Take That Scientology!

[Quineloe]

Originally Posted by Luthair

Actually, there are sects within the Catholic church which do try and cut their members off from outsiders. I can't recall the name of it at the moment.

There's a difference between the catholic church and sects that pretend to be part of the catholic church

[Hachima]

Originally Posted by Quineloe

There's a difference between the catholic church and sects that pretend to be part of the catholic church

That's the definition of a sect...so yeah?

[Neferata]

Originally Posted by Occido

I can't help but laugh my ass off every time a religious discussion pops up and see SO many people have strong opinions over issues they know nothing about.

GG, ignorance.

Are you referring to me with this? Because if you are, this would be the 2nd time you've made this claim about me and backed it up with nothing. Either way, please enlighten us or get the fuck out.

[Himeo]

Cult, man I'm getting sick of hearing that word. It's the only slander religious faggots can toss at other religious queers that aren't as popular as them. GG you're both homosexual.

Why the fuck do people still believe in religion?

[OneofOne]

Originally Posted by Himeo

Cult, man I'm getting sick of hearing that word. It's the only slander religious faggots can toss at other religious queers that aren't as popular as them. GG you're both homosexual.

Why the fuck do people still believe in religion?

Because to a lot of people the world is a big scary place. They look to others to help them though life by giving them guidelines to follow and a framework to live within. They need reasons why good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. And finally they need to know that there is a reward for actually living a good life (there rarely is) and that those who are evil will be justly punished (they usually aren't).

It's a big giant case of cognitive dissonance on a global scale.

[Zaniel]

Originally Posted by Himeo

Why the fuck do people still believe in religion?

Why do people watch WWF? Why do people smoke cigarettes? Why do people still use Realplayer?

Does the fact that peoples' brains and whole cultural groupings operate in a variety of good/bad ways really need to be explained to you? Aren't you one of these clear-thinking non-religious types who really already knows the answer to his own question?

[Occido]

Originally Posted by Neferata

Are you referring to me with this? Because if you are, this would be the 2nd time you've made this claim about me and backed it up with nothing. Either way, please enlighten us or get the fuck out.

Really.... are you honestly telling me that you sit there behind your keyboard and monitor and think people owe you an explaination or to justify a claim?

If you want to take my comment personally.. then fine, it's your problem not mine. So go ahead and sit there in your basement and rage all you want. Don't mean a god damn thing to me. Your opinion means less than dick to me anyway and always will.

[Neferata]

Really.... are you honestly telling me that you sit there behind your keyboard and monitor and think people owe you an explaination or to justify a claim?

Hmm, let me think about this for a moment.... How about yes, you gigantic, fucking idiot? If you're not going to give one, that's fine. We'll just continue to assume you're a dipshit. "Hey guys you're all wrong and dumb but I'm not going to explain why ok peace out bros bye lol." - You

Why do you even have posting privileges? This isn't church. You can't just say shit, back it up with nothing, and expect people to believe you. It's OK though, we both know you'd do no better than Dumar or Suineg in these threads.

[Kaio]

Originally Posted by Quineloe

They don't charge anything. You might want to familiarize yourself with the difference between donations and charges.

Charge was a bad word to use there, I admit. Didn't realize I caused a massive uproar with some poorly chosen words.

Anyway I don't want to get into any specifics because the subject is far too large but I'm sure everyone can find evidence of big religions like Christianity, Islam, etc. obtaining much more money then what is used solely for the people. It is a donation based business model and what they obtain isn't always exorbitant or improperly spent but it's still done.

Scientology is far more blatant and it's effect is more concentrated. Overall it's effect is but a small foot print when compared to Christianity. However, I believe it should be stomped out of society if at all possible. It's basic mythology is absolutely retarded by modern standards. Back during the time of Jesus people actually believed in shit like Messiahs (there were a dime a dozen back then too). One would hope we could get rid of this plague on society while it's young but I don't think it will work.

