NationStates Jolt Archive

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.

First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question. Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.

Both groups hate homosexuals.

Both groups claim to promote "morality".

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.


The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.

Computerology...Computeralagy...Computerology...Computerology...

I don't find Christianity to be controling or confusing...also, I don't hate anyone, Jesus said to love people.

I don't find Christianity to be controling or confusing...also, I don't hate anyone, Jesus said to love people.
You UNDERSTOOD the bibile. Most people aren't as smart as you.

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.

Of course. Christianity is the Truth and Scientology is the perversion of it. (Half sarcasm)

First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question. Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".

Paradox /=/ Contradictory. There are many paradoxes in Christianity. I challenge you to give me one "contradiction" which cannot be reveled as a paradox.

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.

Which in Christianity is used to cover Church costs and then for missions. No one is getting rich. Of course, there are always those who take advantage of the system, but they are individuals, not the system itself.

Both groups hate homosexuals.

Love the sinner, hate the sin.

Both groups claim to promote "morality".

Why would anyone promote immorality?

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Well obviously you're wrong, because there are a lot of free thinking individuals who believe both. You might disagree, but don't insult their intelligence.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".

And? That happens with everyone: Mormons, Muslims, Jews, etc.

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.

Disagree. Don't insult. You have no evidence that Jesus was insane.

The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.

How about differences? I have a lot of those.

Most religions claim to promote morality, have odd creation tales, arguing splinter factions, and crazy founders. All of these points are common throughout several religions, not just Christianity and Scientology.

And? That happens with everyone: Mormons, Muslims, Jews, etc.


Star Trek fans..... Spiderman fans..... etc. ;)

If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.
How 'bout you come up with some similarities in the first place?

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.


It's true about most religions, except for some obscure small details.

I don't find Christianity to be controling or confusing...also, I don't hate anyone, Jesus said to love people.

Actually, check your Bible.

"If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
-Jesus (Luke 14:26)

Star Trek fans..... Spiderman fans..... etc. ;)

Yeah, you get the idea.

Actually, check your Bible.

"If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
-Jesus (Luke 14:26)

Common literary technique: hyperbole.

You are not to truly hate anyone. But compared to how much you are to love God (which means Jesus, too) it should be as if you hate everyone in comparison.

The morality claim amuses me, especially when people state that their religion makes them more moral than atheists (an argument I've heard often).

http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=219&article=7

Religion causes a higher crime rate? Perhaps.

"There is evidence that within the U.S. strong disparities in religious belief versus acceptance of evolution are correlated with similarly varying rates of societal dysfunction, the strongly theistic, anti-evolution south and mid-west having markedly worse homicide, mortality, STD, youth pregnancy, marital and related problems than the northeast where societal conditions, secularization, and acceptance of evolution approach European norms" (see above article)

Common literary technique: hyperbole.

You are not to truly hate anyone. But compared to how much you are to love God (which means Jesus, too) it should be as if you hate everyone in comparison.

Riiiight. Isn't it possible, just possible, that the bible was written by many, completely unconnected people either in order to gain power or because of their delusions? That would explain the many, many contradictions, evil acts perpetrated by god, complete nonsense, etc, etc.

Isn't it possible, just possible, that since the OP hit and run this is a troll?

Isn't it possible, just possible, that since the OP hit and run this is a troll?
But that would inject logic and reason into this fun and pointless battle about Christianity... :D

Isn't it possible, just possible, that since the OP hit and run this is a troll?

If you're referring to me, I apologise for my perhaps overly confrontational tone, but my point stands.

Paradox /=/ Contradictory. There are many paradoxes in Christianity. I challenge you to give me one "contradiction" which cannot be reveled as a paradox.


So Joseph (Jesus's dad, not technicolor dreamcoat) having two fathers is some sort of paradox?

The morality claim amuses me, especially when people state that their religion makes them more moral than atheists (an argument I've heard often).

http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=219&article=7

Religion causes a higher crime rate? Perhaps.

"There is evidence that within the U.S. strong disparities in religious belief versus acceptance of evolution are correlated with similarly varying rates of societal dysfunction, the strongly theistic, anti-evolution south and mid-west having markedly worse homicide, mortality, STD, youth pregnancy, marital and related problems than the northeast where societal conditions, secularization, and acceptance of evolution approach European norms" (see above article)

This article does not sufficiently explain how it came to the conclusion that it did. Most Christians, in the United States at least, are very secularized in their reasoning, not just explaining everything as "God did it", like the article seems to assume.

