The homeland of legendary church reformer Martin Luther said over the weekend it will seek to ban the Church of Scientology – an organization considered to be in conflict with Germany’s constitution.
High level German officials, including all 16 state interior ministers, agreed to give the nation’s domestic intelligence agency the job of preparing necessary information to ban the organization, which is considered by most Christians a cult, according to The Associated Press.
The ministers, including federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, “consider Scientology to be an organization that is not compatible with the constitution,” said Berlin Interior Minister Ehrhart Koerting, who presided over the officials’ two-day conference, according to AP.
The most recent annual report by their agencies criticized the church for disregarding human rights. The German government has also accused Scientology of brainwashing people, financial exploitation, and having political ambition in Germany, according to The Times of London.
Germany has monitored the Church of Scientology for a decade on suspicion that it “threatens the peaceful democratic order” of the country. Berlin does not recognize Scientology as a religion although its European neighbors, including Spain and Portugal, consider it a legal religious body.
Scientologists do not worship God or Jesus Christ, despite the word “church” in its name. They believe that man is an immortal spiritual being called a thetan and his capabilities are unlimited. There is no such thing as faith in Scientology, instead the truth is what is observed to be true. Often critics have accused the secretive organization of practicing cult-like mind control.
Wilfried Handl, 53, a scientologist for 28 years until he left five years ago warns about the hidden, but potential destructive power of the organization.
“You cannot underestimate Scientology,” Handl said, according to The Times. “It’s a small, totalitarian creed, based on a small book by Hubbard. But Nazism also began with a small book, by Hitler. And look what happened,” he said.
Meanwhile, Scientology defector, Jeannette Schweitzer, who left the group on the verge of suicide, has worked for the past 17 years to help ex-Scientologists. She says Scientology should be “eradicated,” detailing the anguish she endured for three years as a paid-up member, which cost her about $100,000, according to The Times.
If Germany is successful, it will become the first western country to shut down the organization.
The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It began operating in Germany in 1970 and officials estimate it has some 6,000 members in the country. Its followers include a number of Hollywood stars including prominent members Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
Worldwide, the organization claims to have more than 7,500 “churches,” missions and groups and 10 million members in 163 nations.
Comments
Chuck, I have so many questions I don't know where to start!
What do you think about the connections between scientology and crowleys OTO / satanism?
Are they really using covert hypnosis on people, does it work on everyone and how effective is it?
Did Hubbard really think Jesus Christ was 'a shade above clear'?
And wouldn't that mean that they think certain high ranking actors are more spiritually advanced than our Lord and Saviour? How do they expect people to believe them when they say scientology is compatible with Christisnity when this statement shows that it clearly is not?
Do they encourage young children to begin working as early as possible?
Are they really so scared of 'Body Thetans', and how do new ones become attached once other one's are 'cleared' away?
Is auditing addictive and/or give you a buzz?
Did you scream at an ashtray?
Is there anything at all about it of value?
I'm sure i'll think of more to ask.
Cheers Chuck
I believe that Greece would be another western country that has shut them down at least once, possibly twice. The last time, in 1997, for ''medical, social and ethical practices that are dangerous and harmful''. (See: "Who Can Stand Up?", March 16, 1997, Frank Rich, New York Times)
WiccanTexan, lol. I don't know, but to NOT bust on him at this point is just Mission Impossible.
MuggleBorn, do you think this will result in Collateral damage to his career?
With so few scientologists in Germany, Tom Cruise would be in the Minority Report.
heh heh. I love my coffee in the morning.
Tom Cruise is not exactly Top Gun in his faith.
If Tom Cruise moves goes to Germany, he'll need to bring A Few Good Men.
It would be pretty Risky Business for Tom Cruise to move to Germany.
"There is no such thing as faith in Scientology, instead the truth is what is observed to be true."
Hence the name. But it's not the first "church" to claim a connection with science, I believe the Church of Christ Scientist in Boston has a prior claim. Of course, they are faith based. The scientoligists do get points for originality, though, it IS the most original religion on the planet that I know of, and boy is it a money machine.
So ...
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes WON'T BE moving to Germany?
There were several states in Australia which banned Scientology in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and then those Australian state governments in turn lifted those bans in the 1970s. I was Scientology staff from 1975 until I quit in 2003. Hubbard privately to his top aides in the late 1970s/early 1980s pondered if taking the religion label route was a wise choice. Scientology is a mystical practice at best. It's a fixed donation for each spiritual step of the Scientology ladder. I jumped aboard when I was a college student, and in hindsight I regret my leap, and I urge similar young people to steer clear of the movement. It is a totalitarian operation at the highest ranks, operating today on auto pilot. I think German academics from several universities should do some 5-10 year studies of Hubbard's full cannon of writings and pick this "established cult" apart! Chuck Beatty, Pittsburgh, USA (ex staffer 1975-2003), 412-260-1170 I'll answer anyone's questions openly!