Scientology sounds like Jehovah witness?
451144
the main thing these cults have in common is they was both started by con men looking to make a Quick Buck. Do your self a favor and research who Ron L Hubbard and Charles Taze Russell was. \nScientologist believe in Scienece Fiction and Jehovahs Witness believe in Christian Fiction.\n\nP.S. Christian fiction being a diffrent version of the bible and doctrines.
568977
Mormon founder Joseph Smith was a mason, and much of the Latter Day Saints ritual and secret ceremony that takes place behind closed doors is extremely similar to it.  \n\nEven though Jehovah Witness founder Charles Taze Russell based most of their doctrine from what he learned when he was with the group that is now known as the Seventh Day Adventists, Russell also dabbled into the spirit ism realm, and probably did use similar methods that Masonry has to get his new, "divine revelation" (I use the term sarcastically.  I am a Born-Again Christian, who believes that both groups are cultic).  Russell even sought the means of well known spiritist Horace Greber, by having him go into a trance, and then give the interpretation for what is now the Jehovah Witnesses "Studies in the Scriptures" Bible.  Its interpretation of John 1:1 (...and the word was a god) clearly violates the proper Greek rendering of the passage, which is, "...and the Word was with God, for God was the Word"\n\nIN RESPONSE TO THE GIRL ANSWERING AFTER ME........\n\nI did not say the Watchtower has secret rituals.  My point was that Russell got his NWT translation from a spiritist.  As far as me not having a clue about your organization, well, I have been around long enough to have seen your "infallible governing body" have to backtrack on things they have said many times.  I was a young teenager in 1975, when they proclaimed that Armeggedon was definetely going to happen that year.  I know the organization will tell you that is not true, but I had many Jehovah Witness teenagers hand me tracks and try to convince me it was going to happen before the year was over (I was a freshman in High School at the time).  This is not the only time the Watchtower has missed the mark on this subject.  On the basis of Dueteronomy 18:21-24, the Watchtower, as well as its people (I know they teach that all of its members are prophets of Jehovah) are not to be feared!!\n\nHave you ever thought about why they don't want you to read or listen to anyone outside of Jehovah's organization?  It is because they do not want you to know the truth about their history.  Paul was not offended in Acts 17:10-15, when the Bereans searched the scriptures to see if what he was saying to them was really true.  \n\nI don't know how old you are, but, I challenge you to break outside of the controlled mindset of the Watchtower to do an independent study of the history of the organization you belong to.  They have manipulated many, made false predictions about Armegeddon, and use the control tactics of not letting you listen to anyone else so as that they do not get exposed for who they really are.  I have done this study on your organization, and, if you would like, I would be more then happy to email you my studies.  But, until you can say that you have researched the matter on your own, please do not say that I do not know what I am talking about.
41170
The religion is actually known as "Jehovah's Witnesses".
322160
Scientologist here,\n\nThe fact that Scientology is not in the slightest bit intersted in the\n"media's" usual "let's stir up some scandle, controversy, alarm, rumour\netc. to sell our "product", should demonstrate that what you have "heard" may not be factual. I have no idea who your sources are for this idea about Scientology in the past with regard to negative press.\n\nThere have been some very momentous legal battles won in the past by Scientology, but they have been to preserve religious freedom, and none involved the press.\nThe press also does not print this kind of positive outcome, nor does it promote any other good works accomplished by Scientology.\nIt's what you don't read or find out in the press that actually counts.\nWe do not take it personally since they do this with many individuals and groups. Our viewpoint with regard to the media is that they always howl the loudest when we are expanding and doing the most good.\nSo in a way negative press is an index for us, re our impact and expansion, a compliment. And they are right, Scientology is growing very fast at the moment, considering it is a new religion, only 55 years old infact, we are expanding internationally more than at any other time in our very brief past.\nHaving been a Scientologist for the past 35 years and been through the various "attacks" that have been launched in the past by the media, which were a lot more vicious than the silly stuff that has been printed recently, for me this is a big yawn, actally it is even a bit amusing.\nAs to whether this affects Scientologists in general, Huh! \nWe all have a lot more certainty about what we are doing with and in Scientology to even give this our attention.\nWe are all very busy expanding right now, and have much more important things to give our attention to.\nIf you knew our aims and purpose you would know we still have a lot of work ahead of us.\nDespite "rumours" to the contrary we are very much here to stay!
