Table of contents for Regarding Scientology
- The Hackers’ War on Scientology: Religious Intolerance?
- What Did Scientology Do? Part I
- What Did Scientology Do? Part II
Image above by “reedbiotch”. Photo below by “gutter”.
In case you haven’t heard about the current internet war against Scientology, let me bring you up to speed. Since the days of the usernet in the 1980’s, The Church of Scientology has actively attempted to quiet all criticism of its actives by citing copyright laws, harassing website owners, and allegedly abusing any means possible to silence detractors. Individuals have had their computers confiscated, been sued, and slandered in opposition of Scientology. On January 16th, a four year old video of Tom Cruise ranting about Scientology surfaced on YouTube and went viral. This brought negative media attention to the Church of Scientology, which prompted them to contact YouTube and demand that they take the video down or face legal proceedings.
I guess this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. On the 21st of the month, several groups of hackers joined together and, calling themselves “Anonymous,” declared war against Scientology in a YouTube video. You can see the original video here, as well as a second video addressing the followers of Scientology in particular here, and a video listing the alleged crimes of Scientology here. So far, the war has resulted in numerous denial of server attacks against the Chuch’s websites, the various videos I link to above, and most likely several acts that I am not yet privy.
So why is this important to me? It brings up an important question about religious tolerance, or the lack there of. Is this just bigotry practiced on a large scale by the hackers of the internet or is Scientology truly a sinister organization as Anonymous would have us believe? Where do I stand as a blogger, a citizen of the internet, and a champion of religious tolerance? What should I do, if anything? These are not easy questions for me to answer, but if I am to be honest with myself, they need to be asked.
Let’s assume for a moment that the accusations of illegal activities made against Scientology are all false and consider only the verifiable facts of how this organization has conducted itself in the past. The organization is heavily reliant on litigation as its means of defending itself and is not interested in open dialogue. They charge an incredible amount of money for access to their teachings and openly prevents the sharing of those teachings by others. Scientology rejects the importance of psychological and psychiatric medicine and offer their own scientifically unproved methods as means of overcoming mental illness… Even without mentioning the rumored illegal activities, I have to question the motives of this organization.
I have come to the conclusion that if even a quarter of what Anonymous has said is true, than Scientology is a detriment to society. The thing is, we don’t have to rely on the word of Anonymous to come to this decision; Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg, Mexico, and the United Kingdom refuse to recognize Scientology as a religion. Germany has even considered a ban on Scientology, and the government of Belgium is currently in the process of prosecuting the Church. You could even read the opinions of the judges who have ruled against the Church in the past, including this ruling from the California Supreme Court in the case of Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology:
“Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically….We do not mean to suggest Scientology’s retributive program… represented a full scale modern day ‘inquisition.’ Nevertheless there are some parallels in purpose and effect. ‘Fair game,’ like the ‘inquisition,’ targeted heretics.
“Other testimony established Scientology is a hierarchal organization which exhibits near paranoid attitudes toward certain institutions and individuals — in particular the government, mental health professionals, disaffected members, and others who criticize the organization or its leadership… During trial, Wollersheim’s experts testified Scientology’s ‘auditing’ and ‘disconnect’ practices constituted ‘brainwashing’ and ‘thought reform’ akin to what the Chinese and North Koreans practiced on American prisoners of war…
“Using its position as religious leader, the church and its agents coerced Wollersheim into continuing auditing even though his sanity was repeatedly threatened by this practice… Thus there is adequate proof the religious practice in this instance caused real harm to the individual and the appellant’s outrageous conduct caused that harm… Church practices conducted in a coercive environment are not qualified to be voluntary religious practices entitled to first amendment religious freedom guarantees…
“We hold that the state has a compelling interest in allowing its citizens to recover for serious emotional injuries they suffer through religious practices they are coerced into accepting. Such conduct is too outrageous to be protected under the constitution and too unworthy to be privileged under the law of torts.”
