Quote Originally Posted by HoreTore View Post
If I was to summarize all religions in the world, it would be something along the lines of "take are of the other people in your community, do not only think of yourself". At a fundamental level, all the religions from Abraham to Confucius is about caring for others than yourself. Historically, we have therefore seen that tasks like caring for the poor and maintaining law has been given to religious institutions.

Well, except for one religion. The newest one, Scientology, breaks with this completely. It is a self-centered religion, based on taking care of yourself rather than taking care of your neighbors. Those associated with Scientology will highlight how it has benefited themselves. A Christian missionary, for example, will focus on how his religion has helped others.

Is this is sign of a change in religion, a switch to a 21st century "me-me-me"-mentality?
Why look to Scientology for "me-me-me"-mentality? What about the use of Calvin in 19th-20th century philosophy and theology?
What about the reasoning behind missionary work being founded in the explicit command to do so? (Some Bible references) - illustrated best in the classic Annie Dillard-quote. Who is being saved here? Why practice mission in Jehova's Witnesses, for instace, if your conversion rate is so low it cannot be measured in per milles? Or rather: For who?
What about missionaries from ages past up to this very day whose focus are on a lot of things besides how their religion has "helped others"? Eternal damnation, primitive culture and sub-human tendencies in those that aren't "in possesion of" "Religion" (Borneo-mission in the 20th and 21st centuries for instance).
What about Plato's philosophy on society? (I acknowledge Confucius in this debate)
What about historic Islamic politics in relation to the concept of Zakat in terms of mission, government and expansion?
What about the whole New-Age-inspired wave of spirituality? What is the focus of a significant amount of the content in this?
What about Hindi theology on "priesthood" and castes?
What about Theravada-Buddhist institutions' mandatory public funding in countries such as Thailand?
What about ancient Egyptian theology, Horus-worship and Pharaoh?
What about mysticism? Gnosticism?

The "me" concept is far from modern, and far, far from exclusive to Scientology. Not just in practice, though most obviously in practice, but also in theology. What was Christianity about between Paul and Augustine?