but I certainly don't understand it.
65623
Literally, Scientology means the study of truth.  Scientologists believe that man is an immortal spiritual being whose experiences extend far beyond just this lifetime.  According to Scientology, man's capabilities are unlimited, even if they are not presently realized.\n\nScientologists believe that painful memories from our past can hinder our ability to realize our limitless potential.  For this, Scientologists offer auditing which enables people to remove the painful effects of these bad memories.  Practically, auditing is a type of counseling using a lie detetector called an E-meter.  In auditing, the auditor never invalidates what the pre-clear says.  The ultimate aim of auditing is so people can attain the state of "Clear," or a state of freedom from painful past memories.  Clears are free from psychosomoatic illnesses, self determined, vigorous and persistent.\n\nScientology's aims are a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without wars.  Where the able can prosper, where honest beings can have rights and where man is free to rise to greater heights.\n\nFor this purpose, Scientologists run many humanitarian organizations including Narconon and Criminon, helping people get off drugs, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which fights psychiatric abuse, the Applied Scholastics educational system and the Way to Happiness Foundation.
709135
Scientology is no more odd than the beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, or any other respected religion you can name, if you stop and think about it. It's a matter of what you're indoctrinated to believe or accept as respectable.\n\n1- Scientology considers the belief in a God or gods as something personal and therefore offers no specific dogma. The nature of the Supreme Being is revealed personally through each individual as s/he becomes more conscious and spiritually aware. There exists a life energy or force (Theta) beyond and within all.\n\n2- There are no particular human incarnations of God, as the universal life force (Theta) is inherent in all. All humans are immortal spiritual beings (thetans) capable of realizing a nearly godlike state through Scientology practices.\n\n3- Origin of Universe and Life: All is manifestation of the universal spirit, which is all that actually exists.\n\n4- After Death: Rebirths continue until one consciously confronts all pre-birth, current-life, and previous-life traumas and realizes one's true nature as a "thetan," immortal spirit--transcending matter, energy, space, and time. Achieving this state enables the spirit to escape the cycle of birth and death--to operate independently of the physical universe and become one with God.\n\n5- Why is there evil? Painful experiences and harmful acts in one's prebirth, current, and past lives become imprinted in the reactive mind and lead to irrational behavior. Departures from rational thought and untrue ideas ("aberrations") can result in wrongdoing.\n\n6- Salvation is achieved through the practices and techniques of Scientology, the ultimate goal of which is to realize one's true nature as an immortal spirit, a thetan. The path to salvation, or enlightenment, includes achieving states of increasingly greater mental awareness--Pre-Clear, Clear, and ultimately Operating Thetan. An Operating Thetan is a spirit who can control matter, energy, space, time, thought, and life. Practitioners ("Auditors") are regarded as ministers and counselors who assist others to achieve self-enlightenment. Auditors help others to identify their prebirth, current, and past-life disturbances, which are obstacles to happiness and spiritual enlightenment.\n\n7- Suffering occurs as part of the spirit's entrapment here in the physical universe. Only when the individual is aware of his spiritual nature can he identify his barriers within the universe and overcome them, rising out of a lower state and into a higher state of happiness and freedom.\n\n8 -Contemporary Issues: Based on the belief that you cannot free yourself spiritually without working to free others, Scientology has founded and supports many organizations for social betterment, particularly in the areas of drug abuse, crime, psychiatric abuse, government abuse of law, human rights, religious freedom, education, and morality. Scientology strongly favors the use of their methodology for spiritual/mental healing over the use of conventional treatment.
373656
look at all religions and compare, then look deeply into them before you judge.\n\nit's not a money making cult any more than the catholic church, or the christian church. they sell books and services like any other religion. It takes money to print those books, and time away from people family to conduct services, plust the cost to pay upkeep and utilities of the church.\n\nthe definition of a cult is a belief system created by a person to control a person or group of persons, when that person dies, so does the cult\n\nL Ron Hubbard died in the 80's, but Scientology is still growing today, and if you read a book like Dianetics, you will find that it's not about controlling others, but I'll leave you to do that research for yourself.
679519
I'm a Scientologist and I definately agree with Thetaalways in terms of a discription of the religion itself and how it grows. That last part of it with the 5 points is an L. Ron Hubbard quote and should have been put in quote marks. Hubbard is the founder of Scientology.\n\nHowever, I remember when I was looking at different religious groups trying to figure out which one (or ones) were for me. For me the "Pluses" are it has helped me solve many of the problems I used to have in life and made me a better student in school. \n\nThere is only one "sort of negative" I can think of is that because there is SO MUCH false information on what it is out in the media, and intolerance in this world I sometimes find myself having to defend my choice to others. This can get a little irritating at times because I may be doing something COMPLETELY unrelated to being a Scientologist when I have to handle someone verbally attacking me SOLELY on that basis.\n\nEven this has had the unintended side effect of making me and excellent debator, and made it so I had to look at materials related other parts of Scientology I might not have otherwise. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of data on whatever subject you can think of contained in Scientology.\n\nIf you are searching for a religion I sugest http://www.religioustolerance.org/ as it has good descriptions of the various choices out there. If you want data on Scientology in particular I suggest borrowing a copy of "What Is Scientology" from the library and looking at the online site here: http://www.whatisscientology.org/\n\nThis way you can look at all the important data before making a decision for yourself.\n\nGood Luck with that!
