Church of Scientology Protest: international day against religion

POSTED

How many times must we state this fact. we are not against THE religion. We are against the profiteering/human rights violations/Fair Game tactics used against the people who speak out against Scientology.

Someone stole a DVD from a Church of Scientology. That DVD was of a 3 hour briefing to Scientologists by Scientologists regarding the use of Scientology around the world — including drug rehabiliation (Narconon), criminal rehabiliation (Criminon), literacy (Applied Scholastics) and improving morales and common sense (The Way to Happiness).

During that briefing, there was a 20+ minute segment regarding how Tom Cruise has assisted.

The stolen DVD was then edited to make Cruise appear foolish. It was posted on YouTube — an absolute stealing of a copyright.

Anyone can go to any Church of Scientology to see it in its entirety and ask question to understand any points that a non-Scientologist might not understand.

There’s a difference between freedom of expression and stealing another’s works that are protected by law.

As a Scientlogist for more than 40 years, how do you think I (a businessman) feel when something I have devoted the majority of my life to (helping others using effective life-improvement methods developed by Hubbard) when I see such grotesque distortions — and even one blogger saying he “hated Scientology” when he never read anything by it but only listened / heard what those who have an ax to grind or think its cute to attack another?

We have fanatics murdering men, women, children and babies — blowing them up in Israel, in Iraq in the Phillipines — is there no sense left in this world to say, “enough is enough?”

Visit http://www.able.org
http://www.volunteerministers.org
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org
http://www.cchr.org
http://www.freedommag.org

To get some idea of what we are doing as Scientologists to assist and help others.

In response then it is surely ‘fair’ for the opposing information to be provided about what we are protesting against..

Such as the details on Lisa Mcphereson and many many other lives your destroyed through killings, brainwashing and harassment.
Visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCGP-0545EU

That 6min video alone will make you question everything Scientology stands for, and its not just that video, all that information is availible FREELY from any government organisation, website and literature worldwide, you do not have to pay a dime for knowledge unlike in Scientology

I wonder Mr. James Lightfield, how much did you invest in scientology to earn the right to say what you have said?

Daniel, stop distributing false facts and get another job if you can’t even research.
Nobody attaks the religion, we attack the money making organization

A DVD leaked from a Scientology centre, probably by a Scientologist. In it, Tom Cruise said some deluded stuff about how only a Scientologist can help when they see a car crash. Ironically, the first two car crashes that come to mind were the one where Lisa McPherson had a psychotic break and ended up starving to death, and the time Ed Brewer was left to bleed to death because Scientology “training” is so severe they no longer even know to phone 911 or prevent bleeding or any other basic medical procedures we’re normally taught as children.

Anyway I’m drifting off topic. The video was leaked, Tom Cruise came across as a dangerous person representing a dangerous organisation and the time was right to attack. Together with when the feds raid Clearwater following up on Miscavige bragging about sabotaging psychiatrists careers, and when Coca-Cola, 7-11, Dell and Kimora Lee Simmons sue the hell out of you for slander.

Enjoy your annihilation OSA, RTC. And to the faithful scientologists, join with us, the time is right to take control of your faith away from those that seek to exploit you for their own financial gain.

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/

@James Lightfield

Explain on that DVD, why there is a copyrighted theme song from Mission Impossible, used without permission?
Explain why if I wish to learn about Scientology I need to pay to get counselling, to buy books, to pay for auditing?
Explain why there are so many dead from mistreatment under the care of scientology : whyaretheydead.net ?
Explain operations Snow White and Freakout?
Explain Sea-org and the abduction of members?
You do not need to explain your beliefs, they are your own.
But If you wish to defend you ‘religion’ then you must be prepared to rationalize why these things have happened?
Free your mind. Join us and live free with a clear mind and conscience.
Or stay with scientology, and you will die, old and alone, separated by your family due to Co$ doctrine, poor having given so much for so little, and ill neglected by the people who only care about your assets.

