Catholicism has that too. Nothing like believing your leaders are divinely inspired to make the world more messed up than it was before.



I'm pretty sure that's a rare belief world-wide. I doubt many people see Muslims as being of the House of Israel, yet they follow the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Cacto:

Muslims do believe in the God of Abraham, but you'd probably get shot if you told a militant one that Islam has anything to do with Isaac (Israel). ;~D

I'm glad you're standing up for what you believe in and that you don't let other people change you in what you believe. It's not your problem what they think, it's theirs!

If you were a Scientologist...I might call you brainwashed...those people are nuts! Poor Katie and Suri...Tom is a kerrazy guy.

In the same token, what a Scientologist is, (and I'm not going to argue something that is a mute point with what a lot of folks believe), or what they believe is in the same vein? Shouldn't they be allowed to practice what they do and isn't this the same type of ridicule they face as you do when others say you're not a Christian? Mind you, I'm not saying you're calling them out or anything, but my point is, they are experiencing the same issues because they are not a part of the 'regular' church system.

http://www.amislam.com/



I think they are experiencing the same issues because they are not as open as the 'regular' church system.

Scientology is not active in Ireland, but I remember that in Germany anybody could go to a (real) church or mosque and listen to what the respective religions have to say, and anybody could read their holy books and find out what it is about, and the organisations' finances were open and the government knew exactly what they do with the income they don't pay taxes for.

In contrast Scientology sell their "holy" material for a fee, do not reveal how much they make and what it is spent on, and (ab)use copyright law to make sure that nobody read their "holy" scriptures without permission.

And to top it off they claim that they are being persecuted like the Jews in Nazi Germany.

lw screw-up.

and scientologists turn up their nose at Brooke Shields for taking medication when she had post partum depression - it's the circle of life

Exactly. Scientologists are assholes. Now, if it were any regular old cult where you could walk in and learn what you please, I might not have a problem with it. When you start charging people to prove their faith...well, that's when I start to take issue with it.

Then there's the rampant suing of people...I guess Lord Xenu needs a new spaceship, huh?

Also, having Tom Cruise as your main guy?...Could've done a bit better.

Oh yeah...then there's the part where they pressured Isaac Hayes to quit South Park. I'll never forgive them for that. I miss Chef.   

~Zoo

But the way they killed him was fekkin' brilliant.

A death only suitable for one of the best characters on the show.

The eulogy was great too...totally trashing "that fruity little club."

~Zoo

I'd say Christ was the FIRST Christian!



This is incorrect.

St.Peter was born a Jew and as one of Christ's Apostles converted to Christianity and practiced the Christian faith. He's definitely a Christian. As far as St.Peter being the first Pope of the Catholic Church, Christ had something to say about that being so. "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." If you don't want to take my word for it or Christ's word, take history itself. The early writings of the Church Fathers and Doctors document that St. Peter was first Pope of the Catholic Chruch of which has followed a line of continuous unbroken succession, to the 265th, in Pope Benedict XVI. Check out the list that begins with St.Peter and ends with Pope Benedict in The World or Time ALmanac.

St. Peter Cottontail, actually. The hat was designed for rabbits.

(South Park reference)



~Zoo

I was actually referring to Tom, not the religion. I don't know enough about it to make fun of it. But Tom Cruise scares me.

I know a lot of Mormons who give me the willies. ;~D

But it is my business how others seek tax relief, or where they find tax relief, or what they do about it when they think they have.

A legitimate church (or other religious organisation) provides a service to the public that anyone can make use of. Scientology does not.

Calling a fraud is not "religious bigotry".

I lived near Clearwater, Fl back in 1980. The Church of Scientology bought up a lot of the hotels and office buildings there. They declared all of the properties church buildings. It made a huge dent in Clearwater's revenue base.

I'm all for churches getting tax exemptions for their church houses, administration and doing their charity work, but if there is a business side of the organization, they should be taxed like any other business.

I can imagine. And I bet the public are not allowed to enter the buildings and use them.

I have just checked out the LDS Web site (excellent site btw!) and found that services (meetings?) are open to the public. Wikipedia says that the LDS' charity services are available to all members of the community, not just church members.

The same pretty much applies to most real religions.



Exactly.

But in the case of Scientology I don't see the church and charity part at all. It's all business. They _sell_ what real religions give for free to everyone. And I have never seen a Scientology "charity" operate anywhere.

heh heh...me too.

Same here of Catholics!   

I think the question that really needs answering here is, "If Joseph Smith really is a prophet, am I still going to heaven?"

And, "If Joseph Smith really isn't a prophet, are the Mormons still going to heaven?"

Well, we have the same savior, Jesus Christ... we have the same Bible, give or take a book here or there... but you kept all the goods parts, right? So there you have it.

Good enough for me.

It's not really my call though.



Isn't that the Emergent Church?