Scientology as a Religion - Part 2

Religious Philosophy and Religious Practice

There is an important distinction in religion between religious philosophy and religions practice. In the west a religion is usually thought of as a set of beliefs and methods of worship relating to a god. For example, many people think of Christianity as simply being a belief system with various methods of worshiping a supreme being called "God". In other words they think of it merely as a religious practice. What they miss by this limited understanding is the rich religious philosophy of Christianity. They read a biblical story and think it's just a story or a piece of history and completely miss the philosophic message contained in it. For example, the story of the Good Samaritan encapsulates the idea that there is good in everyone.

The religious philosophy contained in the Christian Bible has led to literally thousands of different religious practices: the Catholics, the Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc., etc.

As I will explain in more detail tomorrow, Scientology is mainly a religious philosophy with relatively little religious practice.