In my opinion no! I believe Scientology is more of a cult than a religion or any form of philosophy. Afterall, L.Ron Hubbard wrote "Dianetics" which was fictional. Many believed all his words were that of some kind of super human being and followed his so called theories. They believe we all evolved from aliens? But the real downside is that there are now millions who refuse medical help, psychiatric help and any kind of medicine which cures the regular person every day. Thousands have died due to not taking medications, for things such as bipolar disorder, multiple personalties, depression and the list goes on. They have the right to believe what they want and live the way they choose, but when it comes to children, and mental health issues that is another story.

not really, no

I have to agree with Justinormal. The writing of "Dianetics", upon which Scientology is based, can be traced through various sources from the time it was published as a work of science fiction literature. Isaac Asimov has even written about the bet he had with L. Ron Hubbard over who had more "fanatical" fans. L. Ron Hubbard bet Asimov $1 that he could create a religion from his most devout followers because their admiration of him was unwaivering. The funny thing about this is not that Hubbard actually DID create a religion and that hundreds of thousands of saps have bought into this farce, but that Asimov, to his deathbed, refused to ante-up! Now, whether or not people have truly found help from this quackery is, I'm sure, something that is more akin to people supposedly being able to commune with quartz. Some may find it helpful, but in the end, you have to wake up to the fact that you're just talking to a rock. Some of Scientology's beliefs include: The human race is really just a by-product of an alien race that was banished here 10,000,000 years ago by an alien evil-doer named Zenu. The alien outcasts were flown here in DC-10's (or something so similarly designed that you would involuntarily burst out laughing if you saw that actual drawing Hubbard did!). After arriving in Hawaii, which, incidentally, did not exist 10,000,000 years ago, they were thrown into a volcano (see the cover of the book, Dianetics). They were then blown up by a hydrogen bomb detonation. These "Thetans", as Hubbard referred to them as, were then scattered across the face of the Earth and waited until humans evolved in order to latch on to them, albeit invisibly. The now body-Thetans are the primary cause of all the ills of humanity. And this is what Scientology helps you get rid of. So, do you want to see the movie?

Well, I do not practice Scientology so no I do not find it helpful as a religion or philosophy. However, I am not really bothered by it, either. It does seem like a cult but it does not seem like one that harms others or themselves, like the Jim Jones Guyana story for example. So although it's not "helpful" for me, it hasn't done me any harm, either.

Check out these videos to help you determine if it will help you. I believe it hurts a lot more than it helps. Just look at Tom Cruise, the face of scientology. He's become a joke. It's hurt his career and reputation. He tortures himself for no reason. He worships a dead guy and aliens. Ok...it's one thing to worship the Son of God who actually did miracles, but aliens??? Come on... Oh...and a video from South Park just for fun, but completely accurate.

No, honestly not helpful at all. If anything the anti-medication stance has probably harmed a great many and I applaud Brooke Shields for standing up to Tom Cruise in regards to the post partum depression medication she found helpful. It's a shame Tom got so much air and press time to distribute his views. He's free to hold his beliefs as I hold mine, but I'm not forcing them down anyone's throat on late night TV either. (Note: Katie's quiet, pain free birth was accomplished with an epidural. That's medication to me.)

In the early eighties I was at a Sci Fi convention in Stockholm, Sweden, Europe. The most important speaker at the convention was Isac Asimov. I remember him talking about cowboys and their guns that couldn't shoot a hole in a leather vest from quite short distances. What I didn't remember was that he told us about a bet he and L Ron Hubbard made. The bet was that mr Hubbard could get rich by stratin a religion. A bet mr Asimov lost. At the time I had never heard of scientology, and mr Hubbard was maybe someone I know as a Sci Fi novel writer. Two or three years ago I heard about the bet between the two writers and it all came back to me. The story about the bet, and I was really awed that I suddenly could remember something from so many years ago. Something that I never thought about before. I have searched the net for this story, from time to time. And have found references to Robert Heinlein. Sometimes as a third person at this lunch, and sometimes as the only person with mr Hubbard at the lunch. As I remember it mr Heinlein wasn't mentioned in Stockholm, but I can be wrong.

Very much so. Scientology doesn't have anything to do with science fiction, contrary to popular belief. If you read the basic texts you will find information about: * how the mind stores painful experience and it affects our life badly in the future. * what you can do to handle stress in your daily life. * the components of understanding. * how be, do and have are the basic actions of all life and how you can use that knowledge to do better. * anatomy of problems. * how to study more effectively. * what basic purposes we all have in common. None of these things are based on any fictional concepts at all. I have found all these and many more to be very helpful in my life.

Very much so. Scientology doesn't have anything to do with science fiction, contrary to popular belief. If you read the basic texts you will find information about: * how the mind stores painful experience and it affects our life badly in the future. * what you can do to handle stress in your daily life. * the components of understanding. * how be, do and have are the basic actions of all life and how you can use that knowledge to do better. * anatomy of problems. * how to study more effectively. * what basic purposes we all have in common. None of these things are based on any fictional concepts at all. I have found all these and many more to be very helpful in my life.