Yonge and Bloor is in CANADA, not US

These criticisms are tired, dull and irrelevant. Scientologists aren’t “paying for knowledge”, they are paying for specific counselling services. You’d pay a shrink, or a psychologist for their time – I don’t hear you moaning about them? As far as I’m concerned, those who have a problem with “the money issue” may as well be shouting “i don’t have enough money, someone help me!”. Get off your arse, get a better paid job and quit your whining.

Another look at the Scientology debate:
http://www.bernie.cncfamily.com/ars.htm

Oh, and for another look at the Scientology debate visit http://www.bernie.cncfamily.com/ars.htm

So happy about this movement! YEAH!

James. The video is copyrighted, but that is not the end of the analysis. You have to look to see if it is being used for a legitimate purpose that would exempt it from copyright law. It was not only satire, but it was also a news item. Both are protected under the law. Scientology’s lawyers know this, but they threaten suit anyway, not because they hope to win by legal right – but rather because they hope to win through attrition and intimidation. The problem with the latter tactic is, if used often enough, inspires people like yours truly to protest against the religion.

In other words – I can care less what you believe. Hell, I actually believe a bunch of the tech works to some degree. But your church’s pattern of intimidation and harassment of critics makes it an organization that must be stopped for the good of our democratic system. I think deep down, if you are on staff, you realize this too.

This is scientologist propaganda, or some basement dweller well-wishing.

Oh yeah and scientologists if you’re so free then why can’t you read certain books or watch tv?

http://www.rickross.com/reference/general/general431.html
http://www.cultclinic.org/qa1.html
http://www.howcultswork.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_snow_white

The information’s out there. Educate yourself.

Also:
http://www.fzaoint.net/

You can follow Scientology without belonging to the church; if you’re benefiting from the belief system, check out Freezone.

Bad Headline.

Poorly written article.

Inaccurate and slanted to smear the peaceful and righteous protests.

Find out the truth about this pyramid scheme wrapped in tax-exempt religious nonsense.

L Ron Hubbard: “I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is.”

More truth:
http://www.whyaretheydead.net
http://www.xenu.net

or Google “operation freakout”
or Google “Lisa McPherson”

Hell, explain Operation Snow White. Explain why the CoS broke the law in stealing from the US and Canadian governments. Explain the video after video after video you can find on Youtube or Google videos of Scientologists verbally attacking people who say anything negative about the Church. Explain why L. Ron Hubbard wrote about how starting a religion would be a great scam and that celebrities would be great prey for such a thing.

Go Go Go! http://www.scientology-victims-testimonies.com

It’s funny. I’ve seen a lot of these discussions online and in news articles. On the one hand you have Anons and their supporters arguing about the human rights violations and exploitation done by the CoS in admittedly sometimes juvenile ways. On the other you have thinly-disguised CoS members either 1) berating their opponents for “not knowing anything about scientology”, 2) vehemently denying allegations without giving details or third party sources, 3) whining that anons are hackers and all they do is for their own fun. What I never hear, however, is Scientologists EVER writing the words McPherson, Freakout, Snow White…. I mean seriously guys, at least anons answer your arguments. Don’t leave the world hanging… explain yourself.

Also, terrible article by the way. Seriously, I think if you did 5 minutes of research you’d know that it isn’t a “war on religion,” but it’s instead a war on the Church of Scientology (not even scientology beliefs). I don’t think you didn’t do your research, rather I think that you might have had some personal interest in writing such a slanted and biased article. Maybe you can do your next one on the scientologist response to various unrefuted allegations against the CoS.

James Lightfield is right about one thing. The Co$ is a business.

ANONYMOUS IS LEGION, WE ARE ONE. WE PROTEST THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURES AND ABUSE OF THE LAWS OF OUR LANDS AGAINST US. WE PROTEST FOR THE LIVES LOST.

