Even if the Co$ were a religion then we should still oppose there efforts to subvert the democratic system.

History seems to indicate that the only people who can guarantee religious freedom are people who are not fanatical on the subject.

In scientology were a religion then this should make other religions more frightened of them not less.

Anon Girl, I'm what's known as a "positive atheist" and/or a "Secular Humanist." I was a Christian until about two+ years ago.

My standing-on-one-leg version of my philosophy is that the vague notion popularly known as "God" (everyone seems to have his own definition) has no basis in reality, and that people must look to themselves and their own integrity for moral guidance and earthly success. There is a "good" and a "bad," a "right" and a "wrong" that can be agreed upon in simple things by almost everyone, but is more complicated and needs more wisdom to interpret in less simple situations.

I can stand on one leg a while.

About the afterlife... well, we have no evidence that can be taken seriously on that subject.

I couldn't possibly care less whether Scientology is a religion or not, incidentally... if it is one, it's suspect on that ground alone. If it's not, then it's suspect on sufficient other (mostly intellectual and philosophical) grounds.

Of the "emotional" appeal of Scientology, I can say only that good, decent, but heartbreakingly naive people who are ready to jump on any plausible-sounding movement promising to "save the world" seem to be sucked in the most.

I guess that's the appeal of most religions (or "religions" ) to most ordinary decent people, though. (shrug)

peace... speedwell