Why do some people say that Scientology is a cult and not a religion?

Question

People! "Because it is" is NOT an answer. What do these people do that classifies them as a cult? Are they sacrificing babies? Are they mixing up some suicide kool-aid?

And yes, I do know what a cult is, I just don't know what the Scientology's have ever done to classifies themselves as cults. Can ANYBODY give me a smart answer?

Answer 1

Because it is a cult

Answer 2

Paul said that if any man comes preaching another gospel than what he taught - let them be accursed. Need we say more.

Answer 3

The Cult/ Religion distinction is a tricky one. You're saying you'd understand it if they were a suicide cult or were into human sacrifice, and you're right - they're not.

But they do have some fairly strange practices and can be very aggressive to members who try to leave. Some of the organisation is pseudo-military - Sea Org. It's often alledged, and rings true, that the Rehabilitation Project Force, a sort of punishment duty within Sea Org, is used as a slave labour force.

A number of deaths have been connected with the cult - usually concerning members who have become mentally unstable.

Scientologists hate psychiatry and psychology, and have their own program for dealing with members who suffer major psychaitric problems, which I understand largely involves isolation.

They do things which no religion does - by a program of vexatious litigation they destroyed the "Cult Awareness Network", and they've fought copyright battles to stop people criticising the doctrine.

And that is far from all...

I wouldn't've said they were a cult till I did a bit of research back at uni. My copyright tutor asked me if I was seriously suggesting that Scientology was against the public interest. So I looked into, and found that my answer should have been "yes".

Go forth and research... and maybe you'll see why people call it a cult.

Answer 4

because it is. do you even know what a cult is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

there is a link to wikipedia and the word cult. Look at that and tell me that scientology is not a cult

Answer 5

"I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is,"

L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of Scientology.

Need i say more?

Answer 6

Scientology is a cult. They are interested in money and mind control. The more wealthy people get more benefit. Auditing is not scientifically based but provided the auditor with answers that can be used later in mind control. They demand strict obedience to L Ron Hubbards teachings. Hubbard who used the "religion" as a tax shelter and money making opportunity.

Scientology alters the perception of reality as do most cults. They do this through replacing your own though processes with that of its own.

They hit every hash mark of the sociological definition of a cult.

Answer 7

It's a religious cult

Answer 8

Their belief in aliens and coming spaceships and all that stuff kind of puts them in the cult category for me.

Answer 9

Religions can also be cults, and usually are. A cult is easily identified by its teachings regarding the doctrines of the Bible. They deny Christ was God in the flesh, His bodily resurrection, salvation only by grace through faith, etc.

Answer 10

There sure are a lot of wrong answers here.

The main difference between a cult and a religion are the numbers.  scientology does not have nearly enough numbers to be a religion, but somehow bribed their way into religious status with the US.

All religions were cults at one point.  cult has just become a negative because random cults that appeared around the world have done things like mass suicides.

Answer 11

All religions are cults.

Seriously though, a cult is defined as a group with a definite leader that is revered and followed and the only way to salvation to the higher power is through them i.e. L. Ron Hubbard, David Koresh, Warren Jeffs etc. This leader has significant if not complete control over his flock.  Cults also typically involve giving up a significant amount of cash as a stipulation to join them. Cults also employ brainwashing and removal of free will.  Scientology fits part of the definition of a cult but not completely.

People often misconstue Wicca or Pagan religions as cults they fit the definition less than any of the major abrahamic religions.

Answer 12

Scientology is a religious applied philosophy.

“It is possible to know about the mind, the spirit and life”

Scientology states that man is a Spiritual being that controls a body through a mind. To represent this life force, the Greek symbol for though: “Theta” was selected to avoid confusion with any prior practice.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBcbVtEwU...

