Kids’ stuff

It is deplorable to use children to promote intolerance and bigotry. It was done by Nazi Germany and their barbarism was clear to everyone. That it is now somehow acceptable to ridicule people’s religion here in America is contemptible and offensive. And what does it teach these children? Certainly not the hard-learned lessons of tolerance that have been a cornerstone of our society. I suppose this is a great source of pride to the gleeful Mr. Jarrow and Mr. Timbers. And for this we can apparently thank the generous grants from The Krupp Family Foundation, Ann and Graham Gund, Janet and John Pattillo, Bank of America, Citizens Bank and Sovereign Bank. What enlightened people they must be! Who is next to be held up to mockery and disparagement for the simple crime of attempting to elevate and civilize the world. Shameful!

Deplorable? Promote intolerance and bigotry? NAZI'S??? I have seen the members of scientology use this claim almost every single time any voice is raised against them. Sorry Observer, scientology is not trying to raise or evevate anyone unless they do it scientologys way. About bigotry, can you tell us how scientology treats critics? Or how about the tone scale and those who are 2. or below? If you can't why not check out xenu.net and xenutv.com?? Those are sites where you can see the members of scientology ummmm elevateing people. There you can see how much tolerance they have. And you can read many court records and stories of those who were once members and now speak out. But please, also visit scientology.com and get both sides. As for the bit about the grants. May I ask you what your point is?

The lessons of Nazi Germany have nothing to do with the rejection of Scientology. The reason Germany, Greece, Israel, and other countries reject it is that they do not support commercial enterprises or cults which practice healthcare fraud that masquerade as a religion. Scientology is dangerous. L Ron Hubbard was a paranoid, college dropout and criminal. Who would elevate such a nutcase to some sort of guru or hero?

Bigotry derived from ignorance is at least understandable when it doesn't reach violence. But asking children to memorize and recite religious bigotry is beneath contempt. Strident critics again stoop to untruths. There are three Scientology churches in Israel, dozens in Germany, and one in Athens.

Sorry Grad, there are no scientoloogy churchs in israel, Germary or Athens, But there are scientology orgs as the goverments of these countries don't see scientology as a church but instead as a cult or a business. I think what is beneath contempt resorting to the name calling like calling critics bigots. Most critics are people who see the wrong in scientology and are brave enough to speak out. Many are ex members who were in scientology for 10 to 30 years. Why not go to xenutv.com and see and hear their stories??

I'm sorry Observer, but e-meters, billion-year contracts, body thetans, pseudo naval uniforms, David Miscavige.... How do you expect scientology NOT to be ridiculed??? That's the beauty of America. You have the right to believe in what you wish and whatever brings you comfort without the government beheading you or placing you in prison. I also have the right to mock those beliefs as I see fit without the fear of being beheaded or placed in prison. You then have the right to ignore my mockery (if your faith is strong enough that should be no problem). As for elevating and civilizing the world, please leave that up to our schools and universities and out of the hands of Mr. Hubbard.

Not to mention the fact that the Church of Scientology is more Nazi-like in their conduct and practices than some Neo Nazis. The Co$ is the one of the (if not THE) most intolerant groups around, and are brilliantly hypocritical about it. They expect nothing less than total, utter compliance from their members; free thought and free speech are forbidden, which is ridiculous because they claim to be able to improve one's mind and to improve one's communication abilities as well. Dissenters are subject to emotional abuse, physical labor, blackmail (they keep all of your darkest confessions on file!), excommunication and, in severe cases, the church's "Fair Game" policy (note: the chruch has officially revoked "declaring" someone as 'fair game', but has not revoked the practice of treating someone as such. And if it was EVER an allowable practice, doesn't that harm the credibility of the entire church?). They claim to fight for freedom and tolerance, but actively oppress their own members (or 'suppress' if you want to use their own lingo) by forbidding any contact with 'entheta' (anything that criticizes the church or its practices) or 'PTS's and 'SP's ('potential trouble source' and 'suppressive person, respectively, both of which refer to anyone critical of the church). They even install software on their members' computers to block websites that contain critical information! That is the opposite of free speech and thought! That is manipulation and oppressive!! The truly religious aspects of Scientology don't deserve to be mocked any more or less than any other religion (space planes and volcanoes provide just as much humorous ammunition as Jesus-crackers and talking elephants), but the practices of the Church of Scientology are HARMFUL and OPPRESSIVE. It regards non-members as worthless sacks of meat (see also: 'raw meat'), treats its members like bags of cash, and TRAINS its members to be jerks to the rest of its members. If you are part of the Church or are considering joining, PLEASE do some research about what being in Scientology is ACTUALLY like.

As a follow up to a previous comment, the German government (along with others) carefully reviewed the Co$ and concluded that it was totalitarian and because their constitution forbids such organizations, prohibited its setting up shop in Germany. The Church doesn't even fit the description for a Church which means a Christian house of worship. Secondly, these rabid, hate-filled liars, didn't even bother to notice the commonly known fact that 80% OF THE PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS ARE PRESCRIBED BY NON-PSYCHIATRISTS. The least qualified therapist out there has advanced degrees and thousands of supervised hours. Some Scientology auditor may have walked by the day before having seen the "now hiring" sign and they can do their nonsensical, and pointless hocus pocus science fiction. The down side of a free society is rampant violence due to accessibility to guns, and the tolerance of groups like Co$. Let it be known that humorously the word "Dianetics" was actually the title of one of LRH's science fiction works before it became "the modern science of mental health."