• madcatter
    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 366
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    		 Some of you probably are aware the 'church' of Scientology has been fined one million Euros in France this week for engaging in fraudulent activity. The conviction hinged on the testimony of former members who were encourgaged to spend thousands of dollars on various purification activities.

    In France (and Germany and most of the EU), Scientology is officially regarded as a cult and not a religion. Their ceremonies are not legally binding in any way so if you want a Scientology wedding in France you must also get married at the Registry office. But how do you define what a cult is? When you examine the mainstream religions, they mostly hinge on the belief that one person, usually a man, heard the voice of god and was his prophet. Isn't that as hard to believe as spaceships coming to take believers away when they're pure (or whatever the Scientology belief system is)?

    Let's open this to comments- and please leave your flaming beliefs at the door. Just because one person believes Allah/Jehova/Yaweh is the Supreme being, it doesn't mean end of debate and it doesn't believe a person can be ridiculed either.
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  • MattNash
    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 4652
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    		 I believe it's a cult, but I also believe that all fundamental religions are cults.
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  • Echidna64
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    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 3603
    MattNash wrote:
    I believe it's a cult, but I also believe that all fundamental religions are cults.


    I define a cult as any organization that brainwashes its members, therefore I would agree with Matt Nash for saying that fundamental religions are cults.
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  • Echidna64
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    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 3603
    madcatter wrote:
    Some of you probably are aware the 'church' of Scientology has been fined one million Euros in France this week for engaging in fraudulent activity. The conviction hinged on the testimony of former members who were encourgaged to spend thousands of dollars on various purification activities.

    In France (and Germany and most of the EU), Scientology is officially regarded as a cult and not a religion. Their ceremonies are not legally binding in any way so if you want a Scientology wedding in France you must also get married at the Registry office. But how do you define what a cult is? When you examine the mainstream religions, they mostly hinge on the belief that one person, usually a man, heard the voice of god and was his prophet. Isn't that as hard to believe as spaceships coming to take believers away when they're pure (or whatever the Scientology belief system is)?

    Let's open this to comments- and please leave your flaming beliefs at the door. Just because one person believes Allah/Jehova/Yaweh is the Supreme being, it doesn't mean end of debate and it doesn't believe a person can be ridiculed either.


    Scientology is more of a business than a cult. L. Ron Hubbard had suggested that a great way to make money would be to start a religion.

    Also, as you progress through scientology you must pay increasing fees. In other words, the structure of Scientology is based on a pyramid scheme.
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  • MattNash
    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 4652
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    Echidna64 wrote:

    Scientology is more of a business than a cult. L. Ron Hubbard had suggested that a great way to make money would be to start a religion.


    Church is a business as well. The preacher makes money through the offerings and tithes from the congregation. The larger the congregation, the larger the amount of tithes and offerings. And it's money that isn't taxed.
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  • Deleted
    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 54340
    		 I'd call it a cult also. It was founded by a hack science fiction writer in 1954.
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  • eastervideoguy
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    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 1559
    • Banned
    		 it is not a religion it is a cult although I am catholic I believe in evolution
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  • badfish
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    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 603
    		 i can't say if it is a cult or not because Scientology confuses the hell out of me
    Sense_of_Self wrote:


    A spoonful of bullshit helps the medicine go down.
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  • madcatter
    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 366
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    		 A number of mainstream religions require a ten percent contribution from the congregation- Mormons specify %10 of the pre-tax income. Islam has a once a year obligation where you must make a large donation to the poor or do good works for them, it has a specific name and is part of Ramadan.

    Scientology also requires %10 as does Kabbalah, which according to everyday Jews is a sham and their version of witchdoctors.

    I find the hypocracy of Scientology interesting as people who have used mind altering drugs are supposed to be excluded from membership, yet Kirsty Alley's a prominent member. She freely admits to cocaine and other drug abuse through the 1980's, so why was she allowed to join?
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  • Sense of Self
    • 3 years 6 months ago
    • Posts: 982
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    		 Any religion you are forced to pay thousands of dollars on is defiantly a cult.
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  • madcatter
    • 3 years 5 months ago
    • Posts: 366
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    		 I like the idea of a 'religion' like Scientology overlooking part of its doctrine in order to gain a star-studded following, like Tom Cruise. Kabbalah's the same, trying to attract high profile members by letting them bend the rules. Madonna doesn't live the life of a good traditonal Jewish lady. She doesn't cover her hair, she takes lovers out of wedlock, has divorced twice, and still wears fricking crucifixes!
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  • Echidna64
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 3603
    		 MUST WATCH-

    http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103804
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  • Kriller
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 1379
    		 I must add that religions can be considered cults. But as a Christian, I believe in John 3:16. That's it, to have eternal life. A religion has certain rules that must be met and so forth. Which is complete fallacy. The Americanized version of what a "Christian" is, is that they have to do this this and this, and live a holy life, and walk the old lady across the street. Those are things we were commanded to do, but not to be saved. We were commanded not to lie and lust, as well but everyone has takin' part of that.