The mind (we are not talking about the brain that is just the center of the nervous system) is a bank of mental image pictures. This bank is what the spirit uses to make decisions; it is composed of the analytical mind and the reactive mind. The analytical mind is clear; it doesn’t have any hidden influences and is fully accessible by the Thetan. The reactive mind is a collection of bad mental image picture that include pain, unconsciousness and command value. The reactive mind is the hidden influence that aberrates reason. The reactive mind is the cause for all human aberration, insanity or evil purpose.

Scientology’s approach to solve human aberration: Auditing.

- “Communication is the Universal Solvent.”

- “All problems of the mind are created by the mind.”

- “The mind can solve all the problems of the mind”

To solve the problem of the reactive mind Hubbard developed Auditing; a verbal therapy that uses questions to help the individual address what is bothering him. So the person by his own volition can solve his own problems. The big difference between Auditing and Psychoanalysis is that the Psychoanalyst evaluates for the person and tells him what to think. In Auditing you just ask and listen and let the person make his own mind about things.

There are no suggestions involved in Auditing, all conclusion are done by you by your own intelligence. Auditors are bound the Auditor’s Code to never evaluate for the preclear (preclear is a person receiving Scientology processing).  Never get in a relationship with the preclear.  All information released during auditing is protected by law and not even the police can gain access to that information. Enforcing this code of conduct is the Scientology Ethics Officer and Scientology law. Any violation to the Auditors code is considered a high crime in Scientology and will result removal of any Auditing Certificates and/or expulsion from the church. I have seen this happen and is a very serious matter.

Any friend or family member can audit you for free. Or you can take the courses and get your Auditing with other students. Taking Scientology courses is no more expensive than taking courses at your community college. Scientology also offers correspondence courses for a little as $30.00.

Professional auditing is also offered by highly trained specialists. An auditing team is composed of the Auditor, Ethics Officer, Quality Assurance (the person that tells the Auditor what to do), Corrections (the people that constantly train the Auditor on how to do the process) and the rest of the administration of a Church of Scientology. These are not one on one services, these are a whole team working to better you. It is expensive because is expensive to create, train and maintain the team.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=kwK1byq0nd...

How Scientology evolved?

Scientology evolved from Dianetics when it was discovered that man is a spiritual being. Scientology differs from Dianetics in that Dianetics deals with the mind and the rehabilitation of mental image pictures and Scientology deals with the rehabilitation of the human spirit itself.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=FhrlHU0W9U...

We don’t ask for your faith in Scientology. There is no faith needed, when you can observe and experience it working by your self.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=XUXR0XgmDN...

“Self confidence alone is security. Your ability is your security. There is no security but you. Let's make the best possible you."  L Ron Hubbard

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=dziK04-9qq...

Cult status?

All great religions have been misunderstood, persecuted and attacked. Jesus was sentenced to death by a lynching crowd; his only crime:  to teach Love and forgiveness. Christians were KILLED for centuries for their beliefs and they were accused of performing cannibalistic rituals (didn’t they ate and drink the body of Jesus?).

Scientology is a worldwide religion that claims 10 millions of members. It has centers in almost every mayor capital in the world: Washington, London, Berlin, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Sydney, Tel Aviv Israel and Moscow to name a few. And for a church that is barely 40 years old this is great. Scientology is not a small sect based in a small town in Texas isolated from the rest of the world. Scientology thrives in the center of mayor cities, its member are community leaders, doctors, teachers and workers from all sectors of society. The fact most Scientologists have a college education says a lot.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=lI0AbwtQ7B...

Scientologists are involved in all kinds of community improv

Answer 13

It is a cult with a 501-c-3 designation as a "religion."  The IRS blocked the designation for years;  unfortunatley after Clinton was elected the IRS was forced to approve the religious designation.  the philosophy/psychology of the applied portion is interesting, but the organization is very dangerous.  

Answer 14

answer: alien souls, Xena, turning one's life over to an adviser, paying to move up in levels, rejection of psychology, persecution of former members or anyone who speaks out, secrecy, Tom Cruise = cult

Answer 15

Because it is.

But then, they're all cults.

Answer 16

Well all religions are cults so the statement is somewhat true.