Religion being BANNED????????

Question

For the record I am not a scientologist, just concerned.
So, I heard on the news today that in Germany officials are trying to ban scientology. Saying that scientology is not a religion but a cult.

I am deeply worried about this a see a bit of a pattern.

Scientology had bad press with Katie Holmes and her husband, in the US.

If Germany succedes in declairing Scientology a cult those in America will be offended and relieved, what willl happen next is scientologists will come out and say how great their religion is, then ANTI scientologists will come out and say how it is abusive and brainwashing. The US government will look into Germanies reasons for decairing it a cult and will decide that it is in fact a cult and not a religion.
Next the US will ban it's first religion by decairing it a cult.
Once this door is opened it will be easier to declare religions cults and this will be done more often. Many will be banned in the US. We will still THINK we are free.

ARE YOU WORRIED TOO?
would be my question.

I agree with some of you, that scientology is not so much a religion, but it is a religion on most terms, in the fact that it has a church ect.
So, it is THE EASIEST RELIGION TO SAY IS A CULT.
If you follow my thinking, once it has been done once, it can be done again.
so, they take an easy target like scientology, and ban it, CLOSE CHURCHES ect.
Then, the government has done it once, they can and WILL do it again.

That is the part that scares me.
Nothing to do with scientology specificaly.

By the way, I DO KNOW Scientology was made up by a science fiction writer, which is reflected in alot of their doctrine.
Again, this is not about scientology specificaly, but religion generaly.

Answer 1

and soon everything the government doesn't want you to believe in will be banned by some twist of words or skew of the definition. I agree it isn't right to ban it, especially if they aren't hurting anyone.

Answer 2

Im an ex-scientologist and quite happy with the courses I took. Most of the "knowledge" posted on here is rather funny to me. :)

While I dont agree with the opinions about scientology there are some things to consider.

A) Germany has banned other religions in the past which the US allows. The US and much of Europe has condemned them in the past for such actions.

B) Germany is listed on religious watch sites as religiously intolerant. Along with France, Russia, and China. The US is far from likely to follow Germany's lead.

C) If Germany bans scientology then 6000 german scientologists can claim asylum in the US for religious Persecution.

Answer 3

There are many so called religions on cult lists around the world. Germany would not be the first to do this at all.
In the past actions against Scientology have been taken by
governments in Germany, Greece, France and Britain.

Take a look at http://www.factnet.org/

Scientology for sure isn;t the most unspoken "religion" at all. Not that it differs from most others in that is controls what people think.

Answer 4

As much as I am opposed to this, I hope you don't think that this is a new thing. Religion is banned in many, many countries around the world and has been for centuries. Try to open a catholic or christian church in an extreme Islamic country and see what happens. The Spanish Inquisition was based on non conforming religious beliefs, non catholics were fed to the lions in ancient Rome. I believe that living in the modern day countries such as the US, Britain or France we have been brought up with religious tolerance and banning religion seems so closed minded and a restriction of human rights, but it happens all over the world. Now, that being said, I would think that a world leader and a powerful nation such as Germany would have learned their lesson after WWII and would not do something like this. I believe they are opening themselves up to ridicule from many, many free thinking countries and the U.N. As far as your thoughts of the U.S following Germany's lead...that's ridiculous. The U.S. has a constitution that protects religious freedoms and it is beyond the Government's power. It would make a great movie, but it won't happen in real life.

Answer 5

This is the end times as we know it. How people can not see this I will never know. First banning of science as a religion. Next it will be Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and any other religion. All I know to say to this is watch the signs because they will tell you what's going on. If you don't pay attention it will hit you in the back of the head and you will not know what happened. It will be too late then. Just because a country bans a religion does not mean it can take God or another belief from you. Stay strong in what you believe. Regardless of what people tell me to do I will always stay strong for God no matter what happens.

Answer 6

Religion is defined as a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people. Scientology definitely qualifies as a religion using these terms.

In America, we have the right to free religion. For this reason, I am not concerned that Scientology would ever be banned in the US.

Answer 7

Religions are political and social control organizations and have very little to do with the worship of God. God is just scenery used to give authority to the evil, self serving men who then can tell people that if they don't do what they are told then God will punish them. There is no need for any organizations to stand between God and man. Scientology is much less like a religion in that it really does not deal with spiritualism at any level. You sound concerned but are you concerned because you fear that the evil organizations known as religions (responsible for most evil in the world) are being called to question and that mankind might wake up and stop following these groups?

Answer 8

Why worry? If scientology can not survive the persecution, it's probably not worth it in the first place.

When China outlawed Christianity, it went "underground" and actually grew! Persecution helps to draw the line of demarcation, so to speak. What CAN fall WILL fall, and what is Truth will remain. Persecution of the church has always purified it of wishy washy phonies, so I'm sure a little persecution against scientology won't hurt one little bit. And, if it IS a cult as they have proclaimed, all will be revealed.

You need to find out WHY they believe it is a cult.

Do some investigation of your own if you're concerned. Find out how and when scientology got it's start.

Answer 9

All religions were a cult at one time or another, they just grew larger and called themselves a religion.

I would be a happy man if all religions were abolished, then I could buy the local church and make it into a trendy, gothic house. :-)

Edit: No government in the near future would ban religions as it would be political suicide. Germany might get away with it only if Scientology has a very small following in their country.

Answer 10

It's not the "religion" of scientology (which is, at worst, a joke) that they are trying to ban, it's the organization called the "Church of Scientology", which is more like a business than a church and which brainwashes and abuses people to get their money.

Answer 11

They ARE a cult.

They also have been known to commit and condone the murder of their perceived "enemies".

This is a quote from Scientology's "Fair Game":
"ENEMY SP Order. Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."

http://www.xenu.net/fairgame-e.html
http://www.xenu.net/
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/
http://www.whyaretheydead.net/

Scientology is dangerous. They brainwash, and drain people's life savings, as well as cut members off from their family and friends. They will stalk and harrass ex-members, and their families, and have also been known to go into people's homes and plant bugs and cameras, and bug people's phones.
It is not like a typical religion.