Scientology - religion or business? You decide! (America, mission, churches)

[Sonic247]

L. Ron Hubbard once said, "the quickest way to make a million dollars is to start a religion" like a year later that's what he did.

[neves]

Any religious organization that has a secret code, to any degree, to endorse… or a secret society, in any degree, for you to be a component of… automatically makes me question its authenticity…

[Sonic247]

That's true, I think the more out in the open a religion is the better. All kinds of weird stuff goes on behind closed doors.

[exit_and_how]

thinking that it is relevant to make known the findings of the Charity Commission of the United Kingdon in 1999...

(here's two small excerpts from http://www.antisectes.net/charityfull.htm where the report has been highlighted from the original report which can be found at http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/cosfulldoc.pdf)...

(a) Scientology is not a religion for the purposes of English charity law....

...
The Commissioners concluded that it could not be said that CoS had demonstrated
that it was established for the public benefit so as to satisfy the legal test of public
benefit of a charitable purpose for the advancement of religion or for the moral or
spiritual welfare or improvement of the community.

with all due respect, Sonic247, i think that the Masonites hold secrets and yet they are not considered dangerous or cultish as many in this forum seem to believe of CoS.

[Alan Young]

Most religions are a business in my opinion if you are a religious leader or you are what you would call a person whom instructs people in how to there lives day by day when they call upon you for help with there problems. They would not need payment for that and if you helped them then you can teach them to help others as you helped them and if you where a good teacher then you could teach them to help others as individuals and as a part of a team not as a religion your religion is only your refference and guidance not a symbol or something to idolise but something to follow and teach to others so that they can understand what you have learned....

[Sonic247]

Originally Posted by jkdenm

with all due respect, Sonic247, i think that the Masonites hold secrets and yet they are not considered dangerous or cultish as many in this forum seem to believe of CoS.

I think there are to sides to the masons and that the majority of the people are not in it that deeply. But you have to take an oath even to join and it is against the Bible to take oaths like that so right away that's a red flag. Jesus would teach outside in public which is one of the great things about him, he was available to everyone.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by Sonic247

I think there are to sides to the masons and that the majority of the people are not in it that deeply. But you have to take an oath even to join and it is against the Bible to take oaths like that so right away that's a red flag. Jesus would teach outside in public which is one of the great things about him, he was available to everyone.

The masons are not nor ever have claimed to be a religion.
Though it does pass the test of being a charity in the UK..

A society with secrets yes, but not a religion.

Oath taking is the norm when Joining Governments, services, police, medicine etc.

[Panda]

I thought masons was just an excuse to go and get drunk :S

[MaddLlama]

Originally Posted by neves

Any religious organization that has a secret code, to any degree, to endorse… or a secret society, in any degree, for you to be a component of… automatically makes me question its authenticity…

I'm not so sure about that. There are religions out there that have secrets, and that doesn't automatically make them invalid or inauthentic.

However, I do think it's appropriate to question the authenticity of a religion that makes you pay to be a member. And, I'm not talking about tithing or charitable donations. Membership dues to a religion? I don't think so...