All believers learn that God holds them responsible for their actions. So far so good, but for many, belief absolves them of all other responsibilities. Consciously or subconsciously, those who are "born again" or "chosen" have diminished respect for others who do not share their sect or their faith. Convinced that only the Bible offers "truth", they lose their intellectual curiosity and their ability to reason. Their priority becomes not the world they live in but themselves.

So how does this explain the enormous amount of activity that churches have in community services? Every church group I have seen has weekly donations and volunteer groups. Chrisitians are not any more selfish than other religious or atheist groups. The article also blames religion on the gun laws and failures of the healthcare system, while giving no reasoning behind these statements other than the already mentioned selfishness of religion, which simply is not true. The only thing that this article may have right is that the promoting of abstinence in the U.S. is because of religion. It should be noted, though, that abstinence is advocated even by many atheists in the U.S.

Which in Christianity is used to cover Church costs and then for missions. No one is getting rich. Of course, there are always those who take advantage of the system, but they are individuals, not the system itself.
The Vatican seems to be doing alright for itself.


You have no evidence that Jesus was insane.
And you have no evidence that there is a higher power, that the universe was created in a week, that a man named Jesus ever healed anyone, etc, etc, but at least questioning Jesus' sanity doesn't violate the laws of Physics.

This article does not sufficiently explain how it came to the conclusion that it did. Most Christians, in the United States at least, are very secularized in their reasoning, not just explaining everything as "God did it", like the article seems to assume.
Yeah, the article is hardly perfect- it is afterall a biased source. Try reading the study (http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html).
Also, do you have any evidence that "Most Christians, in the United States at least, are very secularized in their reasoning"?


So how does this explain the enormous amount of activity that churches have in community services? Every church group I have seen has weekly donations and volunteer groups. Chrisitians are not any more selfish than other religious or atheist groups. The article also blames religion on the gun laws and failures of the healthcare system, while giving no reasoning behind these statements other than the already mentioned selfishness of religion, which simply is not true. The only thing that this article may have right is that the promoting of abstinence in the U.S. is because of religion. It should be noted, though, that abstinence is advocated even by many atheists in the U.S.
Again, read the study itself.

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.

First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question. Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.

Both groups hate homosexuals.

Both groups claim to promote "morality".

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.


The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.

Every religion (or lack thereof) could be considered "controlling." If you think the Bible is contradictory, you evidently haven't understood it at all.

Tithing isn't in the Bible. It was invented by beaurocrats, calling themselves Christians, in order to steal money from uneducated people.

Christians. Don't. Hate. Homosexuals. (at least no person following the Bible correctly)

Morality is bad huh? Well... why don't you ban all rules while you're at it?

Creation tales are rediculous? I don't know... they make about as much sense as a bunch of ooze deciding to become smart for no apparent reason.

In case you haven't noticed, every group (religious or not) has splinter groups that try to decredit the original. Must be human nature or something.

Jesus insane? Maybe, but if he was, sucks to be us! All of humanity is screwed!

The link to the original study isn't working for me.

Also, do you have any evidence that "Most Christians, in the United States at least, are very secularized in their reasoning"?

I do not have data to back up this point, but it is obvious from personal experience. Only the very fanatical fringes reject scientific discoveries. Before the 1940's, more people in the United States believed in evolution than any other country. Religion is usually consulted only for personal or emotional issues. Most Chrisitians in the United States do not even consult the Bible very often.

Edit: I see you've corrected the link now...I'll get around to looking at that tomorrow but for now I have to get to bed.

Both groups hate homosexuals.
Really? Didn't know that about scientology. One more reason to dislike them.

Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Sounds like a cartoon tv series...

Creation tales are rediculous? I don't know... they make about as much sense as a bunch of ooze deciding to become smart for no apparent reason.


If that's your understanding of abiogenesis and evolutionary biology, then I really don't have the time to teach you.

Sounds like a cartoon tv series...

It's actually a bad sci-fi story that many idiots, er, I mean really, really smart special genious geniouses, believe was true.

