MovieChat Forums > Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (2016) Discussion > How is Scientology Even a Religion?

How is Scientology Even a Religion?

posted 8 years ago by kdhturner-11740
7 replies | jump to latest

Doesn't any religion have a deity that's worshipped?

[–] jonathanmarklund 8 years ago

Scientology is a breakout sect of christianity. It's a little bit like Mormonism, they consider themselves as Christians.

[–] LoBo_77018 8 years ago

I don't think that is true. I have been told by an alleged Scientologist that the gospels of Jesus are brainwashing. In order to be a Christian you have to believe certain tenets about Jesus.

[–] jonathanmarklund 8 years ago

Yeah, I wouldn't say that they are Christians in the same way "normal" Christians are, but they do have a large cross on their building.
Of course, as you get higher up in the OT levels you probably discard jesus for the real truth about aliens and all that, but, to not alienate (pun intended) new members, they will say that they are a christian organization.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

How can they be Christians when they think Jesus was an alien from some planet?

[–] stimp-1 8 years ago

Usually there's a powerful deity (or a few deities) in a religion, but not necessarily. I think of religion as doctrines and practices stemming from supernatural beliefs (but it's a complex topic). Scientologists are supposed to believe in body thetans and the Xenu space opera (once they're finally told about those things at the OTIII level).

It's not at all out of Christianity or any other "mainstream" religion. In fact, Hubbard told his flock Jesus was a false memory programmed into spirits, or something like that.

[–] Lightman2001 (10) 7 years ago

The only reason that they are a "religion" is because they wanted to be recognized as such for the tax exemption status. In an embarrassing acquiescence, the federal government caved in to strong arm tactics employed by Scientology to get the IRS to grant them this designation. Tactics included going after individual IRS agents and their families with Mafia style threats and clogging up the courts with thousands of frivolous lawsuits.

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 6 years ago

It's not a religion, it's an EVIL cult! The difference between a religion and a cult is what happens when you try to leave.
They should be stripped of their tax exempt status!

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