Modern society has it's share of retarded people in it (and in high places) so scientology will still linger. Until the vast majority of this nation becomes non-religious, people will always believe in stupid shit like this.

Oppressing and ridiculing didn't seem to work in the past with religions so I don't think it will work now. Instead it increases the fervor of religious zealots as they perform incredible feats of mental gymnastics in their minds while dealing with any external hardships.

I think the best thing to do is just ignore it and concentrate on improving education and understanding of logic, science, etc for society as a whole. Most of the first world is increasing becoming non-religious. There is no quick fix with Scientology or any of the more major religions/cults/whatever the fuck you guys want to call it.

[Aulirophile]

re: The cult issue, I was always a fan of L. Sprague DeCamp's definition. Religion is something you're born into, a Cult is something you join by choice. So if you're born into Protestantism and become a Catholic by choice, Catholicism is a Cult, for you. All Religions, therefore, start out as Cults.

It raises a distinction I feel is rather important. Someone born into a given Religion, goes to that Church, all the people he knows growing up goes to that Church, they have a similar cultural background to some degree. There isn't anything odd in him continuing to go every Sunday, have his kids in the Church, etc., he doesn't even really need to espouse the Churches beliefs, it could be part of being a "member in good standing of the local community" or any number of other reasons.

Someone breaking away from that influence, social, cultural, and economic (if you've ever gone to a Church regularly you no doubt know what I mean by economic), because of a new, sincere belief in a different system arrived at by some life event, meditation, what have you, deserves some sort of distinction.

[Occido]

Originally Posted by Neferata

Hmm, let me think about this for a moment.... How about yes, you gigantic, fucking idiot? If you're not going to give one, that's fine. We'll just continue to assume you're a dipshit. "Hey guys you're all wrong and dumb but I'm not going to explain why ok peace out bros bye lol." - You

Why do you even have posting privileges? This isn't church. You can't just say shit, back it up with nothing, and expect people to believe you. It's OK though, we both know you'd do no better than Dumar or Suineg in these threads.

Again, your opinion means jack shit. Feel free to rage all you want. I don't have to back a fucking thing up, the fact you feel the need to justify your bullshit claims only proves how little you know of any religion or non-religion.
The fact that you waste your fucking time arguing the point is just amusing.

I even find it amusing that you actually care enough about any of it, anyway. Who really gives a fuck if Scientologists are or aren't a religion or cult. Who gives a fuck if LDS is a religion or a cult.
Only reasons I can come up with why you're willing to argue the point and be a giant cocksucker about it is because..

Besides, only reason people start up religious threads is to see extremist cunts like yourself get all riled up over dumb shit.

A) You're actually scared that some religion out there is right and you're too much of a fucking coward and pussy to admit it. So you hide behind bullshit.

or

B) You're just trolling and like to argue points you don't really know anything about. Only going off heresy and other people's opinions and making them your own.

So you and your genetically fucked up family can go slowly roast in a car fire.

Besides, only reason people start up threads like this is to see extremist cunts like yourself get all riled up over dumb shit.

[Snugglebear]

Anyone start seeing Scientology commercials all over the television? I've seen 3 or 4 in the past 2 days.

[blizzak]

Yeah, the Scilons have been getting their asses kicked online and this is one of the few options they have for advertisement. They regged the shit out of folks for the cash to do this and I can't see them paying for the commercials to run for long. The angry dwarf has to be seen as doing something to expand scientology and since he won't come out publicly to speak. this is best option I guess.

[Gauss]

Anyone start seeing Scientology commercials all over the television? I've seen 3 or 4 in the past 2 days.

Been seeing them for awhile. Then again I lived in Clearwater, FL for 18 years.

[Vatoreus]

Uh oh, pissed of someone who's in LDS! Sorry, but the way LDS was started, was a big fucking scam.

"Hey! An angel told me how Jesus came to America and we had ancient battles and shit, but all the proof disappeared! Also, he showed me some golden plates that only I can read and translate!! TRUTH I SWEAR!"