876672
Here is what I found: \nhttp://216.109.125.130/search/cache?ei=UTF-8&p=Larry+Gluck+scientology&fr=ush-ans&u=www.freedominla.org/issue05/page02b.htm&w=larry+gluck+scientology&d=FeLE6pIFNgiN&icp=1&.intl=us\nhttp://www.hollywoodinterrupted.com/archives/scientology_and_the_art_of_deception.phtml\nLarry Gluck's "Mission" is a part of the WISE organization, an organization that educates and assists businesses in the use of Scientology management methods and techniques.  Visit this link to read about WISE: http://www.charter-committee.org/
558724
Scientology! ughhhh tom cruise and his messed up beliefs! why should anybody have to have a "silent birth"?! its totally ridiculous and full of crap.
1160344
I personally belief scientology is a pseudo-science and a pseudo-religion.  I think the Church of Scientology is a cruel dangerous cult that takes your money and your ability to reason enough to see so.  See the links to important information on the internet about scientology.\n\nTo find out about the beliefs of scientologists from a neutral site go here:\nhttp://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/scientology\nAnd more here:\nhttp://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/xenu\n\nThen go here to find out what this critic things of scientology.\nhttp://www.clambake.org/roland-intro.html\n\nTo quote south park creators:  "This is what scientologists really believe!" in this controversial episode of South Park:" http://www.xenutv.com/cruise/sp-closet.htm\n\nNow if they told you about Body Thetans, Implants & Xenu before you spend money 'getting rid of your problems' would you believe them?  This is where the Church of Scientology steps in and is a dangerous destructive cult and is no longer just a belief.  To Scientologists it may be their religion, I'm sorry my opinion offends, and hey if thats what they believe then thats fine with me, I don't have to believe it. \n\nHowever the Cult of $cientology is another matter.\n\n"The Church of Scientology is a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion. Its purpose is to make money. It practices a variety of mind-control techniques on people lured into its midst to gain control over their money and their lives. Its aim is to take from them every penny that they have and can ever borrow and to also enslave them to further its wicked ends."\nhttp://www.clambake.org/roland-intro.html\n\nSee here for the whole site, it is very interesting but horrifying reading, there is a wealth of critical information on scientology.\nhttp://www.clambake.org  (Same as http://www.xenu.net )\n\nThe CofS has been investigated by governments and taken to court many times.  "Some European governments (including notably, Germany, Belgium, France, and Austria) do not consider the Church to be a bona fide religious organization, but instead a commercial enterprise and / or a cult." wikipedia.org/scientology\n\nHere are the court files:\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/CourtFiles/\n\nHere are some quotes from some judges:\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/judge_quotes.html\n\nCheck this site out, although warning it isn't pleasant http://www.lisamcpherson.org\n\nIf you like videos here is a good site: http://www.xenutv.com\n\nNow i've given you all those links it might only be fair to give you the official link too:\nhttp://www.scientology.org
907692
It is a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The church harasses and bullies anyone who they deem an "enemy" (basically anyone who has anything negative to say about the "church"). They will RUIN YOUR LIFE if you speak out against them long enough.\n\nThe founder is L. Ron Hubbard, the science FICTION writer who once told a friend that the best way to make lots of money is to start your own religion. Though being a very outspoken critic of psychiatric drugs, it was discovered upon Hubbards death that the anti-anxiety drug hydroxyzine (Vistaril) was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric and pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. (link to page explaining what hydroxyzine is: http://www.drugs.com/MTM/V/Vistaril.html )\n\nScientologists believe the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by bringing them to earth & blowing them up inside volcanoes. They believe the souls of these aliens (called "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us & cause many of our mental & physical ills. Even members of the Church of Scientology who know of Xenu will publicly deny the existence of Xenu & Body Thetans, or attempt to minimize their importance. Scientology has many graduated levels through which one can progress. Many who remain at lower levels in the church are unaware of much of the these doctrines, which mostly begin at Operating Thetan level three, or "OT III". Because the information imparted to members is to be kept secret from others who have not attained that level, the member must publicly deny its existence when asked. OT III recipients must sign a waiver promising never to reveal its secrets before they are given the manila envelope containing the Xenu knowledge.\n\nTo rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" and also “engrams” (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind) so that we can become “clear”, we have to go through "auditing" with a member of the “church” who uses an "e-meter" to measure our “reactive mind”... & we have to pay lots and lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions) and to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”. The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional in everyday life. They deny the reality of chemical imbalance & profound mental disturbance & accordingly do NOTHING to effectively stabilize the dangerously unstable. The “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from member (with deadly results).\n\nScientology is undeniably a cult. For more information on what a cult is & what their damaging effects are, please visit the link provided at the bottom of the sources. Just know that Scientology DOES qualify by meeting these 5 criteria:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & has charisma. (4) It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds & recruit people. (5) Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.
