Belgium to prosecute Church of Scientology

reply to post by VeritasAequitas


Fair enough. It'll be posted later. However I don't see this lawsuit going anywhere. They are stocked to the gills with lawyers

reply to post by prevenge


Nope. 25

reply to post by VeritasAequitas

Im aware of the corruption. The specific attempts to co-opt and corrupt anything on this world. Indeed this has happened to Freemasonry im aware of that.

I accept that argument can be made towards Freemasonry. Grudgingly I accept that lol. But Scientology... Tax haven of the Hollywood elite? Hell no. Is there some truth to their teachings. Most likely some twisted edited truth yes. But to suggest something along the lines of "It was fine it just got corrupted" No.... Sorry but no..... Its very easy to see how some douche bags decided to create yet another religion for control. Scientology in NO WAY promotes enlightenment.

reply to post by bknapple32


I beg to differ, like I stated on my previous post, they were convicted of fraud charges in France in 2009.

In this report from the Telegraph, it states that the Belgiums have been investigating the Scientologists for 15 years, they must have something to go on to press for prosecution now.

Tele graph

reply to post by Iam'___'


And what was done to scientology because of those fraud charges? Nothing really. They just opened a state of the art facility in Florida. I'm assure you they can probably tie this up in litigation for years.

reply to post by bknapple32


Yeah, just a poxy $790,000 fine, yet they had the gall to appeal.

Shows what money grabbing bastards they are.

Originally posted by WhereIsTheBatman
John Travolta refused treatment for his autistic son under the pressure of that same organization. The reason was that they do not recognize psychiatric of mental related illnesses. This proved to be fatal.

I work with Autism, my career is to support adults with Autism through their lives. I just want to state that so my bias is clear. I have also seen many articles stating that Travolta did do this on his sons behalf and I believe them.

From my experience it can be a massive benefit for someone with Autism to have access to and support from trained professionals, be that a 1 hour a day session or live in care, it gives opportunity for the Autistic person to develop and gain power within their life, this can just be something as simple as being able to eat a meal comfortably, to developing larger life and social skills. It also gives the parents some respite and a different clinical and psychology based view with support from a dedicated team of "carers".

To deny this is tantamount to abuse of the child - here in the UK certainly.
I would express this expletively if possible.

Originally posted by SilentKoala
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

Do you have any facts to back up your absurd claim?

Since you've set yourself up as Righteous Judge to decide who and what 'deserves persecution' like some kind of High Inquisitor I'm guessing you are basing these statements on your personal feelings and speculation alone.

I hope people can see this as an example of how sad the double standards on this board have become. If I posted "Jews deserve nothing but ridicule and persecution" there would no doubt be screams of bloody murder and maybe even a ban hammer. I hope there are at least some left with enough intelligence to recognize and reject these kinds of double standards.

I have no affiliation to Scientology but the amount of persecution they have to put up with constantly from people like this is just sad.

edit on 28-12-2012 by SilentKoala because: (no reason given)

Scientology has been placed in the organized crime category in several nations and even outlawed. If you look into it you will see why.

I don't know much about Scientology, but I have studied other religions and come from a family of mixed religions myself. I was raised as Catholic (mum's side), but now volunteer at the Lutheran church (dad's side). I take great offense to those people who compare these religions with Scientology. But then - I don't have too much good to say about the Catholic Church these days.

Regular churches survive on donations. But they don't require a donation for someone to attend church - at least not the churches I have been part of. Perhaps in other communities they might.

I watched a documentary on television a couple of years ago about a few members who escaped Scientology and they claimed they were still being targeted and followed by members of the organization. They claimed they were abused, paid little wages for working long hours, starved and brainwashed.

This to me, is not a religion. Others are right by calling it a cult. As for Tom Cruise, he's always been a little weird. Hollywood is weird in general and I think to a lot of celebrities, they just follow the latest trends.

reply to post by Charmeine


It is a cult. And to learn more of their secrets and teachings, you do HAVE to pay. That's what separates it from a church. I'll get into it all of it when I write my scientology story.

reply to post by bknapple32


Yep. that's what I was trying to get at. donations are one thing - demanding money is another. Looking forward to your story. I'm only working three hour days right now while on medical leave - so I have lots of time to read and post replies

The best thing Belgium could do would be to follow Germany's example and revoke the Co$'s business status and only officially recognize them as a religious organization. This way they could not benefit as a tax shelter for the wealthy or charge their members, tax free, for religious services rendered. For those that are not aware, here in the United States and in most other Western countries such as the UK and Belgium the Co$ (Church of Scientology) is the only organized religion that enjoys a dual tax status as both a religion (which means tax exempt) and a business (which means they can copy write their teachings and charge specific amounts for religious education also tax free). No other religion can claim dual tax status in the United States, and if you do your research you'll find that various other Churches and Synagogues have applied for it and been flatly told that dual tax status is illegal under US tax codes.

