Scientology is a cult.

submitted by Linuxuser from self.AskSaidIt

What other religions might be a cult?

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[–]DrStrangelove 12 insightful - 5 fun12 insightful - 4 fun13 insightful - 5 fun -  (4 children)

"In a cult there’s a guy at the top who knows it’s all bullshit. In a religion that guy has been dead a long time." – George Carlin

[–]FuckerMcCockslap 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I miss George Carlin.

[–]Chipit 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I don't. He was funny but towards the end of his life he became a straight up misanthrope. He hated us because we weren't good enough for his world. And instead of being the change he wanted to see, he just spewed hate about it.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

He didn't have vision for the humanity, he just enjoyed the ride.

[–]magnora7 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Haven't heard that one before, that's great.

[–]RatherSmallPotato 9 insightful - 2 fun9 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Climatism

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 4 fun4 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

Oh man. I award you the entire Internet for that comment. If only I could.

[–]beermeem 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

I was at a bar the other night. I know, surprise, surprise.

But this chick is there more drunk than me asking about cults. She’s insisting I was raised in a cult so I relent and agree. So she asks which cult. I answer truthfully.

Feminism.

[–]Linuxuser[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Most people care more about trash than climate but somehow get grouped the same thing.

[–][deleted] 8 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 2 fun -  (20 children)

Don't they have to have a charismatic leader to be a cult? Their leader is an asshole who slaps people around. I think they're a real estate investing fraud scheme.

Anyway, maybe Mormonism.

[–]Mnemonic 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (19 children)

Cult is a weird word for a definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

But yeah, most Mormon communities are cults to me.

[–][deleted]  (18 children)

[deleted]

    [–]Mnemonic 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (17 children)

    No, why?

    [–][deleted]  (16 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]Mnemonic 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (15 children)

      Ah well, I did listen to the 6-part podcast series of The Last Podcast On The Left the last couple of weeks about Mormonism and although they have different branches with different beliefs and calling each-other 'worse than heresy' the main points of a cult are still checked. But that's the most deepest dive I've ever done into it.

      [–][deleted]  (14 children)

      [deleted]

        [–]Mnemonic 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (13 children)

        It certainly beats Scientology and the Mormon story is somehow more believable, no sarcasm.

        [–][deleted]  (12 children)

        [deleted]

          [–]Mnemonic 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

          :D The Moonies, we got those in the news last week: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/18/father-family-dutch-farmhouse-cult-moonies

          [–]SierraKiloBravo 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (19 children)

          Jehovah's Witnesses

          [–][deleted]  (17 children)

          [deleted]

            [–]Newlight 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (16 children)

            Yes Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult and if your friend joins they will stop being with you or around u till u join them ! I was In for 20 years left 4 years ago so I don’t advise it at all !

            [–][deleted]  (8 children)

            [deleted]

              [–]Newlight 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

              I wouldn’t mind at all :) and if it’s already hard to talk about it , it only gets worse , unless your married they will keep advising her to not be with you or she can’t be a baptized JW , idk if it’s your friend or GF but yeah it’s club and your either in or not a part of they’re personal lives , my own family doesn’t speak with me since I left , I just turned 30 and it’s not the easier thing to deal with but I like to think for myself and not what a group tells me to think , and once your in that’s how they keep u in , bc if you leave your shunned by everyone you’ve ever known , for sure if your born into it

              [–][deleted]  (6 children)

              [deleted]

                [–]Newlight 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

                Got cha that’s cool , and yea I’m sure it has ! Wish her the best lol just don’t waste years in it and find out it’s all bs when your old lol If you have wanna know more about them check out jw facts.com ! Wonderful website helped me wake up and to see all the FACTS ! They say god doesn’t changed yet they change rules and call it new light lol like an elder one of the leaders I know who kicked me out for smoking pot lol has been a elder for 30 years who’s ruined who knows how many likes by disfellowshiping members who’ve sinned just came out he’s been buying prostitutes and cheating on his wife the whole time lol but yet he’s got light from god lol and worthy to be a leader of the sheep lol they kicked him out to know so that’s the only plus but still things like that , and Aton of child abuse reports that they don’t report to anyone except headquarters bc it’ll make gods name * Jehovah * look bad

                [–]SierraKiloBravo 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

                It surprises me that in this day and age, that people still join up to religions like the JWs. 5mins on the internet should raise enough reasons to question it more.

