Living: Scientology: Faith or Fiction?

What are you thoughts on the Scientology religion?

I think it's all a load of crap. For starters, the religion was founded in the 1950s by a Science Fiction writer. Perhaps he was a nut and thought he had the answers, or maybe he knew he was feeding people BS. Either way, the whole thing is basically a cult around him.

It's also associated with celebrities like Tom Cruise. Man, you know something's not right if Tom Cruise is doing it.

well, the basis of christianity was founded alot longer then 2k years ago, but thats another topic...

as for scientology, idk. I havent heard much about it other then this and i cant really say oneway or the other how plausable it is

How does it involve Tom ne way?

well if hes just a follower then that has no bearingon its credability at all, it would be like Ash saying that cuz he thinks the prez is a moron makes christianity a complete and total crock

I’m not exactly pro-Christian, and you do have a good point Ash. Regardless, even if Christianity is BS, it teaches good traits like honesty, respect, and integrity which is what matters in the end, right?

Scientology is exclusively made of the teachings of one man: L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard's theories, assumptions, and techniques make up the rituals of Scientology. Hubbard claimed to have discovered the "natural laws" of the spiritual universe, which he claimed can be used to predict and control behavior similar to the way in which the natural laws of physics can be used to predict phenomena in the physical world.

Scientology assumes that spirituality and thought (called "theta") is an energy existing in its own universe, separate from the physical universe, and theta created the physical universe. Scientology proposes that the spirit is immortal and has the potential to be god-like and all-knowing, but its abilities are lost in the modern world. The spirit lives on after death and is born into a new physical body, again and again. As a result of traumatic incidents from past lives, hidden from conscious memory, the spirit has become trapped in the physical universe.

These past traumatic incidents may influence a person's current life, causing physical and mental illnesses, irrational thoughts and acting-out behavior, and limiting one's abilities. Scientology claims that these traumatic incidents are recorded in complete detail on the "time track," which for each person is many trillions of years in length. Scientology proposes that through a process called "auditing" that uses techniques developed by Hubbard (often assisted by a device called the E-Meter), an individual can be guided to find and "discharge" these hidden traumas, thus escaping the suffering and limitations imposed by the past.

As one progresses through a series of auditing "levels," one can eventually be restored to native state and can attain the status of "operating thetan," in which one can control matter, energy, space, time, thought, and life. Hubbard's teachings include many details of the god-like abilities that may be gained through auditing.

For most individual Scientologists, recovering these god-like abilities is the primary goal of Scientology. The "levels" through which a person progresses make up what is called "The Bridge to Total Freedom." Progress through all the levels of the "Bridge" often takes many years of dedicated study and practice, and the cost in fees for services for the Bridge is estimated at $300,000 - $500,000.

According to Scientology, the "time track" incidents can include attempted abortions and other fetal traumas, acts of torture and violence, encounters with the "Marcab Confederacy" and various "Invader Forces" from Galactic space civilizations, life on earth as a clam, and more.

While many traumatic incidents are unique to each person, some incidents are thought to be common to all humans on planet earth. One important incident supposedly occurred some 75 million years ago. Scientology warns that until one has completed years of auditing, exposure to the details of this particular incident can cause severe illness or even death. Thus, these details are carefully guarded and kept secret until, at the level called "Operating Thetan III" the member is deemed properly prepared and is granted permission to view and "audit" this information.

One becomes a Scientologist by accepting L. Ron Hubbard’s perception of reality. Scientology is not swallowed whole; it is accepted incrementally via a constructed series of agreements into which the individual is led, bolstered by invasive hypnotic techniques, peer pressure, and hard-sell tactics. This is a subtle, effective process that takes over evaluative thinking.

A few interesting quotes:
"I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is."
- L. Ron Hubbard
"The only way you can control people is to lie to them."
- L. Ron Hubbard