Scientology & the 1st amendment

[Superman Returns]

It all started with news I posted on another forum about Tom Cruise in the new Bryan Singer movie, Rubicon. Discussion then segued into Germans not wanting Cruise to portay the part because of his beliefs. Basically,I got into a debate with someone who doesn't consider scientology to be a religion and therefore, the 1st amendment shouldn't be applicable. In fact, that person called me a retard. Sure I may not personally agree with Ron Hubbard but I believe it should be considered a religion if people wish to follow it's doctrines of faith. What this person is basically saying is that religion should only be considered by how many practice it, how old it is, and whether it's become mainstream. But all religions had to start somewhere, right? Didn't Christianity start out a fringe religion? Plus, believing in aliens isn't any more crazy than a man rising from the dead, talking snakes, or the world being 6,000 years old...right? I just think it's dangerous when people feel they have a right to determine what is and isn't a religion in terms on the Constitution. Unless excercising one's faith breaks the law, shouldn't it be protected? What standard should we hold on what is or isn't a religion?