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Originally posted by Moral Hazard I'm going to admit that I do not know a great deal about Scientology other then what I have gained through media reports concerning the same. Based on what I have read and heard I'm not particullarly interested in it; however, I cannot discount it as being invalid. To my reasoning, a religion's value has to be measured by the benefit it's adhearants derive from it. Most accounts I read suggest that Scientologists (in large part) believe that the practice of their religion benefits them. If they believe that their needs (whatever they may be) are being met through the practice of their faith then there is some merit to it and consequently some validity, even if that validity is only in relation to it's adhearants expectations.

Thats absurd. That's like validating cults as a religion, just because everyone dies happy. There's a difference between faith and religion; religion typically have dogma that require strict adherence to. Faith is just believing in something. I could have faith that hot dog vendors will someday rule the earth, but I don't think just arbitrarily believing in something validates itself just because it gives people a boner.

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Originally posted by Fibonacci Thats absurd. That's like validating cults as a religion, just because everyone dies happy. There's a difference between faith and religion; religion typically have dogma that require strict adherence to. Faith is just believing in something. I could have faith that hot dog vendors will someday rule the earth, but I don't think just arbitrarily believing in something validates itself just because it gives people a boner.

he's not saying that.

i think the point is that if it makes the people involved happy without harming those not involved who are we to question it?

and in all honesty christianity has caused much more damage to this planet than scientology can ever even dream of.

i wouldn't be surprised if all this anti-scientology propoganda is pushed by Christian extremists because they see a young budding religion with fucked up beliefs, not unlike theirs was at one point in time, and it makes them fear the competition.

GUYS...they're watching us right...now....

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Originally posted by Fibonacci I don't think just arbitrarily believing in something validates itself

That is not at all what I said. My point is that a religion's value as it pertains to it's adhearants can only be judged relative to how said religion satisfies the adhearants' needs. If it does this then it must be considered valid.

I'd be careful about throwing the word cult arround, most religions can be viewed as cults, often the only real distinction is that whether or not one finds merit in the belief system being described.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

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Originally posted by denys envy i wouldn't be surprised if all this anti-scientology propoganda is pushed by Christian extremists because they see a young budding religion with fucked up beliefs, not unlike theirs was at one point in time, and it makes them fear the competition.

It's probably far more simple then that. People tend to fear that which they don't understand, the natural reaction to something that one fears is either to flee from it or fight against it. Most people don't understand Scientology, some seek to destroy it because of that.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard That is not at all what I said. My point is that a religion's value as it pertains to it's adhearants can only be judged relative to how said religion satisfies the adhearants' needs. If it does this then it must be considered valid. I'd be careful about throwing the word cult arround, most religions can be viewed as cults, often the only real distinction is that whether or not one finds merit in the belief system being described.

By that definition, can any religion be considered invalid? I don't think a religion/faith/belief can exist unless it is to serve the needs of its adherents.

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Originally posted by Fibonacci By that definition, can any religion be considered invalid? I don't think a religion/faith/belief can exist unless it is to serve the needs of its adherents.

any religion can be considered invalid by those that do not adhere to those beliefs.

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Scott has been introduced to the rave scene, and Ecstasy, by Craig. The two of them go out on the weekends, with some of Craigs friends, and stay up all night, dancing in a drug-fueled trance.

Last edited by Moral Hazard on Apr-26-2011 at 07:48

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Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On Is that how Scientology works? Do you know this for a fact? Or have you been infused with misdirecting propaganda from scared Xtian sources? Let's hear some facts from sources that don't have a strongly biased agenda against upstart cults. Eh?

I'm at work, so I don't have sources ATM (I'll try digging some up at lunch) but I believe its upwards of $250,000USD to reach the top OT level.

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What?

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard It's probably far more simple then that. People tend to fear that which they don't understand, the natural reaction to something that one fears is either to flee from it or fight against it. Most people don't understand Scientology, some seek to destroy it because of that.

furthermore, isn't it every religion's natural process to seek more devotees. i read somewhere that scientology is one of the fastest growing (member wise) religions in the world today. while (i think, not sure tho) at the same time christianity's #s are on the decline.

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Originally posted by denys envy furthermore, isn't it every religion's natural process to seek more devotees. i read somewhere that scientology is one of the fastest growing (member wise) religions in the world today. while (i think, not sure tho) at the same time christianity's #s are on the decline.

I have to disagree with the first point... many religions do not seek to gather new members (any of the vedic religions would be a good example of this).

Scientology is possibly a very fast growing religion; however, I hardly think that the largest religion in the world (with over 2 billion believers) is too concerned about a 40 year old religion with approx 500 thousand adhearants.

Globally Christianity's numbers are on the rise... declining in Europe and North America though.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

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Originally posted by denys envy i think the point is that if it makes the people involved happy without harming those not involved who are we to question it?

This doesn't seems to be the case with Scientology. It's no Spanish Inquisition or Crusades to be to sure, but they can be quite damaging.

It's actually the duty of scientologists to sue, injure, discredit, destroy anyone who speaks out against them. (or some shit like that)

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