507544
Yep, there are currently over 8 million Scientologists in more that 150 countries world wide. However we are a new religion, only 55 years old so you will have to give us a bit more time as we just got started.\nThe true story of Scientology as a religion goes like this:\n1. A philosopher developes a philosophy about life and death.\n2. People find it interesting.\n3. People find it works.\n4. People pass it along to others.\n5. It grows.\nAs to your question about our "beliefs",  this is a hard one to answer\nbecause nothing in Scientology is true for you unless it is true for YOU. And even then, it is only true for you, according to YOUR observation and experience . This is a very important point of personal integrity in Scientology.\nSo it really isn't any kind of belief system. This is quiet different from most other religions. One usually tries to understand something by comparing it to other similar things, so with Scientology, as a religion\nit is hard to understand it in this way, because it does not have this particular similarity with other religions.\n\nFollowing is a pretty good description of what it is. I hope this helps you to understand it better:\n\nScientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew or Atheist,for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.\nAnd it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.\nIt is a non denominational religion . The dictionary definition that applies:\nReligion: The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognises the existence of superhuman power or powers.\n\nThe most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.\nThe whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .\nWhen you do this the sphere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.\n\nHow this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit.\nHe completed his research before his death in 1986 and left all of his results and copyrights\nto the Church of Scientology along with most of his considerable estate., when he died.\n\nHe published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"
1035810
It's a cult whose purpose is to increase the distance between its suckers, oops, I mean members, and their assets. Hubbard was a really bad s-f writer and desperate to make some dough. Here's an article I found on the Religion Facts website:\n\n'In Scientology doctrine, Xenu is a galactic ruler who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living. These events are known as "Incident II" or "The Wall of Fire," and the traumatic memories associated with them are known as the "R6 implant." \nScientology founder L. Ron Hubbard detailed the story in Operating Thetan level III in 1967, famously warning that R6 was "calculated to kill (by pneumonia etc) anyone who attempts to solve it." Much controversy between the Church of Scientology and its critics has focused on Xenu. The Church avoids making mention of Xenu in public statements and has gone to considerable effort to maintain the story's confidentiality, including legal action on both copyright and trade secrecy grounds. Critics claim that revealing the story is in the public interest, given the high prices charged for OT III. The Xenu story prompted the use of the volcano as a Scientology symbol.'
51191
Scientology is a system of beliefs, teachings and rituals, originally established as a secular philosophy in 1952 by author L. Ron Hubbard, then recharacterized by him in 1953 as an "applied religious philosophy". Hubbard defined the word "Scientology" to mean "a study of knowledge."\n\nIt is officially represented by the Church of Scientology, which presents itself as a religious organization dedicated to encouraging development of the human spirit. The Church states that it is a non-profit organization that works especially in the areas of mental counseling and rehabilitation. It offers itself as an alternative to psychiatry, which Scientologists believe to be a barbaric and corrupt practice. [1]\n\nThe term Scientology is a trademark of the Religious Technology Center, which licenses its use and use of the copyrighted works of Hubbard to the Church of Scientology. The Church presents itself as a religious non-profit organization dedicated to the development of the human spirit and providing counseling and rehabilitation programs. Church spokespeople claim that Hubbard's teachings (called "technology" or "tech" in Scientology terminology) have freed them from addictions, depression, learning disabilities, mental illness and other problems.\n\nHowever, the Church of Scientology has attracted much controversy and criticism. Critics — including government officials of certain countries — have characterized the Church as an unscrupulous commercial organization, and it is accused of harassing critics and exploiting members. Scientology's principles have been characterized as pseudoscientific by many mainstream medical and psychotherapeutic practitioners, and the Church has frequently been characterized as a cult.
988068
You are correct.   \n\nIsn't it funny that even without investigating a religion and just "saying" you are a part of it doesn't spawn even a little bit of knowledge about it.   Your examples of the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons were right on target.  Both were created as off-shoots of Christianity with major rule changes and drastic Bible reinterpretations/rewrites.    The founders of each cult have been caught in lies/treachery/deceit, yet they are overlooked in lieu of the bigger picture.     L. Ron Hubbard is a completely different story.....just reading his materials should be enough to discredit him.\n\nYou haven't even touched on Kaballa and other such "stylish religions".