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Add to FavoritesIs Scientology a religion or cult? Well I believe it is the worst aspects of both, with strange doctrine and nearly fanatical followers it definitely crosses the lines on both sides.
It seems to be based on the ideals of one man; L. Ron Hubbard. L .Ron Hubbard was an accomplished science fiction writer, adventurer, and explorer; at least that's what is written about him on the back of many of his novels. I am familiar with his writings but not on his adventuring and to my knowledge there is no discernible proof to back up the claims of his publishers.
However, he was a talented writer with a Hugo award and credited with one of the most read and respected science fiction novels of modern times, Battlefield Earth. An epic that I read a few times and thoroughly enjoyed on each occasion. All that aside, I must ask how that qualified him to become a religious founder? Great writer of a wonderful book? Yes. New messiah? I am afraid not. I feel he may have been guilty of believing his own press to the point of becoming totally enamored of himself.
In Battlefield Earth he gave an idea of his belief system during the rebuilding of human society near the end. However, with the novel Dianetics he laid the foundation for Scientology and began to formulate his religion. I don't believe he was the first to do so, nor sadly will he be the last, but the fact he just out of the blue deemed himself able to create an entire religion out of his own mind tells me how much he thought of himself.
We are talking about a guy who wore a cravat in 1984. That's right a cravat, one of those handkerchiefs worn by literary types of old. Sorry but that's just like getting a painting done of yourself in a Napoleon-like pose. He might as well have changed his name to a ridiculous unpronounceable symbol or something ("The writer formerly known as L. Ron Hubbard").
Despite the eccentricities of its founder Scientology has grown and spread very quickly. This is partially due to their aggressive indoctrination of many of the wealthiest in show business, and their celebrity status makes them ideal for recruiting. Tom Cruise makes an action movie that half the world watches and soon after gives an interview on his religion, and you got a few more ditto-heads that want to be like him so they sign up ASAP.
The words, "the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it" despite being true in many respects was spoken by Adolph Hitler another would be messiah. Only difference was he wanted the world for his master race, and L. Ron wanted to be larger than life. In my opinion Scientology is a cult pretending and believing itself to be a religion. A cult/religion catered to the very wealthy and famous who have become full of themselves, just like its founder.
If you want proof look at the interview Tom Cruise gave on Scientology, you can find it on U TUBE easily enough. He is ready to jump out of his seat, and speaks in ridiculous riddles and half baked anecdotes that not only do not inform, but I fear makes one dumber just from listening. After watching 20 minutes of it all I got was that a scientologist would pull over and ask to help if he saw a car accident.
Really? Well thanks Tom I wasn't quite sure about Scientology before, but now I see you are taught to be decent, that changes everything. Maybe you should share this with the other religions out there, I am sure the Catholics and Muslims would want to know more about this whole concept of giving.
I also understand that scientology requires a large share of each member's income, and handles all the business of its congregation. Sounds like Catholicism without decency, guilt, or compassion. Make no mistake it is an elitist's religion and will not accept any unwealthy or non-professionals for membership. At least other religions try and keep up the illusions of caring for the poor and only ask for money after a service.
By going to their official web page we can find the vaguest doctrine I have ever heard on any religious belief system. From watching their little animated doctrine text videos we can see many words borrowed from other famous works. It would seem the term "inalienable" not only inspired the authors of our constitution but Mr. Hubbard as well. Well, if you're going to steal, steal from the best I guess.
From reading their doctrine I would associate them with a society or club like the Free Masons more than a specific religion. Basically they say each man has the right to be free and do whatever he wishes, believe what he wants, as long as it harms no one else, and that each man is an immortal being. That last part is in a spiritual sense I would hope, perhaps reincarnation I'm not sure they are quite vague on that.
Think about it people, a religion invented by one man who in his late years became a recluse that avoids a statement of its belief in God and his identity. It sounds like a religion made by someone not wanting to offend anyone in case they became a member. A religious belief requires some sort of claim on divine enlightenment; a statement of allegiance to a God and not a meandering of placating words that sound nice together.
I think I'll go make a religion. I'll call it Gregology and my doctrine will be; be nice to people unless they aren't nice to you, then of course you can be mean back to them, unless they have a good reason then you should still be nice unless you have a better reason. Wow! Just from saying that nonsense I feel more ignorant.
Of course if that doctrine does not work for you it's alright because you are free to believe whatever you want anyway and that negates any doctrine. Does this sound like a religion catered to the wealthiest people on Earth or what? Might as well forgo all the trouble and just ask for your money straight out.
I believe scientology is the epitome of self serving religion. It serves no purpose other than its own existence and is neither divine nor enlightening.
