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[Troubleshooter]

I'm not making fun of anyone. I think that, if you dig through my posts, you'll find that I take religion and spirituality seriously. If I didn't take it seriously I wouldn't put so much effort into disecting it and its implications and applications.

I think that you'll also find in my posts to you that I only pointed out serious and founded opinions about the definitions of the concept of "cult" and the root causes and continuing cycle of religion.

Do you put as much effort into your faith and religion as I put into the faith and religion of people other than myself?

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Do you put as much effort into your faith and religion as I put into the faith and religion of people other than myself?

I don't espouse any religion. I do not fit into any category. I've my beliefs like anyone and my relationship with a Higher Being(s) is personal and, happily, so far, it's worked for me. I wouldn't presume to think it would work for anyone else--it probably wouldn't. As to your question whether I put effort into it-yes. I work at the relationship, cultivating it, exploring it, watching it grow and finding peace and happiness in it. I love experiencing the love of the Universe. I like exploring the beliefs of other people and- honest!-I don't usually belittle them. The CoS is just too ripe for examination and it doesn't hold up. To embrace the beliefs of a misanthropic, wife-beating, money-hungry science fiction writer who purports to absolve but only when currency changes from your hand to his and uses brain-washing techniques to get you to do it is not 'religion',it's sad and it's criminal. A lot of people think L. Ron is dead. I hope he is and I hope he's answering in some way for what he's done. Before I read the web articles on him and his "church" I knew nothing of scientology. I was shocked at it's doctrine. I can't believe people swallow this stuff. That's all I was saying.

Your multiple definitions of cult made me think you were mocking me.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by Brianna

I don't espouse any religion. I do not fit into any category. I've my beliefs like anyone and my relationship with a Higher Being(s) is personal and, happily, so far, it's worked for me. I wouldn't presume to think it would work for anyone else--it probably wouldn't.

Your mention of your paradigm being uniquely yours reminds me of a question that has been knocking around in the back of my head for a couple weeks now.

Isn't it possible, that by definition, church and/or religion is contradictory to faith? Take a sip of that, roll it around in your mouth for a bit and tell me all of the varying flavors you can taste. It's a new idea for me and I haven't explored all of the possibilities but it has real potential if you're willing to ponder it.

Isn't faith supposed to be entirely unique?

Wouldn't seeking external validation be antithetical to the whole idea of authoritative revelatory knowledge?

Originally Posted by Brianna

As to your question whether I put effort into it-yes. I work at the relationship, cultivating it, exploring it, watching it grow and finding peace and happiness in it. I love experiencing the love of the Universe. I like exploring the beliefs of other people and- honest!-I don't usually belittle them.

The reason I asked about how much effort you put into your faith is because there are so many people out there who parrot their religion at me, chapter and verse, but lack any understanding of cultural contexts, history, or even their own hearts. They're nothing more than religious automata.

And as to belittling other people's religions and beliefs I will continue to point out things that I think are inconsistent, unprovable, illogical, unreasonable and just plain stupid no matter where I see it. Religion doesn't get a free pass just because it makes people uncomfortable when I talk about it. More importantly, don't you think that religion, as powerful and prevalent as it is, should be held to a higher scrutiny considering its profound impact on the lives of so many people?

Originally Posted by Brianna

The CoS is just too ripe for examination and it doesn't hold up. To embrace the beliefs of a misanthropic, wife-beating, money-hungry science fiction writer who purports to absolve but only when currency changes from your hand to his and uses brain-washing techniques to get you to do it is not 'religion',it's sad and it's criminal. A lot of people think L. Ron is dead. I hope he is and I hope he's answering in some way for what he's done. Before I read the web articles on him and his "church" I knew nothing of scientology. I was shocked at it's doctrine. I can't believe people swallow this stuff. That's all I was saying.

Can't you look at most of the popular religions out there today and say that they have the same methodologies? Seriously. The only difference between scientology and the others is a question of time and better technology. They both ultimately fill the same niche in a person's heart. The only thing scientology is lagging in is the body count.

Originally Posted by Brianna

Your multiple definitions of cult made me think you were mocking me.

Not at all. I was showing how the origin of the word was rooted in so many other disciplines but still had the same meaning no matter which book you pick up. A "cult" is something that is "occult" or hidden. Cult is just a vulgarization of the larger word. And so is the definition.

This is how I think.

[Elspode]

Any religion can be a cult. It isn't the material, it is the way it is propagated.