What is Scientology?

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JosephM said:
No Tao,
Sorry I did not address that question. I thought you were joking.
I was as surprized as you. Perhaps you can ask the moderator who blocked it.
JM
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Ok, my appologies then. A few of us have asked without reply.

Tao
 
I bet this one gets blocked too...

I dont believe you get "freedom of speech" on this forum Tao..This is a privately owned site not covered by the Constitution of the United States... Otherwise noone would be escorted out the door.. Silas.. Niranjan.. etc..
 
As the one scientologist asked in the video, "what are you afraid of".

I tell you what the guy was afraid of, justifiably afraid of. He was afraid of the 3 'heavies' deployed with aggressive posturing calling him a wife-beater and a paedophile. This is the typical and official response of scientology to any critic. Its is vicious, threatening and barbaric. Such a lovely way for a 'church' to behave aint it.

tao
 
Faithfulservant said:
I bet this one gets blocked too...

I dont believer you get "freedom of speech" on this forum Tao.. Otherwise noone would be escorted out the door.. Silas.. Niranjan.. etc..
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Perhaps you are right.. time will tell. I will however continue to say what I think in the hope that moderators see I do not represent an extreme nor a minority view. I will certainly not sook up to them however.

Tao
 
I think you're just too... *thinks* too involved with this... Who cares? You're not in it... They are not pressuring you, suckering you, teaching you, bothering you, whatever you.... You know.... And you if we are honest have no power or advantage to do anything about this movement... Sorry, I mean "religion" Hubbard said himself it was the quickest and most efficient way to make money... He said to the... What would you call them Spacemen? Scientologists? That he was making it up and taking their money lol.... I mean if you can sit there and hear your past "leader" tell you that but still continue... pft, let um...... Don't let them upset you like that... Then they're beating you :D Be happy and enjoy life without having to get upset thinking of the space people.... Put on the song Afternoon delight, and just go with the music and smile your ass off..... I should have been a doctor... That's the best cure for anything.

Dunno if that made any sense, just I cannot make sense of people getting really upset about things they are powerless to change.
 
Thank you for your touching concern 17th :)

You will probably have realised by now that I am often in the midst of CR's flavour of the moment. In this case the original thread may well have died a quiet death if it had not been locked. I am not alone in finding that action, whoever took it, to be unwarranted and like others feel some explanation is due. That action is symptomatic of the typical response to criticism of scientology and I like some others plan to keep this debate open till such times as we get answers. It is not because I am particularly passionate about this cult, but because we are being silenced when discussing them. I personally would rather be banned from this site than put up with gagging for the benefit of such a sinister outfit.

Tao
 
I may have used this one here before somewhere...anyway...all of my questions regarding the religious aspects of Scientology were adequately answered one day when I drove by their nearby center and there was a sign posted in their front window which read, "Now Hiring".

flow....;)
 
Tao_Equus said:
Thank you for your touching concern 17th :)

You will probably have realised by now that I am often in the midst of CR's flavour of the moment. In this case the original thread may well have died a quiet death if it had not been locked. I am not alone in finding that action, whoever took it, to be unwarranted and like others feel some explanation is due. That action is symptomatic of the typical response to criticism of scientology and I like some others plan to keep this debate open till such times as we get answers. It is not because I am particularly passionate about this cult, but because we are being silenced when discussing them. I personally would rather be banned from this site than put up with gagging for the benefit of such a sinister outfit.

Tao
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That's cool, your choice brother, I was just trying to give you an angle to look at it from just incase you didn't think of it.... I wouldn't get so upset though, do what you can. But, hey life goes on you know... Not all scientologist's can be that bad.... Some maybe, but not all... I wouldn't use the word "evil" though that is a heavy word, like hate. There are many memebers that are not brainwashed but following a thing called trend..... Heeeeeey Cruise and Travolta are doing it... I can do this too? Count me in I am going to be such a hip cat that got the milk. Others just, because it's something to do perhaps... I dunno.

