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400 Comments
- mark076h, on 05/25/2009, -8/+466***** SCIENTOLOGY!
- bastardo, on 05/25/2009, -3/+263"Church", right.
- TheMoniker, on 05/25/2009, -5/+239"The Church of Scientology and six of its French leaders went on trial on Monday on charges of organised fraud that could lead to an outright ban on the organisation in France."
Fantastic news! - SgtAl, on 05/25/2009, -20/+229I never thought I would say this but hooray for France.
- no12u, on 05/26/2009, -1/+151The Cult of Scientology is clearly criminal in that they take your money and can't deliver the goods. How many OT's are there supposed to be now? How many of them can control matter, energy, time and space. None, that's how many.
It's a scam. It's a racket. It's a cult. - Samurai77, on 05/26/2009, -7/+138Now Let's do it in the US, ban that silly *****.
- belebih, on 05/26/2009, -7/+98FTA: "In France, where there are believed to be several thousand Scientology followers, officials treat it as a sect and not a religion."
Sect? I think the word you're looking for is "cult". - inactive, on 05/25/2009, -0/+82 This should happen everywhere, they should be shut down,the head honchos imprisoned and the buildings donated to charity. ...Good for France.
- deweyhewson, on 05/26/2009, -2/+73It's not about what they believe, but how they practice. Although many religious/spiritual/etc. people don't seem to understand, especially in America, there is a HUGE difference between those two things and what is protected and what isn't. I'm no expert on France's laws, but in America beliefs are protected rights, but practices are not (ie. believing in human sacrifice vs. practicing human sacrifice).
What Scientologists believe is irrelevant, but their illegal and corrupt practices should be fought against. - babalonanon, on 05/26/2009, -1/+71secte (Fr.) = cult (Eng.)
- lamejoketeller, on 05/26/2009, -25/+86Scientology is a religion.
I mean that as an insult to religion, not a compliment to scientology. - inactive, on 05/26/2009, -1/+62What Scientologists actually believe:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/104274
3 minute clip is from the banned South Park episode "Trapped in the Closet". - kingygk, on 05/26/2009, -5/+63Finally. This false religion was written up by L Ron Hubbard a science fiction author. What a crock.
- lordterrin, on 05/26/2009, -6/+60I bet you've never even been to France... you should spend some time there before judging it.
- babalonanon, on 05/26/2009, -0/+50Hubbard wore glasses although he "clearly" states that Dianetics training will result in perfect vision. Also he claims cures for cancer and bringing the dead back to life
http://carolineletkeman.org/sp/index.php?option=co ...
More fraudulent claims:
http://carolineletkeman.org/sp/index.php?option=co ... - Spire3660, on 05/26/2009, -8/+57Without France's help, there would be no United States of America, period. We at least owe them our respect.
- willster580, on 05/26/2009, -18/+64There's a douche like you in every article involving France.
- prisoner24601, on 05/26/2009, -2/+48It astonishes me that Scientology has been able to trick the IRS (and much of the public) into thinking they are a legitimate church. People are confused by their absolutely laughable "you might think we Scientologists are strange, but other people think what *you* believe is strange, so you have to support us in order to protect yourself" argument.
If you release your teachings into the public domain (whatever they are) then fine, you should be a tax exempt organization. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, FSM, whatever. Whether your belief system is built on the Bible, the Koran, The Origin of Species, or a comic book series, as long as you put 100% of your doctrine into the public domain and exist for the altruistic purpose of promoting your beliefs to society, then the government absolutely should treat you as a religion and stay uninvolved (which is, for long and complex reasons, why tax exemption is important to freedom of religion.)
If, on the other hand, you COPYRIGHT your "scriptures" and specifically have as a tenant of your faith that only a certain elite (as in those able to pay tens of thousands of dollars) are worthy to know **all** the doctrine you teach, then you are a BUSINESS not a religion. Every legitimate faith always GIVES away ALL the teachings of their founder.
