AIBU to think that there are no Scientologists on MN?

[amarone]

Just wondering... If there are, please tell me how you justify your believes as a religion?!

I very much subscribe to the argument that if an alien came down to earth knowing NOTHING about religion and you sat him down and explained Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Scientology etc. Would he really think Scientology any more crazy a theory than the rest of them?

I suspect not.

With all the monitoring of websites and the like, you can bet your ass there are some believers checking out MN.

And FWIW, I believe Scientology is designated a cult in the UK, so calling it a religion is being generous.

They're only recognised as a religion in the States for tax purposes. They have been called a cult everywhere else in the world.

They only share their beliefs in exchange for large amount of money and won't discuss their beliefs otherwise.
According to their own teachings people have to clear a certain level before they're explained the whole truth about Scientology- if they haven't been through the courses and the auditing the truth would be so overwhelming that it would kill them. Literally.

The only problem is that with the internet age their whole faith (the Xenu thing) is widely found online, which leads all Scientologists to deny knowing anything about it when asked.

Which is quite funny. And rather pathetic. I guess the equivalent would be for a Christian to deny ever hearing about Jesus.

Ewe I agree with you completely (well nearly; I do think that alien would think Scientology crazier...).

I don't want a debate about whether religion is justified (I respect all religions, even though I believe they are all the cause of all wars). I simply want to hear it from a scientologist!!

Ewe, it differs in that Islam, for example, does not charge its followers extortionate amounts to 'cure' them. The justification for this 'cure' is where the sci fi stuff comes in.

It is easy to become deeply in debt to the CoS and you can end up being indentured to them.

No mainstream religion requires its followers to get deeply in debt for them. In fact I imagine that Mohammed would have deeply disapproved of Scientology, embroiled as it is in usury.

Jesus would have had the same reaction.

Scientology also isolates its members from their family and friends. Anyone critical of the faith is declared suppressive and cast away.

Amarone I don't think you will hear from a Scientologist on this forum. They are as a rule not allowed to surf the web and are limited to Scientology-approved websites.
Of course if you did meet a Scientologist they would deny any of the above is true.

They are quite comfortable with lying- L Ron Hubbard explicitly states that lying to a non-Scientologist is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged.

mrsgordonfreeman I had a friend who had to escape her home country because she was so much in debt to the Church of Scientology.

They made her take out bank loans to pay for these courses.

I've tried to be diplomatic here, but considering there are no Scientologists willing to speak up, I will now refer to them as a sect (as many of you have pointed out).

It was started for a bet ffs. It is the maddest, funniest, craziest religion ever. It has Martian Bishops. With steamrollers.

Wasn't Ron on record saying something like "I'll start a religion, that's where the money is"? Amazes me how people get sucked into religion full stop, but to believe that one?! Baffling. It's a cult and it's dangerous. Both proven.

L Ron Hubbard himself said that the best way to make money was to create a religion.
You should google him, he was a lovely man.

Anyone who slams a child down on a pavement after she has fallen over because she needs to do it twice is a fucking nut job, and I don't care if that is confrontational or offensive.

Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to lock a young mother in a room and let her out when they want to, and parade the whole family around her bed four hours after an emergency CS for a breech delivery are arses.

Anyone who revels in shouting at disabled people that they deserve to burn and die because they have no soul because they are disabled is just a dickhead.

Its a cult, full of morons who have been brainwashed into being cruel, stupid and manipulated idiots.

I think you'll find that was L-Ron, akshurly. A much more dignified name.

Also, you can be fairly certain that a member will appear at some point.

However, from experience they will skim over the more absurd stuff and claim ignorance of the controversial stuff. You are much better off checking the Wikipedia article, it is accurate and balanced. You will get neither of those from a Scientologist.

Finally, in terms of its being a 'new religion', well, Rastafarianism has been around for roughly as long-it receives no flak for being a money grabbing therapy cult.

I think I might start my own sect. What a money spinner!

How about we are all controlled by cats...? They are the rulers...

I walk past their 'church' in London every day. It looks very much like an open house with invitations to walk in ...

Oh you can't go around respecting scientology. That way madness lies. You have to take the piss.

I respect cats more then Scientologists. Sorry.

Jesus would NOT have had the same reaction.

I thought he asked one of his disciples to embrace his mother as he was dying... (i.e to NOT abandon your family)

I thought he suggested to "turn the other cheek" if insulted.

But am not an expert... just think I can recognise the differences between a religion and a cult...

I wouldn't take the piss out of them. Some of them do go on the internet to monitor whats being said and they don't fuck around when they are criticised.

NonnoMum so what do you believe? Scientology - religion or sect?

Oooh, I'm so not scared Maybe they'll send Tom Cruise to get me. I think I could deal with him with a fly swatter. I could then keep him in a shoe box.

I wondered if someone would mention squeaky clean little Tom, the only good looking thing about Scientology!

bless his teeny weeny cotton socks

It's worth knowing, in case you come into contact with them, that Narconon and Criminon are Sc. front organisations, which offer "training" to vulnerable people (drug addicts and prisoners, respectively) which uses Hubbard "technology" and have the Scieno's bizarre attitudes to psychology and psychiatry at root.

Also people don't join "cults". They think the philosophy sounds good, these people care about me and humankind etc. They are wooed, treated like long lost family. Some very intelligent people end up in these organisations,they aren't just thick or easily led as is the stereotype.
Imagine how someone with a drug addiction would feel about the organisation if they got clean when every rehab centre had failed. They'd be loyal for life and would dismiss the bad publicity because they "knew" it was a good thing IYSWIM.