725565
It is a cult.  This is what Scientologists ACTUALLY believe:\n\nXenu was an alien ruler of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth in spacecrafts resembling Douglas DC-8 airliners, stacked them around volcanoes & blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together & stuck to the bodies of the living. The alien souls continue to do this today, causing a variety of physical ill-effects in modern-day humans. L. Ron Hubbard (a science-fiction writer & the creator of Scientology) called these clustered spirits "Body Thetans," & the advanced levels in Scientology place considerable emphasis on isolating them & neutralizing their ill effects.\n\nTo rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" & also “engrams” (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind) so that we can become “clear”, we have to go through "auditing" with a member of the “church” who uses an "e-meter" to measure our “reactive mind”...... & we have to pay lots & lots & lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions) & to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”.  The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional in everyday life.  They deny the reality of chemical imbalance & profound mental disturbance & accordingly do NOTHING to effectively stabilize the dangerously unstable. The “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from member (with deadly results).\n\nScientology is undeniably a cult. Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members [convincing potential members that they are unhappy & Scientology is the only means of helping themselves]. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. [they label everyone who disagrees or questions as a “Suppressive Person” & requires members to “disconnect” from them] (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & has charisma. [Yes, that would be Hubbard] (4) It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds & recruit people. (5) Its wealth does not benefit its members or society. [self evident proof for 4 & 5 as it does milk members for virtually everything they have & it’s wealth doesn’t find it’s way back to it’s members or society at all]\n\nCults are extremely harmful. To remain within the strict mental & social confines of a cult for even a short time can have the following disastrous effects:\n\nLoss of choice & free will. Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary & sense of humor. Reduced use of irony, abstractions & metaphors. Reduced capacity to form flexible & intimate relationships. Poor judgment. Physical deterioration. Malnutrition. Hallucinations, panic, dissociation, guilt, identity diffusion & paranoia. Neurotic, psychotic or suicidal tendencies.
639259
I think you will find that Jehovah Witnesses would have a view almost exactly like that of Christians. But they are not Christians, and they are identified as a cult because they deny that Jesus is Jehovah incarnate. They make Him out to be a created angel. Since they deny that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they divorce themselves from historic, biblical Christianity. But they would agree that God is good and Satan is evil, that doesn't change. \n\nSomething to be aware of though, Satan is not an equal, negative version of God. Satan was created by God. God made him, and God will judge him. Satan is evil on a short leash. \n\nBut if you want to find out about Jehovah's Witnesses, check out some of the sites that have to deal with their errors on a daily basis:\n\nhttp://www.watchman.org/jwtools.htm\n\nor\n\nhttp://www.macgregorministries.org/jehovahs_witnesses/jehovah_witness_index.html
969931
the church of scientology.
1146090
Don't listen to these people, besides eating & drinking, the next thing is negative answers, which most of them just sit and wait for a ??? like yours.\n\nAsk them "how many became members of your religious organization?" last year.\n\nLast year 2005, 247,631, became Jehovah's Witnesses and everyone of these had to change their minds pertaining to the false teachings that they had been taught, these were people that used their own Bible, King James, etc., 28,384 were from the United States. \n\nAsk them "how many buildings to worship in did you build last year?\n\nDuring the service year, 2,340 Kingdom Halls were completed around the world. This represents an average of 195 halls per month, or just over 6 per day! Since November 1999 when the construction program in lands with limited resources began, 7,730 Kingdom Halls have been built. In many areas, once a hall is finished, meeting attendance soars and halls are soon filled to capacity.\n\nBy the way "lightblue 100" most of what he says is "untrue" "lie" this person just hates Jehovah's Witnesses, which he has a right to do so, or he is one of many "disfellowshipped" who have nothing better to do, but  to talk in a negative way and why? \n\nSome of the offenses that could merit disfellowshipping from the Christian congregation are fornication, adultery, homosexuality, greed, extortion, thievery, lying, drunkenness, reviling, spiritism, murder, idolatry, apostasy, and the causing of divisions in the congregation.\n\nBelieve me, the best thing to happen in your lifetime is this:  Become a Jehovah's Witness and have a future, which they do not, remember what King David said in chapter 37 of Psalms\n\n9 For evildoers themselves will be cut off,\nBut those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.\n\n11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,\nAnd they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.\n\n22 For those being blessed by him will themselves possess the earth,\nBut those upon whom evil is called by him will be cut off.\n\n29 The righteous themselves will possess the earth,\nAnd they will reside forever upon it.\n\n34 Hope in Jehovah and keep his way,\nAnd he will exalt you to take possession of the earth.\nWhen the wicked ones are cut off, you will see [it].\n\n40 And Jehovah will help them and provide them with escape.\nHe will provide them with escape from wicked people and save them,\nBecause they have taken refuge in him.
1145814
No, but I've heard "Reptile" by the Church. Good band.
