In article<3a1614b7.12224272@news.uswest.net>, Stephen Jones <jstephen2@uswest.net> writes:

>You say you believe Scientology is not a religion. I'm asking why you
>believe as you do.
It is, as they say, "more complicated than that".
Scientology is a commercial corporation that has a fair bit in common with organised crime, plus a real but minimal overlay of organised religion which the founder admits is there to avoid prosecution:

kinda like the Sicilian Maffia in dog collars.

In addition it is only on the fringe of what most people recognise as religion. The element of worship is absent, for instance, as is the element of charity to the weak, and for morality it substitutes what most people would call "evil", "immorality", or "win at all costs".

The fact that the personal side is packaged as HEALING rather than spiritual quest, and sold in steps each with a fixed price, suggests that it is predominantly a money-making commercial enterprise. As do the presence of salesmen, commission structures, etc.

The written policies of the founder for using blackmail and intimidation against opponents, practising how to lie effectively, et cetera suggest to me organised crime.

_____ | | / / / \ \ / -- -| Duck! | \__ ____ / \_____/ / \ / \ | Dave@xemu.demon.co.uk /| / You \ / | \ \ / |_\called?/__/ / | |_____________///////// < |____\_______| | |(______________ () \ | \ / () | () | | \\\\\\\\\ \| | __|__ | | _|___/___ \___ | | TWOING !!!

__---- ----__\---\_ / __ | ______________________ \____-------------______/ \ / \ / / / / _/ ---| hmm, it theemth | / \ / / / | i thlighly | / $ / / | mithtook | / / / | your meaning there, | | | / | buthtah !!! | \______________// \______________________/ \________/

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