Daughter and this classmate of hers have been dating since August. She told us him & his whole family are Scientologists. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know anything about it until she mentioned it, my first thought was “oh, they believe in science? That’s cool”. Then I looked it up online… and I still don’t understand anything. Most sources say it’s a bad thing, but I don’t get what it’s all actually about, as in doctrine, beliefs, activities, etc. I don’t even understand if it’s an actual religion or one of those pay-to-level-up self-care courses. One of the most confusing things I’ve ever read about. So if anyone could explain it straight to the point, I’d be very grateful.

      • warm@kbin.earth
        2·
        4 hours ago

        If you disregard a belief because it is detrimental to yourself or others, then you are not in a religion, you are not in a cult, you just believe in what makes you comfortable and that is okay. Religion is fine, until it causes detriment to other people, which is what it has done in all of history.

        Believe in what you like, just don’t impose that on others. Live and let live.

        • Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          1 hour ago

          One could say I believe in what amounts to a few simultaneously (it’s “complicated”), and they all imply rules that adherents shouldn’t impose. I have a friend who identifies as a Baha’i (and another who has a history of Scientology in his family if not also identifying as a Buddhist) and they impose more than I do.