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scientology (pg. 7)
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by nchs09
the line isblurry as you said, et i find the destinction you are making lacking. religion also falls into that path no? the one quoted above. in lesser terms, but it does. |
As I stated, most religions will also contain sects that can be considered to be cults. A good example would be the Cult of The Holy Mother that exists within Catholoicism. While the Roman Catholic church cannot be consided a cult as a whole (for reasons I discussed earlier and could expand on if required) there is a sect that has elevated Mary to the level of a diety. This sect worships Mary (an individual) and uses her life/example as a moral guide and authority over and above the church in inself. Another good example is the Knights Templar - which worshiped John the Baptist as a deity as well as an object (of which no one is certain what exactly it was although it is speculated it may have been the remains of John the Baptist). The example of John the Babtist and this object became the basis for their practices and the object of their worship. Both these sects replaced the holy trilligy as the object of worship and source of authority in their beliefs, in this respect they became cults despite being largely based on a religion. The major religions do not fit into the cult catagory because the worship is of a deity, not an object or individual, and authority is vested in the deity not a person. |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| A common (though maybe not universal) feature of cults is that they have a charismatic, overbearing human leader who wants to control every aspect of the lives of believers. |
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| afterhrsgurl |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
This thread is a true testament to the fact that people both fear and hate that which is unfamiliar to them. |
ummmm...it was invented by a guy in i believe 1950s who was quoted saying that his purose is to:"Make money. Make more money. Make other people make money" which probably explains why to be part of their "church" you have to pay a load of money...(i'm sure tom cruise has no problem affording it) i see no spiritual purpose in this religion |
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| jonSun |
| quote: | Originally posted by afterhrsgurl
ummmm...it was invented by a guy in i believe 1950s who was quoted saying that his purose is to:"Make money. Make more money. Make other people make money" which probably explains why to be part of their "church" you have to pay a load of money...(i'm sure tom cruise has no problem affording it) i see no spiritual purpose in this religion |
He was a smart businessman. Religion can be an extremely profitable & powerful business. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| quote: | Originally posted by afterhrsgurl
ummmm...it was invented by a guy in i believe 1950s who was quoted saying that his purose is to:"Make money. Make more money. Make other people make money" which probably explains why to be part of their "church" you have to pay a load of money...(i'm sure tom cruise has no problem affording it) i see no spiritual purpose in this religion |
While I generally agree, I think the same could be said of most any religion.
As Moral Hazard so regally explained, the status of a "cult" is very much dependent upon its considerations and sources and it is a word used to deface its status as anything of significance or soundness. Cults may have precedent for charismatic leaders or for the worship of artifacts and/or other objects or people with "occult" or "pagan" status, but that isn't necessarily how a "cult" is defined. It's a word that describes a religious organization (pseudo or otherwise) in relevance to whatever religious hegemony is seeking to describe such a thing. When religions see their "competition" as inferior (most seem to take this stance regardless), of course they would use a word that connotes the opposing "product" as unsound or insane. It's a very common tactic amongst businesses as well. Funny thing, that. |
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| venomX |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
If I am to understand Scientology correctly, it centres around healing oneself through rigorous discipline. That doesn't say much in itself, but I don't think it's too far-fetched to assume that most people in this day and age are "damaged" in one way or another. I won't make claims to know "how it's always been", but it seems to me that overexposure to media such as television, internet, government, etc... is somehow draining the individuality and the spirit out of people. It's like people are controlled by mass media and are in need of some sort of salvation, and that Scientology delivers this on an individual level. I will not profess to claim whether this actually works or not, or is in fact the end-all solution to humanity's ailments, as I am not a Scientologist, but it seems to me that this is an answer to many people and for once it does not necessarily rely on archaic scribblings of long lost desert tribes with little relevance to the modern world...instead it is derived from science fiction novels by a mediocre author 50 some-odd years ago! :stongue:
It seems to me that scientology is, in essence, the anti-prescription, even though it is a prescription of thought, nevertheless. That is its blaring fault. Nevertheless, it is a leading force in denouncing the widespread prescription of psychotropic mind-control drugs on children (Ritalin, primarily) in the US and that is something I have not seen any other "religious" organization tackle. For this reason alone, I would gladly support them in their efforts to guide people to prescribing their own cures and looking inwards rather than blindly taking the prescriptions of some licensed drug pusher who has everything to gain from doping children into submission and non-thought. Is it right? Is it correct? It's so hard to pick and choose these days - sometimes you must side with the lesser of all evils. |
The are you on about. Yes, Ritalin is over prescribed, but a 'mind control drug'? Seriously, what bizarre world do you live in. Ritalin has many beneficial effects, and none of them involve mind control. Is it over-prescribed, hell yes. Is it a mind control drug? Absolutely no. How would you even go about making a mind control drug. This isn't a science fiction novel. If you can point me to better solutions for Ritalin's target market (which should be truly ADD children and adults) than I'll concede to your point. Organic deficiencies in the brain can not be 'healed', they can only be treated and more often than not that involves drug. If you wish to go back to the stone age, and take herbal remedies (which are drugs anyways) and apply leeching for all diseases, go ahead. When the mortality rate for children sky rockets you and all the other 'drugs are evil' crowd can take full responsibility for it. |
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| venomX |
| I sincerely don't understand how this conversation got derailed. There is blaring evidence that Scientology is mostly a for profit, aggressive and dangerous organization, whatever sort of organization it may be. We obviously did not have a say back in the day when other 'religions' committed obvious, horrible crimes such as the Inquisition. But today we do. Today there is the possibility of doing something about Scientology. Of preventing them from profiting from misguided individuals and from KILLING innocent people. And yet here are some real gaping s trying to find 'positive' sides to it. Seriously, what the is wrong with you people. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| Easy with the fire and brimstone there, Torquemada; not all is black and white. |
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| venomX |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Easy with the fire and brimstone there, Torquemada; not all is black and white. |
Again then, please tell me why should Scientology not be made illegal? Please refer to something that would somehow redeem them from all the illegal things they have done. Or should we should we just turn a blind eye because they call themselves a 'religion'? |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by venomX
Is it a mind control drug? Absolutely no. |
Any drug prescribed to an individual in the hope of changing the way his brain functions and thereby affecting his behavior is a "mind control" drug, by definition. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| quote: | Originally posted by venomX
Again then, please tell me why should Scientology not be made illegal? |
You can't outlaw ideas, thankfully.
You can, however, keep ideas from developing by prescribing the masses with drugs that slow or stop thought.
| quote: | | Please refer to something that would somehow redeem them from all the illegal things they have done. Or should we should we just turn a blind eye because they call themselves a 'religion'? |
Man, from reading my posts, is this really the tone you believe you should be taking with me? You think that I am honestly some religious fanatic? One of us must have done something wrong. |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| ADHD drugs don't really slow thought. Most of them are stimulants like methylphenidate and mild forms of speed (and a less-prescribed one, Desoxyn, actually is methamphetamine). At the low doses given to kids stimulants can help you focus. |
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