318126
The originator who is the semi-famous science fiction author "L. Ron Hubbard" started it.  Remember the movie "Battlefield Earth"?  it was based on one of his books.   He has been known to say "If you can create your own religion then you would be rich..."  his Dianetics seems to be a mixture of psuedo freudian pop science. It is a cult.
817397
It doesn't sound like any religion in particular, but it does sound like a utilitarian utopia. Perhaps that helps.
432325
Gawd, why dont people listen???? He's not. I saw the interview where he made that statement. He was being sarcastic because of his scientology beliefs. After he said it, he stated he was joking.
400068
I get pretty cheesed off myself reading all the baloney that gets spewed forth on this forum about Scientology.\nJust between us two I'm also a bit weary answering the same questions about it.\nI must have answered over 100 or more in the last few weeks, trying to put some factual information out, between all the utter nonesense.\nSeems like some folks just use this forum as a garbage dump, instead of sharing any actual, factual knowledge the might have about a subject.\nHaving said all that (and sorry for dumping on you , please don't take it personally)\nScientology is an applied religious philosophy. When I say "applied" I mean you actually use it in your life to change or improve existing conditions. This is different from a religious practice. All religions if you learn about them have a basic philosphy, but they also have certain dogma, rituals and observances, and a certain faith or belief is required. There is nothing wrong with this, but Scientology is not that kind of religion. It does not intrude on anyones faiths of beliefs particularly in the area of God , the Supreme Being, or the Infinite. This area is left totally up to the indivdual, which is why you can be a practicing Jew for example and still use and apply the priniciples of Scientology in your life. It does not conflict. If anything it will enhance your understanding of your chosen religious practice.\nAnd it is only true for you according to your own observation and experience with it.\n\nThe most basic principle of Scientology is that YOU are your own immortal soul, that this is not a "thing" you HAVE but what YOU actually are.\nThe whole purpose of Scientology is to increase an individual's understanding and awareness of himself. And thereby his native abilities .\nWhen you do this the spere and zone of his positive influence increases and moves outward into his life, his family ,his friends, his groups and mankind which he is part of.\n\nHow this result is achieved is the "technology" of Scientology, which was developed by L.Ron Hubbard after his extensive research and the discoveries he made, about the human spirit.\n\nHe published a book in 1951 to communicate the basic principles he discovered called: " Scientology The Fundementals of Thought"\nThis is a MUCH easier read than Dianetics, (only about 100 pages instead of over 500) Dianetics does not explain Scientology since it preceded it and was first published in 1950.\n\nNow I know there have been some complaints that I keep telling people to read this book. I understand that some people just don't read books, or find reading difficult, but honestly the explanation and introduction to the subject is fully contained in this book. And you can apply it's principles right away, for yourself.\nThat way you can actually experience what it is for yourself. Then maybe you can help me to answer these questions !@!!*!!\nBecause then you will KNOW.
531558
Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult.\n\nThey are told to avoid contact with non believers (even family)\n\nRe-wrote the Bible to reflect their teachings\n\nConstantly re-write their teachings and beliefs in their own publications.  Some of their old publications TOTALLY contradict what they teach now !  \n\nThey have predicted (wrongly) the end of the world on several dates.  (1914, 1975, etc.)\n\nThey forbid their members from reading, watching, listening to anything that may contradict their current beliefs and even tell them not to speak to former friends and relative who have left the church, even if they have not been accused of any wrongdoing...they just left the JW's thats it.\n\nThey believe that they are the only true religion and that their loving god will kill everyone who is not a JW at some point in the near future.  Women, children, even those that never heard of the JW's...dead.\n\nThey also fail to properly report accused pedophiles within their organization to Law Enforcement authorities because it may "bring reproach on jehovah's name".\n\nI was a JW for 20+ years and even though I was never accused of wrongdoing and never disfellowshipped by the organization...I am shunned simply because I left the church.  As a former member....they are a cult and I am happy to have escaped.
