New drive in Germany to ban scientology

[Skybird]

http://www.faz.net/s/Rub594835B67271...~Scontent.html

For the first time ever, all 17 interior ministers in Germany have reached consensus on the latest reports by the interior intelligence service for the protection of the constitution (BVS), that the findings leave no other choice than to understand scientology as an organization whose goals are threatening the constitution and are incompatible with the goals and values of the constitution, and they agreed to work together to get it banned nationwide next year. This solid front from all parties and federal states is a first, so far we had single federal states ruling like this, but never no national unity.

In the past, courts in Germany have repeatedly came to the same conclusion, and refused to accept Scientology's claim to be a religion and therefore rejected it's demand to be seen as "allgemeinnützig" (in the common wellfare?) , which would have meant massive tax cuts for the organisation. In the leatest court-ruling, a court in cologne has found that Scientology is violating the principle of a free democratic basic order, and is violating several basic rights and human rights as well, especially the consitutional guarantee of human dignity, and the constitutional guarantee for free realisation of one's own personality. It also aims, says the court, at a social order without free elections.

scientology currently runs 10 major centres in german metropoles, the european HQ in Berlin, and 14 addional smaller centres throughout gemany. Their last headlines were from children of leading personnel fleeing the sect and asking the state for refuge and protection against their parents who still are in the sect. According to internal scientology information the German Verfassungsschutz got its hands on, the sect is following a plan for massive expansion throughout all Europe, with germany being seen as the key battlefield to break resistance to it. Internal papers are also quoted by saying that scientology sees it as essential to reach the highest ranks in the German government, effectively infiltrating it with it's ideas.

For historicla reason, no other nation in europe has such a high responsibility not to tolerate inhumane ideologies and totalitarian ideas in general, and so germany must accept to become a forerunner to finally kick this criminal business corporation and psycho-sect out. conflicts with the EU are preprogrammed, for here scientology's propaganda already was successful in marking some anchors. It seems that even the government is willing to accept these confrontations, and eventually even ignore the EU on it. The percpetion becomes dominant, that the organisation's activiities are a thread to the state, and it's constitutional order.

The German developement is monitored by several nations in europe who also have tried or wish to ban scientology, and have had according courtruling that decide that scientology is no religion, but a man-abusing sect and profit-oriented business-organisation.

I hope it works this time. sects like these are a disgrace, and to tolerate them is a crime, for they bring human beings into dependance, misery, suffering, and abuse, and very massively so - up to serious psychological breakdowns, depression, psychosis, even suicide. All in the name of the real deity they serve: financial profit. They compare to the Mafia.

This is not about freedom of religion. It is about organised crime.

[SUBMAN1]

They are worse than the Mafia. Don't give them so much credit.

-S

In October, a Spanish court ruled that the Church of Scientology of Spain should be re-entered into the country's register of officially recognised religions.

Looks like the Germans are lining up to persecute another religion. Nothing new for them.

6000 members doesn't seem like very many. This arguement that they are taking money is not a very good one for Germany. Isn't that the arguement they used about the Jews before they killed six million of them? Some folks never learn.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by waste gate

Some folks never learn.

The air here is thick with irony....

[NEON DEON]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

The air here is thick with irony....

NEON looks in his own closet and decides to sneak quietly away.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

The air here is thick with irony....

Well, banning the Nazi party NPD failed some years back, due to technical reasons - when the thing was at the constitutional court to decide on it, the BVS had to admit that the NPD was infiltrated with BVS agents supplying info. The court said that thus it canot be ruled out the NPD was manipulated by the BVS to give a certain appearance, and let the case fall in accordance with the laws. Of course everyone knew - the court, too - that that was nonsense, but the principles of the law and the authorities not having had any chance to manipulate the case must be followed, even when it is the NPD. Since then, everybody is shy to try it again, and earn a second defeat. They try now to block their financial supplies.

By German laws, with scientotlogy it could be easier, since it is a foreign orgnisation being run and controlled from a foreign nation, and for this fact, slightly different laws and procedures apply. Preparations will take until next autumn. they say the chan ces for succeeding to get these gangster being banned form Germany are 50:50, or slightly better. but it is no certainty.

Interestingly, speakers for scientology are alreading spitting poison and gall, and marked some comments that revealed an impressive ammount of hate for free thinking and free societies, and the disgust they feel for principles of elementary humanism and democracy when comparing the decision of the ministres to the history of the Holocaust of the Nazis. Well, it is the right faction making such statements, isn't it. they are so aggressive that they made these comments without thinking first how much damage they do to themselves by that.

Rats.

[AntEater]

I disagree with Skybird on this:
While I'm not a fan of Scientology, you cannot battle them on ideological grounds.
They couldn't even get the NPD banned, and with chances of 50-50, no one will risk losing.
Why don't we do it like Greece and shut them down for tax evasion or something. It would suprise me if such a huge venture didn't evade taxes once in a while.
Also, while scientology is a moronic, totalitarian cult, so are most religions, and at least they do aim for people who should decide for themselves, like laywers, managers and the likes.
I know that most german law firms actually have anti-scientology clauses in their work contracts, simply because scientologists are a bit unnerving to their co workers with their endless recruiting attempts.
Also, I don't see the problem: at least in Germany we're not in a time for cults, today the cult is money, and I suppose many people who do join Scientology do so for contacts and career advancement, not for spiritual enlightenment.
Maybe the US is different, with radical evanglicals and such.
The 80s were different here, when everybody and his dog was looking for "self-finding" and meditation and stuff and young people looked for something to believe in, joing Bhuddists and Osho and god knows what kind of cults (some even became muslims!).
Today, youth is simply is after money, sex and drugs, not spiritualism.

Scientology is a nuisance, but nothing one can prevent with ideological laws.
Also, compared with radical islam and doomsday evanglicals in the US, "operating Thetans", the god Xenu, John Travolta and Tom Cruise hopping on sofas seem quite harmless...