Will Germany Ban Scientology?

I have to confess that I'm baffled by the German government's obsession with the Scientology cult. Scientology has been in the crosshairs of German law enforcement officials for years, but know they are debating an outright ban:

"Germany paved the way yesterday for a ban on the Church of Scientology, with federal and regional ministers declaring that the US-based organisation contravened the constitution and posed a danger to democratic order. In a sharp escalation of a decade-long row, German officials asked the domestic intelligence agency to gather evidence that could be used in support of a legal move to secure a ban. "Scientology works on the basis of massive repression, like a totalitarian organisation which wants to break the will of the people, which is precisely why we have to fight it," Ralf Stegner, interior minister of Schleswig-Holstein, said after yesterday's meeting.

The German authorities are mistaken in their belief that Scientology is a "totalitarian commercial sect that seeks to crush individuality." The cult is actually a clever ponzi scheme for intellectually-challenged  Hollywood celebrities. If other non-celebrities want to give their money to Scientology rather than to Disney or Wal-Mart (two actual totalitarian commercial sects) who cares?  By banning Scientology - just as by banning the neo-Nazi NPD - the German government is only lending the organization a level of recognition and legitimacy it doesn't deserve. Besides, there are more serious things in Germany to worry about:

Mittweida, Germany - Police dispersed an unauthorized rally Saturday by 150 to 200 neo-Nazis in Mittweida, an eastern German town where authorities this year outlawed a neo-Nazi organization. Police said the rightists waved flags and chanted in the centre of town before being chased away by the police.

A local broadcaster, MDR, said the clash delayed the start of a gathering of people wearing the ancient folk costumes and playing the folk music of the Ore Mountains of Saxony.

Comments

[Hattie]

Why can't the German government just settle for declaring that Scientology is not a religion?
I agree with you that Germany has more serious things to worry about.

[erphschwester]

@hattie: vielleicht liegt es daran, daß die "berater-republik" deutschland mehr und mehr unter "unerklärlichen" einflüssen steht.
es sei dahin gestellt, ob firmen wie mckinsey und berger tatsächlich nach dem muster der scientology funktionieren, vielleicht gar eine anzahl ungenannter scientologen an ihrer spitze sitzen haben. tatsache ist jedenfalls, daß man in deutschland krampfhaft nach den ursachen gesellschaftlicher verrohung sucht, die sich eben am klarsten in wirtschaft und schlecht beratener politik zeigen.
und, pardon, es gibt nicht vieles an politischen entscheidungen in deutschland, mit dem ich überein stimme. aber für eine religion halte auch ich scientologie nicht. nicht so, wie sie in deutschland funktioniert. keine ahnung, ob das in den usa anders ist oder dort hingenommen wird, ohne hinterfragt zu werden.

vielleicht, aus diesem - vermuteten - zusammenhang heraus, hängen die wichtigeren dinge in deutschland auch mit scientologie zusammen. ein widerspruch muß das jedenfalls nicht sein.

[Hattie]

I'm investigating. Looking at the Zeit article. Are they secretly buying up German assets?

[David]

jawohl - der "mckinsey-kult". citibank plant jetzt massenentlassungen - auch in deutschland. wer steht dahinter? mckinsey!

[Herr Cook]

Mein Herr! Sie haben es gut geschrieben !

[Terryeo]

"Why can't the German government just settle for declaring that Scientology is not a religion?"
Germany has two Churches, most of its population belongs to one or the other. You don't drop your donation in the plate at a German Church. Your donation passes through German government hands and is routed to either Church you choose - but you only have TWO choices. A good deal of money routes through the government, if you follow. Jobs are involved, people are involved, it is not just a computer process. So, there is a lot of entrenched interest in keeping any "new" religion out because the present Churches don't want any competition and because some government jobs depend on things remaining -just-like-they-are-