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Internet Group Declares War on Scientology

Posted by Zonk on Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:03 AM
from the so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish dept.
Privacy Security The Internet Technology
Darkman, Walkin Dude writes "An internet group calling itself Anonymous has declared war on the Church of Scientology, in the form of an ominous posting to the YouTube site. 'In the statement, the group explained their goal as safeguarding the right to freedom of speech. "A spokesperson said that the group's goals include bringing an end to the financial exploitation of Church members and protecting the right to free speech, a right which they claim was consistently violated by the Church of Scientology in pursuit of its opponents." The press release also claimed that the Church of Scientology misused copyright and trademark law in order to remove criticism from websites including Digg and YouTube. The statement goes on to assert that the attacks from the group "will continue until the Church of Scientology reacts, at which point they will change strategy".' It should be noted that Slashdot users have had interactions with Scientology in the past as well."
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Last Saturday a comment was posted here by an anonymous reader that contained text that was copyrighted by the Church of Scientology. They have since followed the DMCA and demanded that we remove the comment. While Slashdot is an open forum and we encourage free discussion and sharing of ideas, our lawyers have advised us that, considering all the details of this case, the comment should come down. Read on to understand what this means.
Submission: Internet group declares war on Scientology by Darkman, Walkin Dude (707389)
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  • RIAA (Score:5, Funny)

    by paganizer (566360) <thegrove1&hotmail,com> on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:05AM (#22167004) Homepage Journal
    Hopefully the RIAA will be next. Sure they seem to be shooting themselves in the foot a lot lately, but they still need to be wiped out.

    • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Funny)

      by MrNemesis (587188) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:11AM (#22167124) Homepage Journal
      Even better; tell the RIAA that the Church of Scientology is a massive front for copying CD's. Simultaneously, tell the scientologists that the RIAA are planning to clone Xenu from some evil thetans that were surgically extracted from Britney.

      Unstoppable force, meet immovable object. Space DC-10's dropping atom bombs on volcanoes will be nothing compared to those fireworks :)

      • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Funny)

        by cashman73 (855518) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:18AM (#22167286) Journal
        Even better; tell the RIAA that the Church of Scientology is a massive front for copying CD's. Simultaneously, tell the scientologists that the RIAA are planning to clone Xenu from some evil thetans that were surgically extracted from Britney.

        Where can I buy tickets to that event? I want front row seats!

        • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Funny)

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:39AM (#22167660)
          Ticketmaster. Unfortunately, there's a $1000 service fee per ticket.

      • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Insightful)

        by sm62704 (957197) on Thursday January 24 2008, @11:21AM (#22168344) Journal
        tell the scientologists that the RIAA are planning to clone Xenu from some evil thetans that were surgically extracted from Britney.

        That might work if the people who ran Scientology actually believed in their own garbage. I don't believe they do. I believe the whole organization is a money making scam.

        -mcgrew

        PS- yes I got the joke, I'm just in a bad mood today.

        • An inside view of the Scientology reality tunnel (Score:5, Informative)

          by James McGuigan (852772) on Thursday January 24 2008, @07:30PM (#22175840) Homepage

          Within the Church of Scientology, you are taught that Scientology is the one and only solution to all mankind's problems, and during this narrow window of opportunity in mankind's history it is possible to "clear the planet" (ie give everybody auditing) and save humanity from itself. Most other goals pale in comparison and anything that detracts from Scientology, or its expansion is in essence a mortal sin against humanity. This belief is strong enough to get people sign up the Sea Organization [wikipedia.org] (LRH's private navy) on a billion year contract (ie you are in for the long haul... and not just this lifetime)

          Anyone who attacks the church is either a suppressive person (2.5% of the population who are evil - think Hitler), PTS due to a connection to an SP (Potential Trouble Source - 20% of the population), or has committed various other overts and withholds (ie sins and secrets) and it trying to justify their own actions by making the Scientology seem less (because if you admitted to yourself that Scientology was the "one and only solution" then your otherwise small crime would have to weigh fairly heavily on your conscience). Anyone who commits various sins and suppressive acts, will be subconsciously aware of this, and slowly do themselves in (ie get sick, have an accident) to prevent themselves from committing more crimes.

