well you see, the thing is.
It is not a religion. That is proven legal fact. It is not a charity having been refused this status in many countries ( they crave this status to avoid the countless IRS cases filed against them ). It is a business that chooses to make its money from hypnosis and suggestion to bleed its lower tier members of their cash and labour so that the upper tiers can live like kings.
This is the CHURCH of scientology I refer to and not the practice of scientology which is followed by others such as the freezoners and Ronsorg who although misguided are not human rights abusing cults.
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:00, archived)

so its a pyramid scheme?
with a bizarre sales pitch
(Ragman Zarti is from outer space., Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:03, archived)

that about sums it up
in the meantime, they have an army of lawyers to shut up anyone that disagrees. But hey - "Free Personality Analysis!"
( Art101 You all have an unhealthy and morbid fascination, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:05, archived)

What proven legal fact do you refer to?

(_Felix är det verkligt så?, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:04, archived)

Look up what religion means.
Scientology is not one.

Equally Buddhism is not a religion.
( Pedantichrist http://havingapoo.blogspot.com, vasectomy pictures, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:06, archived)

religion= a set of beliefs and practices
they believe in xenu & thetans
they practice a pretty wide range of "non standard" stuff, like not making a noise during child-birth.
( gfreeman http://twiglet.myminicity.com/, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:10, archived)

No, religion involves divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshipped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe
Otherwise everyone would be religious as everyone holds a set of beliefs.
( Pedantichrist http://havingapoo.blogspot.com, vasectomy pictures, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:12, archived)

you can 'religiously' follow a sports team
if it forms a major part of your lifestyle. No superhuman powers there.
You're thinking of theism, which is a form of religion.
( gfreeman http://twiglet.myminicity.com/, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:15, archived)

Theism is the belief in a God,
but you will find that the British and US Legal definitions of religion include a Deity or Supernatural power.

TCOS Believe in a supernatural entity, but he is a ghost figure, not a creator.

Scientology is therefore not a religion.

One cannot religiously follow a sports team unless one actually believes . . . wewll, you know.

It is merely a figure of speech.
( Pedantichrist http://havingapoo.blogspot.com, vasectomy pictures, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:17, archived)

careful now - what US legal definition are you referencing?
Federal? State? (which ones?)
TCOS is a tax-exempt non-profit organisation in the US, and the US State dept does not look kindly on European "religious discrimination" of US citizens [ www.uscirf.gov ]

This is all getting silly (as in, not silly and far too serious for b3ta).

*belms*
( gfreeman http://twiglet.myminicity.com/, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:27, archived)

no you can't.
you can have someone use religion as an adjective to describe the intensity of your passion for football as religious. You can't actually be religious about it de facto,. Unless of course you want to start a religion. Manchester United is already mine.
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:19, archived)

there is no
requirement to have a belief in deity. That pretty much counts out religion. However I don't really care, because religion is just another cult for the weak and the sheep.
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:13, archived)

I am neither weak nor a sheep.
I feel that there are plenty of sheep in atheism as well.

I personal both question my beliefs and consider nobody else's beliefs to be 'wrong' as I cannot know anything.

And,conveniently, it is time I went to church.

Cheerio B3ta, back around 9ish.
( Pedantichrist http://havingapoo.blogspot.com, vasectomy pictures, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:15, archived)

off you bleat
little sheep.
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:17, archived)

*leaves*

( Pedantichrist http://havingapoo.blogspot.com, vasectomy pictures, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:18, archived)

*agrees*
though i do love roast lamb and mint sauce
( gfreeman http://twiglet.myminicity.com/, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:15, archived)

Also "Losing My" isn't one either
Even though Michael Stipe told us otherwise.
( Dixon has left the building, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:10, archived)

The cunt!

( Pedantichrist http://havingapoo.blogspot.com, vasectomy pictures, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:14, archived)

Blimey, those facelifts have really done the trick!

( Dixon has left the building, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:16, archived)

It would take me some time to find again
but I have spent a fascinating day reading all about scientology and that included a lot of legal papers and affidavits. They went to court to be given legal status as a religion. It was refused on the grounds that they are a commercial enterprise or similar.
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:11, archived)

Oh, OK.
I read that they succeeded in the end, and are tax-free in the US.
(_Felix är det verkligt så?, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:14, archived)

My understanding is that it is not the case
but I'm not going to call anyone a liar over it.
If you would like a serious insight into this 'religion' and it's practice I would hope you could take the time to read this.
www.xs4all.nl/~fishman/ls/indexls.html
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:22, archived)

Quite a lot of the stories I've read about scientology so far
seem a bit too interesting to quite ring true.
(_Felix är det verkligt så?, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:34, archived)

this whole story was
corroborated by an ex Cos Staff ( on Hubbard's and later DM's staff ) giving evidence against in court when the last lot went to jail ( sorry I'm vague but I have read the original court documents today just would take me ages to find them again )
( Pasanonic was born in vault 101, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:49, archived)

yers ... but what's legal in one country might not be ok in another

( gfreeman http://twiglet.myminicity.com/, Thu 14 Feb 2008, 19:17, archived)