The cult in other countries

[Leon Spires]

I heard that that scientology was in trouble or got band in some other countries?   Is this true and in what countries?

[Stutroup]

Let's see .... as far as I know

Greece banned Scientology in 1996 or so for ... well, being bad.  An excerpt from the court documents:

The verdict characterizes KEPHE [KHEPE was the Scientology mission in Greece] as   "... an organization with totalitarian structures and trends, which essentially despises man, acts freely "in phenomenon" in order to attract members, who are then subjected (with all the above mentioned processes and theories) into a brain wash, aiming at the creation of directable way of thinking and minimizing objections (basic positions of the Scientology founder's theories), so that we are standing in front of beings with no personal will, who have lost the
capacity of making decisions as products of their free will, since they
have passed through the propaganda filters of Scientology and the suitable processing, become susceptible to the "truths" it applies, without having motives to examine and evaluate".

http://www.xenu.net/archive/greece/
http://www.raids.org/gen00586.htm

Scientology has already been convicted of fraud in France:
Well, the leaders were in 1978 
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/catholicsentinel-conviction-031778.htm

And the cult is on trial in France again, awaiting a verdict some time in October -- once again, IIRC.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-19-scientology-france_N.htm

Kazakhstan has also banned Scientology!
http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Scientologists_Appeal_Church_Closure/1760918.html
My favorite quote from that article:  The Qaraghandy court ruled the church's activities were "threatening Kazakhstan's stability and security."

[Lorelei]

Re: Kazakhstan: "All other countries are run by little girls."

Germany is on Scientology's Pewp List because they see it as a fascist, dangerous cult, and don't let them get away with anything.

China flat refuses them entry, having had the Falun Gong as an example of why Cults Are Bad, mmm'kay.

Pakistan is the ONLY Islamic country to have a Sci Org. I doubt they are getting many takers.

[ethercat]

Oh, I thought they were afraid to go into China.  Either way, it's not a good fit (of course, no country is).

 

[Peter Schilte]

In the Netherlands there are no recognized religions. Not even the RCC or Islam is recognized by law.
So in the Netherlands CoS isn't a recognized religion either.
In court it was ruled that donations to CoS are not tax deductible. Because CoS is not considered to do any charity or anything in the general interest.

[ethercat]

I don't think there are supposed to be any recognized religions here, either; at least that's what they taught me in school about how and why the US was started - but as I've gotten older, I've learned that, quite often, what is supposed to be and what is are two entirely different things.

Do they still call themselves "Church" of Scientology in the Netherlands? 

[Peter Schilte]

Yes. And they only have ONE mission in this country with over 16 million people. Almost empty as well.

[Alp]

Don't forget the Cayman Islands! BANNED, although for the reason of being "not Christian" intead of being a dangerous cult.

[Lorelei]

Peter: "almost" empty is a step in the right direction...which would be a cult-free Netherlands.

[ethercat]

Wikipedia has an entry on the status of scientology in different countries.

More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_as_a_state-recognized_religion

[sekh]

@Peter Schilte;

I'm not so sure it's almost empty, the Amsterdam Org I mean. They've got the website back up (scientologykerk.nl) and even organize an open house next week. Sunday feb. 13, from 11.00 to 18.00.
Anonymous protestors are welcomed.(by me, that is. The church just welcomes everybody, which includes those who wish to remain nameless.)

The Narco's are also still quite active from their haunted house in Zutphen, and they are a registered charity, with tax deduction for donors and all.

It's not as bad as it has been, but they are still around, and not going anywhere. The political climate of the day, tiptoeing around religious items so we don't upset Islam, is very beneficial for every extreme form of religion, including CoS.

Sekh.

[Mary_McConnell]

Sekh,
Thanks for the update. Peter was probably just being a tad bit too enthusiastic about it, lol

Do keep us posted on any infomatiuon you come across on what's happening with the church and Narconons there