          It is also taught that if someone encounters the OT3 materials before being ready for them, then as part of the psychological conditioning to create "prison-planet" earth, the person may get sick and die and this is the reason it is considered "confidential" and heavily protected, and only available to members of the church past a certain level. In the south park episode "trapped in the closet" [comedycentral.com], they did a cartoon version of the OT3 materials labeled "This Is what Scientologists Actually Believe", if Matt and Trey has been members of the church, they would have been ex-communicated very quickly. The church would have almost definitely told Issac Hayes to "dissconnect" from them or otherwise become ineligible for any future Scientology services or auditing.

          This "truth" or "reality tunnel" is slowly conditioned into you until you internalise it. There is a huge taboo against reading or discussing anything potentially negative or "entheta" against Scientology or the church, often the taboo will extend down to the point that you feel it is wrong to "think" about potentially negative things regarding Scientology. To do so would potentially detract from Scientology and is thus a mortal sin against humanity, or you might wind up making yourself sick. I know this, because I was brought up within the church, and through the process of leaving the church and the Scientology "reality tunnel", it took me around two years to fully confront this internal taboo to the point I could openly think and speak on the subject.

          Part of the process for getting people into this state of mind, is that during Scientology auditing, if you have any undisclosed overts or withholds, or you have your attention stuck on something, the e-meter will pick up on this (that you have your attention stuck on something after you where asked a question - its the same principal behind the polygraph), Thus the auditor will be trained to uncover these issues, by continually asking questions on the subject, with the help of the e-meter, which may include turning part of the auditing session into a confessional. Auditing is essentially about being completely open and honest with yourself and your mind, and fully confronting (with the help of the auditor) any issues that where previously painful or unconscious about (this is actually the good bit about Scientology). Having out-ethics or keeping secrets is considered to be a barrier to your own spiritual growth.

          • Re:An inside view of the Scientology reality tunne (Score:5, Interesting)

            by just_forget_it (947275) on Friday January 25 2008, @10:17AM (#22181602)
            Your post reminds me a lot of my experience as a Jehovah's Witness. I was raised in the church, and a lot of these elements of scientology are present in the JW religion as well.

            "Within the Church of Scientology, you are taught that Scientology is the one and only solution to all mankind's problems, and during this narrow window of opportunity in mankind's history it is possible to "clear the planet" (ie give everybody auditing) and save humanity from itself. Most other goals pale in comparison and anything that detracts from Scientology, or its expansion is in essence a mortal sin against humanity. This belief is strong enough to get people sign up the Sea Organization (LRH's private navy) on a billion year contract (ie you are in for the long haul... and not just this lifetime)"

            It's the same thing with Jehovah's Witnesses. As a witness, you are taught that the Watchtower society is the "faithful and discreet slave" (otherwise known as the "faithful and wise servant" in most Bibles), meaning that they are the sole channel to God. Any kind of salvation and favor with God are impossible without following the doctrinal interpretations of the society. They also teach that the only goal a Witness of Jehovah should have is to preach the message to others as much as possible. All other ambitions in life come secondary. This is why there are no Jehovah's Witness charities, scholarships, or homeless shelters. They believe the earth will all be destroyed and that the only thing that needs to be done is get people into the Watchtower fold so they can survive Armageddon.

            "Anyone who attacks the church is either a suppressive person..."

            Anyone who disagrees, even if only privately, to the most specific tenets of the Jehovah's Witness faith (including the weird bits like the 1914 eschatology) is labeled an apostate and under direct control of Satan and the demons. People who publicly attack the church are often viewed as sinning against the holy spirit, the Bible's only unforgivable sin.

