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Scientology: Is it a religion or a cult?

From Dictionary.com:

Cult
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

Religion
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience



VotesAnswer
15Cult
13Other answer
3Religion
3None of these

UserComment
dab Survey Central Gold Subscriber Gold Qualifier
posted 7-Mar-2009 9:18pm  
Clearly it is both.
Amanda
posted 7-Mar-2009 10:17pm  
Religion. Not one that I agree with, but a religion none the less.
Galomorro Bronze Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 7-Mar-2009 10:24pm  
A big, hairy CULT. UGH!
JessicaWoman99
posted 8-Mar-2009 12:55am  
It is a cult
kirst
posted 8-Mar-2009 1:58am  
Cult
Kristal_Rose Survey Central Gold Subscriber Silver Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
posted 8-Mar-2009 3:03am  
It's somewhere inbetween, probably more cult than religion, but for some of the supernatural ground they cover there's not really any other 'popular' religion to turn to. I live near Hollywood, their epicenter.

Beliefs, or practices of beliefs? I don't think I ever see them separated, so it's not much of a useful question.
Irene007 Survey Central Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator
posted 8-Mar-2009 3:38am  
Definitely a cult and I didn't even bother to read the definitions....
Kristal_Rose Survey Central Gold Subscriber Silver Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
(reply to Irene007) posted 8-Mar-2009 5:39am  
Where have you been?
they Bronze Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
posted 8-Mar-2009 8:07am  
I don't think there is a difference.
Enheduanna Survey Central Subscriber
posted 8-Mar-2009 9:30am  
The difference between a religion and a cult is time. Most new religious movements start out as cults, but if they last long enough, they become religions.
Iseult Quadruple Gold Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 8-Mar-2009 10:33am  
I really couldn't care less about Scientology.
Melf Gold Qualifier
posted 8-Mar-2009 11:54am  
I'm not qualified to answer this.
Irene007 Survey Central Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator
(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 8-Mar-2009 11:55am  
I'm here every day darlin'! I just lurk in Forum all the time...  * wink *
risingroad
posted 8-Mar-2009 12:55pm  
It's a way of thinking. Let's face it... though I don't know neither Tom Cruise nor John Travolta, they seem like totally different people. So it is how a person relays their "ways" rather than "the way".
FauxLo Survey Central Gold Subscriber Survey Qualifier
posted 8-Mar-2009 2:37pm  
 * check * Both.
bill Survey Central Gold Subscriber Double Gold Star Survey Creator
posted 8-Mar-2009 6:03pm  
I picked "cult" because it sounds nastier.
southernyankee Bronze Star Survey Creator
posted 8-Mar-2009 6:27pm  
The definition I go by, a cult has a charismatic leader. A religion has some semblance of the rule of law. In other words, cults are about blindly following a person. Religions are blindly following a set of rules.

Since scientology's "leader" died a while back ago, and since their rules are very to the letter, I would say its more of a religion.
Kristal_Rose Survey Central Gold Subscriber Silver Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
(reply to Irene007) posted 9-Mar-2009 5:30am  
I haven't though to visit there in months.
Kristal_Rose Survey Central Gold Subscriber Silver Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
(reply to southernyankee) posted 9-Mar-2009 5:32am  
That seems to be a more useful definition of 'cult'.
Irene007 Survey Central Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator
(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 9-Mar-2009 7:35am  
Ya might call it my neighbourhood... I do surveys when there's nothing to comment on in Forum - it's been that way for a while with me....
moviesnob
(reply to Irene007) posted 9-Mar-2009 12:48pm  
I do the same thing. I mainly visit the forums here and do surveys every once in a while.
cerealkiller Gold Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 9-Mar-2009 1:18pm  
Probably a bit of both
Irene007 Survey Central Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator
(reply to moviesnob) posted 10-Mar-2009 10:10am  
The Forum is like a local bar where you meet your friends, some acquaintances and the occasional drunk typing nonsense. All that's missing is the liquor licence!
southernyankee Bronze Star Survey Creator
(reply to Irene007) posted 10-Mar-2009 7:40pm  
In bars, you also have people pretending to be something they're not (there's always that full of crap guy talking a game, possibly to impress women), telling tall tales, fish stories, whatnot. Hym, I guess SC isn't all that different (I am not mentioning any names).
cloudhugger Bronze Star Survey Creator
posted 10-Mar-2009 9:22pm  
How can this be an unbiased answer if you don't understand what Scientologists do? Why they do it, or what is their point.




edit: OK, I saw some very good unbiased answers. Never mind.
cprasky Survey Central Gold Subscriber Gold Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 11-Mar-2009 9:14am  
Defining a cult is a slippery idea. I believe L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology) put forth the best definition of a cult yet. He said that if you convert to a religion which you were not raised in, then you have joined a cult. So, if you were raised in a Jewish family and convert to Scientology, you have joined a cult. On the other hand, if you were raised in a family of Scientologists and convert to Judaism, you have likewise joined a cult. Short of establishing a state religion, which I do not favor, there seems no other objective way of defining what a cult is. I note that under definition 4 above (for 'Cult') Christianity could easily be considered a cult, since all Christians venerate the person of Jesus Christ and the cross he was murdered on.
Irene007 Survey Central Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator
(reply to southernyankee) posted 11-Mar-2009 12:56pm  
See? Just like a real bar!
jettles Survey Central Gold Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 11-Mar-2009 7:45pm  
philosophy???? i just remember tom cruise once saying it wasn't religion but a way of life or philosophy?? i don't care really.......
Gomezy3k
posted 13-Mar-2009 10:37am  
Since ALL religions are cults, yes it is a cult...
Biggles Bronze Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 16-Mar-2009 9:22pm  
Can't it be both?
VanillagirlDee
posted 20-Mar-2009 12:37pm  
I don't judge others Religion. Cause Religion means different things to different people. Nor do I try shoving my religion down others throats either. BUT there are cults out there, and people should be cautious when getting involved in religion or cults. You should research it, check it out, ask people about it before getting into it, so you will know if that is something you want to get involved in.
Kristal_Rose Survey Central Gold Subscriber Silver Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
posted 21-Mar-2009 1:58am  
It's not just a job, it's an adventure.
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