ANONYMOUS STANDS AS ONE.

bernie.cncfamily is a cult apology site run by
a former member of the OSA, he pretends to be
a critic of both sides. He used to have a page
that called the US congressman Leo J Ryan who was investigating and killed by Jim Jones just as much
of a madman as Jim Jones himself. A real credible guy in other words.

Scienta, you are paying for knowledge. They tell you that you are bogged down with body thetans, and that if you learn the truth behind the various levels before you have done a certain amount of auditting, you will die from shock. In other words, if you want to do it the CoS’ way, you HAVE to pay money to continue through the church. And besides, RELIGIONS do not charge for counselling. There are many free meetings that other legitimate religions hold for coping with problems, nearly every church holds at least one help meeting, with some having many specific self-help meetings meeting regularly, all for free.

I don’t want to pay $300,000 to find out the origin story of my religion, especially when it ends up as something so ludicrous and refuted by facts, out of the mouth of someone who WRITES SCI-FI FOR A LIVING.

Scienta said:
>These criticisms are tired, dull and irrelevant. Scientologists aren’t “paying for knowledge”, they are paying for specific counselling services. You’d pay a shrink, or a psychologist for their time – I don’t hear you moaning about them? As far as I’m concerned, those who have a problem with “the money issue” may as well be shouting “i don’t have enough money, someone help me!”. Get off your arse, get a better paid job and quit your whining.

Scientia: No shrink i know is a tax-exempt organization in the US.

It’s not about the religion or its services, it’s about lack of informed consent, abuse of people and the law, and I see other reasons in other comments that are equally as valid.

“As a Scientlogist for more than 40 years, how do you think I feel when something I have devoted the majority of my life to when I see such grotesque distortions
We have fanatics murdering men, women, children and babies — blowing them up in Israel, in Iraq in the Phillipines”

Enough of your thinly vieled threats, sir. You scientologists may get away with that stuff in Israel and Iraq, but not here!

Anonymous already stated they are not protesting against relidgion. They are not protesting against scientology or the scientologist. but the church of scientology which is a pyramid shceme come on people use your brains a relidgion 50 years old? and filled with garbage?

I’m impressed with the number of scitrolls drawn to this article. I especially love the businessman who obviously donates enough money to the cause to avoid personally experiencing CoS human rights violations.

LOL HAI THAR $CIENTOLOGISTS
how was “church” today? people are finally waking up

good work anon

Hey James Lightfield,

Good to see ya again. Did you know that promoting religious activity in the “secular” non-profits that you listed disqualifies them for their specific type of non-profit status?

Those organizations are registered with the IRS as completely non-religious and separate from the Church of Scientology in order to legally perform government-related services.

However, Criminon/Narconon/ABLE/etc illegally transfer funds (profits) to off-shore “International Affiliates”. The off-shore accounts make the money disappear from IRS jurisdiction.

Here’s the illegal part: the Church of Scientology International ALSO has an off-shore account. The non-religious money is transfered to the Church’s account (ILLEGAL!).

Your criminal syndicate is going down, the IRS has public support for a tax re-assessment. The Cult of $cientology is burning to the ground.

Freedom OF religion is also freedom FROM religion, if that is your choice. Freedom OF speech, likewise, includes the freedom to not speak at all. But when we get to attacking free speech or attacking another’s opinion, or doing more than going our own way and doing our own thing, we get into the arena of law and courts. Here, as with many news article comments, an Anonymous representative has cautioned for good behavior. Keep it legal, people, keep it moral, respect other’s rights to conduct their own lives.

How many times must we state this fact. we are not against THE religion. We are against the profiteering/human rights violations/Fair Game tactics used against the people who speak out against Scientology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RygvwX-tsss&NR=1

A news station visited the local scientology church in Germany. They can never give a straight answer or any answer at all. Good job to Anonymous.