    Just wanted to clear that up.
    You dont know them but they do!!

    THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
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  • Shazbot
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 4622
    		 I agree that religions and cults are basically the same thing. They are both an excercise in control.
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  • DMoney89
    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 3323
    • Account Disabled
    Kriller wrote:
    I must add that religions can be considered cults. But as a Christian, I believe in John 3:16. That's it, to have eternal life.


    The whole enternal life thing bugs me for a couple reasons:

    Like, say you did everything right to get into heaven and live eternally...for starters, what age would you be? I mean if you died as a poopin, droolin, alzheimer's-ridden senile old man, would you REALLY want to be that age forever?? And what if you died as like a 5 year old or a 12 year old? Would you be 12 forever? Could you like switch back and forth between ages and phases of your previous life or what?

    And what would you DO for eternity? It's already hard enough trying to find enough things to keep your mind occupied here on Earth. I couldn't imagine finding something to do to keep your interest forever. People's minds change all the time. What else is there to do in heaven other than kiss up to God for sparing you mercy from the depths of Hell?

    AND FURTHER MORRRRE...population control. After billions of years and countless generations of people going up there, it must be getting pretty crowded. Atlanta already has bad enough traffic with too many dang folks here as it is...

    That's it for my list of nitpicks :)
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  • liukangx
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 8798
    		 I always thought you would be the age you desired.


    [ur
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  • DMoney89
    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 3323
    • Account Disabled
    liukangx wrote:
    I always thought you would be the age you desired.


    BUTTTTTTTT what if you didn't reach that age yet? Like in that last post, what if you were like...17 when you died and never got the chance to be "legal" and buy beer and live the uber exciting life as an adult?!
    Or or or or
    if you were like 10...you would NEVER grow up?! Is that place Neverland or what?!
    Or or or or
    Can you just flip flop ages whenever you wanted? Like if you got tired of being 10, you could instantly jump to like 25 or 47 and vice versa.

    X-|
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  • Kriller
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 1379
    DMoney89 wrote:
    Kriller wrote:
    I must add that religions can be considered cults. But as a Christian, I believe in John 3:16. That's it, to have eternal life.


    The whole enternal life thing bugs me for a couple reasons:

    Like, say you did everything right to get into heaven and live eternally...for starters, what age would you be? I mean if you died as a poopin, droolin, alzheimer's-ridden senile old man, would you REALLY want to be that age forever?? And what if you died as like a 5 year old or a 12 year old? Would you be 12 forever? Could you like switch back and forth between ages and phases of your previous life or what?

    And what would you DO for eternity? It's already hard enough trying to find enough things to keep your mind occupied here on Earth. I couldn't imagine finding something to do to keep your interest forever. People's minds change all the time. What else is there to do in heaven other than kiss up to God for sparing you mercy from the depths of Hell?

    AND FURTHER MORRRRE...population control. After billions of years and countless generations of people going up there, it must be getting pretty crowded. Atlanta already has bad enough traffic with too many dang folks here as it is...

    That's it for my list of nitpicks :)



    DMoney, I really urge you to read the bible, man. Not to listen to a preacher, to go to a church service, but to read the bible. I find there is nothing more real then to read it for myself. From there I think you'll find exactly what you're looking for in these questions. You'd realize how huge and amazing Heaven really is. You can't put God in a box and make it like it is here on earth. I can't even fathom how great Heaven will be. And since it is promised, I know it will be.

    As well you'd see, that there is no age. We are given new bodies. I'm not exactly sure how we will look or feel, but it's promised to be amazing.

    Another thing you'd realize is what hell actually is. It's so Americanized to have hell as "the place you go if you are bad. But as long as you are a really good Christian God will be nice enough to save you." Not the truth at all. Hell is simply sin. God cannot be in the presence of sin. If someone does not come to the realization of John 3:16, then since they want to live in sin, God is giving them what they want. It's not a punishment.

    Again though, please read it for yourself. Just read the book of John and think about it. People are going to hear so many different things from so many different people, that I can't even expect you to fully listen to me.

    Love you guys.
    You dont know them but they do!!

    THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
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  • Shazbot
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 4622
    		 Read the Koran instead, it's a little more interesting.
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  • Kriller
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    • 3 years 1 month ago
    • Posts: 1379
    Shazbot wrote:
    Read the Koran instead, it's a little more interesting.


    Good point, man. But when it comes to a situation like this, it's not about which one is more interesting. Like picking your favorite candy. It's about the truth. If there really is a God. Really is a way to eternal life. Then you got to look at the facts and weigh them out for yourself. And since our calender and basis around history is from Christianity,the Bible is a good start. What a realization, it is too.



    :D
    You dont know them but they do!!

    THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
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