Years ago the German courts told the Co$ they had to choose either business or religious tax status, when the Co$ refused to choose, the German courts chose for them; declaring them a religious organization for tax purposes. The ruling nearly bankrupted the Co$ centers in Germany because they had to start paying taxes for any specific services rendered such as educational classes or training; like all other religions in Germany.

I agree that everyone has the right to worship how they want, and believe in whatever they want. However I also believe that any legal or tax benefits enjoyed by one religion or faith should apply to all religions or faiths.

reply to post by WhereIsTheBatman


You're assuming that they both should share you're outlook and morals.

I empathize with them because I believe everything happens for a reason. If it's in divine order that I become sick or if I'm confronted with a situation that others would consider less than ideal - then I don't see myself as big enough to question the design of the Universe/Spirit, or the consciousness of the Earth.

Scientology as I see it - is a system that's built in a way that allows people to abuse it. There's noting new there, greed exists in many forms. And as for the beliefs of scientology, I know VERY little, but I understand that it's commonly accepted that we were planted on Earth by aliens long ago, or something along those lines. And in my personal opinion - that comes much closer to the truth than many other religions (at least the aspects in most common religions that most people believe).

I hope my different outlook provokes some thoughts brother. It is just that afterall - simply my outlook.

Stories have been told a thousand times over....xenu.net...

True stuff.

I was once labeled a SP (suppressive person) by the scienos. I read their secret OT scriptures. Yes they believe in a galactic overlord named Xenu. Yes, if you discuss Xenu with a person who isn't CLEAR, it's said they will die of pneumonia.

Yes, they have work camps and sea orgs and they are evil, brainwashing, crazies.

About a decade ago, the Bridge To Fredom (clear) cost a million. I'm sure it's gone up since then,

alt.religion.scientology. ...crazies. Relentless crazies.

reply to post by lilmehere


The best part is they don't tell you it costs a million. Just what the next course costs... Or what your mandatory detox costs (roughly 3,500$ to sit in a sauna for a few days in a row)

Originally posted by p3ac3fulwa77ior
reply to post by WhereIsTheBatman

 

You're assuming that they both should share you're outlook and morals.

I empathize with them because I believe everything happens for a reason. If it's in divine order that I become sick or if I'm confronted with a situation that others would consider less than ideal - then I don't see myself as big enough to question the design of the Universe/Spirit, or the consciousness of the Earth.

Scientology as I see it - is a system that's built in a way that allows people to abuse it. There's noting new there, greed exists in many forms. And as for the beliefs of scientology, I know VERY little, but I understand that it's commonly accepted that we were planted on Earth by aliens long ago, or something along those lines. And in my personal opinion - that comes much closer to the truth than many other religions (at least the aspects in most common religions that most people believe).

I hope my different outlook provokes some thoughts brother. It is just that afterall - simply my outlook.

Look, I'm agnostic. I think every religion has some form of corruption to it. Some more than others.


However scientology was not innocently formed with any good intentions. It is not so some can abuse. It was created to abuse. You don't just get to go for free and they give you teachings out of their own good will from the kindness of their hearts. They make you pay from day one. And they treat you like you're someone who owes them and they are the debt collection service. Except they coerce you. make you take initial tests. And no matter what you answer, you conveniently are suppressing. And you need only their help.

reply to post by bknapple32


oh please do tell.

Part one link to my Scientology story is on my sig. WhereisBatman, I linked to this thread as well. I assume that is ok to post as you asked me to post the story. If not, Ill delete this post

Sounds more like Belgium is persecuting criminals not necessarily the church of zartan.

I pay so little attention to this cult I almost forgot the the book with mount doom on the cover is there bible.

haha Tom Cruise gambles at Saboba casino while his minions fork over all there possessions for slavery.

Scientology has more in common with an extremist political party than anything else. Not only does it control and abuse its members when they get out of line, but it has an intelligence arm all of its own. The Guardians Office, its former name, was responsible for an operation called Operation Snow White, which was put into effect in the 1970s. This project was designed to remove all negative data from public record, about the founder of Scientology, and the organisation as a whole. In order to achieve this aim, agents were deployed by the G.O. to more than thirty nations. Whilst deployed thus, these agents stole from, or infiltrated one hundred and thirty six different government agencies,foriegn embassies and consulates, as well as a few other private enterprises and businesses known to be critical of the Scientology movement.

There may have been as many as five thousand covert operatives, working on behalf of Scientology, sunk into the US government during that operation, which is the largest infiltration of the US government by a hostile, outside organisation. Not even the KGB managed that. During the period of this operation, agents of the Guardians Office actually infiltrated quite a few national governments, but not to the same extent as that of the US government.

These activities , and the legal action taken against Hubbard's wife by the US government in response to this infiltration, probably lead to the dissolution of the G.O. which was replaced with the Office of Special affairs, which performs all the basic functions which used to be attributed to the Guardians Office. This is not the behavior of a religious organisation, but a political one, bent on misrepresenting itself as a means to gain power and influence.