I don't know about any scientology groups that volunteer for anything, but there are many, many Christian groups that go around helping people. what kind of insane, greedy, s.o.b. religion has people going to third world countries to show the world people that need help, mostly nutrition-based help, when helping people goes against the concept of being a bunch of hateful s.o.bs?

Plus all groups have crazy people. Can't deny that atheists aren't immune to being hateful and/or crazy.

Sounds like a cartoon tv series...

Pretty accurate description. Never made it to TV, but that kind of thing, yes.

It's actually a bad sci-fi story that many idiots, er, I mean really, really smart special genious geniouses, believe was true.

I don't know about any scientology groups that volunteer for anything, but there are many, many Christian groups that go around helping people. what kind of insane, greedy, s.o.b. religion has people going to third world countries to show the world people that need help, mostly nutrition-based help, when helping people goes against the concept of being a bunch of hateful s.o.bs?

Plus all groups have crazy people. Can't deny that atheists aren't immune to being hateful and/or crazy.

There are a few scientology groups that think they're doing something. After Katrina and the Tsunami they had people over there using their special "Scientology healing techniques".

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.

First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question. Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.

Both groups hate homosexuals.

Both groups claim to promote "morality".

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.


The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.

Here are some other major differences:
Christians don't try and keep the Bible secret from people. Many teachings of CO$ are secret.
Christians don't (generally) sue people who publish or otherwise distribute Bibles. Try to independently publish CO$ documents and you'll have a lawyer up your ass faster than you can say "elron".

Originally Posted by Symenon:
If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.


Ummm, ' S , C , I , N , T , and Y ' to name six...

"If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
-Jesus (Luke 14:26)
Originally Posted by Edwardis:
Common literary technique: hyperbole.

You are not to truly hate anyone. But compared to how much you are to love God (which means Jesus, too) it should be as if you hate everyone in comparison.

I personally prefer this interpretation:

That any person need not be ashamed of the hate in their hearts, for this is human nature. And any person who denies these things is lying to themselves, and cannot truthfully follow a divine path.

Finally, this passage holds a great deal of truth.

All believers learn that God holds them responsible for their actions. So far so good, but for many, belief absolves them of all other responsibilities. Consciously or subconsciously, those who are "born again" or "chosen" have diminished respect for others who do not share their sect or their faith. Convinced that only the Bible offers "truth", they lose their intellectual curiosity and their ability to reason. Their priority becomes not the world they live in but themselves.


Now, Replace the following words in the above text with these and re-read:

Believers/Belief ~~~ Atheists/Atheism
God ~~~ Science
Bible ~~~ Evidence
"born again" or "chosen" ~~~ 'Purely Scientific'

This is also quite true...

Ummm, ' S , C , I , N , T , and Y ' to name six...



I personally prefer this interpretation:

That any person need not be ashamed of the hate in their hearts, for this is human nature. And any person who denies these things is lying to themselves, and cannot truthfully follow a divine path.

Finally, this passage holds a great deal of truth.



Now, Replace the following words in the above text with these and re-read:

Believers/Belief ~~~ Atheists/Atheism
God ~~~ Science
Bible ~~~ Evidence
"born again" or "chosen" ~~~ 'Purely Scientific'

This is also quite true...

Shush. You might offend someone by showing something most likely true that goes against what they believe. Some of those people believe what scientists tell them without researching the topic and trying to see how the scientists came up with the conclusion.

Every religion (or lack thereof) could be considered "controlling." If you think the Bible is contradictory, you evidently haven't understood it at all.
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html
Refute that.

Tithing isn't in the Bible. It was invented by beaurocrats, calling themselves Christians, in order to steal money from uneducated people.
Yes it is. It's called sacrifice, and if you want to follow the bible closely, you should be doing it every week. If not, you deserve to be stoned to death, apparently.

Christians. Don't. Hate. Homosexuals. (at least no person following the Bible correctly)
It says quite explicitly in Leviticus that you should kill homosexuals. It also says that you should kill disobedient children, not go near women on their period, use a certain type of wood when beating your slaves, etc, etc.

Morality is bad huh? Well... why don't you ban all rules while you're at it?
The stuff taught in the bible is. If you actually read it, it teaches a lot of hate.

