Religious Compatibility
Question answered by FreeZone in Scientology
Michael_Crichton asked this question on 9/16/2000:
Several of the newer pro-Church of Scientology experts here
have said thast they really are interested in open and honest
communications with critics of that Church. With that in mind, I
am reposting some older questions. These are mainly intended
for those pro-CoS experts, but of course anyone can answer.
Question 8: The Church of Scientology claims to be
“Compatible” with all other religions, with the word “Compatible”
being taken to mean that anyone could be a Scientologist and
a member of any other religion at the same time, with no
‘conflict of interests’, so to speak. Logically, how can one
simultaneously believe in reincarnation (like in Scientology) and
“One life, one death, one Judgement” like in Christianity? What
about the other seemingly incompatible doctrinal differences
(Original sin, etc)?
FreeZone gave this response on 9/18/2000:
It is pretty clear that Hubbard himself was a thorough
atheist. However, he expressed this clearly only in lectures
and not, so far as I know, in writing (where he condemned
atheism in his only explicit written mention of it I am aware
of), so most Scientologists might legitimately not be aware
of it. And they would point out, correctly, that even if LRH
was an atheist, it doesn't follow that all Scientologists are
required to agree with that.
Many early Christians seem to have had beliefs much closer
to Eastern philosophies than traditional Christianity, and the
Bible that exists today doesn't reflect these beliefs because
their scriptures and gospels were removed from it, even
though at least one is now believed to have been written
earlier than any of the N.T. scriptures that were accepted.
At least some Scientologists are vaguely aware of these
points, and they fit nicely into the cospiracy viewpoint most
are so fond of. Probably they blame the removal of
reincarnation from the Bible on psychiatrists.
Michael_Crichton rated this answer:
:-) Along with the fall of the Roman Empire.
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