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Scientology vs. Anonymous: A New Holy War



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A subversive group of hackers called Anonymous have declared war on the Church of Scientology, releasing a press release on January 21 and a YouTube video on January 22 outlining their intentions. Using strategies Scientology founder, science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, might have written about, over the past week the group have mounted a space-age, hi-tech offensive. As part of their campaign, which the group have christened Project Chanology, Anonymous have clogged church phone lines and sent endless blank faxes, and have crippled the Scientology.org website using denial of service software.

The attack is in response to the Church of Scientology's efforts to suppress a leaked promotional video that featured Tom Cruise (see previous story). The church has taken legal action against Gawker.com for hosting the video, and, according to Anonymous's press release have "filtered anti-Scientology comments" on YouTube and Digg, replacing any negative content with the text "This comment is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Church of Scientology International."

"Over the years we have been watching you, your campaigns of misinformation, your suppression of dissent and your litigious nature. All of these things have caught our eye," says a creepy, digitized Anonymous voice on their video manifesto. "With the leakage of your latest propaganda video into mainstream circulation the extent of your malign influence over those who have come to trust you as leaders has been made clear to us. Anonymous has therefore decided that your organization should be destroyed."

Xenu.net, a website which disseminates information The Church of Scientology would rather keep away from the public eyes, estimates "the current (conservative) total cost" of the courses required to take members up to "OT9 readiness" is between $365,000 - $380,000. The church has also been accused of preying on the weak, and systematically separating them from friends and family.

Meanwhile the Hollywood film community has come to the defense of the church and its superstar member. In an exclusive statement sent to People magazine, comic actor Adam Sandler said, "To see anyone's private life invaded and mocked like this is sickening. It's especially gross when it happens to a guy like Cruise, who's a great dad, a great husband, and a great friend."

Dustin Hoffman also defended the maligned Mission Impossible actor, saying, "Tom Cruise is an American and has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion." Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and mogul Harvey Weinstein have also spoken out in defense of their friend. And in a promotional video for the church obtained by Defamer.com, Cheers actress Kirstie Alley says "Honest to God truth, without Scientology, I would be dead. Personally, I recommend it."

For more enlightening stories go to: http://www.dailymantra.com
AndreaKnoll

12 responses // Scientology vs. Anonymous: A New Holy War

  • My brother was involved with the church of scientology for about 10 years. He was very unhappy felt trapped was broke and lost in his life. He finally made it out of that cult and is now working a shitty job and is messed up in the head, seriously. I wish this group would just go away forever.. great video.
    summernicole
  • This video was supportive of freedom FROM religions whose true purpose is greed and the quest for power. Let's have more social awareness of the gap between personal faith and teocratic manipulation.
    evernow2
  • AndreaKnoll,

    You should check this video out.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/zootsan
    The COS is something I really don't care to understand. I know that is like sticking my heads in the sand, but it just seems so twisted.