Even the IRS would not have made the mistake of giving them tax exempt status if it hadn't been *infiltrated* by Scientologists. I'm just glad that there are other governments in the world who have not made the same tragic error we did. More power to the French and Germans who fight this SCAM as they well should. Now I just hope someday we get some congressmen or senators with enough guts to pull the head of the IRS into a committee hearing and light a fire under them to rescind the obviously fraudulent tax exemption Scientology got here in the US. - Sejes89, on 05/26/2009, -8/+54I'd rather believe in Southpark than Scientology.
Southpark had an episode where they exposed Scientologists for the fraud they were doing.
LONG LIVE SOUTHPARK!!! - Bloodwine, on 05/26/2009, -1/+45I was saddened to find out the majority of the cast of My Name is Earl are Scientologists.
- burningmanstan, on 05/26/2009, -0/+40Scientology is a dangerous cult for many reasons. For one they abuse censorship laws and laws that protect legitimate religions from persecution. They do this by constantly suing or threatening to sue everyone who questions them. The Daily show can't talk about scientology, Comedy central cannot rerun the south park episodes the question scientology, scientology is a threat to free speech. However, they go far beyond litigation to get what they want and will never stop until they get what they want, they will destroy your life if you get in the way. They have infiltrated government agencies and embassies with thousands of agents in order change records kept on the activities of scientology. [1] This program included numerious federal felonies including wiretapping and stealing documents from the internal revenue service [1]. They will stop at nothing to discredit you [2]. And they will have no mercy if they think you are an enemy [3]. The fact that you have not heard about these activities shows how good they are at suing any media outlet that attempts to report on them. Only through the anonymity of internet can the truth be told.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientolog ... - s73v3r, on 05/26/2009, -0/+39It doesn't sound like anybody is arguing that the canonical teachings of the Church of Scientology should or shouldn't be taught. Its the operations of the Church that are at question. The secrecy, the having to pay to "move up" in the church, the shady dealings it has with its critics, the near impossibility for one to leave the church, those are what people object to regarding Scientology.
- mizarone, on 05/26/2009, -2/+39Works fine with me, same browser and addon.
- inactive, on 05/26/2009, -2/+39Scientology is Not a religion. It's a money-making cult. It should Not be tax-exempt. They are horrible charlatans who have destroyed many lives. I distrust all organized religions but the Co$ is a total joke. I'll never understand why people fall for their *****. In case I haven't been clear, I hate Scientology.
- TheMoniker, on 05/26/2009, -2/+33I completely agree.
- sdigroup, on 05/26/2009, -1/+31Co$ = Pure evil
- no12u, on 05/26/2009, -22/+50Scientology isn't a religion.
- zeppo, on 05/26/2009, -2/+30Suck it Tom Cruise!
- skiingpowder10, on 05/26/2009, -7/+35.........of course its a cult, but hey , cult and religion mix here in America,just look at the Mormons.
In France, They dont like cults and protect their citizens from harm against them at all costs.
Cut their balls off France baby - Midtowner, on 05/26/2009, -3/+29If law enforcement would do its damned job, people wouldn't have to suffer. We can't ban a belief system, but we can enforce the criminal laws currently on the books.
Arguably, just about all religions arguably obtain their funds based on arguably false pretenses, i.e., faith. It's just that in Scientology's case, they don't just stop at 10% or whatever. They take 100% and then some. They enslave people. They lie, they cheat, they steal, they break and enter, they have, at least according to some sources on the internet, killed.
These are all things which are already illegal. I have a huge problem with the government telling us what superstitions are okay to hold. I have no problem with the government putting a halt to fraud and illegal victimization. The tough thing to do here for the government is to constitutionally draw the line between observing faith and protecting people from being abused because of their faith. - jakereilly, on 05/26/2009, -10/+36Thank you.
- catbeller, on 05/26/2009, -2/+28France. As I recall, the beef with France is they refused to let us use their airspace or bases to invade Iraq, citing the facts that Iraq hadn't attacked the U.S. and had no capacity to do so.
We will never forgive them for being right. - Bloodwine, on 05/26/2009, -1/+24There are always the, "Scientology is no worse than any of the other religions!", people in these sorts of topics, and they focus too much on the religious aspect itself rather than the organization in practice.