Faithfulservant said:
17th... how does it feel to be replaced as the rebel? :)
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lol... *passes over his crown to the new heir of the throne.*

It feels ok, I am kinda of changing anyway... Time to move on. ;)
 
Ok sorry if I over reacted in discussing Scientology which, I feel, does swing towards the cultish side of religious belief. This is not to say that other beliefs don't, or individual "churches" within a mainstream religion can't have that tendency.

In most religions there is usually a history, a theology and cross referencing scholarship and dialogue - a wealth of material there to consider.

In this era, when it is easy to set up a religion and get charity status, I think it is important to challenge the motivations behind a "new" religion - just as any other religious belief may be challenged.

The "evil" bit was in a quote from someone else - Edmund Burke, an 18th century Irish philosopher. Is Scientology "evil"? I don't know, but it seems to involve the handover of a lot of money and I don't know what that should have to with any religious belief.
 
To be honest, I've generally had the opinion that it's not what someone believes that's important, as much as how they act as an individual.

I'm sure many of us could meet a scientologist and get on well without their own belief being an issue, so that's the approach I take.

I think a lot of religions, or else denominations and groups - employ some form of tithing, which can open them up to criticisms of profiteering, whether justified or not.

So while Scientology can represent an extreme to a number of people, I think a lot of the criticisms just can't be exclusively held to them.

2c.
 
IBrian,
Of course money comes into many religions- to pay for ministers, re-roofing...etc

But from my experience, If I walk into any church of any denomination to spend a few quiet moments, even a magnificent Cathederal, I will not be approached to join the church and fill out a questionaire. If it is an historical church I may be asked an entrance fee to see the 15th frescoes, I don't mind, that I understand.

I am not criticising people individually, but individuals can be caught up in something that can take control them. This of could be in any sphere of influence, not just in religions.
 
Interesting views. Unfortunately when it come to scientology I can, unusually I think, see no basis for a religion. If you want to, as you suggest Brian, equate what constitutes a religion on the 'behaviour' of someone then there are some very holy junkies out there. Some very devout fascists. Should we afford them charitable status too? For me the claim of the individual is in this argument the small change anyway. Anyone can be brainwashed. So I stick to an honest analysis of who started this cult and why. Scientology is sick, rotten and corrupt at the root from which it grew. And this attracts the sick, rotten and corrupt to it's power base. A convicted fraudster with a self-declared wish to 'devise' a religion to rip people off cannot be called a genuine spiritual leader can he?

Most of all scientology has a policy of stifling freedom of speech by any means. From harassment and defemation of charcter all the way to murder. I think this is what really pushes my button. That and the deceptive way it recruits new victims. I make no apology for calling it evil.

Tao
 
It seems to me, it is 'good' for people in general to learn for themselves. It is also 'good' to point out our perceived negatives or dangers and warn others of that which we feel may not benefit them. However, labels such as evil, cult and other derogatory words do little to unite and most often divide us and make change even harder. It seems to me to be better to seek to understand than condemn scientology. I especially like what Brian said in that it is more important what an individual does than what one says one believes.

We are all in the 'same boat' together and it seems to me that bashing only creates animosity. Perhaps tomorrow we may understand better and find our beliefs are not that far apart?

Just some thoughts to consider...

Love and Peace,
JM
 
Namaste all,

as has been previously explained, i temporarily closed the thread for the staff to review. nothing more and nothing less.

that said..

without any $cientologists here to present their point of view continual negative discourse will have the appearance of being nothing more than a flame thread about a particular moral paradigm which is, if i recall correctly, not what this forum is really interested in promoting. there are plenty of places for that sort of thing.

metta,

~v
 
Vajradhara said:
Namaste all,

as has been previously explained, i temporarily closed the thread for the staff to review. nothing more and nothing less.

that said..

without any $cientologists here to present their point of view continual negative discourse will have the appearance of being nothing more than a flame thread

metta,

~v
Click to expand...

Just like I said.... :D
 
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