Creation tales are rediculous? I don't know... they make about as much sense as a bunch of ooze deciding to become smart for no apparent reason.
Yeah, play that card. The problem is, that's not what evolution postulates. The current theory (which, unlike dogma, is subject to change as new evidence arrives) is that over millions upon millions of years, a chemical soup emerged in earth's oceans. Eventually, this "soup" started having basic proteins appearing in it, as random molecules bumping into eachother will eventually create something. Scientists have demonstrated that, with the same conditions as would have been around at the time, this will happen.
I won't go through every single step of the process, but suffice to say the entire thing took literally billions of years. Evolution is as much scientific fact as gravity which, incidentally, is also just a theory, but I wouldn't argue with it from the top of a large building.

In case you haven't noticed, every group (religious or not) has splinter groups that try to decredit the original. Must be human nature or something.
FSMism seems to be doing fine.

Jesus insane? Maybe, but if he was, sucks to be us! All of humanity is screwed!
Well, not if you don't slavishly follow his teachings.

Shush. You might offend someone by showing something most likely true that goes against what they believe. Some of those people believe what scientists tell them without researching the topic and trying to see how the scientists came up with the conclusion.

Ever heard of the process of peer review?

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

For the last time: The Catholic Church has ruled that Biblical Creation is a Christian myth, and that evolution can be accepted.

For the last time: The Catholic Church has ruled that Biblical Creation is a Christian myth, and that evolution can be accepted.

I'll lay 7:1 odds in cookies that this isnt the last time.

Ever heard of the process of peer review?

Go on then describe the this infallable process and it's mechanisms and safeguards. Im dead curious.

For the last time: The Catholic Church has ruled that Biblical Creation is a Christian myth, and that evolution can be accepted.

Actually, Benedict XVI recently reversed that.

Apparently the truth now conforms to the whims of one old bloke. Who knew?

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.and so do non-secular government, and all other religions... heck, Businesses and Non Profit organizations want your money as well...

Both groups hate homosexuals.and who/where were those homosexual teens excuted again... and stoned, and burned...

Both groups claim to promote "morality".so do the ACLU, and all other religions...

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.Big Bang Theory.... and all religions have their Creation stories.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".again all groups have splinter factions that have different Ideals... take the two biggest controlling groups in America.... The Democrats and Republicans.

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.again, all religons are like that. most non religous groups to.

The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.yeah, forget everything else and only focus on those two... so put your blinders on folks...

and everyone notices that he mentioned Fundies... but paints all Christians with that brush... kinda like all Muslims are crazy, murdurous people who would send their kids out to die and blame everyone else for it. :rolleyes:

I call Troll.

I don't find Christianity to be controling or confusing...also, I don't hate anyone, Jesus said to love people.

Smunky gal, Christianity has been about controlling its followers since it began.

Its the exact reason why the bible, was first printed in English.
Before that, it was only printed in Latin, so that the average Joe, couldnt read it, if he could read at all.

During the next 300 years, it became all about mind-control.
Other religions were outright banned in many countries, and indeed, you could be executed if you voiced a dissenting opinion.

Today, thankfully, its not quite so harsh, but truthfully, you must admit there are plenty of ministers out there who completely use thier religion to influence thier followers.

Remember that news story we all heard during the last election, where a particularly conservative minister told his congregation that anyone "who doesnt support George Bush, doesnt support Jesus, and should leave my church, AT ONCE!"

A little old lady stood up and left, to a round of boos.

That sort of thing happens quite a lot..
The only thing we can be thankful for, is that it may not happen all the time.

I wish more Christians were like you, and held the "peace, and kindness" part of thier faiths more sacred.

Go on then describe the this infallable process and it's mechanisms and safeguards. Im dead curious.

Infallible? I never said this. It's only christianity that claims to be infallible.

What it is, however, is a lot more reliable than a book written thousands of years ago with no verifiable value above the fact that it says that it's holy inside.

Wikipedia gives an excellent description of peer review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_review

Actually, Benedict XVI recently reversed that.

Apparently the truth now conforms to the whims of one old bloke. Who knew?

can you show article or source please?

Infallible? I never said this. It's only christianity that claims to be infallible.

What it is, however, is a lot more reliable than a book written thousands of years ago with no verifiable value above the fact that it says that it's holy inside.