Anonymous also intimidates anyone who speaks out against them. See the Fox TV report on what they were doing to MySpace users last summer http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=WKFOx0UYrzs and what they did to a guy in California last week http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/anonymous-hac-1.html?cid=99673766#comment-9967
They have vowed to destroy Scientology. What’s next? The Catholic Church? The Church of England? Judaism? Islam? They have misled a bunch of university students into thinking they have a legitimate cause. But we are lending support to incipient terrorism by making light of this. The free practice of religion is a basic human right. No matter what that religion may be. It’s not smart to stand by and let thugs like those at the heart of anonymous run rampant.

Scientology is NOT a religion. They are a cult.

I think the last line summed up the entire article: “…is there more to this story?” Yes, because you didnt do your research! As has already been said this is not a war against the “reliegion” of Scientology, mainly because it is still legally (here in the UK anyway) still considered a *CULT*! but also it isnt the belief system we are attacking. its the profiteering, corpral entity of the cult which brainwashes members, and constantly decieves and harrases them into paying for more “audits” to the point where theres nothing left. Have you heard the term “EOC”? its a term used by high-up members of scientology which means “End Of Cycle” and literally means “Kill Yourself”. Of course they diguise everything as an accronymn so that other people just assume its some kind of test or audit, but its not. its an accronymn spoken to members who have outlived their usefullness to the cult. IE – RUN OUT OF MONEY OR BECOME A LIABILITY! Together with their ruthless campaign against psychiatry, their flawed understanding of medicin, and their attrocious treatment of critics, there is nothing left but for the organisation to be destroyed. Im all for freedom of speach and people believing in what they want, but when people believe that these appauling acts are quote “for the good of the human race”, THATS where I draw the bloody line! DOWN WITH CO$!! WE ARE YOUR SP’S!

See, they never defend, only attack.

They’ll never respond to the questions asked here. This shows that they don’t have an answer that they can publish.

Una, FOX TV doesn’t count as a liable source of information. You should know that. FOX is simply propaganda. Also, Anonymous doesn’t care about the religion. Believe what you want, but don’t treat human beings like shit and destroy their lives like Scientology does. Scientology is not a religion. It’s a cult, or even better.. it is a company. It is only about making money. The catholic church isn’t (anymore) and you I don’t think the other religions are either. So as long as you treat your members decent and don’t steal all their money and shut them off from their families you can happily believe in Lord Xenu and the Thetan in you.

Thanks, Anonymous. You just proved my point. Reclassify people with some unpopular buzzword and you no longer have permit them to have human rights.

This is the only religion I know where you pay money to go higher in the ranks!!

The Fox News report on Anonymous is a joke. You don’t even know what Anonymous is. Anonymous is the collective name for a very large group, of which only a very small number of people are actually hackers. Anonymous is mostly just normal people, not uber-hackers, and the Fox report is hilarious for that very reason – they act as though it is some real, shady group when in fact anyone can be a member of Anonymous.

Una, you’re a scientologist. Were you involved in mailing those envelopes to your own church in order to portray Anonymous as terrorists, or did you just make up the story?

Were you involved in Operation Freakout, wherein Scientologists framed an anti-Scientologist author for sending threats to arab embassies and their own organization?

Were you involved in Operation Snow White, the infiltration of the US and Canadian governments with the intent to suppress the crimes of the Church of Scientology?

Anonymous is not opposed to the religion, silly as it is; they’re opposed to the exploitation of the members of the Church of Scientology, the brainwashing that the Church does, the deaths they’ve caused, the other damage they’ve caused, and their suppression of free speech. THAT is what is not liked by them.

You’re clearly not defending yourself because you are unable to do so; instead, you’re attacking Anonymous. Already we’ve heard Scientologists claim Anonymous are a bunch of Communists or were inspired by Mein Kampf. What propaganda will you spout out next?

I want to take a moment from everyones busy lives to reiterate, Anonymous is not against ANY religion, Anonymous is against the Human Rights abuses of the Church of Scientology and the censorship of Scientology. If anyone intends to speak about Anonymous’s protest please look at what scientology has done in the past. Look at the policy of fair game, which although officially stopped years ago, still allows those involved in Scientology to use whatever methods needed to silence those who speak out against the “church” Look at operation snow white, which allowed the church to receive tax exempt status through the infultration of the government.

