Scientology: a cult or real denomination of religion?

It's a cult.

There's not quite enough room here to give a full explanation. I "lost" a friend to scientology. What I mean by that, is they completely cut her off from all of her friends and family. When this happened, I started looking up scientology, and what I found is really frightening.

http://www.xenu.net/

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/

http://home.snafu.de/tilman/prolinks/scientology.e...

http://scientologyexposed.50megs.com/

I think that any faith has a right to be called a religion.

Many Christians call any religion other than Christianity and a few others a cult (It is the same way with some other religions).

What exactly is a cult?

Why are some religions considered cults and others are not?

If it is the length of time the religions has been around then Hinduism (And some religion starting with Z) would be the true religions and Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Bhuddism could be considered cults.

If it is the amount of followers it has then Scientology would not be a cult because it has a lot of followers.

Personally I think cult is to a religion as the n word is to African Americans and ****** is to gay people.

By denotation, all religions are cults.

What you have to understand is that there is a big difference between the belief system and the actual Church of Scientology. Trust me, the church is getting pretty damn corrupt. Sort of like the Catholic Church when it spurred the Protestant Reformation. But the religion isn't any stranger than all other religions out there. Contrary to the baseless opinions from all of the willful ignorance I see in the other users of this section, Scientologists do not believe in aliens in volcanos or any of the other scifi stuff LHR made up. If you've ever actually picked up a dianetics book, you'd realize that it's a religion of self-help.

I've been good friends with far too many Scientologists to just pass them off as idiots. I know them, I hang out with them, and I know what they believe, which is a LOT more than I can say for most of the people who answer this question.

I been to a Scientology Dianetics building. I thought everyone was nice and friendly. For some reason I kept getting an odd, almost fearful vibe from the people and from the building. This may have been from me hearing negative things about it before me going there to visit it.

I periodically receive info from them in the mail, even though I haven't been back there except for that one time. From what I understand I don't believe they are a cult, and believe that Scientology is a religion its own right.

EDIT:

Although from a reasonable point I saw nothing that convinced me of a cult or something negative, I aslo explained that my intuition or instinct made me feel otherwise.

The third stage of “The Bridge to Total Freedom” is a highly secretive state and is usually not reached by most Scientologists. This stage asserts that people are actually clusters of dead space aliens (or thetans). [i] Basically, Scientology asserts that all problems are merely mental and can be fixed through “auditing” by Scientology practitioners.

Obviously, some of Scientologist’s beliefs are questionable, and this is apparent from the way they are taught and practiced. For instance, it is estimated that to cross the entire Bridge to Total Freedom, a member must pay in excess of $350,000 for classes and auditing.

http://www.researchthisstuff.com/Religion_scientol...

It is a cult for the rich to give up their money too and no poor folks allowed, not that poor folks would want to even be involved with this corney quackery.

Im an ex-scientologist. I tried both scientology and baptists for a few years. As far as invasive, money grubbing, forcing wierd beliefs, and making it hard to quit... I had more trouble with the baptists.

Baptists: 10% of your earnings as a lower member

Scie: flat rates per course comparable to a college course

Baptists: very pushy about some fairly strange beliefs

Scie: didnt hear any, even at the sunday services

Baptists: really poked into my personal life

Scie: not much but did to some (see next note)

Baptists: mostly ignored major things like felons, drug users, old guys with underage girlfriends/boyfriends, wife beaters, whatever as long as they attended church and gave money

Scie: kicked them out

Baptists: getting to the top of the religion involves giving up all your worldly goods (to become a priest)

Scie: still a flat rate altho more than I would pay

Baptists: leaving got me phone calls, visits, name calling, and general pestering to come back

Scie: I dont remember getting much of anything when I quit

The church part of scientology seemed pretty bland. They believe in God but not in prayers or miracles or "giving yourself over to God". It was mostly wishing good things for people in disasters, asking for canned goods and used clothing to send, asking people to join disaster teams. They didnt pass a plate.

The anti-scientology sites say that most scientologists dont bother changing their forms to say scientology (which scientology is ok with). Most people doing scientology are christians (53%). The same sites also say that most people (62%) take the first couple of cheap courses like I did then leave. And the people damaged by it seem to all have names that everyone knows. Compare that with other religions which seem to have whole countries fighting in their name.

All in all its not much of a cult.

the reason Scientology is a cult is by way of distinctive aspects. first of all, it is not even somewhat a faith. it is a decision of pseudo-psychological techniques for the main area. as quickly as I first began finding into Scientology interior the early 90s, not as quickly as became there a point out of God or something religious. It became additionally psychological stuff. Secondly, you are able to truly not progression in Scientology using using the instructions. they must undergo the high priced "audits" so as to progression and to be 'cleared'. the completed auditing technique isn't something religious, the two, and has never been claimed as a non secular workout. it is a psychological/actual exertion. And yet they denounce psychiatrists! of direction they could--they are able to't have those with problems going off to work out psychologists and psychiatrists by using fact they must be going to work out their auditors as a exchange. Thirdly, they save issues very secretive and function a tendency to reason hardship for those that attempt to leave the corporation. i've got examine of a few genuinely terrible debts online of people who controlled to leave. particularly thought the premier reason is it is a cult is by way of the fact it is controlled to cajole all the followers that it is particularly a faith whilst it is not interior the least!

It's difficult to draw the line between religion and cult, but one measure might be whether the beliefs cause harm to its members or others. The prominent anti-psychiatry beliefs of Scientologists cause a lot of damage to members who need psychiatric medications (e.g. for schizophrenia), and there have been deaths as a result. The church has also aggressively driven many groups to financial ruin.

Also, their isolation of members and secrecy about beliefs are cult-like characteristics. It prevents open, rational discussion and thinking about these beliefs.

What makes me think Scientology is a cult is this:

- Its religious "secrets" are only available to elite members, and

- You must pay A LOT of money to get to this level. Also,

- Once you're involved in the church of Scientology, it can be extremely difficult to leave.

I'm not Christian, but I have a hard time seeing Christianity as a cult because its ideas are available to everyone (just look in the bible), and you do not have to pay for them, unless you officially join a church.

Scientology is not a cult. Cults are unorganized sects of religions. Scientology is an organized religion.