Wikipedia gives an excellent description of peer review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_review
you mean Muslims say that their religion is chock full of mistakes?

you mean Muslims say that their religion is chock full of mistakes?

No, I was talking within the confines of this debate. Sorry for not being perfectly clear.

For the record, I don't discriminate- I think Islam is just as illogical as Hinduism, as is Christianity, and so forth. I would, however, put Scientology ahead in pure, blatent insanity, as well as in evilicity.

Well obviously you're wrong, because there are a lot of free thinking individuals who believe both. You might disagree, but don't insult their intelligence.
There are intelligent, free thinking people who believe in the Scientology story?
Naah.
I think it's a perfectly sensible course of action to insult Scientologists' intelligence. At least Christianity has a book and millions of other adherents to back the scenario up.

can you show article or source please?

Ah, turns out he's just rethinking it. Only a matter of time before it becomes canon, though.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10007382/

Actually, Benedict XVI recently reversed that.

Apparently the truth now conforms to the whims of one old bloke. Who knew?

No, no he didn't.

The Church's stance is that this gradual appearance has been guided in some way by God, but the Church has thus far declined to define in what way that may be. Commentators tend to interpret the Church's position in the way most favorable to their own arguments. The International Theological Commission statement includes these paragraphs on evolution, the providence of God, and "intelligent design"

There are intelligent, free thinking people who believe in the Scientology story?
Naah.
I think it's a perfectly sensible course of action to insult Scientologists' intelligence. At least Christianity has a book and millions of other adherents to back the scenario up.
As much as I dislike Christianity, I totally agree. With a major religion, at least you can blame it on societal influences. Scientology really is just stupid.
Having said that, I do feel sorry for kids raised into Scientologist communities who are brainwashed from birth. In these cases, it's not their fault.

Riiiight. Isn't it possible, just possible, that the bible was written by many, completely unconnected people either in order to gain power or because of their delusions? That would explain the many, many contradictions, evil acts perpetrated by god, complete nonsense, etc, etc.

No. Why? Faith.

Faith that if God really wanted to tell us what's going on, He would ensure that the message wouldn't become muddied.

So Joseph (Jesus's dad, not technicolor dreamcoat) having two fathers is some sort of paradox?

Your father dies. You get a step-father. How is there a contradiction there? One is taking the role of father and one is your biological father. Not even really a paradox, even if you apply it to the idea of Joseph being Jesus' father.

The Vatican seems to be doing alright for itself.

And that would be an instance in which a group of people are taking advantage of the system.

And you have no evidence that there is a higher power, that the universe was created in a week, that a man named Jesus ever healed anyone, etc, etc, but at least questioning Jesus' sanity doesn't violate the laws of Physics.

No. Point taken. Though i disagree.

Isn't it possible, just possible, that since the OP hit and run this is a troll?

I made a huge response post to Edwardis last night but I kept getting hit by "DATABASE ERROR" messages so I gave up.

I made a huge response post to Edwardis last night but I kept getting hit by "DATABASE ERROR" messages so I gave up.

Jolt is part of the athiest conspiracy to destroy all religion.

Jolt is part of the athiest conspiracy to destroy all religion.

Actually I was making a post to refute the religious fanatics, so Jolt would be part of the United Global Religious Banking Conspiracy to destroy all forms of free thought.

No. Why? Faith.

Faith that if God really wanted to tell us what's going on, He would ensure that the message wouldn't become muddied.

So you're saying that the bible is completely accurate, and the one thing you base that on is that you have "faith" in it?

And that would be an instance in which a group of people are taking advantage of the system.

For a significant proportion of christianity, the Vatican is the system.

I have never seen a worse argument, ever.


First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question.

Bullshit, intially Christianity was not intended to have anything to do with politics. Some people abuse the idea of christianity and try to use it to excuse their actions. Thats the people not the religion.


Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".


So? As is the same with pretty much every religion on earth to an extent.


Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.


Really? Could you point to passage which demands you give all your wealth to the church so they can be rich or whatever you think? I tried to but I kept on getting lost with all those verses talking about how you should give your money to the poor and needy and what not.


Both groups hate homosexuals.


A very small minority of Christians "hate" homosexuals. Most just consider homosexuality a sin but have nothing against the person. Infact the Bible preaches love not hate, hate is even a sin.