            "There is a huge taboo against reading or discussing anything potentially negative or "entheta" against Scientology or the church, often the taboo will extend down to the point that you feel it is wrong to "think" about potentially negative things regarding Scientology.

            Right in line with Watchtower teachings. Books and authors that disagree with the society's conclusions are labeled as "worldly," meaning that they are a product of a world ruled by Satan. Essentially, anything that doesn't agree with doctrine is wholly Satanic, automatically, no questions asked. Witnesses are constantly told to stay away from the internet and from "apostate" reading material, because reading such things will corrupt the mind of even the most faithful Jehovah's Witness.

            "it drills into you the fact that Scientology "works" and "gets results" and that the only reason it doesn't work is due to incorrect understood, applied or "squirreled"

            Everything that is taught by the society is "the truth." If wonderful things don't happen to you as a result of being "in the truth," then it is always your fault. You might not be praying enough, or you might need to be going out door-knocking more often. If you're not happy, you're not doing enough, period. Until recently and even currently on some occasions, those with depression were/are told that the reason for their depression is that something is keeping them from God. The solutions are to pray and read the Bible more.

            "he did a purge of anyone within the church who he considered was not 100% loyal to him by declaring them suppressive and excommunicating them (members of the church are required to "dis-connect" and never again speak to someone who has been excommunicated)."

            The same thing happened with Joseph F. Rutherford took over the presidency of the Watchtower society from its founder, Charles T. Russel, in 1917. He instituted the doctrine of "disfellowshipping." Those who are disfellowshipped are shunned by everyo

      • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Funny)

        by MrNemesis (587188) on Thursday January 24 2008, @11:56AM (#22168974) Homepage Journal
        I know it's terrible form to reply to oneself, but I've just realised* that "The Church of Scientology" is an anagram of "Tech go filch tunes, cry ooh!" - if that isn't enough evidence for an RIAA lawsuit of titanic proportions I don't know what is.

        * i.e. put it into the anagram finder at wordsmith.org

    • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Funny)

      by Dr. Cody (554864) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:16AM (#22167228)
      Maybe not wiped out, but their pool might get closed.

      • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Insightful)

        by elrous0 (869638) * on Thursday January 24 2008, @12:52PM (#22169870)
        Believe me, the RIAA are delightful sweethearts next to the CoS. The RIAA may sue you; but they won't hire private detectives to dig up dirt on you, have you thrown in prison on bogus charges, publicly smear you as a child molester, lobby the Vice-President to impose sanctions on your whole country, or have you killed.

      • Re:RIAA (Score:5, Informative)

        by Tom (822) on Thursday January 24 2008, @01:03PM (#22170062) Homepage Journal

        Note also, that the German government is much more concerned about dealing with the 20,000 or so Scientologists there, rather than the 2 million or so neo-Nazis.
        As much as I dislike our current government, this is simply not true.

        One, a long list of neo-nazi organisations have been outlawed, scientology has not.
        Two, where do you get your numbers? 2 mio is totally bonkers. A couple hundred thousand is what I'd guess, and I live here.
        Three, both the government and the media talk about neo-nazis a lot more than about scientology.

        Wherever you got your opinion, you should return it for a refund.

  • Anonymous? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:05AM (#22167010)
    Cowards.

  • It's not a church (Score:5, Insightful)

    by andyh3930 (605873) * <andy@b[ ]khayes.co.uk ['roo' in gap]> on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:06AM (#22167030)
    Any "Church" that charges for its teachings and also has them copyrighted to prevent free distribution is not a church it's a scam at best and a dangerous cult at worst.

    I had dealings with them about 10 years ago. I ended up paying GBP30 for a course just to get out of the hard sell and even though I never did the course the often phoned and wrote letters of about 5 years after.

