New drive in Germany to ban scientology

AntEater · 12-08-07, 09:16 AM

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...

12-08-07, 09:16 AM	#7
AntEater Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 936 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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... __________________