In your opinion, is Scientology a cult? [Spirituality & Religion]

It's a cult. From a story of an inside member:

http://exscientologykids.com/valeskas-article/

[quote]“She went to the org in Switzerland and asked for damages for her husband’s suicide. So they sued her for blackmail and tried to get her jailed,” Valeska says. That attempt to get Jackson prosecuted criminally failed, but then Jackson went on television.

Valeska at the time was a Sea Org member, working diligently for the church, cut off entirely from the outside world. All she knew was that suddenly, in 1995, she was told that she would need to “disconnect” from her own mother, with no word about what her stepfather had gone through or the church’s attempt to get her mother prosecuted.

“They never told us any of that. They only told us she had sued the church. I didn’t know that my stepdad had been upset or any of that,” she says.

In standard church procedure, Jackson was declared a “suppressive person” — Scientology’s version of excommunication — and as a result, every Scientologist in good standing was required to cut off all ties to her.

Valeska alleges that church leader David Miscavige, in order to keep her away from her mother, had Valeska kept in isolation away from her mother at Flag Land Base, in Clearwater, Florida while she was only 17 years old. The next year, in September 1996, after she had turned 18, she was then moved to the Freewinds, the cruise ship that sails the Caribbean and caters to wealthy Scientologists paying for the highest level of spiritual training, Operating Thetan level eight, or “OT VIII.” Valeska joined the Sea Org that works on the ship. She says she was told her stay would only be two weeks. Instead, she spent the next twelve years there, unable to leave. For several months, she alleges, she was punished with an assignment in the ship’s engine room, where at one point she passed out from the noise and heat.[/quote]

[quote]Scientology has its own codes:

http://exscientologykids.com/glossary/

1.1 – Pronounced “one one”. Means that someone is “covertly hostile” – they smile to your face, but will stab you in the back. [b]Hubbard said that homosexuals and psychiatrists are 1.1[/b].

Potential Trouble Source (or PTS) – Someone who is connected to a Suppressive Person (SP). According to Scientology a PTS will often be sick (in fact, they believe that PTSness is the only reason anyone gets sick), have emotional ups and downs, and not be able to get very far in life.

(For the above, in other words blaming other people without taking any other factors into the equation)

RPF – Rehabilitation Project Force. When a Sea Org member has done something considered particularly bad, they are isolated from the rest of the Sea Org members in the RPF program. People on the RPF are not allowed to walk (they run everywhere), are not allowed to speak to another Sea Org member unless spoken to, and spend most of their time doing manual labor. This is a very controversial program. Scientologists call it “rehabilitation”, critics call it “slave labor”.[/quote]

Mike Rinder is a former executive of Scientology and actually served its founder, L Ron Hubbard himself who spoke out against the cult's abuses. Mike Rinder actually beat people for the religion also, it's not something he's proud of but that's the reality of the cult.

His story isn't just one though, there's many. In the video when someone was reporting on Scientology the "church" sent their reporter down to make sure it's "legal." That starts at 3:00 minutes in, for anyone who doesn't know, trying to control the narrative is a manipulation tactic.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOv0LtzXlx4]

Yes. Definitely. It is secretive, it uses extreme measures to dissuade members from leaving. it breaks up families, it spies on people, it belittles and maligns people. It indoctrinates children.

In as much as Christianity, Taoism, Hinduism, or any other religion is a cult. What's the difference between a cult and religion but the number of people who believe in it?

For Christians, Scientology is troubling because there is no understanding of Jesus as Lord and Savior, no need for redemption from sin, and no recognition of the personal God who loves us and longs to have a relationship with each of us. Those are big differences.

On the basis that it’s founded by a 1950s science fiction author, it would appear it is slightly nuts 🥜

I’ve read nothing but bad reports on google about it. Here’s just one.

Scientology - Wikipedia
Wikipedia › wiki › Scientology
Scientology is a body of religious beliefs and practices launched in May 1952 by American author L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86). ... In France, they have been classified as a dangerous cult by some parliamentary reports .
Chairman of Religious Technology Center: David Miscavige
Formation: May 1952

it's a money/ power cult. it was made up by a sci -fi writer so we know it's not a religion anymore than startrek is

Absolutely a cult.

1) It has tiered levels of membership. Lower levels are not allowed to have the same information as higher levels.

2) There is extreme financial extortion.

3) Members are encouraged to cut ties with friends and family if they do no accept Scientology.

4) There are serious financial, legal and even physical repercussions for anyone trying to leave the group

They aim to control and extort.

I suppose to some degree most religions do that. But the poison is in the dose, as they say.

Yes. It's nuts.

I think it’s a bunch of lunatics who are very lonely and gullible and can’t think straight.

Hmmmmmm it is helping Tom cruise in his gayness....who knows

All religions are cults

Yes. You have to "buy" your way in.

Yes.


By definition;
A religion whose beliefs differ from the majority around them.

A religious group that is:

1) Exclusive. They may say, "We're the only ones with the truth; everyone else is wrong; and if you leave our group your salvation is in danger."

2) Secretive. Certain teachings are not available to outsiders or they're presented only to certain members, sometimes after taking vows of confidentiality.

3) Authoritarian. A human leader expects total loyalty and unquestioned.

If there messenger is just a man, and hasn’t had God talking to them then yes it is a cult

In my opinion all religions are cult. Just cause there's enough followers doesn't make it not so.

Religion is the opiate for the masses. Some taste a little funnier than others...

Their founder is dead, so I don't think it's a cult. It's not a religion either. It's just a shady business.

I think it is pretty much, although I say the same thing about some older religious sects as well.

Yes

All religions are just cults of sufficient size