Scientology does not have religious status (ie tax exemption) in the UK and e-petitions
have been set up on the Downing Street website requesting
that the government continue to 'Refuse any application submitted by
the 'Church' of Scientology for recognition as a Religious Organisation
in the UK'. Another requests 'that the 'Church' of Scientology (England
& Wales) be made to rename themselves to a more suitable trading name
that will not mislead or harm the public as to the nature of the
companies main business'. Others are requesting an investigation by the
Inland Revenue into treatment of scientology staff in relation to
minimum wage laws and demanding legislation to bring about severance of
any links between scientology's front group 'Narconon' and the British
police force, schools and other publicly funded organisations. The petitions can be viewed (and signed by British citizens or residents) by logging on to the Downing Street website:
petitions.pm.gov.uk/
StopNarconon/
petitions.pm.gov.uk/
scientologyno/
http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/-Scientology/
petitions.pm.gov.uk/
anti-scientology/
petitions.pm.gov.uk/
PoliceandCoS/
petitions.pm.gov.uk/
ScientologyNMW/#deta
il

I'm sure all these demonstrations will provide excellent publicity for the Scientologists.
Surely people are free to join or not and as long as they are not targeting vulnerable memberas of society-so what? Surely all "religions" have ideas and teachings which are regarded as strange by outsiders but that is not

Sorry, got a bit excited and fired my previous post off in mid flow! Was going on to say that is not a reason to try and stop people participating. I remember when the Exorcist came out and all the religious demonstrators went a long way towards making it a blockbuster.

I don't like what I've heard so far about scientology, but don't yet know enough about it to discuss the detials of its teaching.

As a Christian I want people to try to understand and respect my beliefs whether or not they believe them themselves. I feel that, with regard to religion everyone has rights and resposibilities: They have the right to have their beliefs respected including being treated politely when they try to share their beliefs with others
they have the right to be able to practice openly
they have the right to have their views heard in inter-faith dilogue.

In return they all have responsibilities:
never to cause phsyical or emotional harm to other people
to be able to recognise when inter-faith dialogue may be cause harm to others and to cease to undertake harmful activities
to be obedient to the laws of the country in which they are opperating unless they have special permission not to

http://www.Scientolo
gy-lies.com/whatswro
ng.html

Why do people protest Scientology?
Scientology locks people up.

There are over two dozen allegations that Scientology has held individuals against their will.These illegal acts were not committed by rogue Scientologists - they were in accordance with Scientology policy.

Scientology held Lisa McPherson against her will for 17 days, according to Scientology's own logs. She died in their custody. The state of Florida decided not to prosecute the two felony charges filed against Scientology in her death after Scientology used relentless pressure to get the medical examiner to make a partial change in the cause of death. Her estate sued Scientology for wrongful death and false imprisonment; the suit was settled in May 2004, with all details kept confidential..

Scientology lies.

Lying to people to get their money isn't just unethical -it's illegal. It's called fraud.

Scientology claims there is a scientific basis for all their processes. There isn't. Scientology claims it's compatible with other belief systems, like Christianity. It's not. Scientology claims to be the fastest-growing religion in the world, with 8 million members, utilizing infallible technology developed by a physicist and war hero. They're lying.

Scientology is breaking the law.

In addition to false imprisonment and fraud, Scientology engages in the illegal practice of medicine by prescribing auditing and vitamins to replace legally-prescribed medical treatment.

Scientology also extorts money from its members, telling them it's scientifically proven that their lives will become worse if they don't pay for expensive auditing.

Scientology has a long, well-documented history of criminal activities.

High-ranking Scientology executives were convicted of extremely serious crimes in the United States for breaking into government offices and stealing documents. Founder L. Ron Hubbard was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in that case, and the defendants stated in their stipulation of evidence that, at all times, he acted as supervisor of the illegal activities.

Scientology itself was convicted of similar crimes in Canada. When Scientology then tried to destroy the reputation of the prosecutor in the case, they were hit with the biggest libel fine in Canadian history.

L. Ron Hubbard was convicted of fraud in France.

Scientology attacks free speech.

Scientology says that "public statements against Scientology or Scientologists," "writing anti-Scientology letters to the press," and "testifying as a hostile witness against Scientology in public" are all "Suppressive Acts" - high crimes, according to " Introduction to Scientology Ethics." The book goes on to say that people who do such things "cannot be granted the rights and beingness ordinarily accorded rational beings."

In accordance with this policy (and others like it), Scientology has tried to silence all criticism:

Scientology framed journalist Paulette Cooper for sending bomb threats after she wrote The Scandal of Scientology.

Scientology sued book and magazine publishers - including Time magazine - in an attempt to prevent any future criticism by scaring publishers with the prospect of enormous court costs.

Scientology sued critics for copyright infringement, even though the copyrights to some of the documents in question may have been lost to the public domain years ago.

Scientology tried to unilaterally shut down the alt.religion.sciento
logy newsgroup - unintentionally bringing Scientology to the attention of hundreds of free-speech advocates.

Scientology imposes gag orders in settlement agreements, preventing those who have suffered most from telling the world what they know.

Scientology routinely threatens legal action against critics, alleging copyright infringement, trademark dilution, and dissemination of trade secrets - often in situations in which its allegations are baseless.

