My thoughts? It reminds me of R. Kelly, Tom Cruse, and John Travolta locking themselves in a closet. All this thanks to South Park.

Great architecture in Boston- really enhances the cityscape.

I think it’s just like any other religion. To be completely honest, I don’t really know much about all the beliefs about Scientology, but I hate all the insensitivity that most of the internet people are showing towards Scientology—with the whole anonymous protest thing. I mean if someone choses to follow a religion, you should not judge them by their faith.

well see my whole problem with Scientology isnt their beliefs. I think every person has the right to believe in what they want. My problem is the people who run it are corrupt. I shouldnt have to pay a fee to be part of it.
I saw one sign in the protest that really stuck out to me.

“Ask a Jew…
Ask a Christian…
Ask a Muslim…
About their religion
And they will gladly tell you

Ask A Scientologist
And they will tell you after the check clears.

I could get over the money issue but they are also a very violent corporation. This is a good example of what I’m saying. On a final note watch this its rather disturbing.

well, there are specific beliefs that make scientology… less than desirable as well.
specifically, their anti-medicinal stance on diseases, believing that the body can heal itself. There have actually been lawsuits about the church killing people because of it.
also, their up-tightness about it all… just being so trigger happy with their lawyers.

uberbatman, what if u ask a cotholic? Will they tell you?

@atr408 -Yes Catholics will tell you. What do youi want to know?

I don’t really know anything about the religion per se (except for Tom Cruises’ ridiculous claims during an interview), but as far as I can gather, it’s based on a science fiction novel???

Culty, like Mormonism plus 100 years.

L. Ron Hubbard famously said, “if you want to make any money in the book business, start your own religion.”

Easy: avoid.

@syz yes it is based on a science fiction novel called Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. I do plan on reading this book one day, because even though I believe the whole thing is pretty insane I would still like to learn more about it just to see what exactly it is they believe.

Scientology violently opposes psychiatry because of their belief in the importance of the human mind. Imagine a religion where the main belief has to do with the corruption of the mind by the world around you and that happiness is found in overcoming that oppression. The adherents in this case are deeply concerned that unhappy and enslaved minds will naturally try to enslave other minds and that this is the fundamental cause for all sorrow and war, etc. So if you try to discuss this with them in any confrontational way, the discussion only entrenches them more in the belief system.

My main concern with Scientology is this dynamic. Yes, they are trying to free their minds from the grasp of evil, but the path to knowledge is through a path that is not based on reason but on radical belief. Other religions have bad apples that are similar to this, and I would disagree with these as well, but by and large Scientologists are trying to make the world a better place. Protests like the kind “Anonymous” is doing won’t do anything to recover people from Scientology.

Freedom of religion means giving them their space. While I am nervous for the implications of Scientology’s effects on people, I must say that not allowing them their freedom to practice their religion is duplicitous. We all have opinions and beliefs, and those need to be protected regardless of their orthodoxy or heterodoxy.

That being said, my last point is that I personally disagree with the origins of Scientology. Its history is shady and needs more clarification before I can respect the religion as such. Those are my thoughts, to answer your question.

If ones spiritual choice puts them on a path that does not judge the spiritual choices of others or their religious beliefs and there is a recognition that Scientology is the ONLY choice, then it’s a good thing. For me, and this is the struggle, is that there seems to be a certain zealousness that goes with Scientology, which continues to keep me fairly ignorant about the teachings of Scientology.