Is Scientology A Religion?

[e90im]

IS SCIENTOLOGY A RELIGION?

That’s the question recently pondered over at a recent Hamburg meeting of top German security officials, prompted by the Secretary of the Interior, Udo Nagel. As a result, Germany could be asked to ban the U.S.-based Church of Scientology under a proposal that contends the group violates human rights. After looking into the facts about the Church of Scientology, the German government now considers it a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people. This last summer, it refused to allow the producers of a movie featuring movie star – and Scientology member – Tom Cruise to film at the site where Germany’s most famous anti-Hitler plotter, Colonel Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, was executed following a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. Cruise plays the part of the aristocratic army officer.

The ban was withdrawn after the government received assurance from the producers that the memory and heroism of the colonel would be respected.

Pending agreement of all sixteen German states, the Interior Minister would be asked to initiate proceedings against the Church, asking that it be banned. A spokesperson for Scientology called this proposal "more than incomprehensible" and pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of Scientology when Russia denied its application to register as a religious community.

Think of it: Scientologists – including intellectual giants like Tom Cruise, Chick Corea, Greta van Susteren, Isaac Hayes, Kirstie Alley, Lisa Marie Presley, and John Travolta – believe that they have the abilities to fly by mental power, to kill people with thoughts, and to move objects with will-power alone, and that science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard is/was the antichrist. They also believe Hubbard’s fantastic version of history – that 75 million years ago, Xenu, the dictator of an extragalactic civilization, was about to be deposed from power, and devised a plot to eliminate the excess population from his dominions. Using souped-up versions of DC8-like aircraft (?) he brought billions of his people to Teegeeack – as Earth was then known, we’re told – cleverly paralyzed them, lowered them into Earth’s volcanoes along with hydrogen bombs, and detonated the whole mess. Only a few of these aliens’ physical bodies, said Hubbard, survived, but the “essences” – souls – of all this vast crowd remained behind after vaporization, and these inhabit people in modern times, causing them spiritual damage. That’s what Scientology saves us from, folks.

Don’t look at me! That was Hubbard’s idea! It’s almost as mad as those ideas of virgin birth, immortality, resurrection, transubstantiation, angels, a 6,000-year-old Earth, and demons….

[NaTuReB0Y]

Religion is for the weak minds........

[e90im]

Some scary shit...

[e90im]

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by e90im

IS SCIENTOLOGY A RELIGION?

That’s the question recently pondered over at a recent Hamburg meeting of top German security officials, prompted by the Secretary of the Interior, Udo Nagel. As a result, Germany could be asked to ban the U.S.-based Church of Scientology under a proposal that contends the group violates human rights. After looking into the facts about the Church of Scientology, the German government now considers it a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people. This last summer, it refused to allow the producers of a movie featuring movie star – and Scientology member – Tom Cruise to film at the site where Germany’s most famous anti-Hitler plotter, Colonel Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, was executed following a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. Cruise plays the part of the aristocratic army officer.

The ban was withdrawn after the government received assurance from the producers that the memory and heroism of the colonel would be respected.

Pending agreement of all sixteen German states, the Interior Minister would be asked to initiate proceedings against the Church, asking that it be banned. A spokesperson for Scientology called this proposal "more than incomprehensible" and pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of Scientology when Russia denied its application to register as a religious community.

Think of it: Scientologists – including intellectual giants like Tom Cruise, Chick Corea, Greta van Susteren, Isaac Hayes, Kirstie Alley, Lisa Marie Presley, and John Travolta – believe that they have the abilities to fly by mental power, to kill people with thoughts, and to move objects with will-power alone, and that science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard is/was the antichrist. They also believe Hubbard’s fantastic version of history – that 75 million years ago, Xenu, the dictator of an extragalactic civilization, was about to be deposed from power, and devised a plot to eliminate the excess population from his dominions. Using souped-up versions of DC8-like aircraft (?) he brought billions of his people to Teegeeack – as Earth was then known, we’re told – cleverly paralyzed them, lowered them into Earth’s volcanoes along with hydrogen bombs, and detonated the whole mess. Only a few of these aliens’ physical bodies, said Hubbard, survived, but the “essences” – souls – of all this vast crowd remained behind after vaporization, and these inhabit people in modern times, causing them spiritual damage. That’s what Scientology saves us from, folks.

