Church of Scientology on trial in France

// added May 26, 2009 // 30 comments //
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http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/church-of-scientology-on-t...

The Church of Scientology and six of its French leaders went on trial on Monday on charges of organised fraud that could lead to an outright ban on the organisation in France.

Known for its Hollywood celebrity followers Tom Cruise and John Travolta, the group is in the dock in Paris for the second time in six years, although French courts have prosecuted several individual Scientologists since 1978.

The court is hearing a complaint from two women, one of whom alleges she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros (28,000 US dollars) for costly Scientology products, such as an "electrometer" to measure mental energy.
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30 comments // Church of Scientology on trial in France

  • twitterbot
  • twitterbot
  • wayseeker
  • GoodGodGuy
    • 0
      GoodGodGuy  

    • B4 u get all fussed up, have u red his book?
      I read it before it was popular because I am a Sci-Fi addict. I read it in a time which was hard for me, a schizophrenic agnostic Bi-Polar wretch. The book actually helped me let go of a lot of guilt and pain. Not to say it is a religion but it's insight was a lot more than I usually give credit for. What I am saying is context. Don't condemn what you don't know, I don't condemn any of the 14,000 gods that you believe in. By the way the book I read is Dianetics.

    • 9 months ago
  • wayseeker
    • 0
      wayseeker  

    • What I don't understand is how can people such as Hollywood actors, whom I would think are at least fairly intelligent, buy into this phony charade which is so obvious to the rest of us?

    • 9 months ago
  • adamrl07
  • wayseeker
    • 0
      wayseeker  

    • Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology was a science fiction writer and his church teaches that we came to earth in space ships. The South Park episode about Scientology (You Tube) explains it accurately. If you think what the Christians believe is outlandish wait until you learn about Scientology.

    • 9 months ago
  • mik661
  • maizein
  • Sumkrazyguy55
  • GoodGodGuy
    • 0
      GoodGodGuy  

    • Why is it any more or less a scam than organized religion which attempts to guilt you into your ten percent every sunday or saturday or whatever day.
      If you want to believe in myths and fairy tales, then do. No one is stopping you but then you are responsible for being the idiot not the scammers.

    • 9 months ago
  • MiguelSanchez
  • GoodGodGuy
    • 0
      GoodGodGuy  
    • GoodGodGuy:

      There's a sucker born every minute.
      We seem to fall into that category quite frequently.
      The key is EDUCATION not a belief in some entity who if you look at it doesn't seem very nice at all.
      Faith is the end of reason.

    • 9 months ago
  • Maeveeo
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • If the 'church' defrauded her/them of her/their money then they should be punished. I'm sure they have their butts covered with enough legal paper to get off.
      Some one looking for 'the answer' is abused by a seemingly helpful group. So sad.....

    • 9 months ago
  • Denica_Cassandra
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  
    • Image...

    • Another religion on trial, here in the USA is any church that does "faith healing" at the exclusion of medical science, after a woman let her kid die, praying for God to save her as she died of phemonia, rather than call an ambulance.

      She is being charged with negligent homicide. Members of the church are protesting because their religion refuses medical care, and they want to have the freedom to let their kids die of easily treatable ailments.

      When asked, a representative from the church said, "The Power of God is greater than any ambulance."

      Well, God killed your kid because he wanted to teach you that if you pray instead of calling for an ambulance, your kid will die. God gave you a brain, use it.

    • 9 months ago
  • MissAmanda
    • 0
      MissAmanda  
    • asherp:

      God created the people who were smart and determined enough to create medical technology...so technically he created advanced technology, medicine, doctors, AMBULANCES...

      therefore, i don't see how it's against God to treat a child who needs it...

      that's just neglect and blind/stubborn/ignorant faith...

      in my opinion, God would want a parent to take advantage of any survival means necessary and available for their child...

    • 9 months ago
  • MiguelSanchez
    • 0
      MiguelSanchez  
    • asherp:

      Reminds me of a joke I heard -

      A man comes to a Priests' house to warn him a flood is coming is going to be flooded, and everyone should evacuate.

      The priest says, "No, God will save me".

      Then the flood comes and the Priest has to move to the second floor of his house, and a man on a boat comes and offers to help him.

      The priest says, "No, God will save me".

      Then the flood gets worse and the Priest has to move to the roof of his house, and a man in a helicopter comes and offers to help him.

      The priest says, "No, God will save me".

      Then the priest drowns and he asks Peter at the Pearly Gates "Why didn't God save me?"

      "You must be Joking," says Peter, "He sent a man, a Boat and a helicopter!"

    • 9 months ago
  • mypittica
  • blknight
    • 0
      blknight  

    • Let them be. Scientology is a new religion. It is no more a fraud than the Christian belief system. If you get swindled out of your cash from Scientologists, that is your own fault for being too curious to buy into it.

    • 9 months ago
  • MissAmanda
    • 0
      MissAmanda  
    • blknight:

      im not religious but my family is of the christian belief system...and it wasn't started by a science fiction writer...it doesn't ask for thousands of dollars to test you with little gadgets...all of it's services of healing and support and things of that nature are free of charge.

      you are incorrect in saying "It is no more a fraud than the Christian belief system"

      but it is sad that anyone, anywhere would take advantage of people financially who are just looking for hope and peace of mind in a religion.

    • 9 months ago
  • MiguelSanchez
    • 0
      MiguelSanchez  
    • blknight:

      It's a LOT more of a fraud.

      Also Hubbard said

      THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them.

      Lecture: "Off the Time Track" (June 1952) as quoted in Journal of Scientology issue 18-G, reprinted in Technical Volumes of Dianetics & Scientology Vol. 1, p. 418

    • 9 months ago
  • PocketCup
    • 0
      PocketCup  
    • blknight:

      To MiguelSanchez dont get me wrong that quote applies to the situation but i would also add that it isnt the only way to control people, the other one being the opposite, telling complete truth.
      Not that we know anything to the capacity to tell a complete truth, it is still there.

    • 9 months ago
  • blknight
    • 0
      blknight  
    • blknight:

      Look, I don't believe in the institution of religion. But, I will take Hubbard's Dianetics over anything Christianity has to offer any day. The mythological side of Scientology sounds bogus, but no more than anything Christianity or any other religion says. The intro personality tests to get into Scientology are quite accurate also. It may be a ploy of control, but at least it is a sound one. Whereas with many other religions, it is the will and say of the almighty GOD.

      Hubbard may have said that... BUT, I'm sure every other religion creator had the same idea. So in the defense of Scientology as a religion, it still should receive the same benefits that other religious groups do.

    • 9 months ago
  • MiguelSanchez
    • 0
      MiguelSanchez  
    • blknight:

      Scientology only claims to be a Religion when it suits it though - When the don't want to pay tax, They're a Religion.

      When they stop people on the stop for a stress test, they're not a religion, they're a not.

      At the end of the day all David Miscavige wants to do is sell books and make bucks.

    • 9 months ago
  • jaystyx
    • 0
      jaystyx  

    • Scientology is a scam disguised as organized religion. Bravo to France for going after these crooks. Now if the US could only do the same.

    • 9 months ago
  • cybexg
  • jaystyx
  • MiguelSanchez

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