Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 20:40:09 -0600 (CST)
IS SCIENTOLOGY A RELIGION? RELIGION is defined in Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary as:
1) The service and adoration of God or God(s) as expressed in forms of worship.So where does the alleged religion of Scientology stand on the subject of God? Quoting the Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary, by L. Ron Hubbard: "The Eighth Dynamic is the urge toward existence as infinity. This is also identified as the Supreme Being. It is carefully observed here that the science of Scn does not intrude into the dynamic of the Supreme Being."2) One of the systems of faith and worship.
3) The profession or practice of religious beliefs; religious observances collectively; rites.
4) Devotion or fidelity; conscientiousness. [Conscientious:
Influenced by, governed by, or conformed to, a strict regard for the dictates of conscience.] 5) An awareness or conviction of the existence of a Supreme Being, arousing reverence, love, gratitude, the will to obey and serve, and the like; as, man only is capable of religion.
So what has the "religion" of Scientology to say regarding God? It "- does not intrude into the dynamic of the Supreme Being." This claimed religion says NOTHING about God! Nothing official, at least. From the unquestioning obedience, fidelity and devotion expected of members towards Scientology's late founder L. Ron Hubbard, one can only conclude him alone to be the intended God of Scientology.
There is no prayer, but among the few rites of this "church"
are daily sessions of applause directed towards Hubbard's picture by all present. He alone receives worship.
Lack of both a deity-connected theology, and prayer or worship practices, separate Scientology from the realm of religion as defined above on counts 1, 2, and 5.
Scientology's belief in spirits, reincarnation, and "body- thetan" demons are about the only beliefs held in common with some acknowledged religions. This comes close to inclusion in definition 3 above, but not quite. The belief in spirits alone, unconnected to deity, meets none of criteria 1, 2, 4, or 5 for religion. It is spiritualism; cultic, not religious.
For meeting definition 4, "Devotion or fidelity;
conscientiousness," Scientology policies and practices fail miserably. Members are expected to exhibit these towards the organization and Hubbard, but receive none in return, being treated as money sources, or as expendable, poorly compensated and abused workers, quickly discarded when of no further use to their "church." The Church of Scientology's long and unconscionable record of human rights violations and criminal convictions are documented in the sources listed below.
So Scientology meets none of the five criteria for religious validity, and on four of the points it loses big-time.
Followers do have the right to consider it their religion, but no claim is warranted to legal and social recognition as a religion, nor to any related special considerations. Where some governmental recognition has been extended, as by the IRS, dubiously legal or unethical tactics by the organization to establish this have often been exposed, as documented in the below references.
Definition of a CULT, from the same (Webster's New Collegiate) dictionary:
1) A system of worship of a Deity; as The cult of Apollo.Scientology - the cult of L. Ron Hubbard? One of several similar quotes related by associates from Hubbard's early years as a Sci-Fi writer reveals the truth:2) Hence: a) The rites of a religion. b) Great devotion to some person, idea, or thing, esp. such devotion viewed as an intellectual fad.
"I always knew he was exceedingly anxious to hit big money - he used to say he thought the best way to do it would be to start a cult." - Sam Merwin, editor of the _Thrilling_ Sci-Fi magazine, quoted in THE BARE-FACED MESSIAH by Russell Miller, p.133.
Among the many financial and legal benefits of religious status are exemptions from taxation, and exemption from the labor laws regarding minimum wages, maximum work hours, and working conditions.
"It's a perfect story about greed and lust for power. The question was always how to get more money into Hubbard's pocket and how to hide that from the IRS." - Bill Franks, former Executive Director International of the "church" of Scientology.
So Hubbard picked up some initially impressive psychotherapy techniques from Freud and Korzybsky, called it Dianetics and Scientology, hooked people on them, and ran from there - taking all their money with him.
Want to know more? Read the BOOKS AND ARTICLES EXPOSING THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY listed below. They reveal and document the hypocrisy, greed, unscrupulous practices, and serious crimes of this "Church." You will learn more about their techniques of mind control and subjugation - the use of personal secrets confided in counseling for intimidation and blackmail - the exploitation of staff - abuse and slavery in their "RPF" - brutal and degrading punishments - the big ripoff of Missionholders by Hubbard's "Finance Dictator" and "Finance Police" - harassment and terror tactics against dissenters - Hubbard's tall tales, false claims and con games - imprisonment, abductions, suicides, and unexplained deaths - criminal conspiracies - and much more.
L. RON HUBBARD: MESSIAH OR MADMAN? - Bent Corydon & L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
THE BARE-FACED MESSIAH - Russell Miller.
A PIECE OF BLUE SKY - Jon Atack.
THE SCANDAL OF SCIENTOLOGY - Paulette Cooper. For writing this book, the author was harassed, terrorized, and framed by a Scientology criminal conspiracy.
RELIGION, INC. - Stewart Lamont.
THE MIND BENDERS - Cyril Vosper.
SCIENTOLOGY: THE NOW RELIGION - George Malko.
THE ROAD TO TOTAL FREEDOM - Roy Wallis.
THE ROAD TO XENU - Margery Wakefield. Available from Coalition, PO Box 290402, Tampa, FL 33687, or FACTNet, 601 16 St. #C-217, Golden, CO 80401.
INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY - Robert Kaufman.
COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL - Steven Hassan.
SCIENTOLOGY: THE CULT OF GREED - Time Magazine, May 6, 1991.
THE PROPHET AND PROFITS OF SCIENTOLOGY - Forbes, Oct. 27, 1986.
SCIENTOLOGY: ANATOMY OF A FRIGHTENING CULT - Reader's Digest, May 1980.
SCIENTOLOGY: THE SICKNESS SPREADS - Reader's Digest, Sept.
1981.
PROUD MARY: George Magazine, August 1999. Illustrates how Scientology infiltrates and manipulates our government.
WEBSITES:
http://www.xenu.net
http://www.scientology-kills.org
http://www.scientology-lies.com
http://www.entheta.org
http://www.lisamcpherson.org
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology
http://www.xenuTV.com
http://www.users.wineasy.se/noname/multimed
http://www.infoman.demon.co.uk/cicmain.html
http://www.shassan.com
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/comments/volcanos.html
Follow the links to more websites.
Also see the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology, which this "church" continually tries to suppress.
SCIENTOLOGY FRONT GROUPS - all pose as altruistic, usually concealing their Scientology ties: Author Services, Narconon, Criminon, Earthlink, ABLE International, WISE, Applied Scholastics, Apple and Delphian Schools, The Way to Happiness, Citizen's Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), Sterling Management, Concerned Businessmen's Association of America, Singer Consultants, HealthMed, World Literacy Crusade, Dignity For The Aged, Ebony Awakening, Citizens Rescuing Youth (CRY), IHELP, Cult Awareness Network (CAN) - see below.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCIENTOLOGY AND CULTS IN GENERAL:
AMERICAN FAMILY FOUNDATION, PO Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 34133. Website: <http://www.csj.org>
CULT INFORMATION SERVICE, PO Box 867, Teaneck, NJ 07666. The Cult Awareness Network, formerly the name used by this group, IS NOW A SCIENTOLOGY FRONT.
CULT INFORMATION CENTER, London, UK. Website:
<http://www.infoman.demon.co.uk/cicmain.html>
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