    See the Operation Clambake pages for more details to their activities. http://www.xenu.net/ [xenu.net]

    • It's a money machine (Score:5, Insightful)

      by JCSoRocks (1142053) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:36AM (#22167620)
      Ron Hubbard - the founder of Scientology - has been quoted as saying that if you want to get rich, you start a religion. ( http://www.faqs.org/faqs/scientology/skeptic/start-a-religion-faq/ [faqs.org] ) Well, that's what he did. You have to pay just to learn about it and the deeper you go, the more you spend. It's designed to dupe people into giving the Church of Scientology gobs of money. I truly feel sorry for anyone that's been sucked in by it. It's like believing that Star Wars is real (the movie, not the missile defense system...).

    • Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Interesting)

      by insertwackynamehere (891357) on Thursday January 24 2008, @11:31AM (#22168552) Homepage Journal
      This post just gave me an idea out of the blue. Why not make religious texts non-copyrightable? Therefore scientology has to choose between religion and copyright. If it chooses a business, then fine. They can be a business and investigated as such and lose tax deductibale status. If they choose religion they're texts will become free and no one will have to pay them. I can't really see any issues with public domaining religious texts for legit religions.

      • Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Interesting)

        by Catbeller (118204) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:25AM (#22167410) Homepage
        Cult: organization pretending to be a religion. Keeps true beliefs secret from recruits, one would think because they would have no recruits if beliefs were known. Viciously attacks any and all who expose secret beliefs. Has tendency to lock people up, either through social pressure or actual locked doors. Uses any means possible to intimidate press, infiltrate government, and co-opt police forces. See: Moonies, Scientology, any number of local Jesus franchises in USA, and yes, even the Mormons, tho they succeeded in all points listed above so long ago that no one remembers they are a cult. Hell. the Salvation Army is a cult, but people rarely look at its belief system. A uniformed army, eh? But I digress.

        • Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Interesting)

          by value_added (719364) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:46AM (#22167772)
          See: Moonies, Scientology, any number of local Jesus franchises in USA, and yes, even the Mormons, tho they succeeded in all points listed above so long ago that no one remembers they are a cult.

          Agreed, but have you have noticed that Mormons tend to be really nice people? I'm serious. It's like Romney -- no one can really find fault with him except to say his hair is too perfect, that he's just a successful businessman, or that he's Mormon.

          I have zero patience for the Protestant evangelical crowd and less for members of any cult, but Mormons, at least in my experience, tend to be shiny happy people that don't really bother anyone. Even the ex-Mormons I've met seem to have few bad things to say and if they do, you can't help but notice there's a certain lingering nostalgia in their eyes. That's not to say their beliefs aren't loony, but if members of cults were as benign as the typical Mormon, I wonder if anyone would notice, or care.

          But I digress.

          Back at you.

              • Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Insightful)

                by Hittman (81760) on Thursday January 24 2008, @11:44AM (#22168802) Homepage
                Can we please start modding down all "fixed that for you" posts to the point of invisibility?

                Putting words in other people's mouth is about the worst thing you can do in a debate/discussion. And adding "fixed that for you" adds a pathetic level of triteness on top of the dishonesty.

  • Cults are for idiots (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:06AM (#22167042)
    Scientology and all its offshoot cults like The Landmark Forum [rickross.com] are brainwashing users of people. Money money money.

  • Anonymous? Really? (Score:4, Informative)

    by jandrese (485) <kensama@vt.edu> on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:10AM (#22167116) Homepage Journal
    Is this the same Anonymous that Joe Blow knows about thanks to Fox News [youtube.com]? When asked to choose between a church and terrorists who want to blow up your van, which one do you think the public is going to go for?

  • Followed by (Score:5, Funny)

    by Bobfrankly1 (1043848) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:11AM (#22167122)
    Tom Cruise declares war on the internet.
    -
    He's gotta do something until the mothership arrives...