Sure there are fundamentalist sects in all the major religions, but Scientology as a whole is designed to control you by removing you from those around you, taking all your assets, and pretty much turning you into their slaves.
The celebrities are treated to a different experience, however, due to their influence, popularity, and potential to recruit.
Tithing is now the same as handing over all your money and assets to the Church of Scientology.
Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism ... all free.
Not to mention all those religions are based on stories and events that occured thousands of years ago and are hard to verify or disprove, whereas Scientology was written by a 2nd rate Sci Fi author less than a century ago. It's easier to point to the recent ***** and call it out. - orion2013, on 05/26/2009, -38/+60***** RELIGION!
- lamejoketeller, on 05/26/2009, -1/+23I have this add-on. I don't know what you're talking about.
- IceArkin, on 05/26/2009, -1/+22For once, i'm proud to be french :)
Scientology isn't seen as a religion in france, so they use "tricks" to settle here (professional teaching, personal improvement...).
It's the 2nd time that we put Scientology on court. This time, they are sued for an organized fraud and illegal practise of pharmacy. Many of the ppl who asked for justice's help gave up (it seems that they got money from scientologist to give up, according to the D.A).
Sarkozy won't do anything for scientology : the "church" is not well seen in france and if he moves "to them", he'll have serious problem with the "public opinion". FYI, during his campaign, he received Tom Cruise, but he never talked officially of Cruise's beliefs, else he would have lost the election... - inactive, on 05/26/2009, -0/+21Consider that clam baked.
- inactive, on 05/26/2009, -7/+27Being a Christian isn't dangerous at all for your health of the people around you. However the Church of Scientology has done many many illegal, dangerous, and shady things, even killing their own members after taking all of their money.
- 7thguardian, on 05/26/2009, -0/+20they don't tell you about the alien part until you are deeply involved in the Church. Most members get roped in by promises of self improvement and discovery.
- babalonanon, on 05/26/2009, -0/+20Stopping the illegal cash flows will basically put an end to all but the Freezoners who already practice outside the corporate "church"
- Quartzblade, on 05/26/2009, -2/+22There is nothing wrong with outlawing a scam. You've got to be kidding me. This isn't about banning Scientology as a religion, just the church.
- heyimfromreddit, on 05/26/2009, -1/+21Those pasters make me sick. Always CTRL-Ving everywhere.
- mithrasinvictus, on 05/26/2009, -0/+20Think of it in terms of prohibiting pyramid schemes and illegal mind control techniques instead.
- mithrasinvictus, on 05/26/2009, -0/+20They just masquerade as a church to get protection from taxes and prosecution.
- inactive, on 05/26/2009, -0/+19Full episode - "Trapped in the Closet":
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103804/?a ... - moonglaive, on 05/26/2009, -4/+23Scientology is a religion. The Church of Scientology is a cult. There are scientologists who aren't affiliated with the Church (I think they're called squirrels?) If I remember correctly, the Church tries to sue them for copyright infringement -- owning (and practicing?) illegally.
Other religions have at least seen the benefit of passing their information out for free. - thepotatoman, on 05/26/2009, -5/+24So instead of responding to most of 24601's well thought out post you just said, "Nope all religions are wrong" to rebuttal. 24601's post makes perfect since to me.
I think this is proof atheist does not always equal smart. - dlan4327, on 05/26/2009, -3/+21And the RIAA!
I logged in at TAFE just to say that & digg your comment up.
Also I'm aware that starting a sentence with and is grammatically incorrect. - no12u, on 05/26/2009, -0/+18No one is telling anyone what they can or cannot believe. They're saying that the cult should stop coercing people into their cult with fraudulent claims, rigged, bogus "stress tests" and they should stop publicly espousing their divisive philosophy which tears families apart. L Ron Hubbard taught that Scientologists where ***** Novis, a seperate genus and better than ***** Sapien. People can believe in whatever they want, aliens, thetans, auditing, whatever. But, when it is clear they are endangering other people and taking advantage of them, imprisoning them and stripping them of their will and human rights, then they must be stopped.
- inactive, on 05/26/2009, -1/+19Why should people be tolerant of everything?
Should we not speak up against things that are bad? -
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