Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

Tom Cruise and Katie have been in the news alot lately and we currently have a thread under current events regarding this subject. I have to admit I do not know too much about scientology, therefore it is easy for me too make judgements. I would be interested in hearing more if anyone has any info. Is scientology just a belief system or is it a religion? Do they pray to a god? Everything they talk about on the news seems a bit crazy to me, but again I do not know much about it. It does seem more like a cult than a religion. Any insight would be great.

http://www.scientology.org/

To aid in our quest to understand ... this is the official church of scientology site.

I guess we'll look to Tara to tell us officially whether this discussion belongs in the spirituality forum or not. I personally, do not feel it is a religion but more a belief system...however, some do consider it religion. Tough call for ya here Tara. For the record, I'll understand whichever choice you make.

I would like to ask that if we have any members who are scientologists, please come forward and explain it to us.

I think it can't possibly do any harm here in spirituality, but it is being discussed fairly intensely elsewhere and maybe it needs to be restricted to here.

QUOTE:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fishers of men; Oil on panel by Adriaen van de Venne (1614)Religion (see etymology below) —sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions and rituals associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind's relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken many forms in various cultures and individuals. Occasionally, the word "religion" is used to designate what should be more properly described as "organized religion" – that is, an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion, often taking the form of a legal entity (see religion-supporting organization).

QUOTE:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article does not discuss "cult" in its original sense of "religious practice"; for that usage see Cult (religion). See Cult (disambiguation) for more meanings of the term "cult".
In religion and sociology, a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and new religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. Its marginal status may come about either due to its novel belief system or because of its idiosyncratic practices.

However, in common usage, "cult" has a negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group by its opponents, for a variety of possible reasons.

It does fit the definitions for both religion and cult.

Buddhism is a relgion that doesn't have a higher power or "god" that people pray to or worship.

Technically Scientology is a "religion". I think it's a dangerous one made of up a lot of brain washing. They have also been able to have it classified as church too in order to receive tax breaks.

The more I learn about Scientology the more it scares me.