Consider everything and deny ignorance

You are a tool and a disgrace to your profession. I hope you never leave your current possition because this story is now going to go into Anonymous bag of ultimate failures to be used at a later date.

Suppose Fox news would take you.

Una, Anonymous has no problem with people believing in Scientology. What Anonymous has a problem with is the cult like tactics the leaders of Scientology are currently using to further their organization. Tactics such as the “Fair Game” policy, the constant harassment of critics in operations like “Operation Freakout”, and even the unlawful infiltration of world governments like in “Operation Snow White” show that the leaders of Scientology take it from being just another religion to the realm of being a dangerous cult, willing to do anything to further its own means.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LondonLULZOR

Videos of the London protest for anyone interested.

Our purpose is not to destroy the religion per se. It is to dismantle the abusive organization calling itself the “Church of Scientology”.

Anonymous
United as One, Divided by Zero.

Dear Anonymous,

First off it’s ridiculous to say you are not against THE Religion. By your actions and threats it’s obvious you are. If you were in fact only agaisnt the Scientology hierchy that you believe is only out to make money you would not target individual Scientology churches and their parishoners with hate filled demonstrations e.g. your “honk if you hate Scientology” signs used in your demonstrations.

Secondly, I can tell you for sure not ONE single Scientologist will take your side as you claim one of your ambitions is to “free” Scientologists. What business is it of yours to tell someone who or what they can donate their hard earned money to? I’m a Scientolgist and I’m happy to donate towards Scientolgy because I know what they do to actually help the world.

It’s very pathetic that this is the best you can come up with, attacking others beliefs and causing as much hatred as you can gather.

Try fighting a worthewhile cause like drugs, violence, illiteracy, criminality, etc. If you don’t know how you can, maybe you should ask a Scientologist, that’s what Tom Cruise was talking about in the video. He was speaking to Scientologists that actually know how to help people.

Una,

I assume you simply skipped past all the myriad comments noting that Anonymous is not against the religion, but against the Church. Everyone should have the right to practice their own religion (and no-one is complaining about the Freezoners – yes, you can be a Scientologist without being in the Church) but the activities of the CoS are questionable at best and highly illegal at worst. THAT is what Anonymous is protesting.

PS. Una, perhaps you should read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque

Epic amounts of win has been had this day, the 10th of February.

Google-news ‘scientology’ or ‘anonymous’

anonymous has delivered.

Anon will stop the cult of Scientology. Una- Anon hates Scientology because Anon believes in freedom of speech and freedom of knowledge /especially/ on the internet. Don’t throw us into that lot. Not everyone who is a part of Anonymous is a hacker on steroids blowing up yellow vans.

Dear God, Una, did you just reference FOX NEWS as a legitimate source of information? I’ve seen that video; it is one of the most uninformed, poorly-researched segments of “news coverage” that I have ever had the misfortune of viewing.

Regardless, this protest had its fair share of idiots who just went along with it because they are immature lemmings. Hopefully, it will pique the interest of people worldwide and we’ll be able to determine whether or not the Church of Scientology is the organization Anonymous has made it out to be.

Anonymous originally started as a group of dorkwads from rather dispicible origins, which consisted of hackers and people who did rather dubious things.

It has now branched out to people who never visited the original forum where Anonymous originated at, and unlike the original Anon group, has now one cause: show the fraud that the CHURCH of Scientology is, in a legal manner. It is different from its origins, and much, much larger.

Anonymous is not against people who believe in Scientology. Anonymous is against the organization known as the Church of Scientology, which should be classified as a business, considering how much they charge for “enlightenment”. I can reach enlightenment in Christianity for free. And why so secretive, Church of Scientology? Every other religion is happy to tell me all about theirs- why not you, CoS?

http://www.xenu.net
http://www.whyaretheydead.net

“As a Scientlogist for more than 40 years, how do you think I (a businessman) feel when something I have devoted the majority of my life to (helping others using effective life-improvement methods developed by Hubbard) when I see such grotesque distortions — and even one blogger saying he “hated Scientology” when he never read anything by it but only listened / heard what those who have an ax to grind or think its cute to attack another?”

