If a Scientologist ran for President

would that automatically count them out from getting your vote?

Depends, is it Tom Cruise or John Travolta?

It probably would stop me from voting for the candidate. That said I would need more information; religion is an issue but it's not the whole person. I would want to know what the candidate's position is on a number of issues and also need to know how much experience that person has in Gubment and/or private industry as a leader. Above all I would need to know how effective the individual has been as a leader, only then could I form an opinion and vote for or against the candidate.

What president has ever been able to force any kind of policy based on his religion? I'm not even sure how that would even be possibe. So unless a candidate's religious beliefs involves some sort of human or animal sarifice, wtf does it matter?

It goes to a candidates character Rick....if you believe that Scientology is a cult (not saying it is, but that you might believe it is) would you vote for someone who would be sucked in by a cult?

archer wrote: It goes to a candidates character Rick....if you believe that Scientology is a cult (not saying it is, but that you might believe it is) would you vote for someone who would be sucked in by a cult?

Scientology is not recognized as a religion in numerous countries...

The Church has so far failed to win religious recognition in Canada.[78] In the UK, the Charity Commission for England and Wales ruled in 1999 that Scientology was not a religion and refused to register the Church as a charity, although a year later, it was recognized as a not-for-profit body in a separate proceeding by the UK Revenue and Customs and exempted from UK value added tax.[78][192] After considerable investigation, the German government dropped its attempt to ban Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of illegal activity. Historically, Germany has considered Scientology to be in conflict with the principles of the nation's constitution. Germany will continue to monitor Scientology's activities in the country, despite continued objection from the Church of Scientology which cites such monitoring as abuse of freedom of religion.[193] France and Belgium have not recognized Scientology as a religion, and Stephen A. Kent, writing in 2001, noted that no such recognition had been obtained in Ireland, Luxembourg, Israel or Mexico either.[194] The Belgian State Prosecution Service has recommended that various individuals and organizations associated with Scientology should be prosecuted.[195][196] An administrative court is to decide if charges will be pressed.[195][196] In Greece, Scientology is not recognized as a religion by the Greek government, and multiple applications for religious status have been denied, for example in 2000 and 2003.[197]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientolog ... by_country

And there has been many incidents of Scientology breaking laws, deceptive money laundering, kidnapping, physical abuse (the president of Scientology's wife is currently missing and the "church" has been covering up her whereabouts). The "church" also has a ship that sit offshore in international waters where many of the churches "higher ups" live or visit... free from any counties laws. They have been know to harass important members who have left the church. And the bottom line... L. Ron Hubbard said it himself that that inventing a religion would be a good money making venture.

While the oft-cited rumor that Hubbard made a bar bet with Robert A. Heinlein that he could start a cult is unproven, many witnesses have reported Hubbard making statements in their presence that starting a religion would be a good way to make money. These statements have led many to believe that Hubbard hid his true intentions and was motivated solely by potential financial rewards.

I would not vote for a avowed Scientologist for any public office. There is too much proof available to show that this so called "religion" is a money making business that practices deceptive and dangerous controls on their members.

If you want to delve deeper into the organization and learn about their "theology" and the many illegal activities they have been involved in... see Operation Clambake... (yes, the name of the website is strange, but Clams actually have something to do with Scientology, if you read enough at that web site you'll understand).

http://www.xenu.net/

Soulshiner wrote: would that automatically count them out from getting your vote?

OMG, you are such a dupe.
Would you automatically count out a Mormon is what you mean. Duh.
Please carry on.

Blazer Bob wrote:

Soulshiner wrote: would that automatically count them out from getting your vote?

OMG, you are such a dupe.
Would you automatically count out a Mormon is what you mean. Duh.
Please carry on.

Interesting...Scientology has been very much in the news lately, I took the question at face value and the answers should be interesting. That you are associating Mormonism with Scientology....or with a cult, is very enlightening. Are you concerned that the voting public will eventually make that same comparison?

archer wrote:

Blazer Bob wrote:

Soulshiner wrote: would that automatically count them out from getting your vote?

OMG, you are such a dupe.
Would you automatically count out a Mormon is what you mean. Duh.
Please carry on.

Interesting...Scientology has been very much in the news lately, I took the question at face value and the answers should be interesting. That you are associating Mormonism with Scientology....or with a cult, is very enlightening. Are you concerned that the voting public will eventually make that same comparison?

Comparing Scientology to Mormonism is like comparing apples to oranges. It's apparent that some posters on this thread have no real knowledge of the foundations of these two groups, their theologies and their hierarchical leadership models.

archer wrote: [That you are associating Mormonism with Scientology....or with a cult, is very enlightening. Are you concerned that the voting public will eventually make that same comparison?

I am so glad you are enlightened.