    Thanks for your video post
    theprimtv1
  • This is all quite fascinating to me... not to say I'm that supportive of it, though. First off, why is Anonymous targeting Scientology, and not any number of other groups that behave and operate similarly? Secondly, what does Anonymous expect the rank-and-file Scientologist to do when their faith in the infastructure of their religion is shaken? While there are groups of active Scientologists who dissent with the RTC's administration of the Church, these groups (commonly called the Freezone) have their own internal problems, administrative troubles, and means of extorting their members.
    The point of what I'm saying is that, regardless of whether there's the RTC behind the Church of Scientology, there will still be Scientology as a set of beliefs and practices, and there will still be Scientologists who participate. Why make it more difficult for them?
    nickmattos2
  • I'm a fan of Anonymous. Wait, is my cover blown?
    bobdobalina
  • Sorry guys, it's taken me 3 days to figure out how this damn "response" thing works. My point is: everytime the C of S gets publicity, it gets stronger. People start wondering what it's all about. They start looking into it, thinking it may be the salvation they're looking for. If you need saving, the church won't do it.
    If A continures this, the C of S could get martyr status and nothing could be better for this cult. Martyrs become saints. And if you know anything about Hubard, you know he wasn't a saint. How many people know that he was dared to start a new religion? Looks like he won the bet.
    evernow2
  • I agree that what Tom Cruise said and how he said it was very weird.
    I agree that it seems that to belong to the church of scientology you have to pay and pay big.
    I agree in freedom of religion.
    And that allows this group Anonyomous to have the freedom to say what they think...if they are wrong then let the church of scientology provide proof of any lies that Anonomous might make.
    I am very interested to hear more of this.
    It is good that people speak up and make churches accountable to tell the truth.
    ....and it seems this group just want the truth to be told.
    Good on them.
    Deeliteful
  • The benchmark of every religion needs to be how much of what they claim can be proven. If members point to their sacred text, that's no proof because no one can authenicate who wrote the scripture. The "proof" in the bible fall in this catagory. Ask most believers why they believe the bible and they say: "It's the word of god." Come back with: "How do you know that?" And they will say: "It says so in the bible." The argument goes around and around. I'm currently writing a commentary on the book of Genesis. The proof that this book wasn't written by god is so evident it should come with a warning: "This book is illogical. Read at the risk of your sanity."
    Scientology can prove its source, however the source is not inspired by credibility. Therefore its proof rests on: how useful is it? That's the only criteria we should accept. Is this set of beliefs useful? In the case of Judeo/christian tenets, the answer is found in the recitation of religiour wars. At least Scientology has avoided that, so far.
    evernow2
  • http://www.dailymantra.com/2008/02/cruises_church_calls...
    See shocking new C.O.S. video which calls for the "global obliteration" of psychiatry.

    http://www.dailymantra.com/2008/02/cruises_church_calls...
    AndreaKnoll
  • I suppose you have the right to say the Book of Genesis is illogical.
    But i think every religion needs to be made accountable...including scientogoy.
    Scientology does not invoke trust in me like Christianity...and that is my choice.
    But if my religion caused hate or anything negative then it would then be proper and right to be investigated by an outside source.
    Thank you for your opinion, I appreciate your input.
    Deeliteful
  • Good ideas from you both (andreaknoll and deeliteful). I knew about the anti-psychiatry bend in COS; a member I know talks about little else. And I don't get their point. So what? psychiatry is a helpful science; a benefit for society. Why are they afraid of it? Could it be that thearpy helps free the mind?

    About Christainty causing anything negative.... The moment popes gained the power to command, they called for the first "Holy Wars"; war in the name of god. Sacking 'infadel" cities, raping women, dashing babies against walls, destroying the Templers and the Cathers, burning witches, you name it. I have no respect for the church. If you think protestants were better, consider the plight of the Catholics in England and Spain. Where the killing of priests, monks, nuns and worshipers, and the destroying of churches, and monasteries was held as service to god. And, of course, we have the church to thank for the fall of the Aztec, and the burning of their books. I can't accept any religion with that kind of history. While Jesus rejected the temptating devil, his church did not.
    evernow2
  • I thank you for your opinion....yes the Catholic Church has done much through its history and I think in some ways it has been made accountable by outside sources.
    eg the problems of what priest have done to children has been made public...this is a good thing. These horrid things need to be stopped.
    You are right...many things have been done in the name of religion...and now that we have been made aware of some of the horrible things done in the name of religion I think it is even more important than ever that ALL religions are accountable for anyhting that is wrong.
    There is a saying.
    If you have nothing to hide....then you hide nothing.
    I think this is an absolutely brillant quote.
    If Scientology has nothing to hide then it needs to be open and answer any questions that are brought up.
    No one has the right to say they are the only right way and it is their job to FIX everyone else.
    Again I thank everyone for their input, I appreciate this discussion.
    Deeliteful

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