Scientology

sherbtail · 05-14-2007, 04:11 PM

I just finished watching "Scientology and me", a BBC documentary about scientology, unfortunately, most of you won't have seen it, but I know more heated clips have been posted on youtube.

Basically it was a pretty damning documentary of their practices and treatment of members and critics.

After watching the documentary I quickly got wiki-ing and scouring the net for information about them, and to be honest, they all sound like a bunch of suppressive and frankly quite scary crooks.

So my question to you is, do you think the 'church' of scientology deserves the status it has in America as being a recognised religion, complete with tax breaks?
It has not been labelled a religion by our government yet, and I hope it never is.

**mellonxcollie** · 05-14-2007, 04:13 PM

Watch "The Bridge".

Maid · 05-14-2007, 04:16 PM

Scientology is way worse than you standard run of the mill religions.

You have to pay to move up ranks so you could get access to more (knowledge?) about Scientology.

**Coolgamer** · 05-14-2007, 05:18 PM

They are a cult, pure and simple. They actually landed someone in jail once for protesting outside of their main office.

Dare say anything bad about them, risk a lawsuit thread.

**aperson** · 05-14-2007, 05:39 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white

They're a bit more sinister than you'd suspect.

**devonin** · 05-14-2007, 05:40 PM

my favourite aspect of the Church of Scientology is that the entire thing was created by L Ron Hubbard as a bet. It was wagered that he couldn't create a convincing church that would actually gain members, and well yeah, I think Hubbard won the bet.

Though when the founder of your church dies in prison on fraud charges...it becomes difficult to take them all that seriously.

archbishopjabber · 05-14-2007, 06:23 PM

Does anyone have a link to the entire documentary? I'd like to watch it.

slipstrike0159 · 05-14-2007, 06:27 PM

You do realize that there is a church that worships satan right? I really dont think you could get 'scarier' than that. In any case i think it would be a joke for it to actually be considered a religion, i see it somewhat like being athiest which is more like an absence of religion and just a general outlook rather than a teaching.

AriesMalvis · 05-14-2007, 06:29 PM

well with that whole deal...i don't like it
but i do believe more in the science side of things than from a religious view

Kilroy_x · 05-14-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devonin

my favourite aspect of the Church of Scientology is that the entire thing was created by L Ron Hubbard as a bet. It was wagered that he couldn't create a convincing church that would actually gain members, and well yeah, I think Hubbard won the bet.

I hear this often, but I'm not sure if it's actually truthful or not.

Quote:

Though when the founder of your church dies in prison on fraud charges...it becomes difficult to take them all that seriously.

Yes. There are certainly no religions in history that have had leaders prosecuted by the authorities of the time.

Don't get me wrong, I think Scientology is pretty nuts, but your post just struck me as somewhat silly.

Kilroy_x · 05-14-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipstrike0159

In any case i think it would be a joke for it to actually be considered a religion, i see it somewhat like being athiest which is more like an absence of religion and just a general outlook rather than a teaching.

Scientology is based almost entirely on untestable, provably false, and otherwise supernatural beliefs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AriesMalvis

but i do believe more in the science side of things than from a religious view

...and it has absolutely nothing to do with science.

slipstrike0159 · 05-14-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilroy_x

I hear this often, but I'm not sure if it's actually truthful or not.

Yes. There are certainly no religions in history that have had leaders prosecuted by the authorities of the time.

Don't get me wrong, I think Scientology is pretty nuts, but your post just struck me as somewhat silly.

Haha yeah, SURELY the church is false because of a jail sentencing. I thought it was interesting how the LDS church was the only one in US history to have an extermination order against them while Joseph Smith was being placed into jail numerous times for things he was innocent of.

**devonin** · 05-14-2007, 07:35 PM

Yeah, but I mean he was tried and convicted of fraud and other charges involving directly his handling of the money he took in from worshippers. Persecution for your religious beliefs is not the same as just buggering off with the cash box and getting caught.

Also, Slipstrike, any church that -worships- satan has 100% completely missed what the satan in christian mythology was about.

purplepopcorn · 05-14-2007, 08:41 PM

http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/

go ahead and say ytmnd=fail, but it's actually done pretty well. The music is ****ing creepy, and it's a little nsfw (dead people), but it's a good summing up of how bull**** it all is.

slipstrike0159 · 05-14-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

The Church of Satan draws its name from the mythological and cultural concepts of Satan. Satan stands as the central symbol for many different gods, including Ahriman, Loki, Set, Amon, and Belial, all seen as symbolic of the same ideals and archetype. The Church of Satan claims that every individual can be his or her own god and is responsible for his or her own destiny. (In their usage, "Satan" denotes a symbol and metaphor rather than a literal anthropomorphic deity.) People who follow this belief system are called "Satanists".

Wow, sounds a lot like many of the athiests i know...

Also, it does have teachings that represent some of the things Lucifer suggests.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

The Church of Satan is very vocal in announcing its desire to see all criminals brought to swift and appropriate justice. The Church of Satan does not hesitate to expel members for engaging in illegal activity, or to cooperate with law enforcement to bring them to justice.

Is that not unlike how Lucifer wanted unrelenting perfection giving glory to man over God, as well as not providing a means of repentence or explanation?

theinsomniacnimrod · 05-14-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilroy_x

Scientology is based almost entirely on untestable, provably false, and otherwise supernatural beliefs

Sounds like all religions if you ask me...

Haven't you guys seen the South Park on this?? I think that explains everything you need to know about it.

sherbtail · 05-15-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theinsomniacnimrod

Sounds like all religions if you ask me...

