Scientology a religion? Seriously; more of a cult don't you think? Founded by a pulp fiction writer who needed to make cash. Really, humans evolving from clams? The CoS is a business whose primary goal is to make money by inducing the weak willed to buy overpriced courses that take years, and alot of money to finish. The fact that this organisation exists just boggles the mind. Using threats and intimidaiton to keep critics in line, the use of “fair game' tactics is beyond the pale! While I can forgive and even understand the more superstitious or less enlightened of cultures in their practice of bizarre ceremonies and unusual rights created in order to appease their god(s); I'll never be able to forgive or understand the couch jumping actors and, other successful types, who try to entrap the lesser fortunate into this web of deceit.
Don't get me wrong, I find most religious rituals to be, for the most part, ridiculous; but these practises are also very old and can also be considered traditional as well as religious to the practitioners. Scientology can't play that card, it is a twentieth century abomination; created in a nuclear world where most people accepted the fact that the world was round and that the earth orbited the sun.
Don't mean to rant, but when Scientology is confused with religion it kinda gets my back up.
BTW I am not now, nor have I ever been affiliated with the CoS and am quite happy in the knowlege that I will never be “Clear”.

The difference is that of intent. The early poly and monotheistic religions used faith in order to help explain the mysteries of the world and mans place in it. The writers of the Torah, the Bible and the Koran were completing a moral compass, one still seen today reflected in the laws in most countries around the world. It's hard to see how these writers created these texts with any sort of profit in mind.
The CoS is a business, masquerading as a religion, selling faith.

First off, all religions are cults; secondly, the big three like christianity, islam and judaism were written not as “moral” guides (far from it) but as control methods- to control the people, and as a result, their money… just like CoS