Recently, Scientology has gained a lot of strength because of people like Tom Cruise saying that it is their religion and all of that. I had a teacher who told me that some of their teachings is rather interesting; however, I never really got into it. His belief was that before you can really say anything about something, you must understand it. Anyways...Is Scientology a religion or a cult? What makes it a religion? Or, what makes it a cult? Scientology has gained a lot of strength like I said, but has a cult been growing, or a religion?
L. Ron Hubbard made up Scientology. Well, rather, expanded a book of his into "applied religious philosophy."
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard#Scientology]Yeah, it's Wiki, but still![/url]
And really - what's the distinction between religion and cult, anyway?
The difference is most cults have resulted in mass suicide. Or genocide. Religion is established by a God, not a man.
Well, I wouldn't say all religions are started by a God. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism]Animism[/url] has no God as far as I can tell. Truth be told, it's found in a lot of different religions, but it is its own religion. So, does that really describe a religion, saying that it is created by a God? Because then you've got multiple Gods in those polytheistic religions. Interesting points to think about.
In Christianity, you have the Lord and Jesus to worship, who founded everything. In Islam, you have Mohammed and the big guy who created everything. In Judaism, you have the one God who inspired people to believe. In Greek mythology, Zeus and his family created the religion. In Helter Skelter, you have a crazy ugly old guy who wants to kill all the blacks. That was a cult, and many were created back in the 70s, and started by some guy who was paranoid.
Scientology is utter bull L. Ron Hubbard was a very interesting person regardless. He did a lot of things. He led an expedition in 1940 to re-chart the Inland Passage waters off the coast of British Columbia and Alaska. (Documented fact) He severed in the US Navy in World War II. Although, he then went crazy and shelled a Mexican Island, thus losing his command. This, among smaller acts of retardation earlier in his career. Nevertheless, he wasn’t dumb in the sense that one would think. I’d say he was more likely schizophrenic or bipolar, or maybe both. He created a new science, Dianetics (or at least made it “popular” or known) and wrote a few sci-fi and self-help books.
The thing that best says what Scientology really is come from Hubbard himself.
L. Ron Hubbard, addressing a sci-fi group in Newark, New Jersey:
"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 to start his own religion." – 1940
That says it all! The statement holds true for other religions as well I’m sure. Look at Catholicism, or more specifically the Vatican.
Religion is more or less a cult that the world decides to recognize. Buddhism is a religion and has no god. I feel, that if people put faith into something, God or otherwise, it is something they believe in. And the biggest difference between formal religion and cult is that the world decides to say that they believe it to be a religion.
I don't know the specific details of scientology. I haven't had enough interest to look it up. But I don't think the world as a whole sees it as a religion yet, and until they do it isn't a real religion in any book. Just a belief. Which is what all other religions are. There is no solid proof, no ground, nothing to say that any one religion is right and real. So, since I haven't heard if it's been recognized I'm going to say cult. Don't get me wrong though, I've met many a Christian who act more like they should belong to a cult or are in one. Scientology is something people believe in, like all other major religions and even cults.
Scientology is [censored] crazy. But it is no more crazy than any other religion.
when you are an atheist, all religions are cults, and all cults are religions. none more or less stupid than any other.