767364
Exactly.  It is a CULT. Despite what a few fanatical members may say, it IS a cult. The church harasses & bullies anyone who they deem an "enemy" (basically anyone who has anything negative to say about the "church"). They will RUIN YOUR LIFE if you speak out against them long enough.\n\nThe founder is L. Ron Hubbard, the science FICTION writer who once told a friend that the best way to make lots of money is to start your own religion. Though being a very outspoken critic of psychiatric drugs, it was discovered upon Hubbards death that the anti-anxiety drug hydroxyzine (Vistaril) was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric & pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years.\n\nScientologists believe the evil alien ruler Xenu killed a lot of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by bringing them to earth & blowing them up inside volcanoes. They believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") have attached themselves to us & cause many of our mental & physical ills. Even members of the Church of Scientology who know of Xenu will publicly deny the existence of Xenu & Body Thetans, or attempt to minimize their importance. Scientology has many graduated levels through which one can progress. Many who remain at lower levels in the church are unaware of much of the these doctrines, which mostly begin at Operating Thetan level three, or "OT III". Because the information imparted to members is to be kept secret from others who have not attained that level, the member must publicly deny its existence when asked. OT III recipients must sign a waiver promising never to reveal its secrets before they are given the manila envelope containing the Xenu knowledge.\n\nTo rid ourselves of "Body Thetans" & also “engrams” (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind) so that we can become “clear”, we have to go through "auditing" with a member of the “church” who uses an "e-meter" to measure our “reactive mind”...... & we have to pay lots & lots of money for “auditing” (purchased in 12.5-hour blocks, costing anywhere from $750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 & $9,000 for advanced sessions) & to take courses on Scientology to advance to higher “levels” in the “church”. The “church” has also taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry & psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional in everyday life. They deny the reality of chemical imbalance & profound mental disturbance & accordingly do NOTHING to effectively stabilize the dangerously unstable. The “church” has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from member (with deadly results).\n\nScientology is undeniably a cult. For more information on what a cult is & what their damaging effects are, please visit the link provided at the bottom of the sources. Just know that Scientology DOES qualify by meeting these 5 criteria:\n\n(1) It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate & retain its members. (2) It forms an elitist totalitarian society. (3) Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable & has charisma. (4) It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds & recruit people. (5) Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.
1183239
Hi Bethany,\n\nI am glad you are researching into it...I have had a lot of time for my own reasons to look into scientology and have found some rather worrying stuff on the subject.  I urge you to do a lot of research at not only the scientology sites and from his books but also from critical sites and the evidence they present, as well as there opinion.  These critical sites are often run by or added to by ex-members who have spent, often decades in scientology before realising the true nature behind it.  There are many philosophies, activities and help groups you can go to that do not involve money, that do work, and are not highly disputed by individuals, ex-members, scientists, governments & all the families whose loved ones have disconnected from them.\n\nIt is not endorsed by the mainstream scientific community and infact has many ideas and theories which have been flat out rejected.  He also did not do any of the research he claims to have done, or at least all the evidence of it mysteriously vanished.\n\nAre you aware that Hubbard thought that religions are an implant (R6 implant that forms the basis of your reactive mind)\nhttp://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/xenu\n\nYou are right to suspect of the Church of Scientology as a cult and that it exhibits less than desirable actions, such as all these court transcripts, or Operation Snowflake, or the way it hounds its critics...\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/CourtFiles/\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/judge_quotes.html\nhttp://www.daisy.freeserve.co.uk/bonniewoods.htm\nhttp://www.scientology-lies.com/investigation.html\n\nHere is a paper presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, November, 1991\nhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/kent/isc.html\n\nAlso see this Govt. Report:\nhttp://www.xenu.net/archive/audit/fosthome.html\n\nHere is an info pack on what scientology might not tell you, written mainly by ex-members:\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/infopack/\n\nHere is something that explains their practices\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/techniques/\n\nYou might also like to read these accounts by ex-members:\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/books/apobs/\nhttp://www.clambake.org/archive/books/isd/isd.htm\nhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/xenu/xenu.html\n\nPlease review the following sites as well as any you might have read given to you by the Church of Scientology.\n\nhttp://www.xenu.net\nhttp://www.factnet.org\nhttp://www.truthaboutscientology.com\nhttp://www.scientology-lies.com\nhttp://www.lermanet.com\nhttp://www.xenutv.com\n\nIf you still want to follow Hubbards Teaching pls do so in the FreeZone not the CofS.  It is much cheaper, original tech, and without the cult thing.\n\nhttp://www.fzaoint.net     \nhttp://www.fza.org     \nhttp://www.freezone.org\n\nAnd just to be fair here is the Official site for the Church of Scientology:\nhttp://www.scientology.org\n\nPlease do the reading and make an informed decision, I wish you all the best for the future no matter what decision you make.
7365
Scientologists are either the believers, or those old hands who realize it's a scam and they are in it to fleece the newcomers. The believers are not insane in the sense that they are "crazy", "psychotic" or whatever. They are desperate for answers to questions that have begged for answers for millenia. Most of these questions boil down to, "Why does life hurt sometimes?" or "Why am I here?". They see a few nuggets of common sense in Scientology, and being desperate for answers, they get conned into accepting the whole load of faulty thinking that comprised L. Ron's philosophy on life. Then they get conned into the space-aliens-as-gods thing or whatever weird nonsense Scientology says to its members. So, yes- I think lots of them are kinda brainwashed, and for the vast majority of Scientologists it's not insanity that gets them to embrace the e-meter.