thoughts on scientology

[stlunatic0124]

I just started reading a book on scientology called "Scientology: A New Slant on Life" by L. Ron Hubbard because it seemed pretty interesting and I wanted to see what scientology is all about. I'm forty pages in and so far this seems pretty interesting. For those of you who know what it is, (without ruining it for me), what are your thoughts on scientology?

[stlunatic0124]

RE: thoughts on scientology

k no one knows what scientology is i guess. fair enough.

[msbrunnettemickey]

If it's something that would help people to figure out their problems in life, and is a religious philosophy...

Then it's cool.

Because the main subject is life.

[stlunatic0124]

oh really...i guess i'll have to keep reading to see what you mean, i hope i'm not disappointed by this.

[Austaph]

Someone told me that it's actually just a big money-making scam. That before L. Ron Hubbard died, he openly admitted it was just a lie and a scam. I can't say for sure, that's just what I've heard; from a few people, actually. For the most part, anything associated with religion or self-help that asks for money or has something to sell is usually a hoax.

What piqued your interest in Scientology? Are you searching for anything in particular, or simply curious?

[stlunatic0124]

The fact that Tom Cruise is so gung-ho scientology and so open about it really sparked my interest. He seems like the happiest man in the world seemed kind of fascinating.

[GuidoHunter]

He also sounds like the dumbest man in existence. From what I've seen and heard about scientology it's complete bullshit. Some would deprive a person of sleep for a week to get something to happen (it's been a while since I saw the documentary) and all sorts of other torturous things. Then Tom Cruise goes on TV and says chemical imbalances don't exist and that psychiatry is a pseudoscience.

You say you took an interest in it because Cruise looks like the happiest man in the world because of his religion. The Pope and Billy Graham are the happiest guys in the world because they love their religion, but instead of looking at Catholicism or Fundamentalism you pick the bogus "religion" of scientology? I think this just goes to show how much power Hollywood has in furthering fads and trends. Just look at Kabbalah. Madonna and Britney start talking about it and then tons of people follow suit (including some fifteen year old girls I know) even though the religion, or the deep mystic study of Judaism, rather, states that you have to be a forty year old married man to study it. Screw that, though, you can get a red bracelet like Madonna.

By the way, st, I don't mean to be insulting to you at all with this post. I just read it and don't want you to get the wrong idea.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[stlunatic0124]

You say you took an interest in it because Cruise looks like the happiest man in the world because of his religion. The Pope and Billy Graham are the happiest guys in the world because they love their religion, but instead of looking at Catholicism or Fundamentalism you pick the bogus "religion" of scientology? I think this just goes to show how much power Hollywood has in furthering fads and trends.

By the way, st, I don't mean to be insulting to you at all with this post. I just read it and don't want you to get the wrong idea.

--Guido

Okay thanks for the serious answer, I appreciate it, instead of just getting flamed by some random people. It's not that it was the power of Hollywood that made me want to learn about scientology, it is just that it is something new that I don't know about. I already know what Judaism (I'm Jewish), Catholocism, and fundamentalism are all about and I think they're all bullshit. I don't believe in God - I believe He was just fabricated back when man did not have enough technology/power to control the masses. As a result, He was created to control people. Scientology seemed like something new that I saw part of a documentary on and I wanted to learn more about it. I simply wanted to see what you guys thought about it. Thanks for the input.

[MalReynolds]

"Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be start his own religion."

L. Ron was just a money making scoundrel who has ruined people's lives with Scientology. I'm too lazy to type it all up right now, but... I guess you could just finish reading the book, although I'm sure it's just as slanted as I am (But in the opposite direction). We form a funnel, that book and I.

Mal

[stlunatic0124]

ok thanks for letting me know, i guess i won't waste my time reading it now.

[Austaph]

http://skepdic.com/dianetic.html

I'd still read the book before passing judgement on it, though I can honestly say that I've read dozens of books that fit the description of pseudoscience, and fell for almost all of them. I hear a lot of talk lately about Scientology, and it almost makes me want to read L. Ron Hubbard's books, so I can give people an honest, informed opinion on it. Read whatever you want to read, don't be discouraged; just remember to think for yourself at all times.

[stlunatic0124]

ok thanks man.

[The_Q]

L. Ron was just a money making scoundrel who has ruined people's lives with Scientology.

"When you have a market, they will come..."-Disembodied Voice of an Economist

He did it legally and people still go for it. Who cares? Now all of us non-scientologists have to exploit the known weaknesses the believers have.

And I've got to whore it up a bit here, you should really look into Objectivism. It's a wonderful philosophy that is relatively easy to live by.

Q

[Sera13]

This is another good example of how many people in the world need some kind of word to rely upon and tell them how to live. Guy creats a religion, writes book, People read it, People dedicate lives to it.. Think about Charles Manson.. Come on.. WtF.

[SUSUGAM]

For the most part, anything associated with religion or self-help that asks for money or has something to sell is usually a hoax.

There are religions that don't ask for money? SWEET, gimme some holy writings asap