Views, opinions? I have to write this report on it, and its impact on society. I've read a lot on it, and I think its interesting. I def. don't see it as this "cult" that people make it out to be.

Flip the channel to E!... they are talking about it.

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
Flip the channel to E!... they are talking about it.

Howard? He talks about it a lot. He's always ragging on it since he's so anti religion.

Originally posted by Nirvana
Howard? He talks about it a lot. He's always ragging on it since he's so anti religion.

No, it was some stupid E! correspondent. They were also talking about Lisa... figures. :\

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
No, it was some stupid E! correspondent. They were also talking about Lisa... figures. :\

Its so stupid how they always throw her and John T.'s name in there whenever they mention Scientiolgy. Who the hell cares. Its like Kaballah, wow Madonna follows it how interesting.

Originally posted by Nirvana
Its so stupid how they always throw her and John T.'s name in there whenever they mention Scientiolgy. Who the hell cares. Its like Kaballah, wow Madonna follows it how interesting.

It's not surprising since we are all so intrigued by celebrities, and whatever they are into. That's why the media always talks about it because in reality, most of us really do care.

What exactly is scientology?

Originally posted by Vera Wang
What exactly is scientology?

This sums it up pretty well

Life has tended to force the individual into certain values. The stresses of existence have tended to fixate his attention to a point where his awareness of himself and his environment has been greatly diminished. Attendant to this lowered spiritual awareness are problems, difficulties with others, illness and unhappiness. The goal of Scientology is to reverse this diminishing awareness and, in that sense, wake the individual up. As one becomes more and more alert, his abilities increase and he is capable of greater understanding and thus better able to handle his life.

The Hollywood celebrities that have embraced Scientology is Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Mimi Rogers(ex-Mrs Cruise that got him involved early in their marriage!!), Catherine Bell(JAG), Jenna Elfman

Well, by Christian definition, it is a cult (not meaning to offend anyone.) Supposedly, it is a religion (with tax-exempt status), yet they don't really believe in a God, or at least not the Christian concept of a God. Another thing about it that I find disturbing is that people are not told up front the true nature of this religion. It is not until people get into the higher levels that the "truths" are made known to them. Also, when people want to leave the church, the leaders can get very nasty about it and make life a living hell. I assume you have read Dianetics. There are also some exposes of Scientology that you could probably find at your public library that I think you should read, if you haven't already. A few years ago, A&E did a rather scathing, revealing report on it, too. But - each person has to make up his or her mind about it. I just think people should thorougly research both sides of something like this before they make up their mind.

While I'm not rippng Scientology, I do know there are some out of the ordinary things going on...
I used to live and an apartment on west 48th street that was next door to a Scientolgy center, and there were always teenagers hanging around there at all hours of the day. Why they weren't in school I don't know.
Also, In my current apartment building (which is a block away from my old one) one of the apartments was leased to the scientology center, and it was used by various young people to sleep in.
I have read stories online about Sicentolgy's practice of recruiting young people for their "religion," so I believe something isn't on the up and up, despite the praises by some high powered celebs.

I was in a big city last year (I think it was Dublin, I can't remember now) and there was a banner that said 'Scientology personality tests'. I don't know much about newer religions, but I think a religion shouldn't be founded on a point of philosophy, philosophies of life are things people can practise without the help of an organization.

Originally posted by EricIdlefan
The Hollywood celebrities that have embraced Scientology is Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Mimi Rogers(ex-Mrs Cruise that got him involved early in their marriage!!), Catherine Bell(JAG), Jenna Elfman

so have Doris Day, Ginger Rogers, and Jean Harlow.

Originally posted by Liza
so have Doris Day, Ginger Rogers, and Jean Harlow.


Juliette Lewis is another.

Originally posted by Bugiddle
Well, by Christian definition, it is a cult (not meaning to offend anyone.) Supposedly, it is a religion (with tax-exempt status), yet they don't really believe in a God, or at least not the Christian concept of a God. Another thing about it that I find disturbing is that people are not told up front the true nature of this religion. It is not until people get into the higher levels that the "truths" are made known to them. Also, when people want to leave the church, the leaders can get very nasty about it and make life a living hell. I assume you have read Dianetics. There are also some exposes of Scientology that you could probably find at your public library that I think you should read, if you haven't already. A few years ago, A&E did a rather scathing, revealing report on it, too. But - each person has to make up his or her mind about it. I just think people should thorougly research both sides of something like this before they make up their mind.

I did see and remember the A&E show myself when you brought it up!! They also don't believe in let's say your child was sick Scientologists believers don't take their kids to the doctor and/or hospital but believe they can heal by so-called Scientology. People that try to leave and leaders jump all down the soon to be former Scientologists throats. I heard Dianetics and was advertised very, very, heavily back in the 1990's!!

Originally posted by EricIdlefan
I did see and remember the A&E show myself when you brought it up!! They also don't believe in let's say your child was sick Scientologists believers don't take their kids to the doctor and/or hospital but believe they can heal by so-called Scientology.

That's one of the rumors as to why Jean Harlow died so young - her mother refused to take her to a hospital because of it.

What exactly is scientology?You can find a 1991 Time Magazine article on the subject HERE (http://www.xenu.net/archive/media/time910605.html).