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Line 88: − + − + − + − + − http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scandal_of_Scientology+ − + − + − + − + − + − http://www.amazon.com/L-Ron-Hubbard-Messiah-Madman/dp/0942637577/ref=cm_syf_dtl_top_3_rdssss0 − http://www.xenu.net/ − [[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 00:36, 29 October 2009 (EDT) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
→Controversy: added data on scandal of scientology
Here is more on them:
Here is more on them:
http://www.watchman.org/profile/sientpro.htm
[http://www.watchman.org/profile/sientpro.htm]
http://www.watchman.org/sci/historyofterror.htm
[http://www.watchman.org/sci/historyofterror.htm]
http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607
[http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607]
http://www.clambake.org/
[http://www.clambake.org]
[http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/cooper/sos.html]
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/cooper/sos.html
[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/cpoint7]
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/cpoint7
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoASMyv9Cek]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoASMyv9Cek
[http://www.xenutv.com]
http://www.xenutv.com/
[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5694888509800082473&ei=fmJpSe-EIY6cqALgzqndBw&q=scientology+video&hl=en]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5694888509800082473&ei=fmJpSe-EIY6cqALgzqndBw&q=scientology+video&hl=en
[[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 00:36, 29 October 2009 (EDT)
::: I could help you add this information to the main text, just write it edited. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 08:30, 29 October 2009 (EDT)
::: I could help you add this information to the main text, just write it edited. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 08:30, 29 October 2009 (EDT)
In lieu of a more comprehensive entry, may the below suffice for now.
==Controversy and criticism==
Both the status of Scientology as a religion and its beliefs as well as its practices and manner of operation have been a subject of condemnation by both religious and secular sources.<ref>http://www.watchman.org/profile/sientpro.htm]</ref><ref>http://www.watchman.org/sci/historyofterror.htm</ref><ref>http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607</ref><ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/cpoint7</ref>
<ref>http://www.clambake.org</ref>
Christian apologist Craig Branch of Watchman Fellowship begins a documented examination of Scientology by stating,
<blockquote> Controversy continues to rage around Scientology, due mostly to the totalitarian and abusive nature of its practices. The evolution and history of Scientology raises serious and fundamental questions about freedoms and protections of religion and even what or who defines a religion. Scientology is an anomaly on even a diverse religious landscape. It does, in fact, involve religious belief (in what most outsiders would regard as science fiction). But that belief appears to have been built chiefly as a cover for exploitive commercial operations...Scientology's history of terror and abuse appears to be the result of its founder's delusion and paranoia. <ref>http://www.watchman.org/Sci/scientologymafia.htm</ref>
</blockquote>
A secular source writes,
<blockquote>
Labelled as “corrupt, sinister and dangerous” yet zealously adhered to by some of Hollywood’s most influential luminaries, The Church of Scientology is never free from the public eye. From its contentious human ‘auditing’ processes to its fervent anti-psychiatry standpoint and silent drug-free birthing requirements, this controversial religion seems to belong in the midst of a slightly alarming Phillip Pullman novel.
Such charges are due in part to the tendency of Scientology to engage in intimidation and unethical or unlawful practices against those who have criticized or publicly opposed it, from former members, to national publications, to the [[United States]] government. This has resulted in Scientology being termed a "religious mafia", and "a commercial enterprise that masquerades as a religion, <ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s04.html</ref><ref>cf. Scientology: the Sickness Spreads," Reader's Digest, September, l981, reprint, p.2</ref> In response to journalist Paulette Cooper's 1972 book, ''The Scandal of Scientology'',<ref>http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos.html</ref> Scientology launched filed 19 lawsuits against her,<ref>http://www.paulettecooper.com/scandal.htm</ref> contrived a false bomb threat made in her name, and planned and implemented various other attempts over the course of almost 15 years. A strategy called ''Operation Freakout'' sought "To get P.C incarcerated in a mental institution or jail, or at least to hit her so hard that she drops her attacks."<ref>http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/docs/pcof1.html</ref><ref>http://www.holysmoke.org/pc/freako.htm</ref> This plan was prevented from full implementation when a 1977 FBI raid on Scientology headquarters revealed the Scientology plot, among 48,000 documents detailing strategies against critics of the church. Comprehensive evidence revealed the theft of government documents by Scientology, spies planted in the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service, and the planting of listening devices, as part of ''Operation Snow White''. The raid finally resulted in the conviction of Mary Sue Hubbard, wife of the Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, and 11 more Scientologists, who received prison terms. All are now free.<ref>Robert W. Welkos and Joel Sappell, 'Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison'' The Los Angeles Times, June 24, 1990</ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientologysidec062490,0,111873,print.story]</ref><ref>The Watchman Expositor (Vol. 14, No. 5)</ref>
The original objective of Operation Snow White was to expose and legally expunge "all false and secret files of the nations of operating areas", and included plans to use blackmail, and to infiltrate and steal potentially damaging classified files on Scientology activities in various countries, from [[Algeria]] to the United States.<ref>http://xenu.net/archive/go/ops/go732/go732.htm</ref> These ranged from ''Operation Project DIG (AUDITION)'' in Australia, which called giving compromising information on Conservative politicians to the Australian Labor Party so that the latter "could give the Federal Labor something to smear Victorian Conservatives with", to ''Project GRUMPY'' in Germany, which upheld obtaining files "by any means" from police, Interpol and immigration authorities.<ref>http://xenu.net/archive/go/ops/go732/go732p.htm</ref>
In 1991 Time magazine wrote a major exposé of Scientology, describing it as ''The Cult of Greed'', <blockquote>
a hugely profitable, global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.. Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious, and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen.
