ZOMBIE FORUMS

First, before you come running in here raving about how scientologists eat babies, it might be useful for you to get the gist of this.

Now, keeping in mind the quote at the top of the page, I'd like to hear what people think on this subject. What have you heard? What do you think of it? Is it a cult or not? Why?

Personally, I don't see scientology so much as a religion but more of a way of life. I've read some books on it and also some of dianetics, and while I can't agree with the more spiritual elements, the lessons presented and the general way of thinking seems to be quite theraputic and positive. Then again, that's the way I view a lot of religions.

Speaking purely from the Unwashed Internet Hick perspective, what I've heard (all very second or thirdhand, of course) has given me an opinion that Scientology is a cult. A popular cult, nonetheless, but a still a weirdass cult. Because I tend to forget most peices of information that give me my opinions, I can't back this up with anything solid, other than what our good friends at the rotten.com library can tell us. The stuff in there makes Scientology sound pretty dangerous to me, though at this point I'd like to point out that before I even heard of rotten.com I had heard of the stuff Scientologists do like hunt down and injure any tattles that know too much (I would also like to point out that I take everything at rotten.com with a grain of salt), and had the opinion of Scientology being a weirdass cult for many years.

Horrible debate material, I know. But thats my Unwashed Hick Opinion. Out.

[Edit: The whole baptism-after-death thing just strikes me as wrong. I don't know exactly why save for the fact that I sure as hell don't want to be baptised a Scientologist after I die.]

They have their own UFO and fight with the Freemasons and the Illuminati for control of the world in a ruthless shadow war.

*shrugs*
Christianity was a cult once.

Whether it is a cult or a religion depends more on the practice than the dogma. Although I do not agree with the idea of having laws that specifically inhibit the practice of religion, a religion must be held within the same strictures as the rest of society - i.e., it's still murder if a priest does it.

If they are working within the law, they are a religion. If they aren't, they're organized crime.

Scientology is a cult.

I can't accept them, I won't accept them, the thought that they can practise in Australia as a religion disgusts me(If only for the taxes they dodge).

The only good thing about Scientology is that they beat the Australian government when we tried to kick them out, in their defense they provided a precedent for the number of people needed to be in a group before it becomes classed as a religion(I think it was about 10000), so any census now The Jedi code will become a religion.

Australia and America are the only two nations(That I can remember) that lost against Scientology and as a result have to accept them as valid faiths.

Lastly, I don't trust a religion who's main selling point is John Travolta.

Actor.

they also argue with me in the streets in an attempt to wrestle control of the girls i'm escorting from me

they lost, i won, if they're a religion that makes me a god

(don't argue)

On paper, they dont look too bad. The way their website puts it, they seem fairly reasonable. What they are actually like in practice is another matter....

How so...? On what basis?

What the Church of Scientology did to anon.penet.fi was filthy.

Needs more Operation Clambake.

Hubbard was a genius. He must of been in order for a scifi authour, and not a very good one at that, to raise himself to prophet status and get himself legions of followers ON A BET. (and probably a harem of girls between 12 and 28)

That said, his followers are heavily delusional, though no more than the followers of any number of other religions. They need something to believe in to keep them from commiting suicide, slumping into a drug addiction, or slumping in front of their TV and going comatose. Scientology is no worse than belief in a four limbed elephant, a plumed serpent, a carpenter, or anything else.

On a personal note, I am happy as long as these people aren't trying to blow me up.

Fixed it for you

John Travolta rocks the hizouse! He is slick, cool, a kickass supervillain when he chooses to act as one, and Travolta is a cool second name. I didnt know he was a Scientologist, though.

Amen.

And don't forget:

Thats why he made "Battlefield Earth". Now let us never mention that movie again.

I haven't had any personal experience with Scientologists, so I have neither foaming hatred or massive love towards them. However, I remember Harlan Ellison mentioning something about Scientology in the introductions to one of his books. Basically, it was probably a joke, that went too far after Hubbard died. However, it's been a while, so I could be wrong.

And as for the famous Operation Clambake...meh, it read too much like a Chick Tract to me, at times. Sure, it isn't as obvious, but it still has that feel of simplistic propaganda to it. Something about it seems rather off.

That's true, it is loaded with propaganda. But, what's interesting are the loads o' documents. That's what you need to read, not the other crap.

Hmn...I didn't see the documents (I think I got fed up with the site before noticing them). However, I'll try checking them out tomorrow, when I'm not tired due to sleep deprivation.

I don't know anything about scientology, and I don't wanna know. It isn't worth killing a brain cell.

After I found the Viking Orthodox Church we will rock any casbah you care to name.

Remember, winning a fight means you have the favor of God, lose and you can ask him why in person. :D