Germany Wants to Ban Scientology

I'll be the first to admit that Scientology is a scam, but would anyone consider banning Islam? Heads would roll. From Wikipedia:

Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially developed by L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as an outgrowth of his earlier self-help system, Dianetics.[1] Hubbard later characterized Scientology as an "applied religious philosophy" and the basis for a new religion.[1] Scientology encompasses a spiritual rehabilitation philosophy and techniques, and covers topics such as morals, ethics, detoxification, education and management. The first Church of Scientology was founded in 1953.

In truth, Scientology is a money-making industry. The only good I've ever heard coming from Scientology is their detox program, which many Hollywood-types have taken advantage of -- for a price.

Germany could be asked to ban the U.S.-based Church of Scientology under a Hamburg security official's proposal that contends the group violates human rights.

Hamburg's secretary of the interior, Udo Nagel, plans to seek a nationwide ban of Scientology at this week's meeting of top German security officials, spokeswoman Ulrike Sweden said Monday.

The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people. During the summer, it initially refused to allow the producers of a movie starring Scientology member Tom Cruise as Germany's most famous anti-Hitler plotter to film at the site where the hero was executed, although it did not expressly state Scientology as its reason.

If all 16 states agree to the proposal to ban Scientology, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble would be asked to initiate proceedings against it, Sweden said, confirming a report by Focus magazine.

The report quotes Nagel saying that Scientology pursues "anti-constitutional goals in an aggressively fierce" manner that run counter to human rights and dignity.

A spokeswoman for Scientology, Sabine Weber, called Nagel's proposal "more than incomprehensible" and pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of Scientology when Russia denied its application to register as a religious community.

The United States has said that Germany discriminates against some religious groups, including Scientology, that Germany does not recognize as a religion. (SFGate)

Comments

[Randy Anderson]

As an atheist, I welcome the day when all religions are shunned. But Scientology is not a religion in the usual sense, in that Dianetics doesn't really center around a diety. But it is a belief system that many find abhorrent and innimical. Can't say I fully disagree with the Germans. I think they have it right in some aspects, but keeping Scientologists from holding jobs within their borders goes a bit too far.

[Faultline USA]

I suppose the key to the issue is that Germany does not recognize Scientology as a bona fide religion. I predict that America will someday encounter the dark side of failing to constitutionally define what is or is not a religion. Let’s take Islamofascism for example . . . Is it a religion or a dangerous political movement hiding under the guise of religion???

[Skunkfeathers]

If banning Scientology in Germany is the first tottering steps of Europe awakening to the Islamofascist threat, then time's awasting...get 'er done!

[Rastaman]

One of my daughters joined that "church" and from what little I was able to glean from her with my questions, as well as occasional comments, it's mostly about money.
The first thing that happens when you join is that they make all effort to get you into debt with them. Once there, the payback goes on forever.

That said, I don't think Scientology is a national security threat unless you're Belize or some other tiny nation that the Scientology Navy - yes, they have one - might be able to conquer.

However... The precedent that this would set in Germany if Scientology were booted out on the stated grounds that it persues "anti-constitutional goals in an aggressively fierce manner", this would apply directly to Islam, another so-called "religion" that is very much disliked in Germany. If Islam were then outlawed there, that could spread throughout Europe.

Not that it will, but hope springs eternal.

Rastaman
www.IslamaNazi.com

[Karen]

Banning Islam, heads would roll? I laughed outloud over that one! I read something somewhere about Cruise's dustup in Germany while filming that movie. I chalked up it to him being a moron again. How this all plays out will be interesting though.