                [–][deleted]  (3 children)

                [deleted]

                  [–]Newlight 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

                  Wow yeah they got her already indoctrinated pretty much , and yea as young as 8 btw I knew a girl that got baptized at 8!!! I was 12 myself and 30 now and didn’t even realize at 12 I signed up for life to never question anything for myself ,it’s just really sad , and yes most are born into it or they come to u when your the most broken in your life like losing a husband or wife etc and ask would u like to see and be with them again ?! Ok well show you how ! And then there you go

                  [–]SierraKiloBravo 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

                  Hey there - I was in from around six or seven years old until about six years ago.

                  [–]Newlight 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

                  Good I’m glad you got out also ! Idk how old u are now , but it gets easier with time right ?! :)

                  [–]SierraKiloBravo 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

                  Just hit my 40s bro, plenty of life left to make the most of, w00t. Glad you are out mate, nice to come across a fellow ex-JW on here.

                  [–]Newlight 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

                  Absolutely you too!! I know the struggle 100% !!! I like the positive attitude !!

                  [–]Newlight 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

                  Also I’m pretty much apostate and proud of it lol

                  [–]SierraKiloBravo 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

                  Oh well in that case I will be sure to avoid your bad association so that you don't drag me into your child eating ways MUA HAA HAAAAA

                  [–]Newlight 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

                  Omg lol that is to funny !!!

                  [–]Chipit 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Nazis exterminated those just like they did Jews and Poles. Something forgotten today. Nobody's calling for Jehovah's witnesses sympathy.

                  [–]Only71Genders 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

                  Judiasm.

                  [–]beermeem 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

                  Judaism or Zionism?

                  [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

                  Zionism, but Judaism as a gateway to Zionism, which is a form of radical Judaism.

                  Not every Jewish person is a radical or a Zionist, that'd be stupid. The world isn't black and white (not saying you or anyone claimed they were, just pointing this out).

                  [–]beermeem 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  That’s why I asked the question.

                  [–]Mnemonic 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  If the Truth is found in text, ritual, or revelation by another: It's a cult.

                  [–]FuckerMcCockslap 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

                  Aren't they all? I'm pretty sure the only difference between a religion and a cult is its size and social stigma. Besides that, they're both just groups of people that believe in unprovable nonsense.

                  [–]Chipit 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

                  EDGY

                  [–]beermeem 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

                  Like scientists?

                  [–]useless_aether 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

                  satanism in its many different forms: baal worship, baphomet worship, moloch worship, mammon worship, thelema, luciferianism, the law of one, sufism, kabbalah, rosicrucians, masons, hermeticism, idolatries etc

                  [–]Mnemonic 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

                  While I might agree that these labels have groups that fulfill my 'cult checklist', calling them 'satanism' is just Church indoctrination.

                  [–]Riva 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

                  They use all the symbolism. They deserve the name if it fits.

                  [–]Mnemonic 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

                  "The symbolism" aka anything not Church sanctioned.

                  [–][deleted] 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

                  You don't get it. You think satanism is a banal thing and that only religious nuts don't see it. YOU have been indoctrinated without knowing it. Invisible indoctrination is much more powerful than the visible one in churches.

                  I'm not religious but if I were, I would say something like "I will pray for your soul."

                  [–]Mnemonic 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

                  You make a lot of assumptions about me, the Church, and why I object to the categorization of all those labels under 'satanism' buddy.

                  But if you insist: How is the Church not 'invisibly indoctrinating' their followers since the early Church fathers with lies about the teachings of the prophet Jesus in such a fashion that even luciferianism comes closer when it comes to the inner journey, self liberation, not worshiping but having a guide, and truth seeking?

                  Or how about hermeticism, what's wrong with that all of a sudden?

                  Though maybe you can start by enlightening me what you mean with satanism in the first place and how I'm, according to you, indoctrinated by it.