-California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)
So are the actions of Anonymous religious intolerance? Regardless of whether I believe the Church of Scientology to be a religion or not, no person or organization should be allowed to abuse the rights of others. No, Anonymous acts not out of religious intolerance, but instead of outrage at injustice. They seek only to work against a corrupt organization, not against the beliefs of others. Despite the fact that I do not agree with their methods, I have a great deal of respect for their purpose and will support them in the one way I can - by adding my voice to their choir.
ARTICLE 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
~The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, in Paris.
written by John \\ tags: Individuality, Information, Mental Health, Religious Tolerance, Scientology, Websites
January 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Before the Anonymous attack, I had some vague concept that the “Church” were up to no good. When the shit started hitting the fan I got curious, and if you start digging through the court documents that have been amassing on the internet, on sites like xenu.net and so on, you unravel a utterly corrupt and criminal organization that is, to be honest, beyond belief. The way they abuse the legal system to silence it’s critics, stalk and harass it’s detractors is entirely unacceptable.
Seriously, as soon as you’ve scratched beneath the surface, you will be disgusted, outraged and willing to do something about it.
This has NOTHING to do with religious persecution. This has nothing to do with their particular beliefs, how kooky they may be, it is the human rights violations that is currently going on, right this minute.
Anonymous is doing the right thing, and a goddamn noble one at that, because they are incredibly powerful and dangerous organization with the ability to literary crush any opposition.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:25 am
First off, are you aware of Operation Snow White and Operation Freakout? Wikipedia has some fairly clear overviews.
Now — Anonymous has no prior experience in supporting a cause this virtuous. Brute, low-tech tactics such as DDoSing and digging up phone numbers / SSNs (as in a recent piece of loosely related drama which you, as you suspected, were not privy to) has always been in their limited repertoire.
I think, however, that they are beginning to learn. More level-headed people such as yourself have joined the cause, and they understand things like writing letters to congressmen and representatives to protest the Church of Scientology’s tax-exempt status. They have clearer concepts of legal and peaceful protests that can bring down CoS harder than any fleeting website downtime manages.
There is yet hope, and your becoming informed is a cause for celebration.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
The “War on Scientology” is a beautiful example of democratic, pro-human-rights, grassroots activism. Anonymous has no leaders, only a loosely-defined network of websites, chatrooms, and video pages. Yet, they have formed into a whole with a cohesive purpose. They don’t even have a membership roll. They are bound together only by an idea — but what an idea it is!
It reminds me of the graphic novel “V for Vendetta”, where the common folk could rise up in a terrifying, awesome machine to throw off the shackles of oppression. They wore masks to show that, indeed, an idea creates a unified body that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Historians will write their Ph.D dissertations about this years from now.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Dont forget that we have planned global protests at Scientology offices all around the world for Feb 10th. While there are people engaged in more nefarious and risky activities than denial of service, all the legal, effective and democratic means are being tried.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Who is Paulette Cooper?
Google Lisa Mcpherson
whydidtheydie.net
Wiki: Fair game policy.
There is more. Open your eyes and minds, information is free.
January 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I believe the website my esteemed colleague meant to direct you to was http://www.whyaretheydead.net
January 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
It is true that anontmous has until now engaged itself in little more than online horseplay, annoying online communities and generally just being wiseasses. We will not protest this fact. But this is something I hope the internet can truly support, the education of millions as to the criminal acts committed by this fraudulent business that calls itself a church.
The information is out there, you only need look for it. Evidence of;
‘disconnection,’ the practice of having members detach themselves from non-church family members.
charging thousands of dollars for bogus enlightenment programmes
infiltration of government organisations to obtain secret files and influence decisions in their favour
human rights violations, including forced abortions and imprisonment
enforced withdrawal of medication from the sick
harassment of critics, and attempting to ruin lives under their ‘fair game’ policy.
