Been reading about Scientology on the net recently and was wondering what others thought about it? It includes the concept of ‘silent birth’ which has been exaggerated and hyped in the press. Apparently, it’s just about keeping as quiet as possible, not entirely. Wives aren’t screaming obscenities at their husbands and nurses aren’t yelling “push! push!” Preventing the use of words rather than complete silence. I can understand wanting a relaxing environment as if I ever have children in the future, I prefer the thought of home-birth and definitely in water.
But then there is the controversial issue of drugs. I remember reading somewhere else that drugs ie: alcohol and cannabis etc are damaging for your aura / spiritual development. I thought maybe they were acceptable in moderation but it was argued they should be cut out completely if possible. I guess they provide a false feeling of enlightenment or euphoria, which is like cheating. This is similar to what scientology professes, only they include all types of chemicals and medication including those prescribed by doctors. I can see their argument, viewing them as unnatural poisons etc (in an ideal world perhaps) but am unsure how responsible it is advising people to stop taking anti-depressants.
I had only read about the principles mentioned above but didn’t know much about the sci-fi / alien stuff, which is apparently based on the imaginative ideas of sci-fi author L Ron Hubbard. Just read the sceptic Xenu leaflet here: http://www.xenu.net/archive/leaflet/xenuleaf.htm
Sounds like it is all a big cult-ish scam….
“…..a great secret is told them. That is that they are full of the souls of space aliens murdered 75 million years ago and to achieve spiritual benefits they must pay to have them removed. The processing at this level costs $400 per hour. ”
Sounds mental but I suppose I can’t talk with some of the space cadet-esque things I come out with. But any religion that requests money in exchange for knowledge and enlightenment is obviously a sham, and any organised religion, infact.
A balanced objective view here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology – Don’t want to focus on it any longer for the reasons mentioned above. Was just curious what it was all about. I’m not planing on joining up or anything…..just wondered if it was anywhere in the spiritual / new age camp but a religious cult seems more apt.
Most of the alternative belief systems don’t make any more sense to me than traditional religious belief systems.
Buddhists appear to stress experience and stay away from doctrine. You never seem to hear about violent Buddhists or even virulently proselytizing ones.
Not a Buddhist myself, but what I’ve read in that area is exceptionally real and sane sounding and I’ve been influenced by it.
Yes, I agree that buddism is the only so-called religion that I could possibly believe in. It definitely expresses similarities to the spiritual / new age philosophies that interest me. Infact, should ‘buddism’ be branded a religion?
Greetings – caught by your question – “Infact, should ‘buddism’ be branded a religion?”
I think the thousands of followers of the Dalai Lama would say it is. Those who follow at the ultimate level are called monks. So the terminology is consistant and not disputed.
In Indonesia there is a law called “Panscala” which defines a religion as having an acknowledged book of truth and a belief in a single supreme god. Hinduism is one of the five legal religions there, but it was accepted because they argued that the many gods are really just different faces of the same god. There Buddhism isn’t considered an accepted religion. However, the top monk in the Balinese Hindu tradition is always trained as a Buddhist monk.
how do you define religion?
i think all of you need to study up on subjects you feel the need to comment on. Ron hubbard was not a sci-fi author, but a very experienced PHILOSoPHER who found a way to truly help people find joy and recovery in life. Scientology is NOT a cult…..It explains what and who we really are: SPIRITS, occupying bodies in the flesh for no other reason than to experience, and remember WHO WE REALLY ARE…it explains that LOVE IS ALL THERE IS….and thats what we are…and when we all RE-MEMBER-we will finally be the best we can be. we are PERFECTING OUR SOULS>
I used to be a scientologist, and because it is not possible to unlearn things if you like truths that can be easily demonstrated to a certain extent I still am.
I agree that some of the stuff publised here on the net and seen on some TV shows looks pretty dopey. I guess you could say believing you are drinking the blood of Christ or eating his flesch in Holy Communion might hold Christianity up to ridicule in some circles.
The fact is in some of the stuff published (personal stories for example) I know some of the people, and therefore have a much better view of what might have happened and maybe the story is perhaps not really true or that there is another side.
I had my problems with Scientology. I could write you a few stories myself. Scientologists are not perfect. I do not for example like the extorinate prices they now charge or the fact that some members find themselves in debt or devoided of their worldly goods. I think also that problems are caused in familes mostly because of the incorrect ethics policy carried out. Most people (including scientologists do not like injustice)
I think that the Church is going through a black period.
There will always be fanatics no matter what the religion. Thats how it is now with the COS.
I was a highly trained member of the Church and left many years ago.
However, I am very glad to have been a Scientologist, and feel that it has had a positive influence on my life, and the lives of my husband and children.
Yes it cost me money, but I am quite well off now, well qualified and live a normal happy life. When I joined the church I was on Social Security-
MO
I watched a documentary last night on the subject so am even more confused about scientology now. It involved analysing definitions of words, then these were used to clearly ask a question in the auditing process for example about an experience from the past and what they had learned. It appeared more like counselling than a religion as such. And it is up to the individual to find their own truth in regards to whether there is a God etc. I guess, if it works to make people feel more content in their life, that’s a positive thing but as Mo has mentioned the cost of enlightenment still sets off alarm bells. I’d be interested to find out more though, after watching that program. (The clay-modelling seemed odd but I imagine it is rather relaxing). Maybe I should read one of Ron L Hubbard’s books?
After reading your discussion I thought I would offer what I have learnt after many years of interesting experiences and “searching”, if it is of any use to anyone out there:
Keep an open mind, but be wary of any organisation, person or religion which demands that you surrender your personal power to them. No one knows the answers, this is possibily the only truth there is, so be wary of anyone whom tells you that they know the answers- THEY DON’T. I personally think we are all more powerful and amazing than we have been brought up to believe, and that we don’t have to search too far for God because we are all God. But this is just my theory. What’s your theory? It is as valid as anyone elses. Believe in yourself. Be kind to yourself.
Agreed Annie, particularly with the concept that God is part of ourselves…..”The Kingdom (of Heaven) is inside you and it is outside you Split a piece of wood, and I am there Lift up the stone and there you will find me.” Shouldn’t really quote in a biblesque fashion but that one is beautiful and apt IMHO (and probably regarded as blasphemous by Christian fundamentalists).
Hinduism is a cool religion that is also oriented towards peace and prosperity.’*’
the religion of my grandfather is Hinduism and he says that it is a great religion.*`~
hinduism is a very interesting religion in my opinion,~:
hinduism is a good religion, my father is hindu and also my mother ~:.
Interesting… I’m going to blog about that too…
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