Church Lawyer Tells Judge: 'Only Scientology Law Applies'

Scientology, the Comic Sans of Religion.

Have you seen any of these mega-churches or pictures of the Vatican?

The only difference between a religion and a cult that I can tell is a religion has more political backing.

Good point Dan.

correct, the abrahamic religions were just dangerous cults until they got govnt backing, then they became dangerous "religions"

All religions should be sued into extinction based upon fraud laws.

Continually promising a "product" for donations, love gifts, seeds of prosperity and getting nothing in return.

Just another in a long line of BS trump cards and exceptions afforded delusional spirituality.

what's the differences?

Well said, bluearcher. Imagine any other type of service provider asking for large sums of money based on nebulous promises to be delivered after you die.

"XYZ Chiropractic Care - come to us twice a week for life and we promise you'll have no more back pain after you're dead!"

cult versus religion = acceptance.

Like it or not it is a religion according to our laws

But that is only due to how foolish religion is, you can properly define something that is non falsifiable and lives in the infinite world of the unknown.

How are you going to make a law to keep the Scientology out and the Catholics in?

There is no verbiage in existence that can separate religion from bull@!$%#.
You can only be specific. You can only say "this is acceptable bull@!$%# and so I will let it be called a religion" versus "this here is unacceptable bull@!$%# and I will call it a cult or just plain bull@!$%#"

All religions should be sued into extinction based upon fraud laws.

These kind of statements are what make some atheists just as bad as religious bigots. To applaud this mindset and criticize religious attacks on atheism is hypocrisy.

Continually promising a "product" for donations, love gifts, seeds of prosperity and getting nothing in return

Who promises what? The churches that I support don't claim to have the power to promise anything. The churches that I support do collect donations to help the needy, if you are expecting something in return for a donation then you are missing the point.

Just another in a long line of BS trump cards and exceptions afforded delusional atheism.

There is no verbiage in existence that can separate religion from bull@!$%#.

Here is a bit of verbiage that I gathered a couple of years ago from a source that I don't remember which sheds some light on the cult of Christianity:

Christianity is the belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.

Just as crazy of a place to get laws as Scientology, I would say.

well redhat, that's pretty much how I view xtianity.

Greatest post evar! I wish I could vote it up one million times.

My wife made my children go to church with her this past Sunday and apprently my youngest would yell out that jesus and god aren't real everytime someone would say praise jesus, etc. She's not happy with me and planning on forcing all four children to go church with her. I told her she shouldn't be forcing her ideas on the children but she thinks it's ok. I need to show her that post. Thank you for that Rob!

I am with you ZenFreedom, my wife is Catholic and has been bringing my boy and girl to church since they were born. I have always told them, though, there is no god. Funny thing is, they are still not old enough to be told there is no Santa Claus.

So you both are trying to instill your belief system into the kids, it sounds like they are being used in some kind of game.

I don't tell my children about religion unless they ask me specific questions. My religion is Buddhism. The only reason my children know my views on x-tianity is because my wife is always trying to make me go to church, but I refuse. I play no games with my children. I'm just not going to lead them to the brainwasher. When they're ready to choose a religion they are more than welcome to go forth and do that. Until that time, I don't want them being brainwahsed into x-tianity. I don't make them go to the path of Buddhism or any other religion. Religion is a personal coping mechanism and shouldn't be forced on anyone. My wife just happens to be very superstitious.

So you both are trying to instill your belief system into the kids, it sounds like they are being used in some kind of game.

What the @!$%# are you talking about? I also tell my kids to eat their vegetables. I am their dad. I am supposed to tell them things and what I believe and why. Now, rejecting them if they do not believe the same things as I do would be a different story.

I don't tell my children about religion unless they ask me specific questions.

Actually I was talking to Rob. That's fine that you are open to let them decide when they want to one way or another. If you turn them against Christianity before they have a chance to learn about it I don't see where that is not leading them to a belief that you want them to have.

I'm not turning them against anything, but let's face it, x-tianity isn't where it is in the world today because people just suddenly started believing. It spread through violence and coercion. If it could co-exist peacefully with other religions then there would be more choices of religion to be had in the world today.

Red hat and Zen - so it's ok for YOU to tell your kids your "truth" but it's not ok for your wife to tell your kids her "truth". Oh yeah, I can see these two marriages headed for divorce court.

Oh yeah, I can see these two marriages headed for divorce court.

Excuse me, but who the f are you? lmao.

I don't tell my kids anything about religion. If they ask me about my religion I tell them what they specifically ask for. My kids are 5, 7, 11, and 15. They don't ask me questions about my religion because I don't bring it up. My wife and I have been together for almost 19 years now. If we were going to divorce over something as stupid as religion it would have happened a long time ago. It pays to ask questions and get some background before making yourself look like an ass.

