Germany paves way for Scientology ban

[bowerbird]

The regional interior ministers of Germany's 16 states have agreed to investigate the possibility of banning the Church of Scientology.

All 16 states are prepared to argue that the operations of the Church of Scientology run counter to the German constitution.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/08/2113418.htm

[roderic]

Religious cults suspected of anti-constitutional aims and activities have been monitored much in the same way as radical political groups in Germany.

There seems to be little chance of an actual ban:
At their regular meetings, the assessments made by members of the state domestic intelligence agencies about Scientology and its relationship to Germany's liberal-democratic founding values differ considerably. The approach to Scientology in Berlin, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, is far more relaxed than in Germany's southern regions, such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. There has always been a consensus among intelligence officials that Scientology is a dubious organization that uses psychological manipulation to recruit and retain members. But does it pose a threat to democracy? Berlin's Interior Ministry claims that one of the reasons it stopped monitoring Scientology was that the organization was "meaningless." http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,473896,00.html

[Turenne]

Germany doing its best to run away from its Fascist past by... becoming Fascist once again. Novel idea.

[roderic]

And how exactly does any of this relate to "doing its best to run away from its Fascist past"?

[Turenne]

This is driven by Germany's intolerance of differing and dangerous points of views because of its guilt over its past Its a hangover from the second world war that effects much of continental Europe, but its a particular problem in Germany for obvious reasons.

[rjamortega]

This is driven by Germany's intolerance of differing and dangerous points of views because of its guilt over its past Its a hangover from the second world war that effects much of continental Europe, but its a particular problem in Germany for obvious reasons.

That may very well be, but how can anyone feel good about giving Scientology a reason to exist? Its total system and methods only prove it a money-making pyramid scheme capitalizing on the naive and needy. Scientology has the answers to a full and prosperous life, but a new "believer" must go through levels of understanding. Yeah, rrriiiiight.

Let Germany do what it's got to do.

[eugene40]

I don't see the necessity of banning it out right. All they have to do is not recognize as a religion. Because if we were to ban all made up religions then there would be none left. Hey, Germany might be on to something.

[Electro808]

You could argue all organized religions are a scam, what makes scientology different?

[eugene40]

You could argue all organized religions are a scam, what makes scientology different?

Scientology had a better author? maybe. Equally as implausible as John Smith finding golden tablets in upsate new york. Or some guy walking on water and turning water into wine. etc etc etc.

[rjamortega]

You could argue all organized religions are a scam, what makes scientology different?

Call it the level of the scam. Any mainstream religion offers you the complete "book of knowledge" up front. They don't require you to purchase your way to the next level, refusing to answer your questions until you are ready, having met the proper criteria.

[roderic]

^
Exactly.
Further the amount of control it exerts on its members, not some, but most. The assessment of which is notoriously fraud with misjudgment. But it seems the ban will fail on the grounds that it has no identifiable aims to overthrow the present system in Germany.

Yes, it may all seem a little over the top, 'hang-over' is a good word for it.
But for now, better safe than sorry.;)