Christians, if you wouldn't mind, could you please answer the following two questions:

1. What evidence is necessary for you to deny Christianity and convert to Scientology. I purposely chose a religion that is not an Abrahamic religion since the disconnect between Christianity and Scientology is similar to the disconnect between Agnosticism and Christianity.

2. After answering #1, what evidence do you believe currently exists in the world today that is sufficient to convert an Agnostic, or even a Deist, to Christianity. What I am looking for is evidence that is specific to Christianity, not evidence for a "god"/"gods"/"God" in general.

Thanks.

I think that if the average Christian would read Dianetics and submit to an audit, they would definitely believe.

If they'd only take the Free Personality Test, I'm pretty sure the results for most of them would show that they have problems and Scientology can help. A test of this kind would normally cost $500 and up but Scientology offers it free to everyone as a public service.

I think that the average Christian doesn't believe in Scientology because they hate L Ron Hubbard.

Taking the test to see if Scientology can make me feeler better. Post results in a couple.

Good luck, but I don't think you get the results right away. From their site:

I filled out the first page honestly, and then saw there were four more. I said f that, filled it out randomly just to get to the end.

You're right - I have to go to the church to find the results...

The internet hasn't been very kind to Scientology. Here's what wikipedia has to say about that test - Oxford Capacity Analysis. Basically what happens is, they get you into the Scientology Center to analyze your results, and the results are always that you have problems... and Scientology can help!

For now, I'm just going to post my response to the first question.

1. Barring some ridiculous supernatural occurance in addition to the spiritual reformation and improvement of a significant group of people, I do not think I would just abandom Christianity (though I think that many of my beliefs are closer to the deist perspective). The thing that would require me to acknowledge Scientology as a legitimate faith is a set of teachings that have inspired and improve the lives and overall well-being of a significant amount of people of varying backgrounds. Testimonies of these people that they have reached true enlightenment through their faith and acts supporting this would convince me to consider it.


On a side note, it's nice to see that intelligent questions that can be responded to properly and debate are starting to show up. It's tiring to have to see the standard "Why don't you believe in Santa?" threads showing up over and over or having every thread develop into that.

im always amazed at the 'utility=truth' argument. its truly mindboggling.

even if they had a set of teachings that inspired and improved peoples lives, that would say absolutely nothing about the truth claims made by that church.

i could start my own religion right this second. my tenets would be that every person should strive their very best to do well in school, and be kind to others...else they face grave punishments from a new god I just made up. if people switched over to my religion, and really tried hard to live by its teachings, damn near everyones lives would be improved. does my newly created god then exist? would you then have to acknowledge my religion as "a legetimate faith?"

isn't a religion being created by a science fiction writer enough to bar any future possibilities of legitimization? how much more obvious can fraud be?

Uhhh, go to their website. Or watch this great Tom Cruise video. One day there will be a world without SP's!

I'd have to say, step one would be for Scientology not to be founded by a convicted fraud/ex sci-fi writer/guy who is on record saying the best way to get rich is to make a fake religion.

Wasn't Christianity started by a convicted felon?

You'd be creating a version of Christianity. All you need to do is throw in is the threat of eternal damnation and you'd be there.

Reasonably funny OP.

Scilons convicted of fraud in France btw. And not just individual members - the CoS itself.

dont

ive done it before, as a joke with a mate

our local church sent us letters, called us, emailed us etc trying to get us to come down.

nothing bad, it was all friendly and not harassing, but i feel that my local church of sci may be one of the better ones and there are probably people in the church that you wouldnt want to open communication lines with.

I lol'd

I always think it is crazy that they have a navy!

Scientology is scary. It's like a kid dreamt up what religion should be like, and then he grew up and decided it should bloody well stay that way.

christianity only seems less crazy because we're all used to it. but its pretty insane too imo.

I understand your argument here and it is one that I'm currently thinking through myself. For now, I have no response to this.

However, your religion, based on what you said, would not be close to the teachings of Jesus. There is a huge difference between having a restriction placed on you and understanding why that restriction is harmful. "Thou shall not kill," though obviously true and an implied rule for even the most primitive culture, is much different from a saying such as, "Do not wish any harm against your brother" or a philosophy of being your "brother's keeper." Requiring a person to do well in school will not make them educated nor will it inspire them to learn more. The opposite of this would be like saying that everyone who isn't in jail is a happy person.

I agree, but decided to focus more on the effects and teachingsof the religion rather than the writer.

I'll leave it to you to draw up the compare/contrast chart related to what they were convicted for.

wow, thats a neat way to respond. i may start using that.

Agreed. Don't think I've seen that before. Well done!

+1

The monkey guy rules!