I'm not sure I would personally consider Scientology a religion. I learned a lot about it yesterday while researching. One major belief is that humans evolved from clams and that many of our psychological problems stem from this transition from "clam hood" to "human-Nessa."
Good point, all that we hear about in the news is Tom Cruise, Silent Birth, and how Tom disapproves of Brooke Shields using anti-depressants.
Actually I think there are some books written by Ron Hubbard that discuss the basic principles of Scientology, although I don't know the details.
L. Ron Hubbard ( a science fiction writer!) INVENTED Scientotlogy in 1954. In 1951, he was quoted at a writers convention as saying "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous - if I want to get rich, I need to invent a religion." Four years later, he pulled it off. Unfortunately, there are still weak minded people around that feel a need to have beliefs in supernatural things in order to have meaning in their lives. Some people are willing to pay for that. In Scientology, that's what you do - pay to get higher and higher up in the "church." Its a total scam. Anyone that believes in it is a freak in nutcase. They actually believe that earth was seeded by aliens, and that is who there God is.,...Xenu, an alien.
As the British church community struggles to cope with declining attendance, alternate forms of worship are presenting more options to those seeking their paths to enlightenment.
In a world where religion is being discussed more honestly and openly, literature like The Da Vinci Code, once considered sacrilegious, is helping to broaden the average man's interpretation of Christianity while the church struggles to maintain theological control.
The UK is a melting pot of religions with traditional forms like Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism competing with traditional Christianity. But even with the wide spread of religious forms available, people are still searching for that special deity.
One religion that is gaining rapidly in popularity, thanks largely to the slate of celebrities it attracts, is Scientology.
Famed composer, musician and former South Park actor Isaac Hayes says: "Scientology is the gateway to eternity", declaring himself as a fully-fledged follower of founder L Ron Hubbard. However, the Shaft singer is not alone; Hollywood favorites such as Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Kelly Preston, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and Priscilla and Lisa-Marie Presley are also members of the sect, created in 1952 by science fiction author Hubbard.
These popular cytologistsST's declare that they have found 'the path to happiness and total spiritual freedom.'
So what is Scientology all about? Is it just another cult made acceptable by the spoils of Hollywood and cloaked in the-over burdened consciences of the rich and famous? Or does the religion offer worshipers the spiritual connection they so desperately sought?
The phenomenon began when American author Hubbard proclaimed to the world that humans were descendants of an exiled race from outer space called Thetans; and that we are nothing more than temporary vessels for the immortal souls of Thetans. He taught that salvation was only possible through his teachings of Scientology, the ultimate goal of which is to realize one's true nature as an immortal spirit.
Since its launch, Scientology has attracted at least 10 million followers and is estimated to make ?250m a year from its members. Research has shown that this new found 21st century religion, or as some say 'cult', has expanded more in the last five years than in the preceding 50. With an estimation of three meeting places opening per day around the world including Africa and the Caribbean, Scientology is one of theworld's fastest growing religions.
Meaning the "study of truth", Scientology presents itself as a religious non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of the human spirit and providing counselling and rehabilitation programs. It claims to be able to save people from addictions, arthritis, depression, learning disabilities, mental illness, cancer and other problems. And messengers, who represent the religion, seem to be constantly looking for new individuals to save.
London's Tottenham Court Road has become an official recruitment hotspot where members approach the public and persuade them to fill out a personality test, designed to measure their emotional state in order to highlight areas that Scientology can improve.
One passer-by was single mother of two, Sharon Bailey. After her encounter she said: "I was told that I was in deep need of spiritual enlightenment. When I was approached, because of all the recent stories about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in the press, I was intrigued to hear what they had to say. However, I did not expect to be told that I was depressed, nervous, anxious and unable to communicate and my only way of true happiness was through Scientology. I was in complete and utter shock."
After walking away feeling confused, Bailey told The Voice that her test results provoked her to call their office and question their theory. "After telephoning their head office at Saint Hill, I was invited to attend a service and a guided tour in order to find out more about who they are, which I did with my sister. Our whole experience was surreal. Their 'church' was a large opulent castle and when I entered the auditorium everybody was chanting the same words."
After the service she was taken on a grand tour of the building. "The grounds were amazing. They had a gym and spa facilities and the garden was like Eden.
"There were lots of people doing various jobs. Everybody worked in silence because they were "purging" - cleansing themselves from their addictions."
Asked if she would return, Bailey said yes because she is always soul searching for answers and added: "There are many mansions in the Father's house as well as there are many paths to the road of enlightenment."
Mark Pinchin, London's Scientology Community Affairs Officer said: "People are attracted to Scientology because it offers practical tools for living that anyone can learn and which get results. People use Scientology to improve conditions in their lives. We offer workable methods for improving many different aspects of people's lives and also effective ways for helping others.
"Scientology respects all religions. It shares with other religions the dreams of peace and salvation. However, we are not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked to believe anything on faith. An individual discovers for his/ herself that Scientology works by applying its principles and observing or experiencing the results. The ultimate goal of Scientology is true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for the individual."
However, numerous Evangelical leaders disagree with Scientology's methods of teaching and ideologies and regard it as a new-age cult.
Bishop Wayne Malcolm founder of Christian Life City (CLC) church in east London said: "Scientologists have an unrealistic world view and live in denial about everything and call it faith. If we are descendants from aliens why haven't scientist been able to prove that there is an equivalent to human life outside of earth? Scientology is (for) fiction writers gone mad!"
Bishop Malcolm continued to explain that the fame around Scientology and other new religions such as Kabbalah proves that money and fame do not satisfy human beings. Instead they need a spiritual dimension. "Celebrities always want to prove to the world that they are one-step-ahead from non-entities so they will be more adverse to traditional religious concepts as it is too ordinary and opt for something new, stylish, chic with a more modern philosophy than customarily religion."
Despite the religion versus cult argument surrounding Scientology, the fact still remains that no religion in history has spread as fast or as far in as short a time as Scientology and it is practiced in more than 30 languages And with celebs such as Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, and their new baby Suri as members, it could be safe to say that numbers will soon be on the rise again.
Scientology, basically, is a new way of raising kids positivly. instead of saying bad boy, they say why would u do that. it make sthe child feel more confident and gives them respect. the reason there birth is silent is so they dont become tramatied.
It's an applied religious philosophy that was developed by L. Ron Hubbard. It's religious background extends back to the times of ancient eastern spiritual philosophy coupled with western, more modern faculties like science, etc.
Its a cult
But I guess the government recognizes it as a religion
Google the words Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, and Xenu. Interesting facts about Scientology. Invented by a science fiction writer about 50 years ago, mostly during a time he was drinking heavily. (ALL religions are invented by man, this one just happens to be invented fairly recently)
Expensive - you pay the cult with every "level" you go through.
The theory of Xenu and the dead space alien souls clustered together is just too much - I dint see how anyone could make it into a "B" Sci-Fi movie, let alone a religion.
In the beginning they "interview" you for lack of a better term, but what they are doing is breaking you down to build you back up into what they want you to be. (Considerably close to brainwashing!)
Many Scientology followers have claimed that this way of life has led them to spiritual freedom, that they have been enlightened with the truth.
Perhaps they know something that we dint, or perhaps they dint know they've been brainwashed.
Why is Scientology a religion? And what does it consist of?
