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UK Teen facing procecution for Calling Scientology a "Cult"

doc flabby

By doc flabby
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Dav Newbie

Dav

Posted
Posted

I thought scientology was actually classed as a cult in the UK.

 

this is rediculas though, scientologies should just take the fact that their little cult will take a ton of crap being as they put themselves in the media spotlight.

 

All religions take a lot of crap so why should scientology be any different?

X`terrania Newbie

X`terrania

Posted
Posted

Maybe this is apart of Scientology's scheme.. They're going to become more well known if they keep causing problems like this.

 

It's like being known as the nazi in high school, it's horrible, but at least you're known amongst your peers. Do you understand what I mean?

Lynx Newbie

»Lynx

Posted
Posted

I look forward to sharing my opinion on this matter when I get back from work, as I can't right now as my work prohibits me using any "religious" preference on the computers.

 

Talk about free speech, eh? smile.gif

Dav Newbie

Dav

Posted
Posted
Maybe this is apart of Scientology's scheme.. They're going to become more well known if they keep causing problems like this.

 

It's like being known as the nazi in high school, it's horrible, but at least you're known amongst your peers. Do you understand what I mean?

 

yeah its something the media is often used for.

 

They know that there is probably no such thing as bad publicity.

FMBI Newbie

FMBI

Posted
Posted (edited)

Every time something like this happens in Europe, the "So much for free speech" people pop out. frantics.gif

 

Scientology is a re!@#$%^&*ed cult, and I'm against political correctness, so I support the kid. But, several European countries do have the best freedom of speech in the world, so don't start a rant against the EU all of a sudden. Especially you Brits. blum.gif

 

I mean, it could be worse.. instead of an occasional misdirected government effort, you could live in a country where every non-mainstream thought is so har!@#$%^&*ed and persecuted that the only people with unique views are the nuts who don't give a !@#$%^&* about respectability (and thus further destroy the credibility of anything they support).

Edited by Finland My BorgInvasion
Lynx Newbie

»Lynx

Posted
Posted

^^ LOL

 

Anyway, in all the reading I do, and I read a lot, I think that Scientology is probably the most amusing. From the corrupt ways that they gather their "followers" - to the corrupt ways they !@#$%^&*ise the law to evade taxes, all I can say is that:

 

If your family are re!@#$%^&*ed enough to join the "Church" of Scientology, then let them peril.

FMBI Newbie

FMBI

Posted
Posted

They're !@#$%^&* funny, but the sad thing is, they aren't the worst out there anymore.

 

I read a book from the 80s (written by moderate protestants) that lamented how many cults, psychological-spiritual-lifestyle blend societies, and occult groups were popping up, and how they totally destroyed their members. Today, the situation's far worse, with millions of people throwing away their lives and undergoing brainwashing that would make the North Koreans smile.

 

However, even worse is the more "mainstream" group of Evangelicals that now use almost exactly the same methods that they used to accuse "Satan worshippers" of utilising to take control of their followers. Right now you're looking at somewhere around 50 million people who are ready to listen to anyone that promises them salvation.

 

So don't start laughing at the Scientologists, because in a few years you might see them declared illegal in the US, even as they're gaining more government support in Europe. And then you'll have to deal with millions of !@#$%^&*-bent (oh, the irony) missionaries coming to save the European agnostics and atheists from their sins. Woot?

ThunderJam Newbie

ThunderJam

Posted
Posted
However, even worse is the more "mainstream" group of Evangelicals that now use almost exactly the same methods that they used to accuse "Satan worshippers" of utilising to take control of their followers. Right now you're looking at somewhere around 50 million people who are ready to listen to anyone that promises them salvation.

Huh?

What exactly is this method evangelicals use to take control of followers?

And when you say "who are ready to listen to anyone that promises them salvation," who are you implying by "anyone." If your talking about religious leaders, pastors, elders, priests, ministers, w/e, they don't promise salvation from themselves... And than you got scriptures warning against the antichrist and other false preachers who will claim to bring salvation.

 

So, why dont you be a bit more precise, rather than make blanket statements that push bad practices upon people you are talking to. :/

FMBI Newbie

FMBI

Posted
Posted

Fine. blum.gif

 

As far as their practices, a lot of churches (I observed the following on one of my family's try-the-local-churches sprees a few years back) are now giving you something between a marine drill sergeant's mental rape of the new recruit, and the drug-abusing hippie "you gotta connneeccttt with yourselff" !@#$%^&*. The result is a unique blend of destroying the person, and making them feel good without making them think about it. Classic mind control.

 

As far as "promising them salvation," in theory they cannot (and they mention that as often as possible, believe me) but in practice* they work to build the conclusion that "our version is the only right version" and frequently say things like "Lots of people like to say, oh, well, !@#$%^&* isn't real.. but I'm telling you.. !@#$%^&* IS REAL AND EITHER YOU GO TO HEAVEN OR YOU GO TO !@#$%^&*" - it adds up to a combination of undermining the position of the outside "them" while meanwhile establishing terrible consequences for questioning the authority of your current leader. I will say that in a lot of cases, it isn't as bad as your average cult, but it's still pretty fricking bad. Again, this is from personal experience.