Scientology hurts people.

Scientology routinely pressures members into spending more money than they can afford on expensive courses.

Scientology's disconnection policy destroys families.

Scientology betrays the trust of well-intentioned people by falsely claiming to have a scientifically-prove
n technology to save the world.

Scientology ruthlessly attacks its critics with everything from frame-ups to unannounced visits to the homes of family members to libellous fliers distributed to their neighbors and business associates.

And sometimes, Scientologists die under suspicious circumstances.

Are we bothered?

Wouldnt like to be stuck in a lift with Lisa Mcpherson!

Proves what they're up against as their PC flags up every time someone on the internet types the word 'Sc*********' they have to check it out.

So were all these protesters active participants in their respective religious services this weekend or are they from rentamob and nimby?

Bemused wrote:
Are we bothered?

No in the slightest!

Not in the slightest!

Religeous looney tunes facing each other off on Hull Rd are nothing to worry about. What about the fact that the most powerful country in the world could end up being run by a man who does not recognise evolution and who's idea of a singalong is 'bomb,bomb,bomb,bomb Iraq (insert other). Please sit down as we may have some rather upsetting news for you.

Not in the slightest!

In return they all have responsibilities:
never to cause phsyical or emotional harm to other people

As some sort of support for Christianity, this is a bit rich considering the attitude towards women and gays of one particular brand with a HQ in Rome, let alone all the activities of the Inquisition.

I don't Scientology is any less nonsence than other religions. Let them be, or ban them all. As far as "brain washing" goes, if you're dumb enough to fall for some pseudo cult and give them all your money then tough.

That is the longest comment I've ever seen. In fact it's not a comment, it's an essay!

"What about the fact that the most powerful country in the world could end up being run by a man who does not recognise evolution and who's idea of a singalong is 'bomb,bomb,bomb,bomb Iraq"

I thought it already was.

Bemused wrote:

In return they all have responsibilities: never to cause phsyical or emotional harm to other people

As some sort of support for Christianity, this is a bit rich considering the attitude towards women and gays of one particular brand with a HQ in Rome, let alone all the activities of the Inquisition.

How many children, over how many years have suffered sexual and physical abuse from so called men of the cloth employed in the ministry of a mainstream established religion. The same religion that were aware that it was happening, and chose to do nothing!

How many so called men of the cloth supported and harboured terrorists in Northern Ireland.

Scientology may be loathsome, but they are not on their own.

If anyone can tell me of a religion that is not fraudulent please tell me.
Good point about the Spanish Inquisition, there was also the murder of the Incas and literally thousands of other cases.
If these organisations wish to continue to exist they should pay VAT and other taxes. This would probably solve some of the country's financial problems as well as reduce the tax burden.

Larry

Dear all, I was at the protest today. There seems to be some confusion so please allow me to explain our reasons:

Firstly, this was not a protest about Scientology's bizarre set of beliefs (Lord Xenu, etc, videos available on Youtube). Anyone can believe anything they want as far as we care, however whacky.

The 'Church' of Scientology have a history of routinely trying to silence critics. It only takes 5 minutes on Google to see why they are not a religion, and why they are unlike Christianity or Islam. Please go and see what they are about before casting judgement.

Google:
FAIR GAME POLICY
The official church policy that critics are "fair game" and "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."

OPERATION FREAKOUT
A systematic campaign of harassment, slander, false bomb threats against journalist Paulette Cooper that nearly led to prison and suicide.

OPERATION SNOW WHITE
In the 1970s the 'church' carried out the biggest infiltration of the US government in history, in order to steal and destroy sensitive documents. Ron L. Hubbard's wife was convicted and sent to prison for this.

"If you want to make money, start a religion" - Ron L. Hubbard, founder of Scientology.

www.xenu.net
www.xenutv.com
www.whyaretheydead.n
et

Yes, but speaking for myself I don't care.

I'm sick of these terrorist protestors telling me how I should or shouldn't be religious. I'm going to go down there and take a thetan test right in front of them! I'm going to make these balaclava wearing desperados eat my dianetics! How dare these religion fascists tell me which culturally-bound non-justifiable belief I should follow!
String em up etc...

I'm certainly not a fan of Scientology, but I'd not protest against either.

OK, it maybe bogus, and it may part some people with there hard earned cash, but its all voulentary and its harmless enough.

Also without Scientology, one of the funniest episodes of south park would not have been made!!!

Im not particulary bothered myself, they can have their church for all i care. At least i dont have to pay for this 'Church' as part of my council tax!

Bemused and Bjb if by any chance you come back and read these comments again - I think you miss understood me. Sorry it wasn't very clear: I wasn't trying to claim that all Christians do behave as I was suggesting was right - they don't, and can have as harmful ideas and pratices as the next person. I think that everyone has those rights and responsibilities and I was setting out some ideals which I feel people should try to aspire to, not claiming that these were met by any one group. I simply said I was a Christian so that people would understand that I was coming from a religous perspective as I thought people might have veiwed my comments differently if they didn't know this.

Sorry didn't make it clear on my last post. I wasn't claiming I thought all Christians did these things, some definately don't. I was saying that we should try to do this. Everyone has biasis on both institutional levels and individual ones, and both individuals and institutions can act badly towards others, its never right, but it happens in all religons I think.