Haven't you guys seen the South Park on this?? I think that explains everything you need to know about it.

Thats what kilroy was getting at, in reply to...

"but i do believe more in the science side of things than from a religious view"

I just watched that YTMND video, they're scary people, apparently the IRS was basically blackmailed into classifying them as a religion and giving them tax breaks. It makes me mad

Quote:

Originally Posted by archbishopjabber

Does anyone have a link to the entire documentary? I'd like to watch it.

hmm maybe...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/programmes/panorama/default.stm

and then click on "watch now"...obviously :P
it might not work if you live in the states...

Wlfwnd91 · 05-15-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipstrike0159

Wow, sounds a lot like many of the athiests i know...

Also, it does have teachings that represent some of the things Lucifer suggests.

Is that not unlike how Lucifer wanted unrelenting perfection giving glory to man over God, as well as not providing a means of repentence or explanation?

Guys this is a Scientology topic, try and stay with it alright? If you want to talk about Satanism and Lucifer and blah blah, then make another thread for it.

As for Scientology, I'm not 100% sure on where I stand with the topic. I haven't read any books or anything on Scientology from any points of view, so I'm really not going to pass any judgements til I do. However, from what I have scene and heard it seems like a cult that just wants to make money, and seems to be doing a pretty good job of it. I don't know how much of what is said is true, because as with just about every other religion, the people who hate it will try and lie and come up with rumors to destroy its credibility.

silentwind2 · 05-15-2007, 01:48 PM

that southpark was great

but seriously, anyone who actually buys scientology is an idiot.

but then to go with that argument, i was listening to the schnitt show on xm yesterday and went on to say that if religion wasn't brought into your life until you were 18, would you buy into it one bit? you wouldn't just be browsing the bookstore and then come across the Bible and be like, "o hey jimmy i think i just found the meaning of life." no, you'd toss it aside and look for something at least plausible.

to paraphrase

**Coolgamer** · 05-15-2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipstrike0159

Wow, sounds a lot like many of the athiests i know...

WATCH IT.

Somebody wanted a link to the BBC video.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/programmes/panorama/default.stm

It's quite freaky. They stalk him, find him interviewing people and bring up things they did as teenagers, etc.

05-14-2007, 04:11 PM	#1
sherbtail FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 117	Scientology I just finished watching "Scientology and me", a BBC documentary about scientology, unfortunately, most of you won't have seen it, but I know more heated clips have been posted on youtube. Basically it was a pretty damning documentary of their practices and treatment of members and critics. After watching the documentary I quickly got wiki-ing and scouring the net for information about them, and to be honest, they all sound like a bunch of suppressive and frankly quite scary crooks. So my question to you is, do you think the 'church' of scientology deserves the status it has in America as being a recognised religion, complete with tax breaks? It has not been labelled a religion by our government yet, and I hope it never is.

05-14-2007, 04:13 PM	#2
mellonxcollie Sectional Moderator TGB Queen Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Confirmed. Age: 34 Posts: 1,298	Re: Scientology Watch "The Bridge".

05-14-2007, 04:16 PM	#3
Maid FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 北海道　釧路 Posts: 643	Re: Scientology Scientology is way worse than you standard run of the mill religions. You have to pay to move up ranks so you could get access to more (knowledge?) about Scientology. __________________ 怒りの剣も嘆きの傷も　跡形もなく溶けて消えて散って逝っててああー

05-14-2007, 05:39 PM	#5
aperson FFR Hall of Fame Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 3,431	Re: Scientology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white They're a bit more sinister than you'd suspect. __________________

05-14-2007, 05:40 PM	#6
devonin Very Grave Indeed Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 42 Posts: 10,120	Re: Scientology my favourite aspect of the Church of Scientology is that the entire thing was created by L Ron Hubbard as a bet. It was wagered that he couldn't create a convincing church that would actually gain members, and well yeah, I think Hubbard won the bet. Though when the founder of your church dies in prison on fraud charges...it becomes difficult to take them all that seriously.

05-14-2007, 06:23 PM	#7
archbishopjabber FFR Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 81 Posts: 268	Re: Scientology Does anyone have a link to the entire documentary? I'd like to watch it.

05-14-2007, 06:27 PM	#8
slipstrike0159 FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In the shadows behind you with my assassin's blade waiting to strike Posts: 568	Re: Scientology You do realize that there is a church that worships satan right? I really dont think you could get 'scarier' than that. In any case i think it would be a joke for it to actually be considered a religion, i see it somewhat like being athiest which is more like an absence of religion and just a general outlook rather than a teaching. __________________

05-14-2007, 06:29 PM	#9
AriesMalvis FFR Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,345	Re: Scientology well with that whole deal...i don't like it but i do believe more in the science side of things than from a religious view __________________

05-14-2007, 07:35 PM	#13
devonin Very Grave Indeed Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 42 Posts: 10,120	Re: Scientology Yeah, but I mean he was tried and convicted of fraud and other charges involving directly his handling of the money he took in from worshippers. Persecution for your religious beliefs is not the same as just buggering off with the cash box and getting caught. Also, Slipstrike, any church that -worships- satan has 100% completely missed what the satan in christian mythology was about.

05-14-2007, 08:41 PM	#14
purplepopcorn FFR Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: extra salty Age: 34 Posts: 602	Re: Scientology http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/ go ahead and say ytmnd=fail, but it's actually done pretty well. The music is **ing creepy, and it's a little nsfw (dead people), but it's a good summing up of how bull** it all is.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)