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Is Scientology a religion?[W:8]

Amadeus

Amadeus

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First, the definition of religion according to Wikipedia:

A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that are intended to explain the meaning of life and/or to explain the origin of life or the Universe.
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If you don't consider it a legitimate religion, what separates Scientology from other belief systems specifically?
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

Amadeus said:
First, the definition of religion according to Wikipedia:

If you don't consider it a legitimate religion, what separates Scientology from other belief systems specifically?
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Scientology is all :censored
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

You know, the definition of religion has changed over the years. Back when I took a class on that delved into this very subject (what is a religion), all you had to have to qualify as a religion was a system of beliefs that involved worship, and a belief in an afterlife.


Yes, scientology is a religion. No crazier than some of the other religions out there.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

Scientology is no different than other systems of belief. They may not adhere the definition you have selected word for word, but the net effect of Scientology makes it a religion, just another system of belief out there among many even though from the outside their beliefs are just a little more absurd and outlandish.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

I don't see why someone wouldn't consider it a legitimate religion, there aren't many boxes to check off the list to be a religion.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

OrphanSlug said:
Scientology is no different than other systems of belief. They may not adhere the definition you have selected word for word, but the net effect of Scientology makes it a religion, just another system of belief out there among many even though from the outside their beliefs are just a little more absurd and outlandish.
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Are they really, though?
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

Van Basten said:
I don't see why someone wouldn't consider it a legitimate religion, there aren't many boxes to check off the list to be a religion.
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Exactly. I could make a video game/beer worship cult in my basement, if I felt so inclined. Could probably get a tax write off.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

Moderator's Warning:
Bear in mind, this is the Religious Discussion Forum and all forum-specific rules apply.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

No...Scientology is a cultish con.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

KevinKohler said:
Are they really, though?
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Well, that last part was a bit of an opinion on my part. But it seems to me that the evolution of religion (systems of belief) tends to put designers in a position of being a little more out there the further we go in generating answers to these basic questions of man's purpose, our role in the world, social controls, and explanation for the origin of life and what happens after life. You have to admit that the basic tenets of Scientology are very awkward in comparison to other religions on these subjects. But, at the end of the day Scientology is still just a system of belief and as such is a religion.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

OrphanSlug said:
Well, that last part was a bit of an opinion on my part. But it seems to me that the evolution of religion (systems of belief) tends to put designers in a position of being a little more out there the further we go in generating answers to these basic questions of man's purpose, our role in the world, social controls, and explanation for the origin of life and what happens after life. You have to admit that the basic tenets of Scientology are very awkward in comparison to other religions on these subjects. But, at the end of the day Scientology is still just a system of belief and as such is a religion.
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I'm not defending Scientology. But they're tenets are only awkward because they are unfamiliar. It's not a part of out culture in the same way that other religions (religion, really) is. If you were born and raised a Scientologist, along with your neighbors, most of your classmates, and all of your friends, there would be nothing about it that you would see as awkward, strange, or outlandish.

That's why I say it's no more outlandish than any other religion. It's not to say all religions are outlandish, only to say that it's all a matter of perspective. We're so close to one particular religion (well, I am, anyway), having been born and raised into that particular culture, that I view them all as quite normal, and have to actually get outside of myself, sort of remove my pre-determined associations and opinions about it, and view it as a stranger to this land would, someone who had never heard the story before, to see the weirdness about it.

A nudist from a european nude beach would be PRETTY outlandish on a public beach in Myrtle Beach, SC.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

Amadeus said:
First, the definition of religion according to Wikipedia:



If you don't consider it a legitimate religion, what separates Scientology from other belief systems specifically?
Click to expand...

It is not and never has been a religion. It is a pyramid scheme, tax dodge and criminal organisation. Only reason that it got registered as a religion was because its founder was on the run from the IRS and living on a boat in international waters.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

I hope there are no scientologists on this forum, they are likely to be very offended by this thread.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

KevinKohler said:
I hope there are no scientologists on this forum, they are likely to be very offended by this thread.
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Probably so, and I thought the same and do not wish to cause offense. But I've always regarded Scientology as a social experiment/joke played by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard on the credulous. And I don't like the intimidation tactics they employ either. I hope that someday Lisa Marie Presley tells all.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

Scientology is actually an a atheist religion which is quite strange. One could say it's a cult, but everybody seems to have different definitions on that.

Religion has several definitions and yes this qualifies as one of them. Though it's loose.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

nota bene said:
Probably so, and I thought the same and do not wish to cause offense. But I've always regarded Scientology as a social experiment/joke played by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard on the credulous. And I don't like the intimidation tactics they employ either. I hope that someday Lisa Marie Presley tells all.
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Or Tom Cruise. And I agree. They use some very underhanded methods when it comes to editing their past, treating members, etc. But in practice, it's almost like a parody Christianity. I have no love for christianity, but I can only hope that it trumps scientology as the primary religion of this country for some time. Christianity at least has redeeming qualities.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

I doubt that Tom Cruise will ever talk. He and David Miscavige are joined at the hip, and I think he shares the power at the top. Or more. I thought that Travolta would after the death of his son, but he has been brought to heel.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

KevinKohler said:
There is no difference between a cult and a religion, not as a definition, anyway.
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Religions get to be tax free institutions. Cults get burned down by the feds.

Heheh

As for Scientology, I think it's clearly a scam, and giving them religious status opens it up for pretty much anything to.
 
Re: Is Scientology a religion?

I don't know of anything that Scientology does significantly different from any other religion that would disqualify it. It's just new, and based around themes traditionally associated with fiction (the alien and sci-fi elements), and adopts modern techniques to build its power and membership, and so seems outlandish. If anything, it's the most religious religion, since it's doing the same thing as all the others, but is apparently doing it better. (Actually, it seems like the Mormons are the ones who are really doing it better.)
 
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