'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)
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???
ReplyDelete