Both groups claim to promote "morality".


So?


Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.


Who says you have to take it litterally, can you show me one creation story in any religion which isn't a bit wacky. And some incredibly smart and respectable people believe in Adam and Eve anyway.


Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".


So?


Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.


As with every other religion, some people believe what Jesus says and others don't.

I have never seen a worse argument, ever.

It's hardly a perfect comparison, but it's a significantly better argument than Creationism.

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.

First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question. Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.

Both groups hate homosexuals.

Both groups claim to promote "morality".

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.


The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.

I am normally understanding of people who are against religion, with the history it has I can see why. But this post is just intolerant. It takes several VERY large generalizations, and then twists them to meet the poster's opinion, for both faiths.
I think most of the flaws in this argument have been discussed already, so I won't. There is one thing I would like to add: all beliefs are equally illogical, and that includes atheism. After all, one is assuming that a body that is admittedly imperfect is capable of discovering all truth.
There is nothing wrong with having an opinion or belief. What is wrong is to take your opinion or belief, whether it be Scientology, Christianity, or atheism, and decide it is infalliable, thus, all other beliefs or opinions are utterly and completely wrong. (Of course, that's my personal belief).

The Vatican seems to be doing alright for itself.
Well... no, not really.
I understand what you're saying; the Vatican City is filled with beautiful art and buildings and anyone who lives there gets a nice apartment. But not much of that money actually goes to the people inside.
It's a little like saying the United States government is a scam, giving your money away (taxes) so that the president can live in a nice mansion and get $400,000 a year. But the billions of dollars the government collects does not go to the politicians; most of it goes to what the government does. Similarly, just because the Vatican collects money from its laity does not mean the pope is rich.
Actually, that's an interesting question: does anyone know how much money the pope gets annually (and by that I mean money he can put in his bank, not money that goes to the unkeep of the Vatican or missions or other clergy)?

I was going through several posts written by self-declared "Fundamentalist Christians" and it hit me like a thunder blot. There are several things that Christianity and Scientology have in common.

First of all both Scientology and Christianity are VERY controlling groups that use contradictory teachings to keep people in a state of mental confusion which is used to make them more easily controlled by the groups in question. Both groups seek to gain as many followers as they can in order to "save their souls" and both groups claim to have the tools needed to "Save your Soul" or "Cleanse you of Little Aliens (called Thetans)".

Also both Scientology and Christianity want your cash, Scientology wants all of your money, the Christians want 10% of all your wealth.

Both groups hate homosexuals.

Both groups claim to promote "morality".

Both groups have ridiculous creation tales that no one with an ounce of free thought would ever believe in, good examples are the Adam and Eve story of Genesis and the Scientology Story about an Alien Tyrant named Lord Xenu.

Both groups have splinter factions that are forever in debate about what their founders "really wanted".

Both groups were founded by men of less than questionable sanity.


The only real difference between Scientology and Christianity is that the former is more blatant a fraud while the latter is just larger in size and older by a few thousand years. If anyone else can come up with any more similarities between Scientology and Christianity please post them.

beware of thunder blots, especially when wearing tinfoil hats.

So you're saying that the bible is completely accurate, and the one thing you base that on is that you have "faith" in it?

No there is other evidence, but none of it proves Christianity, or more specifically infallibility of Scripture. So it comes down to faith.

No there is other evidence, but none of it proves Christianity, or more specifically infallibility of Scripture. So it comes down to faith.

Otherwise known as Magical Thinking, demanding the complete suspension of reality in order to make your imaginary friend exist.

Belief in God makes about as much sense as belief in Santa Clause.

Otherwise known as Magical Thinking, demanding the complete suspension of reality in order to make your imaginary friend exist.

Belief in God makes about as much sense as belief in Santa Clause.

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way.

Actually, Benedict XVI recently reversed that.

Apparently the truth now conforms to the whims of one old bloke. Who knew?Ah, turns out he's just rethinking it. Only a matter of time before it becomes canon, though.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10007382/
actually, the article says nothing of the sort. it only cristicism against those that say Evolution proves "Intelligent Design", which is different than "Creationism", doesn't exsist.

saying the universe was made by an “intelligent project” and criticizing those who in the name of science say its creation was without direction or order.