  • Michigan Daily quote (Score:5, Funny)

    by gardyloo (512791) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:12AM (#22167138)
    From Wikinews: The "Message to Scientology" video was highlighted as the "YouTube Video of the Week" by The Michigan Daily. Commenting on the video, the piece states "if this video is any indication, it seems like the assailants mean business". Hehe. If that were a credible metric of "business", we'd have an emo President by now.

  • Easy to start new religions? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by JulianConrad (1223926) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:15AM (#22167206)
    LRH's scam shows how easy it is to start a new religion that survives and gains passionate adherents after the death of its founders. Most people couldn't do it, but a few individuals have the kind of personality that can pull it off in the right social environment. In fact, we have enough recent historical data on cults that turn into competitive new religions (for example Mormonism and Baha'i, both founded in the 19th Century) that I don't think it's even all that mysterious how older religions like Christianity & Islam could have originated through normal social processes. (We don't have to postulate "supernatural" causes to explain their existence, in other words.)

  • Trolls (Score:5, Funny)

    by TI-8477 (1105165) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:17AM (#22167248)
    You do realize that the people who are leading this war are the same people who consider trolling Slashdot a professional sport?

  • Why not declare war on religion in general? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by mgkimsal2 (200677) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:19AM (#22167294) Homepage
    Why single out one specific 'religion'? I saw the Tom Cruise interview video last week - it really didn't seem all that fundamentally different from listening to an evangelical Christian. Different terms were used, but the mindset was mostly the same. Watch Jesus Camp if you haven't already. Not much difference between the main camp director's mindset and Tom Cruise's.

  • Scientology is pervasive (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Phoenix666 (184391) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:23AM (#22167376)
    Especially when you consider its offshoot, the Landmark Forum (formerly "EST"). They are scary, for-profit cults that employ techniques like fatigue, hunger, group compulsion, and newspeak. You would be surprised how many people from all walks of life have gotten pulled into them.

    I wish Anonymous well, but Scientologists and their cousins in the Landmark Forum are beyond reason. And fighting cults rarely works unless they're small and focused around a single charismatic leader. Both Scientology and Landmark are too big and widespread for that, and fighting them will probably only make them stronger.

  • Effectual? Irrelevant. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by CheeseburgerBrown (553703) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:50AM (#22167832) Homepage Journal
    Granted, this e-hissy from Anonymous is unlikely to take down the cult or even deal it serious damage, but it does serve to highlight how the traditional big media outlets have been legally hogtied.

    Our usual media sources can't report on allegations of abuse because they've been very effectively muzzled by CSI hyper-litigation. They try to keep this fact close to the vest, but Anonymous' efforts are making it plain for all to see. This is a valuable service.

    Also, any organization that exploits copyright law in order to silence critics should get a kick in the shins, even if that's all it amounts to. It's still a potent message: "We don't condone gag orders, and we'll fight back however we can, even if it is a David versus Goliath situation."

    Glib as it may sound, raising awareness is key here. And an end unto itself.

    Yours,
    Cheeseburger Brown
    Suppressive and Proud

  • two quotes by Hubbard that say it all... (Score:5, Informative)

    by night_flyer (453866) on Thursday January 24 2008, @12:03PM (#22169100) Homepage
    You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion. (1948)

    THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. (1952)

  • Hoax or Real? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by CristalShandaLear (762536) on Thursday January 24 2008, @01:51PM (#22170916) Homepage Journal
    From the video:
    We are cognizant of the many who may decry our methods as parallel to the Church of Scientology. Those who espouse the obvious truth that your organization will use the actions of Anonymous as an example of the persecution of which you have for so long forewarned your followers. This is acceptable to Anonymous. In fact,it is encouraged.

    Damn. Kind of wraps the Borg's "Resistance is Futile" and Bush Jr.'s "Bring It On" in an ominious, yet tidy little anti-scientology message doesn't it?

    I've had a couple of friends who "converted" to scientology and they completely shun anyone and everyone they were ever associated with including their parents now. It's very sad to see how isolated and fearful they've become.

