Germany has made no secret of their complete and utter distaste for Scientology in recent years. Last year, government officials dared to ban Tom Cruise from filming on location because of his Scientology affiliation. But that was really only one minor incident in the government's surveillance and investigation of the organization in an attempt to ban the Church of Scientology from the country altogether. However, the government has now dropped its attempts citing insufficient evidence. But, government insiders say that the organization will continue to be monitored by the government because of concerns that the tenants of the religion go against the constitutional principles of Germany.
The Church of Scientology is celebrating this decision as protection of freedom of religion and as a hopeful end to alleged persecution of its members in Germany. I suppose I should be celebrating along with them-- however reluctantly--because governments limiting reasonable religious expression is never a good idea, no matter the religion. But Germany hasn't attacked the Church on grounds of religious expression as much as it has sought to define the group as a business and to attack its corrupt business practices. I think it would be great if the United States and other countries would try that angle in dealing with Scientology as well.
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"The fact that the material basis for the religion of Scientology is organised in a business-like manner can have no implications for its status as a religion. Does a work of art cease to be a work of art when it is efficiently produced for sale or exchange? It is naive to think that any new religious movement could survive in the modern world without a business-like material basis for its operations; ..even the ancient Christian churches are nowadays not averse from engaging in business affairs in order to sustain or promote their services to actual and potential members. Lacking the benefits of inherited property-wealth, endowments, patronage and a "birth right" membership, new religious movements must either act in a business-like manner or perish." -- James A. Beckford, Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick.
True it's not like the Mormons with a 10% of annual earning, tithe, but Mike, people can't even LEARN about the BASIC premise of Scientology unless they spend a boat load of money; as in hundreds of thousands of dollars. These people have well documented prison camps, where they hold members against their will. They engage in mind control and slave labor (.86 pr/hr), depriving Sea Org. members, including children, of sleep and adequate diet. As ethical punishment, which can just mean asking the wrong questions, they'll lock them in isolation, hoping they'll crack them into submission. Those who wish to leave, have to escape, and live in fear for their lives due to a ruthless "fair game" policy, which "shudders" them into silence. Increasingly people are speaking up, but many still wish to remain in the shadows. You can look this up yourself as well as the other aspect which is racketeering. See Operation FREAK OUT and SNOW WHITE.
The German government after a 10 year and a very thorough investigation of Scientology, found no criminal wrong-doing and they dropped their witch-hunt.
Those individuals that today keep protesting spuriously about any Scientology wrong-doing are individuals who need to get a life.
Its over. Scientology has been proved to be genuine and clean by the most hostile, most long-term and concerted attempt ever to find any evidence at all of criminal wrong doing.
So all you complainers and moaners put your obssessive-compulsive delusions to bed, will ya.
Good night and sweet dreams -- stop going on about your nightmares and delusions.
Truth Wins Out, Always.
And by *wins out always* you mean the easy way it's won out with the Mafioso over the last century.
Google up "scientology what are your crimes?"
Germany, for all you Scientologists who are griping about being unjustly persecuted, is a country that is still psychologically fragile after two world wars, which they lost. The majority of people still don't boast national pride, and don't scream their national ideology like so many other countries do. They fell under the brain-washing of Hitler, and have carried the shame of those actions for over sixty years. Scientology is brain-washing. It is not a religion,(as if I care, I'm an atheist and a German by birth) it is a business masquerading as a religion. Its founder, L. Ron Hubbard even stated that if you wanted to make a lot of money, you'd do well to start your own religion. The government of Germany is just trying to protect its citizenry and country from another bunch of kooks. Pay-to-pray? No Freakin' Way!
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