Posted on 11/25/2013 11:38:20 PM PST by Olog-hai
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BFV), Germany’s domestic security agency, is effectively giving up its monitoring of the controversial Scientology organization as part of its ongoing reforms. In doing so, it has upset officials in several of Germany’s states.
Scientology is officially recognized as a church in the United States and has the backing of celebrity members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. In Germany, however, it is viewed as a business that seeks to present itself as a church. …
The agency is currently trying to focus its efforts towards counterespionage in light of recent allegations that Germany’s allies, including the United States, have been spying on the country. …
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
>>Scientology is officially recognized as a church in the United States and has the backing of celebrity members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. In Germany, however, it is viewed as a business that seeks to present itself as a church. …<<
scientology was a bet (won) by l. ron. hubbard (a terrible SF author btw) that he could create the most insane “religion” and that it would take hold.
It does serve a purpose in that we know its adherents have IQ < 80.
There is more P.T. Barnum in scientology than anything else.
Scientology is also deeply embedded in the leadership of the UN.
Maurice Strong even opened the Scientology Church in NY.
It’s perfect for celebrities though. They can do whatever they want, as long as they keep tossing money at the “church”. The South Park episode about Scientology was brilliant. They explained exactly what the scientologists believe, plus it gave us this phrase “Mom, Tom Cruise and John Travolta are both in my closet and they won’t come out”.
A story here that I will tell....on German Scientology.
About a dozen years ago here in Germany....an American co-worker of mine was dating up a German gal in the Wiesbaden area, who had a successful business attire shop for women. She was established and you would have predicted that she was set for the rest of her life...probably expanding and enjoying a life of free enterprise.
Well....she was introduced by someone to the Scientology crowd. They convinced her....that she could be stronger and more dynamic....of course, while attending seminars and paying cash. She wanted my associate to attend these with her. He’s from Alabama, and mostly not of the variety to throw money at gimmick religions (or gambling for that matter). So they parted ways.
Around three years later, he bumps into her on the streets of Wiesbaden one day. Accidental meeting. She’s not peppy or thrilled by the accidental meeting. A coffee discussion then occurs.
The best here to say...is that the Scientology guys asked questions of her business operation, and then wanted her to recommend her clients to them. Long-time clients felt shocked, dismayed, and then opted-out of ever coming back to the business-attire shop for women. Business declined. Clerks were laid off. Savings ended up being spent more on Scientology classes to feel more dynamic and successful...when the trend was going the opposite direction.
The attire shop ended up in default, and the gal found herself with no real savings left...at which point, Scientology dropped her as their “customer”.
There wasn’t much to talk over. She’d had a great business idea and was practically guaranteed a long successful career. All was lost, because she didn’t think she was successful enough or dynamic enough.
Big mistake on the part of Germany.
The truly ironic bit.....
The significance of Scientology, BFV officials believe, is declining in Germany. The agency, which describes the organization in its most recent report as having a “totalitarian character,” estimates that Scientology only still has around 4,000 members in Germany,
I can't take seriously anyone who believes that crap, including Greta VanSustrand.
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