Scientology - what is it and why is it so 'bad'?

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I went to the 02 wireless festival with DH and DS1 recently and had a great time. I especially loved Beck's performance, and have since downloaded/bought much of his music.

Then I discovered he is a scientologist.

My first reaction was "oh no!" - and then I realised that this was a purely prejudiced response. I know nothing about scientology other than what I have seen/read in the press - usually stuff about Tom Cruise - and how it's dreadful, a cult, etc

So what's it all about? What are the key tenets, etc? Is it really awful or is it just misrepresented in the press?

in my limited understanding, it's because it was set up by a science fiction author as a way to make money.

the Wiki article is, er, lengthy

Yes - I did try Wiki but my eyes glazed over and then I thought "I know, I'll ask MN!"

Aliens are involved.

And money.

And nutters.

I'm not prejudiced

but this was a serious question!

I am in the throes of a major crush so have to know if this is the work of the devil or if I can allow it to happen!

ignore the philosophy and put Odelay back on

in fact turn it up - I haven't listened to Beck for far too long.

Don't give up on a crush because of clashing beliefs - even nutters are sexy

in all the made up religions in the world this one is by far the looniest

in a nutshell - failed writer not making money, makes up a religion, flogs it and gets lots of charismatic/vulnerable people to make it out to be some motivational higher learning

Scientologists have been known to harass journalists/ public figures who have criticised their ways of working.

IMO they are like any other cult.
Preying on vulnerable people.
Taking control, and taking money

MrsBadger - never mind Odelay - put Modern Guilt on and turn it up loud

Mind you, Odelay is truly fab

Gosh, where do we start?

This is a good site.

But basically, $cientology is a money making cult. It is dubious in the extreme. It has a policy of breaking up families, forcing its female members to have abortions and there have been several deaths linked to $cientology. Lisa McPherson, for one.

They also have what is essentially their own navy, the Sea Org.

They are essentially a tax exempt corporation.

i love how people label it as a nutters religion only set up for money etc.
i'm not a scientoligist but i'm just astounded by the bigotry aimed at it by people who believe in carpenter born 2,000 years ago who claims he was the son of god.
and for what it's worth i'm a christian, but i can see logically were aetheists or any non-believers see my beliefs as nuts.

and as for the money aspect, the raison d'etre of the catholic church for the last couple of centuries is to consolidate their power.yet they don't get half the criticism for being money hungry as the scientoligist. who in my opinion only get their criticism because they are a new religion and so not revered as the other major religions who have millions of supporters.

in short all religions are money making scams by nutjobs preying on the vulnerable and gullable in soceity unless it is the religion you believe in.

by the way, not assuming everyone on this thread is catholic as it looks like now that i've read it back.
just from my experience living in a country where the majority of people are catholic.
although mainly a la carte catholics at this stage. so it's ok to call scientoligists and their alien belief crazy, but a talking snake and an apple being enough to piss off god so much that he banishes man kind from the garden of eden for eternity isok as they personally don't think it's literal.