Scientology is a work of fiction.

L. Ron Hubbard was a fiction author that created a religion through his imagination. It is what it is.

While L Ron Hubbard may have been a science fiction author, Scientology is not fiction. You've merely been duped by society into thinking that it is fiction. However, it is the truth. Hopefully you have enough money to go find this out for yourself by joining the church of Scientology and becoming a high level operating thetan.

It is what it is, and it is the truth.

:>

<<While L Ron Hubbard may have been a science fiction author, Scientology is not fiction.>>

So it just SEEMS like a science fiction story? L. Ron Hubbard wrote Battlefield Earth too, that was made into a movie starring John Travolta. Are people to believe that a writer who wanted to make a lot of money while he was alive, coincidentally, was some kind of prophet in addition to creating science fiction stories?

<<You've merely been duped by society into thinking that it is fiction.>>

Society hasn't duped me into thinking anything, as I am not only and athiest, but also a homosexual. If society had any bearing on how I think, I wouldn't be gay and godless, so it's safe to assume that they haven't swayed me on this matter either.

<<However, it is the truth.>>

That's doubtful.

<<Hopefully you have enough money to go find this out for yourself by joining the church of Scientology and becoming a high level operating thetan.

It is what it is, and it is the truth.>>

You make a good point here. Scientology requires its members to pay enormous amounts of money in order to attain its concealed information. It's a money making scheme; not the truth. The only time you don't publicly extend information that is tied closely to religion is when you do not want it scrutinized without someone to lead your beliefs in a certain direction. Scientology is not only fiction, but it's a dangerous work of fiction.

Let's remember for a second that the burden of proof rests with the instigator. Now let's look at what my opponent has offered to support his claim.

>>So it just SEEMS like a science fiction story? L. Ron Hubbard wrote Battlefield Earth too, that was made into a movie starring John Travolta. Are people to believe that a writer who wanted to make a lot of money while he was alive, coincidentally, was some kind of prophet in addition to creating science fiction stories?<<

He wrote Battlefield Earth as a work of fiction. He did not do so with works relating to Scientology. I, for one, don't see its similarity to science fiction. It sounds more to me like science fact. Scientology improves conditions in life, and provides _real_ spiritual answers.
Also, you say he wanted to make a lot of money in life like it's a bad thing... isn't that something we all want?
The fact that he was also a science fiction author does not discredit works he wrote not as science fiction.

>>Society hasn't duped me into thinking anything, as I am not only and athiest, but also a homosexual. If society had any bearing on how I think, I wouldn't be gay and godless, so it's safe to assume that they haven't swayed me on this matter either.<<

You think that just because you're in minority positions on some issues you are therefore immune to being duped by society? Think again. I didn't say you were duped in every way, just that you were duped into labeling Scientology as fiction. This is evident in your lack of supporting evidence for your claim.

>><<However, it is the truth.>>

That's doubtful.<<

You doubting it does not discredit it in any way. I wish you were capable of backing up your claims with evidence.

>>You make a good point here. Scientology requires its members to pay enormous amounts of money in order to attain its concealed information. It's a money making scheme; not the truth. The only time you don't publicly extend information that is tied closely to religion is when you do not want it scrutinized without someone to lead your beliefs in a certain direction. Scientology is not only fiction, but it's a dangerous work of fiction.<<

Not all truth is cheap, especially deep, spiritual truth. It's not revealed to the public because it is information to be paid for. Much as a college education is. You can't get a doctorate for free, why should you be able to learn the deep spiritual truths of the universe for free?

Unfortunately, my opponent has been unable to bring up real criticisms of Scientology. As the instigator of the debate, it is his burden to provide evidence to back up his claims. I have rebutted all his statements. That's all I should have to do.

Especially since any supporting evidence for my side would be copyrighted information :>

I'm eager to see how the people vote on this one.