The facts are widely available, and anonymous wishes you all to see the truth. Educate yourself and others, don’t allow any more lives to be ruined.
We fully support freedom of religion. There is a breakaway faction of the CoS known as the ‘Free Zone’ who follow Hubbard’s works but see the CoS for what it really is. We support these people. If someone wishes to believe in evil galactic warlords firing aliens into volcanoes (this is what Scientologists believe), we have no issue with that. We simply wish to prevent further suffering. Join us.
Anon
January 29th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
see you on the 10th!
January 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
What is most miraculous, is the malcontent who lay dormant suddenly springing up in unison, when joined by cause, finding unity to right the unjust.
What we do is not just to create the awareness, but to add to the ranks of those already aware, who fought and have been fighting to let these truths be known.
Be very very wary of the tenth of February.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
John,
Very interesting. Is Scientology a religion? Not for me to decide. Are they causing harm, breaking laws and being unfair to people not of their belief, that is the bigger question. If they are, then they will face the laws of the world, if they are not, then they should be allowed to “be”. I don’t have enough facts to know.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
xenu.net
whyaretheydead.net
scientology-lies.com
Give yourself the facts. Make yourself aware.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Mark,
I thought this comment required a response.
“If they are, then they will face the laws of the world,…”
The crimes Anonymous lays at Scientology’s feet are numerous, and true. But they have in many places enjoyed hiding behind the guise of a religion. This has insulated them from much prosecution, just as their massive, tax-exempt income has allowed Scientology to shield itself with a wall of lawyers.
There are those who do now know of this cult and their practices- like you, and so have no reason to speak out.
There are those who would not speak out of fear of reprisal from Scientology.
There are those who can not speak out, because Scientology has silenced them forever.
And then there is Anonymous.
We have laid bare this business in churches clothing. We have exposed them to the public and the media. And now we ask that you and others like you see for yourself what is true.
Only when public opinion is swayed can the lawmakers without fear of reprisal, make the needed changes to put an end to this dangerous and greedy enemy of free speech. Until people like you cry out: “Enough! ” they will continue to operate freely under the protection of the very governments you expect them to answer to.
We are coming Scientology.
We are cutting a swath through your jungle of litigation and lies. Laying a path for others to follow, right to your doorsteps the world over.
Expect us.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I think intolerance expressed physically is different to verbally.
I think it needs to be clear if something is making factual claims. If so then there should be ways of checking.
If it is mocking quirks and foibles this is usually clear.
I think poor taste probably needs to be tolerated.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Hello Evan,
I agree. Poor taste should be tolerated… after all, if we can tolerate various holy symbols being desecrated, I think we can tolerate someone believing that all the ills of the world originate from alien “souls”. But there is a question of when toleration ends and moral questions begin. For example, I’m sure we can all agree that the Klan is morally bankrupt; they also claim that their beliefs are religious. What can I say about religious tolerance for them?
I think Scientology has been dancing the line between poor taste and poor ethics too long. The shear weight of material that has been presented that can be verified points to more than just poor taste, in my opinion. You should, however, take a look and decide for yourself.
Namaste.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Hey Mark,
You are right, of course. As I said in my article, it really doesn’t matter whether or not it is a religion. In fact, if you actually watch the video address to the followers of Scientology, Anonymous says that it doesn’t care what they believe, but does believe that the Church - the organization behind Scientology, has been committing crimes.
The laws of the world are only effective if they are used. The only way they will be used is if somebody, somewhere, says something about the law being broken… which means that it comes down us as a society. I don’t have enough facts to be absolutely sure of my effect on the environment, but I do know that recycling makes a difference. I also may not know for sure if the Church of Scientology is causing harm to others, but that doesn’t mean I should ask questions.
‘Tis just something to think about.
