The Thetans have landed

[William the White]

Justice at last for Scientology... Now the Supreme Court decides it's a religion...

It looks mad to me, but then... they all do...

[Hoboh]

Justice at last for Scientology... Now the Supreme Court decides it's a religion...

It looks mad to me, but then... they all do...

Oh Christ does that mean Martian terrorists then!

[William the White]

Justice at last for Scientology... Now the Supreme Court decides it's a religion...

It looks mad to me, but then... they all do...

Oh Christ does that mean Martian terrorists then!

As I understand it they are 'parked' in Venus until there is an appropriate human embryo to accept them...

This is probably a crude caricature of a subtle and highly developed religion which is in with every chance of saving the world (and making a few dollars for those in the know... or, since it's scientology, in the 'Clear'...)

[LeverEnd]

Justice at last for Scientology... Now the Supreme Court decides it's a religion...

It looks mad to me, but then... they all do...

Oh Christ does that mean Martian terrorists then!

As I understand it they are 'parked' in Venus until there is an appropriate human embryo to accept them...

This is probably a crude caricature of a subtle and highly developed religion which is in with every chance of saving the world (and making a few dollars for those in the know... or, since it's scientology, in the 'Clear'...)

William your crude caricaturing of Scientology is not only justified but to be encouraged. Have you SEEN Battlefield Earth?

[Dujon]

Ah, dear old L.Ron. I have read a couple of his rather long novels, including Battlefield Earth. To give him his due he could spin a decent, if long winded, yarn. Perhaps that's how he managed to get high profile high-earning people to join what I would call his cult. He's been gone for a while but his mediaevally organised mob seem to sail merrily on. It's a puzzle to me as to how it survives. I haven't seen the High Court decision but it sure as heck surprises (and to a point disturbs) me. Who will be next on the list of appellants? The Davidians or perhaps Jimmy Jones' set of odd-bods? Perhaps that mob of weirdos who killed themselves in order to hitch a ride on a spaceship trailing a comet?

Pah!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Ah, dear old L.Ron. I have read a couple of his rather long novels, including Battlefield Earth. To give him his due he could spin a decent, if long winded, yarn. Perhaps that's how he managed to get high profile high-earning people to join what I would call his cult. He's been gone for a while but his mediaevally organised mob seem to sail merrily on. It's a puzzle to me as to how it survives. I haven't seen the High Court decision but it sure as heck surprises (and to a point disturbs) me. Who will be next on the list of appellants? The Davidians or perhaps Jimmy Jones' set of odd-bods? Perhaps that mob of weirdos who killed themselves in order to hitch a ride on a spaceship trailing a comet?

Pah!

The trouble is that though their beliefs seem to be lunacy, they are no less probable than fiery chariots, commandments on stone, John Smith's Golden tablets, reincarnation, etc. The problem is where does the court draw the line between a religion and a crackpot cult?

[boltonboris]

I thought the whole point of scientology was that they believe there's no higher being, or god, or deity.. Whatever you wish to call it. I think they believe they originated as microorganisms on a comet that smashed into earth and then developed from there..

So can it be classed as a religion, or just a movement?

[boltonboris]

"SCIENTOLOGY WOOOOOOO"

[superjohnmcginlay]

I thought the whole point of scientology was that they believe there's no higher being, or god, or deity.. Whatever you wish to call it. I think they believe they originated as microorganisms on a comet that smashed into earth and then developed from there..

So can it be classed as a religion, or just a movement?

I think the judgement said a religion didn't necesarily have to have a supreme being.

[boltonboris]

But the word religion basically is a description of a group of people who believe in a higher power.. Maybe they need to reclassify the rule.

Maybe i'm wrong.. Which is likely

[superjohnmcginlay]

"In their unanimous decision, the Supreme Court justices said that the 1970 ruling's definition of religious worship as involving "reverence or veneration of God or of a supreme being" was out of date."

Making it up as they go along by t'look of it.

[boltonboris]

Haha.. Seems so.

That'll be the Oxford Dictionary being updated today then

[TANGODANCER]

"In their unanimous decision, the Supreme Court justices said that the 1970 ruling's definition of religious worship as involving "reverence or veneration of God or of a supreme being" was out of date."

Making it up as they go along by t'look of it.

A new committee of Supreme Court of God experts emerges every fifty years. Their decisions far outweigh anything the Bible, Quran or Torah have to say. It's gospel...

[bobo the clown]

I thought the whole point of scientology was that they believe there's no higher being, or god, or deity.. Whatever you wish to call it. I think they believe they originated as microorganisms on a comet that smashed into earth and then developed from there..

So can it be classed as a religion, or just a movement?

I think the judgement said a religion didn't necesarily have to have a supreme being.

Sort of doesn't meet the basics then, I'd have thought.

But who asked my opinion.

[Worthy4England]

"In their unanimous decision, the Supreme Court justices said that the 1970 ruling's definition of religious worship as involving "reverence or veneration of God or of a supreme being" was out of date."

Making it up as they go along by t'look of it.

Stick with this one SJM...We might get away with claiming charitable status and tax perks for worshipping beer at this rate.

[LeverEnd]

Jedis will be next.

[thebish]

"In their unanimous decision, the Supreme Court justices said that the 1970 ruling's definition of religious worship as involving "reverence or veneration of God or of a supreme being" was out of date."

Making it up as they go along by t'look of it.

A new committee of Supreme Court of God experts emerges every fifty years. Their decisions far outweigh anything the Bible, Quran or Torah have to say. It's gospel...

seems fair enough to me... i don't know why anyone would appeal to the Bible, Torah or the Qu'ran for a definition of "religion" - unless i have missed summat, none of them attempt such a definition...

when it comes to how a nation or a state handles the authorisation of places where a marriage can be solemnized or who has to pay business rates ion premises - it seems eminently sensible for that nation - through the appropriate courts - to debate and decide those issues...

[thebish]

Jedis will be next.

in rapid decline in the UK, I believe.... their numbers dropped by over 50% in just 10 years up to the 2011 census...

[boltonboris]

And so the pursuit continues

[Dujon]

I thought the whole point of scientology was that they believe there's no higher being, or god, or deity.. Whatever you wish to call it. I think they believe they originated as microorganisms on a comet that smashed into earth and then developed from there..

So can it be classed as a religion, or just a movement?

Assuming your comment to be valid, boris, I'd say no to both. I believe that electricity powers my television just as I do the fact that petrol is the best fuel for my car. You know as well as I that science, within its capabilities, deals in facts. There are many scientists who are deeply religious but they don't worship science. Perhaps there is someone somewhere who worships the various forms of geometry, but I doubt it.