Scientology was a religion written as a bet from a friend of L. Ron Hubbard. I don't know the ins and outs specifically, but essentially you pay to go up "levels" to find the ultimate answer to, well, everything. It's pure consumerism, utterly pointless and very controlling - you jump when they say so. If you get jumped by a Scientology's (can't bring myself to capitalize that) in the street, just tell them you've already downloaded all the levels off of the net and that it's b******s. They don't like that. It's very close to the Mormons, who want a percentage of your wages to be a member. Steer clear.
A set of psychological techniques and fake-scientific believes gathered together. The main technique is called "auditing", which is somehow similar to psychotherapy or confession.
One of the main believes are somehow similar to Christianity that people are not "clear - and they provide "audit" to fix this. There are elements from psychology, like the one version of Maslov's pyramid, and other new-age elements.
The main problem is that the movement was by default created to manipulate people by the founder.
If you're really int rested on self knowledge, try psychodrama, yoga, usually at the same price as an aerobic training,
The information provided during can and will be used to manipulate you.
They use "copyright" to eliminate critics against.
Simply avoid them.
As far as I am aware, it can be classified as a fairly recent religion founded by Tom Cruise and as far as I care, it is just another ruse for him to get back into the public eye. I think the basic concept of the religion is the belief that there is extra-terrestrial life out there but as for what members actually indulge in, the aliens' guess is as good as mine.
However, a few words of advice. If you don't really fancy following a religion founded by someone who ate his own daughter's placenta...then Scientology is quite probably not the best thing that will ever happen to you.
I hope you are successful in your quest for answers! ^^
Mg, it is like a cult. They say that everyone can one day be like God, they pay a bunch of money to do this crap. they don't be live in medicine, they be live all you have to do is exercise. They believe in leaving a new born baby by itself for a few days. They believe that like you should be followed by a SC ontology person, like Katie Holmes is, no privacy! to me is is just a big publicity stunt, but tom cruise and john Travolta and all those stars who believe in that load of bull have crack for brains! And once you get into it, u CANOT get out!
It's a method rich people use to try and buy happiness. Unfortunately it's of no use to society whatsoever.
The general idea is that we're all descended from aliens and we've all got some emotional problem only Scientology, and a lot of money, will fix. Like a light version of Derren Brown they pretend to probe your mind, they then come up with generic codswallop (oh, you sometimes feel a bit depressed and think no-one understands you) and offer to fix you.
You go through 'workbooks' of cod psychology and explanations of why only Scientology can save you. You then hand over serious cash and do same again but on the 'next level'.
It's nothing more than a cult. True religions don't have buildings la belled 'Celebrity Centre'.
On the plus side, you can often pick up their books for a few pence in second hand book shops. They're marvelous for freaking people out. I left 'The Problems of Work' on my desk for weeks and the boss stayed away from me the whole time!
It really started as a science fiction book and exploded into some weird cult religion/ philosophy. Don't get involved, its more than a little weird to pick up a book & call it a way of live. It would be like picking up the Harry Potter series and saying you were going to become a wizard and start a school for young witches and wizards.
What is this scientology all about?