 

And finally, though they constantly mention the Antichrist, it's used more as a tool to, again, ensure the fear of their followers so that they'll stick closer to their daily dose of good ole Jesus (or, more often, the nearest preacher).

 

You can also make a case for them saying "Read your Bible, don't trust me, don't trust anyone, find out for yourself" - but the last group that was really willing to challenge every part of the Scriptures, reinterpret them, and allow open discussion of all sorts of "set-in-stone" truths was the Pharisees, and they don't exist anymore. Anymore, for all the talk of independent minds and avoiding losing control of your mind, people really have no option, because there's so much stuff out there that you have to conform with, or else you risk being ostracized from your group. You can read a verse 40 times, but ultimately, you're (almost always) going to go with your leader's interpretation.

 

Some of these things might be different in other areas (such as New England or the Pac NW), but even in the industrial-Democrat-agnostic heartland, I've still seen very few preachers willing to encourage independent thought on the part of their "flocks."

 

 

 

*Note that Protestants are especially vulnerable to this, because the US has a history of endlessly splitting Protestant groups, many of which quietly deny salvation to other groups - for example, Baptists and Pentecostals.

ThunderJam Newbie

ThunderJam

Posted
Posted (edited)
*Note that Protestants are especially vulnerable to this, because the US has a history of endlessly splitting Protestant groups, many of which quietly deny salvation to other groups - for example, Baptists and Pentecostals.

I'll start off with your last statement. I believe I have quite a unique view on this since I do not identify with a particular sect of Protestants. The church I attend now is considered non-denominational, but I know baptists and presybyterians and have visited their churches. Some of your talk might hold true for very small pockets of a certain sect... but meh :/

 

 

As far as their practices, a lot of churches (I observed the following on one of my family's try-the-local-churches sprees a few years back) are now giving you something between a marine drill sergeant's mental rape of the new recruit, and the drug-abusing hippie "you gotta connneeccttt with yourselff" !@#$%^&*. The result is a unique blend of destroying the person, and making them feel good without making them think about it. Classic mind control.

 

As far as "promising them salvation," in theory they cannot (and they mention that as often as possible, believe me) but in practice* they work to build the conclusion that "our version is the only right version" and frequently say things like "Lots of people like to say, oh, well, !@#$%^&* isn't real.. but I'm telling you.. !@#$%^&* IS REAL AND EITHER YOU GO TO HEAVEN OR YOU GO TO !@#$%^&*" - it adds up to a combination of undermining the position of the outside "them" while meanwhile establishing terrible consequences for questioning the authority of your current leader. I will say that in a lot of cases, it isn't as bad as your average cult, but it's still pretty fricking bad. Again, this is from personal experience.

I would disagree, and also from personal experience. I am joining my church as a member in about a month (have attended their for a while, but was not a member individually). To do this I had to go thru a 9 week course. Each week was just an hour long meeting before sunday service, and consisted of a quick 30 minute teaching, some discussion in small groups, and breakfast. And by teaching, im talking about they were just explaining the views of our church. I'm familiar with several similar programs in other nearby churches, and compared to what you describe, these seem polar opposites. It is casual, light on doctrine, and very open to just asking questions or w/e.

 

As for salvation, right, their just echoing the teachings of Jesus. When you talk about beign exclusively a "correct" religion as compared to others that won't go to heaven, this can be said of more than just Christianity. I would have to say, I am on the side that thinks my religion is correct. However I can still respect and appreciate the faith of others. I have tons of jewish friends, and I think their faith is good, but unfortunately misguided. As far as being correct as a individual sect within Protestantism, I do not think there is a right or wrong. There can definitely be genuine Christians across all different sects, altho I would acknowledge that some sects suffer from different weaknesses that others do not. Theres are strongsuits and negative points in different ones, but that does not completely rule out the believers as individuals.

 

And im gonna leave the antichrist stuff out of this, since i had only mentioned it as a point against "beliving anyone who promises salvation"

Basically I just wanna say you shouldn't be too closed-minded, maybe you were just in the wrong circles :/

 

Maybe this should be split, or moved in its entirety to the world board.

Edited by ThunderJam
Dav Newbie

Dav

Posted
Posted
Religion is unnatural, and thus, so is Scientology. It's just man's way of gaining comfort in the unknown.

 

 

do you actually know what scientoligy is?

 

Only people that know that have handed over their life savings and a loan for the privilege I think...

Lynx Newbie

»Lynx

Posted
Posted
I know more than most about Scientology, and I guess you're now going to lecture me that Scientology isn't a religion, however, officially in most of Europe it is a religion, and that is how it is claiming tax redemption, and pulling off other unethical traits. On a side note, I dislike pretty much everything about religion, I made the relationship between them both, stating that they're both unnatural en!@#$%^&*ies. Also, *all religions provide information on the unknown, and this comforts us, and that's why religion is such a compelling prospect.
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