a great way that L Ron Hubbard made a living from

the science of human health, I believe.

Sooo, how did it become a religion?

It became a religion as all religions become = blame it on god.

But how on what premis?

Maybe Scientology is a religion because its practices give people a clearer view.. it sort of clears out all the crap, something I'm sure a plummer would appreciate, and that maybe helps them feel closer to God, or whoever.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science

 

At the core of Christian Science is the teaching that God and God's creation are entirely good and spiritual, and that God has made all things in His likeness. Christian Scientists hold that the reality of being and of all that God makes is spiritual, not material. They see this spiritual reality as the only reality and all else as illusion or "error." Christian Science acknowledges that we all seem to be experiencing a material existence, but holds that this experience ultimately yields to a true spiritual understanding of God and creation. They believe that this is how healing through prayer is possible.^[1]

 

Christian Science is considered to be a religion, rather than a medical science, by medical practitioners. ...

 

Christian Scientists have been controversial for their failure to provide conventional health care for children (Asser and Swan, 1998). In the United States, the constitutional guarantee of protection of religious practice from intrusion by government has been used by Christian Scientists and other religious groups to seek exemption from legislative or regulatory requirements regarding child abuse and neglect, including medical neglect in more than three quarters of the states. There are now statutes in 44 states which contain a provision stating that a child is not to be deemed abused or neglected merely because he or she is receiving treatment by spiritual means, through prayer according to the tenets of a recognized religion. Although these exemptions take different forms and interpretations in different state jurisdictions, the overall effect has been to limit the ability of the state to prosecute parents for suspected or alleged abuse or medical neglect of children when such occurrences may be the result of religious practice. Severe (even fatal) physical discipline, failure to seek medical care, or refusal of a proven efficacious treatment of a critically ill child may be protected from prosecution because of the religious exemption clauses now found in a majority of state codes. (However, most of these cases do not involve Christian Scientists.)

 

 

well that just kind of makes me sick inside to know that some abusive @#%$% can do whatever the hell he wants and say its his religion...$%^& typical.

I think that you will find, upon examination, that Christian Science is separate and distinct from Scientology.

When I lived in Hollywood about a 100, the Scientology owned a beautiful mansion right next to my place --- great backyard, nice to visit. They were very gracious folks, inviting me over whenever I felt the urge (and gave me a coke too :-)

Oops! Sorry.

 

Try this one.

 

Quoted from here :  http://www.scientologytoday.org/Common/question/pg05.htm

 

Why is Scientology a religion?

Scientology meets all three criteria generally used by religious scholars when examining religions: (1) a belief in some Ultimate Reality, such as the Supreme Being or eternal truth that transcends the here and now of the secular world; (2) religious practices directed toward understanding, attaining or communicating with this Ultimate Reality; and (3) a community of believers who join together in pursuing the Ultimate Reality.

Scientology’s belief in an Ultimate Reality that transcends the material world include its concepts of the thetan, the spiritual world (the seventh dynamic) and the Supreme Being (the eighth dynamic). The second element can be found in Scientology’s life-rite ceremonies such as naming, marriage and funeral services, but predominantly in the religious services of auditing and training, through which Scientologists increase their spiritual awareness and attain an understanding of the spiritual world and, ultimately, their relationship with the Supreme Being. As to the third element, a very vital community of believers can be found at any church of Scientology at almost any time of the day...

thanks Evonne

You are welcome.