Exactly. Now that you’ve spent 40 years in Scientology, you can’t admit that it’s all a hoax — you can’t believe that you’ve spent all this time and money for nothing, so you’ll just stick with it. That’s exactly how the “church” gets people; once they’ve spent the money, they don’t want to admit they’ve been had.

Everyone has human rights — including those who oppose the cult (despite Scientology claims). I don’t care about what you as a person believe. I do care about what the Co$ does.

If they are scared of Anonymous, what are they hiding? Why all the secrecy and threats? Threatening legal action against Anonymous, for shame! The beauty of free speech is it protects everyone even those saying what you do not like. Besides, they ought to feel galvanized; any “religion” worth its salt can tolerate criticism. That’s why it’s Faith, not Law.

James Lightfield. Give up. We are tracking your efforts to corrupt what Anonymous is doing. Your arguments hold no truth, no fact. You are flogging a dead horse.

We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. We WILL come again. Expect us.

I am glad that this “news article” is only available on product-reviews.net. Poorly written, poorly investigated, poorly cited, and poorly credited (Thanks, “Daniel”). I believe this may be another attempt by Scieno’s at anti-Anonymous propaganda. (At least based on the spin of the article, and the gross misrepresentation of the world wide demonstrations)

Major inaccuracy: the protests are not concerned with the religious beliefs of the church. They are solely concerned with the illegal activities and policies of CoS.

What Scientologists believe is THEIR business. What they do to critics is EVERYONE’S business.

I will support unto death their right to worship however they please. I will oppose unto death the church’s abuses and illegal activities and attempts to squelch free speech and the open dissemination of information.

It is that simple.

Personally, I have never visited any of the image boards / *chans.

I couldn’t hack my way out of a wet paper bag with a machete.

I’m an adult, I have a white-collar job, and I PAY my taxes. I vote. I love my public servants, be they police, firefighters, or whatever.

I observed the 10 February protests before making up my mind. I did my own research.

What I have learned about the abuses, illegal behavior, and human rights violations of the Church of Scientology appall me. The more I read, the more horrified I become.

I have no bone to pick with Church technology or Church religious beliefs. It gets tiresome reading the same old “attack, never defend” posts from Scientology apologists who never respond to direct questions.

I am Anonymous, I care about people who have been and who potentially will be HURT by the CoS. If you are a happy Scientologist, I am happy for you. I have no quibble with you. I wish you all the best. If you are an unhappy Scientologist, however, I, and tens of thousands of other Anons, are here, arms open, and we will help you to the utmost of our abilities.

I will always protest legally and peacefully. My message will always be motivated by positivity and caring. The minute Anonymous’s protests run counter to my standards of peaceful protest and positive social change, I will reconsider my association with Anonymous.

Scientology centers and front groups in MY town? To you I say, NO THANK YOU. DO NOT WANT.

And yes, I now “liek Mudkips.”

I even “liek” YOU, Scientologists. I just do not “liek” the behaviors and policies of your organization. I suspect that if you knew the truth, you would not “liek” it much, either.

I have joined Anonymous because of what I have learned about the Cult of Scientology. There is ample evidence of ongoing human rights abuses, and criminal acts. There are ongoing investigations being conducted right now in countries including France, Belgium and Germany. Russian police recently raided a Scientology Office and confiscated blackmail folders they were using to threaten an exscientologist. Martine Boublil was rescued by Italian police from a house in Sardinia where she was being imprisoned by four scientologists – in January 2008.

Harrassment and slander for hire?

Here’s some court documents from a case against the Scientologists!

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/bob/affi_stacy2_04_29.htm