Religon? Scientology? huh?

Ok, I guess I am a little close minded after all…or maybe I am just dumb to the fact????

Well, had a small talk ( some would say I was preaching again! LOL) about my beliefs, and Christianity in general tonight with some good friends. At the close of the night, we made plans to meet at church (the one they are attending now) and then I would still be able to make it to the church where the band is to play later that evening.

I could not resist the chance to check the news on Google, to see what was making waves before hitting the sack. Well this one caught my eye:

***Cruise, 42 — whose new film, War of the Worlds, had its London premiere last week — rounded on Matt Lauer, genial host of NBC’s Today programme, when the subject of their interview turned to the controversial religion and the prospect of his fiancée Katie Holmes, 26, being converted.

“Scientology is something that you don’t understand,” declared Cruise. “It is a religion. Because it’s dealing with the spirit. You as a spiritual being.”**** [source = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1669435,00.html]

I read the article and was wanting to know more about just what it is they believe…Do they believe in Jesus as the Messiah? Or… Do they believe some deep, weird, creepy stuff keen to eveloution, stars, beings from….yeah that stuff…LOL

The article went on to say…: “Founded by L Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer, in the 1950s, Scientology — which claims more than 8m members worldwide — teaches that psychiatry is “Nazi science” and that its medicines are all about mind control.

When Lauer said that many people had been helped by such drugs, Cruise dropped his famous smile and declared: “You are glib. You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do.”

So… I decided to research a little before bed time. So I did a Google on L Ron Hubbard first…and found my way to http://www.lronhubbard.org/. Here is a small part of what I found there… “The materials of Scientology comprise the largest written and spoken body of any single philosophic work. Those materials have further given rise to the only major religion founded in the twentieth century, and so stand as the spiritual cornerstone for several million adherents across all continents.
It was additionally through the philosophy of Scientology that L. Ron Hubbard derived his solutions to criminality, drug addiction, illiteracy and social unrest—all now utilized by many million more in virtually every nation on earth.”

Ok, and moving on… I just want something short…getting tired here…want to know what is there doctrine so to speak…

Next I find myself at http://www.aboutlronhubbard.org/ …where I am greated with an opening paragraph stating ” Mr. Hubbard left an extraordinary legacy: an immense body of wisdom that leads man to spiritual freedom; the fastest-growing religion in the world today, Scientology.”… Hmmmmmmm I think to myself…I have heard other religions state this claim…”fastest growing in the world”…as if it were a fortune 500 business…the LDS church for one claims this…well at least that is what members of the LDS I know state.

My argument to that is…who cares if your the fastest growing in the world… and for that matter this world means nothing in the next and …that may be the problem within its self… the world…. the world well … I will not preach just yet… LOL

I read on … ““A philosophy can only be a route to knowledge. It cannot be crammed down one’s throat. If one has a route, he can then find what is true for him. And that is Scientology.
“Know thyself . . . and the truth shall set you free.

“Therefore, in Scientology, we are not concerned with individual actions and differences. We are only concerned with how to show man how he can set himself free.””

Uhh… OK.. I kept reading, but won’t bother you with anymore…. you can read the entire essay at this site I mentioned above if you wish.

I will share one other excerpt form the essay I found disturbing. Mr. Hubbard states “I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which darken his days. These shadows look so thick to him and weigh him down so that when he finds they are shadows and that he can see through them, walk through them and be again in the sun, he is enormously delighted. And I am afraid I am just as delighted as he is. ”

Now, in my beliefs…but who am I? right? LOL I believe that freedom is and light is found through Jesus Christ. It almost sounds as if “Ronnie” is putting himself in position of Jesus himself. “I am the way, the truth, and the light.” John 14:6
And “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Rev. 1:6

OK now for this .. from the website..where it states “Nothing in Scientology, however, need be taken on faith. “. Ok I have another problem with this. Because my belief or to include the pun…my “faith” is just that…the bible tells me “but the righteous will live by his faith” Hab.2:4

The bible also tells me “…so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Cor. 2:5. Which to me is just the flip side of scientology. It seems they believe in the wisdom of man and technology, not in faith of God. I, however, “… I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Paul, Galatians 2:20

Well, I found one other site I would like to point you too, and then get some sleep. I feel I will be doing some more reseach on this, and I am sure I will bore you with my findings on it soon enough. Until the next post to waist space on the big WWW check out http://www.ezlink.com/~perry/Co$/Christian/peik.htm.

God bless, may you come to know Him if you don’t, and if you want to know more contact a local Church…or me. I would be more than happy to help.

JC