Scientology banned from Germany

DC

Banned
DC
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Mar 20, 2008
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An expert on dangerous cults informed me that Germany has Banned Scientology in all forms.

is this true? :D

on a serious note, should scientology be protected under freedom of religion? or should we ban them? and why?


PS: i know they didn't, but there are attempts to do so.
 
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Banning a Religion, not only achieves nothing, but additionally it taints the view that people can gain of skeptics, scientists and critical thinkers in general.
 
Ron_Tomkins said:
Banning a Religion, not only achieves nothing, but additionally it taints the view that people can gain of skeptics, scientists and critical thinkers in general.
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But here there is often the claim that they actually are not a religion.
and i once asked one of those scientology guys that was trying to trick people into his cult.
he sayd it doesn't matter what you believe aslong you do belief there is something higher than humans, or something like that.
i also went with one of their ladies to do that little test they have, and they wanted to sell me their book and it never was about religion.
 
I was in Berlin in July last year, and Scientologists were operating openly in Postdamer Platz (about a five-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate).
 
DC said:
An expert on dangerous cults informed me that Germany has Banned Scientology in all forms.

is this true? :D

on a serious note, should scientology be protected under freedom of religion? or should we ban them? and why?


PS: i know they didn't, but there are attempts to do so.
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An expert on a web forum?
 
It is not banned in Germany. Here are a couple of links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_in_Germany
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_Scientology_banned_in_Germany
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology
The legal status of the Church of Scientology in Germany is still awaiting resolution; some courts have ruled that it is a business, others have affirmed its religious nature.[108] The German government has affirmed that it does not consider the Church of Scientology to be a religious community.[108]
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Ron_Tomkins said:
Banning a Religion, not only achieves nothing, but additionally it taints the view that people can gain of skeptics, scientists and critical thinkers in general.
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This one's not even a religion, it's both a sect and a scheme to steal money from people.
 
DC said:
and where is the difference to other religions?
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Other religions aren't based on taking your money, at least not in the same systematic way Scientology is.

Catholicism for example asks you to pay the "thice", but it's not compulsory, and you can pay pennies if you want.

If you get hooked by Scientology, you can get bankrupt very fast, and in debt in the tens of thousands of dollars.
 
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Pardalis said:
Other religions aren't based on taking your money, at least not in the same systematic way Scientology is.

Catholicism for example asks you to pay the "thice", but it's not compulsory, and you can pay pennies if you want.

If you get hooked by Scientology, you can get bankrupt very fast, and in debt in the tens of thousands of dollards.
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yeah i think i agree.
 
ANTPogo said:
"Tithe", so called because it's supposed to be a tenth of your income.
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Good thing they don't apply that to the letter.

And another thing, as far as I know, Scientology is the only "religion" that you need to pay to know more about. Go to any mosque, church or synagogue, and they'll gladly tell you everything you want to know about the religion for free.
 
Pardalis said:
Good thing they don't apply that to the letter.

And another thing, as far as I know, Scientology is the only "religion" that you need to pay to know more about. Go to any mosque, church or synagogue, and they'll gladly tell you everything you want to know about the religion for free.
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this is indeed a good point.
 
It isn't banned, but even if it was I wouldn't necessarily see it as a bad thing.

The scientology "religion" is no less legitimate than any other, but the institution itself commonly engages in extortion, bullying, stalking, and harassment. I see no reason why the "practice" couldn't be allowed while the "church" is recognized as the criminal organization it is.
 
DC said:
An expert on dangerous cults informed me that Germany has Banned Scientology in all forms.

is this true? :D

on a serious note, should scientology be protected under freedom of religion? or should we ban them? and why?
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They did this—banned a religion—in the 1930s and 1940s.

I guess there are some vital lessons that the Germans will never learn.
 
Pardalis said:
Other religions aren't based on taking your money, at least not in the same systematic way Scientology is.
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Specifically in Germany, the state takes part of your income and gives it to the church if you are member of one of the bigger religions. it doesn't get much more systematic than that. (German catholic church is currently squibbing with the Vatican over whether leaving the "tax-association-church" ought to be a reason for excommu8nication or not. German church says yes, Vatican says no.)

Catholicism for example asks you to pay the "thice", but it's not compulsory, and you can pay pennies if you want.
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See above. And yes, they still pass the plate on top of that.

If you get hooked by Scientology, you can get bankrupt very fast, and in debt in the tens of thousands of dollars.
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And that makes them a sect? Is it really only a question of efficiency?
 
Irony said:
It isn't banned, but even if it was I wouldn't necessarily see it as a bad thing.

The scientology "religion" is no less legitimate than any other, but the institution itself commonly engages in extortion, bullying, stalking, and harassment. I see no reason why the "practice" couldn't be allowed while the "church" is recognized as the criminal organization it is.
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Because we are much more lenient with the crimes of the Catholic Church, e.g.

Systematic protection and continued enabling of child molesters, anyone?
 
Rasmus said:
Because we are much more lenient with the crimes of the Catholic Church, e.g.

Systematic protection and continued enabling of child molesters, anyone?
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One criminal escaping (so far) his just punishment doesn't justify leniency towards other criminals.
 
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