Originally posted by: shira
Originally posted by: LunarRay
Originally posted by: GZeus
Originally posted by: shira
Do a little reading on the subject and you will. In a nutshell, Scientology charges its adherents hundreds of dollars an hour for "religious processes" that are in essence revelations of the details of a vast science fiction story written by its founder L. Ron Hubbard (now deceased). That money is used to fund an army of lawyers who attack without mercy any individual or organization that opposes Scientology.Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I have no quarrel with Scientology
I am not making this up.
Shira,
It was I who, made that statement. I am aware of the tactics and methods of The Church of Scientology and share the criticisms you expressed.
What I meant to say, but poorly expressed, is that I have no quarrel with individuals who chose that as their philosophical or theological structure. I believe in a completely free choice for individuals. The same could be said of other theologies. I disagree with them, but believe strongly that the individual can adopt any of them if they believe it provides them insight and peace. However, I will also condemn any that propose that they are the 'one' truth to the exclusion of all others.
I regretted the phrasing when I re-read it later. I hope that clarifies my view.
I address the salient part (IMO) of this post..
How do you expect someone.. anyone to adhere to a religion or other 'structure' and not believe that their's is the truth.. and that all the rest are not.. unless the rest are so similar as to make a distinction with out a difference. It seems to me that most belief center on this fundemental issue. Then proclaiming from the roof top that all non believers are heretic.. (religion) or completely looney. Should we not expect that reality.. that each 'knows' their's is the truth and no other truth exists...
If one is an agnostic in the true sense of the word, then one can be an adherent to a particular and distinct belief system without feeling the need to label competing belief systems nonsense.
Thems is rare agnostics I fear.