Cult is a danger
LET'S be clear from the outset -- the 'church' of Scientology is not a
church. Nor is it a religion. This isn't just the view of someone from the
Church of England whose bias is showing through, but rather the view of such
august bodies as the Charity Commission and the Court of Appeal. The Council
of Europe also views Scientology as a cult and has noted its ability to
drain individuals of money and self-confidence through manipulation and hard
selling techniques.
The Scientology travelling road show has just left Birmingham. Part of
the publicity for the ten-day summer exhibition included billboard posters
alleging that Scientology could claim "250,000 lives salvaged from
drugs" as a direct result of their activities.
Feeling that it was unlikely that Scientology had a quarter of a million
signed statements from individuals saying the cult had cured them from their
drug addiction, the Diocese of Birmingham lodged a formal complaint with the
Advertising Standards Agency. We await their decision.
For former members of the cult, the process of sharing their bitter
experience with the wider world can be a difficult one. In 1999, Bonnie
Woods was subjected to a campaign of harassment and slander from local
Scientology members after she renounced her membership of the cult and
became a born-again Christian. Ms Woods sued Scientology for libel and
harassment and won both substantial damages plus an unreserved apology from
Scientology for its behaviour.
But perhaps the most worrying aspects of Scientology are the charges which
were upheld by a New Zealand judicial enquiry into their practices. They
found the cult "breaks up families, manipulates the young and places
improper or unreasonable pressure upon individuals". The authorities in an
Australian state enquiry concurred stating: "Scientology is a delusional
belief system based on fiction and fallacies, and propagated by falsehood
and deception". In Britain an enquiry by Sir John Foster QC found
Scientology to be "socially harmful" and criticised the manner in which "it
alienates members of the family from each other and attributes squalid and
disgraceful motives to those who oppose it".
Complaining about adverts won't stop Scientology in its tracks. But it may
begin to bring to light the scandalous activities of this cult and the very
real dangers they pose to those in our society who need our help most.
Arun Arora is Bishop's Director of Communications in the Diocese of
Birmingham
http://www.christianherald.org.uk/arora.htm
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If you or a loved one needs help -- real help -- there are
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Narcotics Anonymous organization
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Click [HERE] to visit Narcotics
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Narconon Exposed web site.
Christian Herald, September 8, 2001
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