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Cult

Entry 776, on 2008-05-22 at 21:28:28 (Rating 4, News)

Cult (noun) a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object: the cult of St. Olaf. - a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister: a network of Satan-worshiping cults. - a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing: a cult of personality surrounding the leaders. - [usu. as adj. ] a person or thing that is popular or fashionable, esp. among a particular section of society: a cult film.

Do any of these definitions fit the "religion" of scientology? I guess it depends on your perspective to a certain extent but I think "a relatively small group (55,000 according to a 2001 survey) of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister" seems to fit well. Even if you don't have any negative thoughts about scientology most people would accept it is strange even if it isn't sinister (and in some ways it is).

So scientology is clearly a cult which makes me ask why a British teenager was served a summons by City of London police for holding a sign containing the word "cult" during a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of Scientology.

Has political correctness gone so crazy today that the law can be used against a peaceful person even when they are making a true statement? Apparently it can.

My initial reaction was that the Scientologists had used some influence to have this prosecution brought against the 15 year old, but I really have no evidence of that and its not necessary because the idea of the authorities going to extraordinary lengths to protect even the mostly kooky beliefs from criticism fits the incident anyway.

And look at the definition again. Is that really insulting or even very negative? Not really. Having devotion to a particular figure - nothing wrong with that. Being a small group - so what? Having practices regarded as strange - that doesn't mean they are wrong. OK, the sinister part is a bit negative but no one said that's the type of cult scientology is (although many people would believe that). A misplaced or excessive admiration for a thing or person - that's a bit negative but its rather subjective. No, I think cult fits perfectly and it shouldn't even really be regarded as an insult.

Read through the beliefs of scientology at Wikipedia and many of them aren't really that bad. Well, they are unsubstantiated and unrealistic, but no more so than most "mainstream" religions. This is how scientology describes itself: "the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life". What's wrong with that? And their ultimate goal is: "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights." Who would argue with that?

Unfortunately it doesn't end there. Scientology believes psychiatry and psychology are destructive and abusive practices. I suppose they are entitled to that belief, but when it means they don't allow members to get real treatment and then they die after being "treated" by the church it gets more serious. But that sort of thing frequently happens in traditional fundamentalist churches as well.

There is also a hidden belief system which sounds like its straight from a science fiction story (the founder of the church was a science fiction writer) and significant costs imposed on members for various training, testing, and treatment.

In reality, scientology isn't that much worse than some of the more extreme and bizarre cults (and I use that word deliberately) within Christianity. Its just that it isn't mainstream, is comparatively new, and has a small number of members (even though many of them are both crazy and high profile - you know who I'm talking about).

So I think the world is a more interesting place because of cults like scientology. I just wish they weren't quite so sensitive about criticism!

Comment 1 (1457) by Anonymous on 2008-05-30 at 15:30:36:

I'm a bit confused here. Are you saying that scientology is a reasonable, sensible religion or a cult with nothing but complete nutters as its members? And who is this high profile member you are talking about - I don't know much about them.

Comment 2 (1459) by OJB on 2008-05-31 at 13:22:44:

I'm saying it is a cult full of nutters but that cults are entertaining - but also that they shouldn't take themselves so seriously.

Comment 3 (1460) by OJB on 2008-05-31 at 13:23:36:

Apparently there is a link between the church and the London police. I have even heard allegations of bribes, but only from an informal source so that remains to be proven.

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