<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html Time, ''The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power'' pp. 32-33]</ref></blockquote>. Scientology unsuccessfully sued Time magazine over the revelatory story.<ref>http://www.watchman.org/sci/historyofterror.htm</ref> Numerous other authors and publication have been additional targets of Scientology retaliation.<ref>http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/index.html</ref>In 1995, ''The American Jurist'' Magazine published, ''Dangerous Science: The Church of Scientology's Holy War against Critics'', which notes, <blockquote>
It is typical of the Church of Scientology to use lawsuits -- very many of which are dismissed as frivolous -- to intimidate, harass and quell its critics and defectors into silence. This scheme is even written into the church's doctrine.<ref>[http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/amjurist1195.html The American Jurist, November 1995]</ref> </blockquote>
Numerous other authorities have voiced concurring opinions,<ref>http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/crtquot.htm</ref> and or provided documented examples.<ref>http://www.lermanet.com/scientologyscandals/criminal.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.solitarytrees.net/pickets/sp944.htm ''Church of Scientology probes Herald reporter - Investigation follows pattern of harassment''. The Boston Herald, March 19, 1998</ref><ref>http://www.scientology-lies.com</ref>
In 1996, the popular 'Cult Awareness Network", abbreviated as ''CAN'', a primary Scientology critic, was forced into bankruptcy by Scientology. An undercover Scientologist had infiltrated CAN, then 50 Scientologists filed suit against it, many containing almost identical language, after having sought to join the organization almost simultaneously and being denied. CAN's link to cult deprogramming enabled Scientology to file a lawsuit which resulted in a massive fine which added to CAN's legal debt, forcing bankruptcy. Legal maneuvering resulted in Scientology having control of the name and equipment, etc. and files of the old CAN, through Scientology associates. The files were then turned over to the ''Foundation for Religious Freedom'',<ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c19.html</ref> one of many which serve as a "front" group for Scientology, or which are inordinately favorable to them.<ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/f00.html#ffrf</ref><ref>http://www.xenu.net/archive/IRS/#VIII</ref><ref>http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-front-groups-latest.htm</ref>
An addition source of controversy has been the death of 36 year old Lisa McPherson at Scientology's Clearwater headquarters, which she was undergoing "care".<ref>http://www.watchman.org/sci/mcpherson.htm</ref>
Liberal religious cult apologist<ref>http://www.rickross.com/apologist.html</ref> J. Gordon Melton dismisses the charge that Scientology is a cult, as he does in regard to other dangerous groups. <ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/m06.html</ref><ref>http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c31.html</ref>
The notorious Satanist, Aleister Crowley, was Hubbard's mentor and he lived with Crowley protege John Parsons, engaging in sex magic at their black magic mansion hospice (Los Angeles Times, 24 June 1990, p. A1).http://www.watchman.org/profile/sientpro.htm
<ref>http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos.html</ref>
==Further reading==
*[<ref>[http://www.watchman.org/sci/index.htm Various Christian doctrinal and historical articles on Scientology]</ref>
*[http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=607 An exhaustive information source on Scientology]
*[http://www.clambake.org Extensive information critical of Scientology from secular source]
*[http://www.xenutv.com Video source, including ABC’s Nightline report based on Scientology leader David Miscavige’s physical and mental abuse of Scientology staff.]
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}