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Is Scientology really a religion?

Sapiens

Sapiens

Polymathematician
Skwim said:
"The Church of Scientology has pursued an extensive public relations campaign for the recognition of Scientology as a religion in the various countries in which it exists. Opinions around the world still differ on whether Scientology is to be recognized as a religion or not, and Scientology has often encountered opposition due to its strong-arm tactics directed against critics and members wishing to leave the organization. A number of governments now view the Church as a religious organization entitled to protections and tax relief, while others continue to view it as a pseudoreligion or cult. The differences between these classifications have become a major problem when discussing religions in general and Scientology specifically.

Scientology is officially recognized as a religion in the United States.Recognition came in 1993, when the (IRS) stated that "[Scientology is] operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes."

Scientology has so far failed to win religious recognition in Canada. In the UK, the Charity Commission for England and Wales ruled in 1999 that Scientology was not a religion and refused to register the Church as a charity, although a year later, it was recognized as a not-for-profit body in a separate proceeding by the UK Revenue and Customs and exempted from UK value added tax.

Since 1997 Germany has considered Scientology to be in conflict with the principles of the nation's constitution. It is seen as an anticonstitutional sect and a new version of political extremism and because there is "evidence for intentions against the free democratic basic order" it is observed by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution."
Source: Wikipedia​


From their web site.

"Scientology certainly meets all three criteria generally used by religious scholars around the world to determine religiosity: (1) a belief in some Ultimate Reality, such as the Supreme or eternal truth that transcends the here and now of the secular world; (2) religious practices directed toward understanding, attaining or communing with this Ultimate Reality; and (3) a community of believers who join together in pursuing this Ultimate Reality.

The Scientology view of an Ultimate Reality transcending the material world includes its concepts of the thetan and the dynamics which include the spiritual world (the Seventh Dynamic) and the Supreme Being (the Eighth Dynamic). The second element can be found in Scientology life-rite ceremonies such as naming, marriage and funeral services, but predominantly in the religious services of auditing and training through which Scientologists increase their spiritual awareness and attain an understanding of both the spiritual world and, ultimately, the Supreme Being. As to the third element, a very vital community of believers can be found at any Church of Scientology at almost any time of the day.


Scientology is thus a religion in the most traditional sense of the term. Scientology helps Man become more aware of his own spiritual nature and that of those around him, and, hence, more aware of God."
source​

Think their explanation is a good case for Scientology being a religion?
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Despite it's fraudulent origin, like those who've come before e.g., RC and those that have followed, Heaven's Gate and FSM, I'd say that Scientology is as much a religion as any of the other religions and cults. It point up the foolishness of permitting organizations to do things that are clearly detrimental to conscious organisms just because they make a claim that they deserve special consideration as a religion.
 
Skwim

Skwim

Veteran Member
It will be interesting to see what kind of fall out
going_clear_poster.jpg

produces after tonight's (3/29/15) airing.​
 
Saint Frankenstein

Saint Frankenstein

Here for the ride
Premium Member
Sapiens said:
Despite it's fraudulent origin, like those who've come before e.g., RC and those that have followed, Heaven's Gate and FSM, I'd say that Scientology is as much a religion as any of the other religions and cults. It point up the foolishness of permitting organizations to do things that are clearly detrimental to conscious organisms just because they make a claim that they deserve special consideration as a religion.
Click to expand...
"RC"?
 
Ouroboros

Ouroboros

Coincidentia oppositorum
I'm surprised this thread is still around.

Years ago, when the Church of Scientology was stronger (I think it lost its power and influence, and money probably), this thread would have disappeared because the website being sued by them of slander/libel or copyright infringement. The copy right thingy was quite popular for a while. We'll see. If this thread is gone in a week, you know why.
 
psychoslice

psychoslice

Veteran Member
Ouroboros said:
I'm surprised this thread is still around.

Years ago, when the Church of Scientology was stronger (I think it lost its power and influence, and money probably), this thread would have disappeared because the website being sued by them of slander/libel or copyright infringement. The copy right thingy was quite popular for a while. We'll see. If this thread is gone in a week, you know why.
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Well at least its given us an opportunity to voice our opinion's on this ridicules belief system.
 
Ouroboros

Ouroboros

Coincidentia oppositorum
psychoslice said:
Well at least its given us an opportunity to voice our opinion's on this ridicules belief system.
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Ridiculous!? What??! No, no, no. It's great. You're just full of a bunch of thetans! Those evil psychologists... it's all their fault!!!
 
Sapiens

Sapiens

Polymathematician
YmirGF said:
I do not consider a criminal enterprise to be a religion, no.


Further, I heartily recommend that RF strike $cientology from the list of religions we include as the things they have to share are not worth knowing.
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Definitionally speaking, how would you differentiate?
 
S

suncowiam

Well-Known Member
Scientology has a creation story about a God all mentioned in their Ron Hubbard's best-seller, I mean holy book. It has strict rules for its members. It fought really hard and succeeded to be a religious tax exempt organization.

And Tom Cruise is their Jesus Christ, so yeah, I consider it a religion.
 
psychoslice

psychoslice

Veteran Member
suncowiam said:
Scientology has a creation story about a God all mentioned in their Ron Hubbard's best-seller, I mean holy book. It has strict rules for its members. It fought really hard and succeeded to be a religious tax exempt organization.

And Tom Cruise is their Jesus Christ, so yeah, I consider it a religion.
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Tom Cruise their Jesus Christ, my god that's funny, I think its a belief system where they get caught up in a fantasy world, so I see why it draws actors to it.
 
oldbadger

oldbadger

Skanky Old Mongrel!
Nietzsche said:
$cientology is easily one of the most disgusting organizations to ever blight the planet with its presence. Its ran by criminals for the sole purpose of extorting money from its victims. The leaders should be locked in a building with all the money they've stolen and burned to death with it.
Click to expand...

Please can we invite all the Pyramid Sales company founders to join 'em?
 
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