Don’t look at me! That was Hubbard’s idea! It’s almost as mad as those ideas of virgin birth, immortality, resurrection, transubstantiation, angels, a 6,000-year-old Earth, and demons….

My point exactly. Is Scientology bizarre? Absolutely. Is it any bizarrer than a religion based on dogmas like virgin birth, immortality, resurrection, miracles, etc.

What Christianism has for it is that it has been around for 2000 years as opposed to Scientology.

[e90im]

Originally Posted by pmeloche

My point exactly. Is Scientology bizarre? Absolutely. Is it any bizarrer than a religion based on dogmas like virgin birth, immortality, resurrection, miracles, etc.

What Christianism has for it is that it has been around for 2000 years as opposed to Scientology.

I agree. However it's spelled Christianity.

[E82tt6]

No less valid than any other religion.

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by e90im

I agree. However it's spelled Christianity.

Oops, my bad. I kept the french spelling without the trailing "e".

[e90im]

Originally Posted by E82tt6

No less valid than any other religion.

^ Thank you. I've been trying to bring this point across. All "religions" are ridiculous...however, some are more established than others...

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by e90im

Some scary shit...

I could only watch half of the video, but it sounds logical. Really.

If you strip away the magical thinking, he's talking about everyone pitching in to help everyone else.

I don't know a thing about Scientology, other than what's been written in this thread. But if you look at most religions, that's exactly what they all emphasize. Reach down to help others get up.

If it wasn't for the magical, ludicrous thinking...

Germany shouldn't ban Scientology without banning all other religions. It would be a step backward.

[!Xoible]

whatever it is, it's a pretty damn good business!!!

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by e90im

^ Thank you. I've been trying to bring this point across. All "religions" are ridiculous...however, some are more established than others...

'Religions' are not ridiculous. There is a tremendous potential for improving personal well-being and interpersonal relationships. You completely disregard these benefits.

The essence of all major religions is compassion; this should be stressed more. Fix it, don't throw it out.

e90im - stop wasting your time

[e90im]

Originally Posted by Neurorad

'Religions' are not ridiculous. There is a tremendous potential for improving personal well-being and interpersonal relationships. You completely disregard these benefits.

The essence of all major religions is compassion; this should be stressed more. Fix it, don't throw it out.

e90im - stop wasting your time

The essence of all religions is belief without evidence, not compassion. One doesn’t to search far to find bizarre and cruel things in the scripture. This, I call ridiculous.

I DON’T need religion to be compassionate or to feel good. I stand by my statement. Religion is like a drug. If you are a user, you believe that it helps you cope with life.

[e90im]

Originally Posted by Neurorad

I could only watch half of the video, but it sounds logical. Really.

If you strip away the magical thinking, he's talking about everyone pitching in to help everyone else.

I don't know a thing about Scientology, other than what's been written in this thread. But if you look at most religions, that's exactly what they all emphasize. Reach down to help others get up.

If it wasn't for the magical, ludicrous thinking...

Germany shouldn't ban Scientology without banning all other religions. It would be a step backward.

You watched ½ the video and don’t know anything about Scientology…

I think the quality of your posts on this thread will improve if you do a quick research and watch the whole video.

[ChineseGuy]

Originally Posted by e90im

Religion is like a drug. If you are a user, you believe that it helps you cope with life.

Is that a quote from someone else?, since it's bold

but i totally agree with that line there...

[e90im]

It's not a quote. I'll fix it.

[e90im]

Originally Posted by mantis

whatever it is, it's a pretty damn good business!!!

Is there a post scoreboard? Who is the record holder? Anyone with 30K posts?