Namaste.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am
A bunch of years back, I read Hubbard’s book upon which the Church of Scientology was founded. Dianetics is neither the best nor worst science fiction novel I’ve read. It’s certainly more readable than many of the religious books I’ve read (I’m still having a hard time getting through The Book of Morman). But even as I was reading it — knowing it was a “religious” text — I had a hard time taking it seriously.
Maybe it’s because two of my best friends at the time here hypnotherapists and when they talked about their work, it was almost as if they were describing Hubbard’s book. This, despite the fact that neither of them had read it.
Maybe it’s because it was written by a science fiction author. There are two science fiction authors who cross genres between fact and fiction exceptionally well: Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Hubbard is nowhere near their level of expertise in any field, be it science or writing. So I find it amazing that anyone takes Dianetics seriously. (On the other hand, I know people who think The X-Files are a documentary. Go figure.) I’ve read Hubbard’s other work. He’s not a good writer, sad to say.
Or maybe it’s just my cynicism about religion in general. I’m all for community, but the tendency of many religions to think in the “us versus them” mode makes me discount them all out of hand. (That said, I think many of the ideas that come out of various religious traditions are excellent, as I alluded to in a previous comment.)
But looking at what Scientology has become, I have to think the same thing I do about other religions… is this what the founder meant for it to be? (I’m assuming for a moment that Scientology is, indeed, a religion.) Who can say what L. Ron was thinking? Looking at some of the things that have been done in the name of Scientology, I’d venture a guess that Hubbard would be a bit bemused, at the least.
While my personal opinion is that Scientologists are nut cases, I do try to be fair. I seem to have an easier time being fair to Christians, though, despite the fact that I think many of them are nut cases, too.
But the bottom line is that illegal activities should not be shielded behind the wall of Religion. The Catholic Church is finding this out now. Maybe Scientology will be next.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hey, Kelly. L. Ron Hubbard was quoted in an issue of Reader’s Digest in the 1940s as saying “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.”
…Yeah.
http://www.skeptictank.org/readdig.htm
January 30th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
This is true.
He also said that Jesus was “a lover of young boys and men”.
The more you know!
And something else that is interesting is the recent attempt of 3 scientologists to kidnap a woman in Italy.
Their Fair Game tactics are horrible as well.
But enough of this, what we want is people to be aware of the Cult of Scientology.
And it’s not up to us to give you all the information. It is out there for the taking.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
jvet… I’d seen that comment. In fact, severals friends and I discussed it at great length and contemplated starting our own religion. As it turns out, we’re really too lazy to do much more than think about it.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hello Kelly,
Creating a new religion isn’t realistic. No one person can do that by themselves. *Changing* the religions that already exist is realistic, and something I try to do every day…
… it’s just not as profitable.
Namaste.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I am surprised to find that I suddently live in a country that has become so full of hatred and paranoia that the mob mentality has taken over. There’s a great Rod Serling storyline on the Twilight Zone about Monsters on Maple Street that I recommend.
What about the Catholic Church? What about the Mormons? What about the Jehovah’s Witnesses? What about Wiccans? What about your neighbors? What about me? Who gets burned at the stake, and who doesn’t? Who decides?
My mother was a “Little Fascist” in Italy during Mussolini’s reign - she didn’t know why, she just followed the tide of all of her friends until she was told to spy on her parents at home and tell the others everything that her sweet mother and father said. Then her parents had to speak broken Yugoslavian to each other - in their own home - so that the children they loved more than their own lives would not inadvertently have them taken during the night. So she stopped doing that.
Stop. Take a breath. Think. Tolerate. Study Buddha. Study Christ. Study the Tao. Meditate. Study your heart and your soul, and they will tell you whether or not you need to worrry that your neighbor’s beliefs will hurt you - before you hurt them.
Remember - we have nothing to fear but fear itself.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Hello Theresa,
I’m actually going to reply to this comment in another post & I have received your e-mail. Just to let you know, I tried responding to your e-mail and, for whatever reason, the e-mail was rejected. If I can help in anyway, contact me.
Namaste.