Scientology VS Christianity currently tied

This very interesting discussion died out in the previous thread without conclusion.

I said there was no evidence for Christianity
Bluffthis said there was no evidence for Scientology

Bluffthis this cited a book: "The Bible" as evidence for Christianity

For Scientology, another book: "Dianetics" was presented as evidence of the real spirutual history of Humanity.

Has anyone got anything to add to this discussion, or are we to conclude that both religions are equally credible?

[Jeff V]

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Has anyone got anything to add to this discussion, or are we to conclude that both religions are equally credible?

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No, and no.

Hi all,

New to the forum and was all prepared to jump in on a poker thread, but then saw this and had to throw in a few thoughts [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I'd say that Christianity is more valid than Scientology just in a literal sense. In so far as Christianity is based on SOMETHING. There was a guy called Christ floating about, events within the bible follow some sort of loose historically verifiable timeline, refer to real places etc. Certainly we've found out that it misses a fair bit also, but it's still in that regard dramatically different from the doctrine of Scientology, which Hubbard clearly pulled directly out of his ass, for which there is no history or timeline of events we can reference, whatsoever.

The bible also has a bit more credence where it is vague or interpretational or wrong - because it was written in a time where humans thought and wrote in that kind of mythopoeic style. Hubbard didn't have that excuse, he in fact claimed to be a scientist - so he fails his own test. Most of what he wrote is factually and verifiably not only wrong, but lacking in any kind of scientific method.

I really don't think there are that many Christians who believe that Christianity is rationally provable. I don't think religion is about that. It's about emotion and faith - does this resonate with me, does this empower me, is there some real meaning in this, does this balance my life, will it make me a better person? There's a kind of 'truth' in this that the rationale doesn't account for. I'm an agnostic myself, but I have many Christian friends and I don't for one second question their intelligence, or assume that they're in some kind of denial.

I'd also look at what Christianity vs Scientology do. Scientology is a hugely secretive business, it requires massive financial investment to climb up the Scientology ladder. Sure, there is big business within Christianity. But the Christian faith isn't necessarily a business, there's nothing about it being a business in it's doctrine. You can still walk into a church for free, attend a service for free - you're still given the choice to make your own mind up. That makes it hugely different to Scientology, a 'religion' that only became a religion to achieve tax exemption, an organization which jealously controls all information presented to it's members, and uses the hard sell at every opportunity to increase it's bottom line.

Also LRH was an egocentric crook and a general piece of work, Jesus was by all accounts a really nice guy - that has to count for something no?

[RJT]

One can’t stop at the books. One must go further.

What do we know of the authors of each book?

RJT

[Zygote]

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One can’t stop at the books. One must go further.

What do we know of the authors of each book?

RJT

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where do we get the info on the authors from? Should we use objective, independent sources or the autobiographies?

[PrayingMantis]

Of course they are equally credible. Unless your criteria are "how many believers you have", or "how long does this religion exist", which obviously are very very poor. I would say however that scientology is slightly more credible, since most christians don't simply "choose" to be christianns as grown ups, they are born into it, while with scientology people usally get into it as grown up and are not born into it. This should give scientology extra credit.

This doesn't mean that the historical incidents related to christianity are as equally credible as those "related" to scientology. But "believing" that some person named X actually lived at a certain place at a certain time, and said such and such things, has very little to do with the "existence" of the god of christianity (or judaism, for that matter).

By the way, god DOES exist, i know it for a fact as i just met him today for lunch. he also says that scientology is slightly more credible than christianity, only for different reasons than the ones i mentioned. He doesn't care to elaborate, unfortunately.

[Scotch78]

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By the way, god DOES exist, i know it for a fact as i just met him today for lunch. he also says that scientology is slightly more credible than christianity, only for different reasons than the ones i mentioned. He doesn't care to elaborate, unfortunately.

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I know The Man's too polite to invite somebody to someone else's home, but any friend of his is a friend of mine, so feel free to hitch a ride with him this afternoon; I've got a wide screen HDTV and the best munchies this side of Eden.

Scott

[PrayingMantis]

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I know The Man's too polite to invite somebody to someone else's home, but any friend of his is a friend of mine, so feel free to hitch a ride with him this afternoon; I've got a wide screen HDTV and the best munchies this side of Eden.

Scott

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Nice, another acquintance of god in the house. Well i won't be able to make it myself, but thanks anyway. (don't tell him that, but i'm just a bit tired with him, always the same 4 stories, always this talk about 'i should have done that instead of that, why did i told her that, i should have told her the other thing, blah blah'. well you know the guy, very indecisive. but i like him alot, still. fun dude.)

[Scotch78]

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Nice, another acquintance of god in the house. Well i won't be able to make it myself, but thanks anyway. (don't tell him that, but i'm just a bit tired with him, always the same 4 stories, always this talk about 'i should have done that instead of that, why did i told her that, i should have told her the other thing, blah blah'. well you know the guy, very indecisive. but i like him alot, still. fun dude.)

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He usually stops by for my weekly H.O.R.S.E. game as well and you wouldn't believe what a fish he is. I don't think he's ever bought in less than 5-6 times.

Scott

They're both cults. Next question.