Quote:
Originally Posted by CastleBravo
I have yet to see an organisation which wasn't made up of individuals. I don't mean to be snide but I think this is wrong minded. I think, although I'm not sure, the decision is based on government pressue. Specifically German and French governments which cannot derive money from Scientology, like it can from Catholicism and Protestantism.
I'm very cynical when it comes to the gov't v. religion angle.
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What almost venomous 180° turn-around of things is this? Governments making money from churches? Governments pump public taxes into churches!
Additional to the mandatory church tax that the church raises in Germany. When the church begins a new construction project, let's say a hospital that becomes called a "Christian hospital" therefore, run by the church, 80-90% of the money for constructing it is public tax money given by the state, and the rest is payed by the church. However, although the public has payed it, it becomes property of the church afterwards. So, I cannot escape to fiancially fund the church that I dislike so much and where I left from many years ago, and need to pay money for them even when I am not a christian, and do not pay the german church tax. I pay the church via my regular taxes.
It is true that France and Germany are Scientology's main opponents in europe (scientology labels Germany as it'S most important "battlefield" - their word - since it hopes that if opposition falls in Germany, it will fall throughout Europe. However, we manage to keep it relatively contained, and a ban of scientolgy is being prepared since 2007 for the same reason we ban criminal organisations and activities that are a threat to the constiotutional order, what scientology is). However, opposition to them is not just governments, but also people, and it is spread across europe. Scientology is confronted with court cases and criminal investigation all over europe, since long time. We do not have a hidden Nazi-agenda to supress religion. Scientology does not compare to the Jews in the third Reich., in no, in absolutely no ways. Scientology simply is no religion, and is not a church just because it claims to be so. It is a profit-oriented and often criminally acting economic enterprise and a dangerous psycho-sect in violation of several basic human rights.
Get yourself informed on scientology a bit before accusing other nations of supressing a precious religious religion. There is so very very much material available if only you use Google on it. And don't you have advise centres on sects in the US?