                  [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

                  The Church is guilty of very VISIBLE indoctrination. Not invisible. I mean, the freaking priest tells you basically "do as I say or you will go to hell, believe what I say or you will go to hell" and so on. It's pretty visible.

                  Nothing's wrong with hermeticism, where did I write that?

                  [–]Mnemonic 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Can you explain what Invisible indoctrination is according to you? You present an example of a blatant lie (just read the bible), I presented the corruption nof the Church you can't uncover when you read the bible.

                  Nothing's wrong with hermeticism, where did I write that?

                  If you read the comments to which I replied in the first place you can read what is lumped under satanism and that's what started my replies, that's what set you off accusing me. Talking of which you've yet to explain any of it:

                  Though maybe you can start by enlightening me what you mean with satanism in the first place and how I'm, according to you, indoctrinated by it.

                  [–]FormosaOolong 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  To me, anything is a cult that:

                  • Claims to have secret inner teachings or interpretations but you have to pay more and more $$ to get them

                  • Claims to have unique teachings direct from some ethereal source

                  • Makes you continually recruit others (though some cults don't do this, many do)

                  • Isolates you from your family and friends

                  • Cuts you off from the whole group if you disagree/have questions/leave

                  • Engages in punishment or physical, psychological, spiritual abuse

                  [–]Chipit 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

                  That's pretty edgy, attacking Scientology.

                  By which I mean it's been done a million times and has nothing to offer to the conversation.

                  [–]beermeem 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  It’s pretty tiresome at this point. And I live in Scientology land and see them every day. All these leftist attacks on religion are trite at this point.

                  I’m not a member of any religious organization but I’m also not a member of any ANTI religious organization.

                  [–]Doricel 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

                  Feminism

                  [–]beermeem 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Came here to say this.

                  [–]Zahn 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

                  I don't see what the big deal is in slandering alternative belief systems as cults. It's okay that larger institutions fundamentally engage in similar behavior? I understand that bad actors in "cults" have harmed members in the past, yet larger/accepted institutions have done similar. People choose to be in a cult, and if that makes them happy then should be none of our concern.

                  [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Well. Yeah. And all organized religions are sects and cults. So-called "religion" is supposed to be JUST "a way to inner connection with the divine". I think it's safe to say that ALL organized religions have greatly overstepped that definition, with the goal of earthly power.

                  [–]Newlight 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

                  Yes Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult and if your friend joins they will stop being with you or around u till u join them ! I was In for 20 years left 4 years ago

                  [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

                  I bet you saved a fortune not celebrating holidays... I dig that part.

                  [–]beermeem 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Why have religion if you can’t have holidays?

                  [–]Newlight 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Hahaha yea I did !

                  [–]beermeem 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  They stole their mind clearing technique from Charles Berner, who is actually brilliant.

                  I don’t have a problem with them or any other religion. The distinction between a cult and a religion is silly.

                  Full disclosure: I’ve been in plenty of cults. You have more fun as a follower but make more money as a leader.

                  [–]curryvirgin 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Any religion that isn't yet considered large enough to be considered a religion.

                  [–]Theo_Fridall 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  I could be waaaayy off base here, but I recently had a Sudden Clarity Clarence moment.

                  I suspect Scientology is an alternative Hollywood cult for people who aren't jewish.

                  I don't know if it is ally or enemy of the jew, but that was my thought.

                  Any care to comment or refute?

                  [–]Snow 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

                  Black pill theory.

                  [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  is it a religion even tho it is based on science

                  [–]solarsavior 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  Socialism. The misguided belief that you're doing good by having the government steal from others. Edit: 4 months later. Holy shit, did I say that. Genius.

                  [–]IamRedBeard 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

                  All of them. Just because it became widely accepted, does not mean it stopped being a cult.

                  I wish magic and invisible people existed and watched out for us. I do. If magic was a thing I'd be the kind of Wizard you see painted on the side of Van's in the 70's.

                  But magic doesn't exist. There are no invisible people looking out for you - and believing so just turns the entire planet into a superstitious insane asylum floating in space, where the lunatics run the place and the sane people cower in fear.