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→Religion or cult?: Religion. and many of those points are misinformation and probably can not be substantiated
An old joke says "A cult is what a big religion calls a small one." But in this case, I think there are a few reasons to consider it a cult:
An old joke says "A cult is what a big religion calls a small one." But in this case, I think there are a few reasons to consider it a cult:
# Absolutly crazy beliefs.
# Absolutly crazy beliefs.
** There are few if any beliefs in Scientology. To say there are crazy beliefs is to apply misinformation that does not appear within Scientology.[[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# Accusations of brainwashing techniques, with court cases to back them up.
# Accusations of brainwashing techniques, with court cases to back them up.
** If that is so (I doubt it very much), please present the data. [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# Pseudoscientific 'Dianetics' theory and complete self-contained worldview serves to isolate members.
# Pseudoscientific 'Dianetics' theory and complete self-contained worldview serves to isolate members.
** If "pseudoscientific" is to be recognized, it would need a source much better than an uneducated person. Present the information. [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# A heavy element of a cult of personality - Ron Hubbard is revered.
# A heavy element of a cult of personality - Ron Hubbard is revered.
** Again, misinformation. Hubbard is widely respected, but not just by scientologists. He often said he was "just a man", Scientology does not worship or consider he was anything but a man.[[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# Founder was a professional fiction author... and his 'religion' seems much the science-fiction he wrote.
# Founder was a professional fiction author... and his 'religion' seems much the science-fiction he wrote.
** Good of you to offer your opinion, In 1950 Hubbard was best known for his Science Fiction. Millions of words later, in different subjects, he was known for other writings. [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# Members are strongly pressured to convert others.
# Members are strongly pressured to convert others.
** Again, misinformation. Not especially. However, should you 'just happen' to hang around a Church, certainly people are going to talk to you about what they are doing. [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# A central controling organisation with exclusive authority.
# A central controling organisation with exclusive authority.
** Good idea that, a practice every successful business on the planet practices, no ? [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
# A long series of certifications and tests for members, each of which requires payment. Lots of payment.
# A long series of certifications and tests for members, each of which requires payment. Lots of payment.
** My experience has been very very different from what you just stated. If you ahve such data, by all means bring it forth. [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
All of these are cultlike aspects. Each of them alone would not be enough to call it a cult, but taken together... It sounds like a cult to me. And, really, if scientology had only a couple of hundred members, it would certinly be called a cult. Should mere scale allow it to turn somehow into a real religion?
All of these are cultlike aspects. Each of them alone would not be enough to call it a cult, but taken together... It sounds like a cult to me. And, really, if scientology had only a couple of hundred members, it would certinly be called a cult. Should mere scale allow it to turn somehow into a real religion?
Its a cult. Does anyone have a reason why it ''isn't'' a cult? If not, I will put the contriversial word in later :)
Its a cult. Does anyone have a reason why it ''isn't'' a cult? If not, I will put the contriversial word in later :)
** It is not a cult. Probably no, but certainly few Scholars in the area of religion would say so. They would apply a 5 or 7 item rule and see if Scientology fulfilled the criteria for religion. Many have and have found that it does. Would you like some links to professional opinions? [[User:Terryeo|Terryeo]] 22:23, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
::If you want to add that you will need a source for it, what source are you planning on using? [[User:Tmtoulouse|Tmtoulouse]] 20:31, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
::If you want to add that you will need a source for it, what source are you planning on using? [[User:Tmtoulouse|Tmtoulouse]] 20:31, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
:::: Christianity is too broad to classify as a whole. Different denominations have all of those, but not Christianity as a whole. Scientology though has no internal divisions, its all unified. Besides, is there any better definition for a cult than the self-referential 'cult-like organisation'? I think Scientology is cultlike enough to deserve the term. So lets use it, not shy away for fear of insulting. Thats a liberal thing. - BornAgainBrit
:::: Christianity is too broad to classify as a whole. Different denominations have all of those, but not Christianity as a whole. Scientology though has no internal divisions, its all unified. Besides, is there any better definition for a cult than the self-referential 'cult-like organisation'? I think Scientology is cultlike enough to deserve the term. So lets use it, not shy away for fear of insulting. Thats a liberal thing. - BornAgainBrit
== History of the word ==
== History of the word ==