19. Is Scientology a religion or a cult?
Description
This article is from the New Readers Scientology FAQ, by rkeller@netaxs.com (Rod Keller) with numerous contributions by others.
19. Is Scientology a religion or a cult?
Answer By: Jeff Jacobsen <cultxpt@PrimeNet.Com>
"Religion is the human enterprise by which a sacred cosmos is
established" (The Sacred Canopy, Peter L. Berger, p.25). In other words,
religion defines for us what the world is all about and what our place
in that world is. In this respect Scientology is definitely a religion.
Scientology tells us who we are (a thetan, or soul), what the universe
is all about (a game we thetans created and then got stuck in), and what
our place is (to learn our true nature and get back to it's glorious
freedom). Scientology admits that it is gnostic, which is a religious
tradition 2,000 years old (Advance! iss. 93).
In general usage today a cult is a dictatorial group that overly
controls its members and teaches ideas far from the mainstream. In this
definition Scientology fits very well. Every doctrine and practice of
the church comes from L. Ron Hubbard and no one else, and this is
strictly enforced with no deviation or criticism allowed. The church is
tightly structured with rules and punishments for every part of life,
including how to wash your car. The church has its own judicial and
prison systems. As for the church's doctrines, the higher you go in the
teachings the farther from the norms of our society you get.
In conclusion; yes, the church of Scientology is a religion because it
answers our deep questions about the meaning of life; and yes, it is
also a cult because it fits the general usage of that term today.
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