Scientology is not a religion; it's a for-profit cult.

It's all a bunch of made up crap to hide behind. The law should not allow this, and all so called religions need to be taxed as businesses, well, taxed as robberies...

Mom90210, who the @!$%# said, beside you, said that it was not all right for my wife to tell the kids what she believes? My wife and I get along because we are adults who can handle each others different viewpoints and opinions. If you cannot see that, you should be worried about yourself.

See Mom that's why I didn't say that. :)

I'll chalk it up to you having more tact than other people, Sammy :)

not that it matters to me - but - what DO they do with all their money?

Buy politicians and make movies?

Here is a bit of verbiage that I gathered a couple of years ago from a source that I don't remember which sheds some light on the cult of Christianity:

Christianity is the belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a

rat (#3.6). First of all, your ignorance is showing through; by any definition I know, Christianity (like Hinduism, Islam, Judiasm etc) cannot be a "cult."

That aside, you feel the need to post this for what reason? This is offensive to every Christian who reads it, every non-christian person of faith. In fact, it's offensive to me, personally, and I am neither religious nor faithful.

Statements like this are cheap and common, vituperation with the apparent intent of hurting and such things read as the mewling of a scared child. You ought to be ashamed.

the main difference between a religion and a cult are:
large number of members
political power
social acceptance

if you have all of these things you are a religion, if not you are a cult.

I have to agree go thruthe process then sue them. since it requires going back to the church then you maight be able to add punitive and emotional damges.

The next big question, verbal contracts. Most of the churches I attended don't require written contracts but are full of verbal contracts, You accept Jesus, you eat his flesh and drink his blood, could churches claim you have to go thru an arbitration process based on this before using the legal system?

how darest thou insult Saint Ron?? (do I really need to indicate sarcasm?)

This group is a scam with no religious affiliation about it. It is a holding company for a vast real estate empire that maintains itself without taxation. Been there...seen it!

IF We Taxed Religions / so called religions like we are taxed on our property and payroll.. Then We would see the collapse of many of these so-called religious groups... and from where I am sitting.. that's for the better.

Religious groups still pay payroll tax.

Fantastic... I pay almost $19.00 a thousand on my property tax.. Do they pay for everything that a city and town provides.. like water, sewer, schools, and the property that they own?

When they are building and/or not using their property (legally-occupancy permit) for the tax exempt purpose.

This religious group is a freaking scam just like the majority ALL of them

FTFY

Just because it is slightly older, and more common, makes it no less of a scam.

this is why churches need to be taxes same as everyone else. taxed for their income(sales tax, I mean their pretty much selling tickets to heaven), preacher's income, prop. taxes, auto taxes. The whole shabang.

I say tax them too, but they get all the same deductions that everyone else does. Can you imagine their charitible contributions deduction? I would say that they will probably get most of their taxes written off. The really small churches would probably hurt the most as their tithes would be much smaller maybe just enough to keep the building taken care of.

I thought scientologists worshipped an alien...

I thought scientologists worshipped an alien...

What religion doesn't?

The majority of the "Eastern" religions?

I thought scientologists worshipped an alien...

An Alien and or someone who is up above the clouds what's the differents? Still No hard facts to back any of it up.

they are so screwed up they probably worship an ALLEN WRENCH...er alien wench

I could point you in the direction of NIGERIA...

Wow, ksilver, this could be great! Contribute much more than you can afford, get the tax breaks, and then the following year demand your money back! If my mother (the shopper from hell) ever hears about this, she'll be in business!

I wish Ksilvers

If we did can I still get my money back??????????????????????? This is about money.

Farengi first rule of acquisition - ONCE YOU HAVE THEIR MONEY NEVER GIVE IT BACK!

Actually they are not "donations" they are "fees" for services. If services are not rendered then fees are not applied. These folks did not ask for or receive any services the fees were reserved for. They should get their money back.

Kind of like any other service industry. If services are not rendered then fees cannot be collected.

Actually they are not "donations" they are "fees" for services.

Twenty years ago me and a gay buddy started a cult. It was a great deal. We did drugs and prayed. Our acyolates gave it up to the ministers. Better still, they paid us for it. They were all people that left their home town. They had no one watching their back.

Aww man, you are soooo bad.

*chuckles*

This is somewhat different than donating to the Catholic church because a Scientology "donation" is usually for specific training and services.

If you actually do the training and services, I'd have to agree you shouldn't get your money back unless you can make a good case the training and services were sub-par and can document it. If you never received them, really like any other thing you pay money for, you can get your money back.

I have no involvement with Scientology but I know someone who did and "disconnected" and got some of their money back.

I don't know about that 'crumbling' part. A fool and his money comes to mind here.