Precisely... it just goes to show you how easily religions can sprout out of nowhere with people ready to devote their lives to them. And they all insist theirs is the only one out of thousands that is true. Lil
It depends how you look at it. Christianity gives you the option to choose and to ask questions. A lot of other religions and cults don't let you do that and you are forced to accept things, and if you don't, you're shunned.
Yes.
Go look up the definition of a "cult" -- every one of the 30,000+ sects of Christianity fit it very nicely.
So does Islam, Hinduism, etc.
"Cult" was, in fact, the exact word the Romans used to describe the early Christians.
True they are both theoretically cults but Christianity is very diverse and some sects are not cult-sh at all, nor brainwashed. Believe it or not, some Christian churches ask people to think for themselves.
Scientology is rather brutal in its manipulation of people, as are some Christian Churches, but some progressive sects of Christianity are actually very flexible with regards to what you "must" believe.
Brainwashing was invented in the 1950s to explain how loyal Americans ordered not to make statements against their government did so under torture. While coercion still works, brainwashing is just a hot-button, meaningless, word.
That is a logical fallacy, meaning it is not a valid question. Like saying, IF pork chops can be eaten with chopsticks, Isn't chipped beef prepared wrong ? There is no connection. IT is not a valid syllogism.
Scientology from my experience is for proud, not very smart, deviants -- and often escapees from a traditional faith that know that if there is a Hell they are definitely going, so the first thing to get rid of is, you guessed it !!!
Travolta, Cruise, Kirstie Alley -- these are not atypical. By the way, don't you get the feeling that Cruise's wife thinks he is brain-rotted. I do. And her parents for sure.
No, there is nothing about Scientology that is any more far-fetched then the "magical carpenter" story.
The stories behind religions are all equally unbelievable when analyzed logically.
However the practices of the "religion" of Scientology is FAR more dangerous than any other religion. Because Scientology is a Cult, not a religion.
Yes, Scientology is a cult.
They have a policy of forced disconnection to those who are "declared" SP (suppressive persons) which is a key characteristic of a cult.
The Scientologists who have answered you here are not in deep enough to have seen the truly gruesome side of their own "religion". The tales of those who have survived or escaped in the groups main Orgs are horrifying.
The leaders own niece has denounced their separation tactics.
http://www.factnet.org/?p=255
Children raised in Sea Org are routinely unlawfully removed from schools, forced to work upwards of 40 hours per week for less than minimum wage, and left unsupervised. There are many stories of these children being targeted by pedophiles, or trafficked for money.
To see some real life survivor stories you can check here:
http://www.exscientologykids.com
For a link to murders or suicides associated with the cult you can check here:
http://www.whyaretheydead.info
And for a Video illuminating many of their illicit and illegal acts, including convictions for fraud, you can check here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCGP-0545EU
if scientology is a brainwash cult, isnt christanity one too?