Learn more about this author, Greg Slack.
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Religion
Amusingly, Dictionary.com has the same definitions for "religion" (http://dictionary.re ference.com/browse/r eligion) as it does for "cult." However, the term "cult" is usually used to describe followers of an exclusive sect who "live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader." (http://dictionary.re ference.com/browse/c ult)
Scientology doesn't seem to fall into that category. Recently, every Church of Scientology participated in a worldwide challenge to make sure every single library on earth had copies of the Dianetics and Scientology books. Their doors are open to the public with videos, CD's, handbooks, pamphlets, and books available to anyone who wishes to venture in. These are definitely not the actions of a group trying to exclude outsiders.
In fact, the Church of Scientology has established the Volunteer Ministers program to aid the public and have been praised widely for their disaster relief efforts during 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, and hundreds of less publicized disasters across the globe. They have extended art centers, education facilities and literacy programs. Both internationally renown organizations, Criminon and Narcanon are based in Scientology. The Way to Happiness Foundation is non-religious code of ethics to help support and encourage the growth and survival of Man, while the Citizens Commission on Human Rights works tirelessly around the world to make sure the basic human rights such as, the right to democracy, the freedom from slavery and torture, and the right to an education are available to all people around the world.
Scientologists also do not live in little reclusive communities. Instead, they are around you every day. They can be found in health-related jobs, government positions, business management, art and entertainment, and even bringing aid to the less fortunate and disaster-crippled areas of the world.
Another indicator of a cult is that all cult followers must have blind and unwavering faith in the cult and its leader. Scientology is often accused of "brainwashing" their followers. The methods used to brainwash a person include of isolation, food and sleep deprivation, degradation, acts of violence/cruelty and the denial of a person's reality (http://www.heart-2-h eart.ca/men/page3.ht ml). Such activities are against the principles of Scientology.
One of the fundamentals of Scientology is, "That which is true for you is what you have observed to be true." (http://www.scientolo gy.org/religion/pres entation/pg006.html) This basic tenant is repeated through Mr. Hubbard's many works on the subject of Dianetics and Scientology. An individual is expected to discover for himself if Scientology (or ANY information, in fact) is true for him or her by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing results.
Anyone who has spent any time honestly and sincerely researching Scientology will have discovered that the exact opposite is true. Dianetics was specifically designed to help free people (from behaviours, illnesses, addictions, etc.) so that they can be self-determine and able to think for themselves.
Usually, once a cult leader is deceased or removed, their cult falls apart. This is obviously not the case with Scientology, since Mr. Hubbard died in 1986 and Scientology continues to bloom and expand world-wide.
Several sources attempt to define religion, including the Ohio Northern University (http://www.onu.edu/a +s/philosophy/religi on.html#WhatIs), individual bloggers (http://paganspace.ni ng.com/profiles/blog s/what-makes-a-relig ion-a), and even Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Religion). According to consensus, for Scientology to qualify as a religion, it needs to have a) a belief in some kind of Supreme Being or Ultimate Reality b) fundamental beliefs and practices aimed at better understanding or attaining that Ultimate Reality, and c) a community of people who shares these beliefs and practices that work together toward the goal of understanding or attaining that Ultimate Reality.
The belief that Scientologists worship Mr. Hubbard is a myth. Anyone who has taken a few minutes to speak with Scientologist on the subject will quickly learn that, while they have a deep respect and admiration for Mr. Hubbard, there is a belief in a higher power, or God. In fact, in my own research on this specific topic, I was surprised to find that most Scientologists still maintain the spiritual beliefs they had before discovering Scientology simply because the tenets of both intersect harmoniously.
Their official website states that Scientology "is concerned with no less than the full rehabilitation of man's innate spiritual self, his capabilities, his awareness and his certainty of his own immortality and his relationship to the divine." (http://www.scientolo gy.ca/scientology/in dex.html) They believe that "man was put here to work out his own salvation and that only by doing this can he fully understand his relationship to God the Creator." (http://www.scientolo gy.ca/scientology/in dex.html)
Scientologists share similar beliefs held true by all traditional religions. They believe that man is basically good and that his survival depends upon himself and upon his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe. They also believe that the laws of God forbid man from destroying his own kind, destroying the sanity of another, or reducing the survival of others. (http://www.scientolo gy.ca/scientology/cr eed/index.html)
When broken down and evaluated the definitions of a cult versus the definitions of a religion, it is clear that Scientology falls squarely into the category of religion by helping man become more aware of God, his own spiritual nature, and providing both basic belief and a community of like-minded individuals to support the goal of attaining this awareness.
Learn more about this author, Rosa Lee.
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