TuHOlmes: you know NOTHING of scientology.. if you did you would never ever THINK to defend them with the beyond simplistic argument "all religions are bad" and "what about so and so"....
you also don't know that scientology never admits to have done EVER ANYTHING WRONG! EVER! in ANYWAY!..... even religion has had it's "bad history".. (every true religion that is that has been around for centuries)...and ADMITS to it! admits wrong doing, tries to make amends, and for all the bad they do, their good STILL outranks that... scientology doesn't do anything good for ANYONE, just alot of hot air, pomp and circumstance smoke and mirror acts, and this cult and that is what it is is the only cough cough "religion" that actually NEVER ADMITS to any wrongdoing, even in the tiniest slightest way! and in fact, YOU BETTER NOT EVEN THINK to say anything bad about them!.....what "religion" has the actual doctrine of "attack, never defend".... "fair game"... and that "anyone who criticizes scientology is a criminal" (yes, that's right a CRIMINAL!) because only a criminal someone who has done wrong or is a bad person would EVER be against scientology!... they practice disconnection (another doctrine)...
they try to limit what it's members read and watch...
you have to pay more and more to even LEARN about what they believe in? right there that is a scam!..and we are talking HUGE BUCKS! and if you don't have a few hundred thousands laying around? oh well too bad! you can't join! (what religion would exclude ANYONE for not having enough money?) OR you can join their seaorg organization and work for a few bucks a week for rice and beans and subhousing and slavery working 24/7 for the rest of your life after you sign your billion (yes, that's right!) contract... contracts? in a religion? (what's a billion years when you are a immortal being they think!)...basically human and child slavery they engage in... yes, children are able to sign billion year contracts too! and if your in the seaorg? don't think about getting pregnant! yep! forced abortions are the order of the day as well!..
every other religion you can walk into a church, a synagogue, a mosque, whatever and ask what they believe and be told in about 5 minutes FOR FREE!...
what other religion actually sends it's spokespersons, high ranking personnel to stalk and harass former members who speak out or those never in who speak against it? going to their homes, places of work, and just out and about in public? what "religion' actually makes videos to be put out on youtube, calling these people who were high ranking officials "not only liars, but whores, druggies, thieves" and so on? (hmm, if they were all these things then how did they become high ranking officials in for decades?)...likewise putting out a propaganda magazine declaring such things as well as utter lies! they even lie GROSSLY how many members they have!... talking about tens of millions around the world, when the truth is at best? maybe somewhere between 25 to 40 thousand!...
as far as religions telling what members can take? (alcohol, marijuana)... that is true in some circumstances, but would a person be thrown out if they do so?.... you mentioned catholics control their members with birth control.. well that is what they are "against and advised against" but i know of NO CATHOLIC who uses birth control who is excommunicated and disconnection is practiced on them... it's one of those your not supposed to do it, but everyone does it, so it is what it is and how does the catholic church know if you do or don't?.... NOT scientology, they know and want to know EVERYTHING about you and control EVERYTHING you think, say and do!...
don't get me talking about the whole audit/e-meter scandal/scam/blackmail angle....
scientology is the NORTH KOREA OF not only "religions" but of a cult!...