"War on Scientology"

[Clinkz]

Quite a few of the neo-pagan relgions are less than 100 years old too, I guess they aren't real religions either?

No, those are not religions either.

Think of the US electoral system. There are the two main parties but you dont HAVE to vote for either. In practice however, most people do because there is no chance of an outsider winning and it would be a wasted vote.

Scientology could be easily compared to the monster raving loony party in the UK first past the post system. As the main contenders (religions) We have Labour, Conservative, and Lib Dem. There are other, smaller parties (cults) such as UKIP, or the greens etc but these are just laughable and will never have any real power.

The only religions are the major world religions. The rest are cults.

 

[Biohazard]

Do a search for "theunfunnytruth" on YTMND to see just how many lives that that particular idiotic doctrine has seriously screwed up. I must warn you though, the reason I haven't linked to it is that it's pretty disturbing.

Watched that. Haven't checked the refferences, but I assume that it is factually correct?

Astounding. I wouldn't say what I would do to them and their 'church'.

 

[RDM]

No, those are not religions either.

Think of the US electoral system. There are the two main parties but you dont HAVE to vote for either. In practice however, most people do because there is no chance of an outsider winning and it would be a wasted vote.

Scientology could be easily compared to the monster raving loony party in the UK first past the post system. As the main contenders (religions) We have Labour, Conservative, and Lib Dem. There are other, smaller parties (cults) such as UKIP, or the greens etc but these are just laughable and will never have any real power.

The only religions are the major world religions. The rest are cults.

So what is the number you need to be called a religion?

 

[Sankari]

Aussies mock Scientology.

It's times like these that I'm especially proud to be Australian.

 

[Clinkz]

So what is the number you need to be called a religion?

You seem to be a little obsessed with numbers, mr rdm. I have not said in any way that the number of followers dictates a belief system's status. It is a far more complex idiom than that.

 

[RDM]

You seem to be a little obsessed with numbers, mr rdm. I have not said in any way that the number of followers dictates a belief system's status. It is a far more complex idiom than that.

Well you said the only religions are the worlds major religions. They got that way by having the most numbers so it seems that number of followers is the metric we measure religion by. If not, then how do you determine a religion (age not being one obviously as there are "religions" older than the big six and so by your measure don't count).

So, if not numbers, what makes the big six religons and every thing else a cult?

 

[Clinkz]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3094137170809569203&hl=en

Scientology Orientation video...lmao

This was posted in the youtube thread, but i found it amusing so i will link it here. A scientology orientation video:

Such unbelievable propaganda and im only 5 minutes in! They should really rename their religion American Si-Fi Convention. This video is replete with a Super Man Sound track and everything!

Anyway, glaring propeganda thus far:

'And billions of scientologists to be your friends, and help you help yourself.'
Billions eh? Id like to see the proof for that.

<A list of dramatic court rulings from predominantly US court rooms>
'That Scientology is a bona fide (lol) religion is indesputable as determined by courts the world over, including the United States Supreme court!
I was not aware that the USA's word was world law.

 

[Clinkz]

Well you said the only religions are the worlds major religions. They got that way by having the most numbers so it seems that number of followers is the metric we measure religion by. If not, then how do you determine a religion (age not being one obviously as there are "religions" older than the big six and so by your measure don't count).

So, if not numbers, what makes the big six religons and every thing else a cult?

For a start, a religion must be free, open and honest in its doctorine. Something i think you will find hard to pushed to attribute to sciBalls

 

[RDM]

For a start, a religion must be free, open and honest in its doctorine. Something i think you will find hard to pushed to attribute to sciBalls

In that case then it isn't just the big six that are religions after all? Also, who made the above rules?

Is it more accurate to say "A religion must be something I don't disagree with"? Because the prevailing theme in this thread seems to be "Scientology isn't a relgion because I don't like it".

 

[Shoseki]

Heheh that orientation video was class. Was like watching a Sci-Fi Sitcom.

 

[Clinkz]

In that case then it isn't just the big six that are religions after all? Also, who made the above rules?

Is it more accurate to say "A religion must be something I don't disagree with"? Because the prevailing theme in this thread seems to be "Scientology isn't a relgion because I don't like it".

As far as im aware, none of the major religions charge their members extortionate mandatory fees for the release of higher level information. I niether like, nor dislike scientolgy. My argument has nothing to do with my bias, and everything to do with its classification.

 

[semi-pro waster]

As far as im aware, none of the major religions charge their members extortionate mandatory fees for the release of higher level information. I niether like, nor dislike scientolgy. My argument has nothing to do with my bias, and everything to do with its classification.

Your argument on classification seems to stem from bias, just because you don't like how something progresses doesn't make any odds to whether it is or is not a religion.

You appear to have invented a classification from religion that tallies with none that I know of, why must a religion be "free, open and honest in its doctorine"? It might be an ideal, in fact I'd agree that the more open a religion is the better but my personal beliefs matter little enough here about what constitutes a religion. More commonly a religion denotes a set of beliefs or practices followed by members of the religion, often with a faith in a higher power or powers who have created (and frequently govern) the universe.

 

[Lighters]

scientology for life - j/k

 

[Roalith]

That Fox news clip is pure gold

 

[Hellsmk2]

I ask again. How many members do you need before you are considered a religion?

There are many organisations in the world with members numbering the thousands, right up to millions. It doesn't make those a religion. Eg, the Scouts.

Scientology is about as far away from the defenition of religion as it gets. Just because they say it is a religion does not make it a religion. They don't even offer religious services. Their "ordained minsters" do precisely nothing and their auditors offer crude lie detector tests.

Also, if you believe that auditing is the main religious service offered by the church, then by their own fiigures, they aren't doing a very good job. For the number of hours they claimed to have spent auditing last year compared to the number of members they claim to have, each member only got around 1 minutes worth of auditing.

It's a scam from every single angle.

 

[willd58]

Anons fight against Scientology has been very funny, they've bought down the website a fair few times and they've got big plans.

 

[Dreadi]

lets hope anon deliver, it would be epic in many ways if they could do over something as crazy as Scientology

 

[SideWinder]

Main websites are still down...hmm.

 

[semi-pro waster]

There are many organisations in the world with members numbering the thousands, right up to millions. It doesn't make those a religion. Eg, the Scouts.

Agreed, numbers alone do not make a religion but other people have been claiming that lack of numbers means that it isn't a religion which equally isn't the case.

Scientology is about as far away from the defenition of religion as it gets. Just because they say it is a religion does not make it a religion. They don't even offer religious services. Their "ordained minsters" do precisely nothing and their auditors offer crude lie detector tests.

Also, if you believe that auditing is the main religious service offered by the church, then by their own fiigures, they aren't doing a very good job. For the number of hours they claimed to have spent auditing last year compared to the number of members they claim to have, each member only got around 1 minutes worth of auditing.

It's a scam from every single angle.

Again, why? Just because you don't approve of the practices doesn't change whether it is or isn't a religion.

Maybe some members self audit? A bit like doing your own tax returns.

 

[Nix]

semi, just to quickly establish something; you're not defending Scientology are you? I refer you to my earlier post. I can see where you're going with your posts, but I just want to make sure