    I for one hope that this isn't a hoax. I'd never participate in something like this, but when I think of what my friends used to be and what they are now - and how Scientology seems to be this insidious organization that has used and abused so many - I can't help but hope that Anonymous, if serious, will succeed.

  • One man's words... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Teflon_Jeff (1221290) on Thursday January 24 2008, @02:50PM (#22171804)
    I have but one thing to say about Scientology

    "The only way you can control people is to lie to them."
    -L. Ron Hubbard, .Off the Time Track,. lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY, issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418.

    • Re:Why bother? (Score:5, Informative)

      by Bazer (760541) on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:30AM (#22167520)
      If you'd click the second link in the summary you'd see how Slashdot "gave in".

      The story posted after the comment was removed had a full disclosure, included the text of that comment and had _lots_ of anti-Scientology links, including Operation Clambake [xenu.net]. That was the best Slashdot could do, considering the threat of legal action.

    • Re:Why bother? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 24 2008, @10:58AM (#22167962)
      > There's no point in posting this story on Slashdot; Slashdot just caved last time Scientology told them to censor themselves, and there's no reason to believe that has changed.

      Memetic warfare.

      Walk down the street and ask random people "What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word '$cientology'"?

      If it's "Tom Cruise", the person could still be sucked into the cult. They're still infected by the "cult == hollywood celebrity thing" meme. The cult's kinda weird, but it's something successful people do.

      When it's "Xenu!", "Scam", "Money", "Those assholes who DMCA everybody who talks about their UFO story", or "That UFO cult from South Park", "That chair-jumping fucktard on Oprah", the person will never be sucked into the cult. These people have been inoculated by a different meme -- the cult's something that only the mentally ill could do.

      At some point - 20%? 50%? 90%? - herd immunity develops. "Hey, man I took this personality test and..." "What, what? Dude! Do you know what that cult is? Here, lemme tell you about Xenu and save you $360,000! It's crazy shit!"

      When herd immunity develops in the general population, the cult starves for money, and dies.

      This story should be on Slashdot for that reason alone: it exposes thousands of people to the memetic inoculations provided by the OT3 story, the deaths, the money, the criminal conspiracies in other countries, and so on. Everyone who reads this story learns something about the cult that will ultimately help starve the cult of its lifeblood: its ability to recruit new members, (in cult parlance, "fresh meat") and bilk them of their life's savings.

      • Re:I've been asked, "Have you ever met an SP?" (Score:5, Informative)

        by domatic (1128127) on Thursday January 24 2008, @11:00AM (#22168012)
        It is short for "Suppressive Person". In Scientology, an SP is anyone who is actively impeding the Church or questioning it's teachings. Being an SP is attributed to gross personal flaws and they will assign the label to threats both perceived and real and internal or external. Furthermore, they believe SPs are "Fair Game" and may be "sued, tricked, lied to, or destroyed" by any possible means. People will be branded SPs for things questioning family members too closely about their new church for instance but the application of the label is much much broader than that.

    • Re:how moronic (Score:5, Interesting)

      by geekoid (135745) <dadinportland.yahoo@com> on Thursday January 24 2008, @11:24AM (#22168426) Homepage Journal
      "Suppressing Scientology is no different the the Chinese government suppressing and killing Christians. "

      Not really. Freedom of speech does not entitle you to harass other people and unlawfully accuse them of crimes.

      "My guess is that this is a dry run and that Christianity is next on the list. "

      OK, you just slipped into paranoid fantasy land.

      Scientology is a cult created from a bet, continued as a tax dodge.

      More importantly, they harass people, threaten people, follow people, lie to people, lie to the courts, abuse the legal system.

      Funny enough they paid taxes for 25 years because they are a commercial enterprise. Only after harassing IRS employees, and getting some into their cult did they get tax exempt status. At the time, it was very shocking to tax experts since every court had back the IRS decision not to give them exempt status. that was 1993, if I am not mistaken.

      Yeah, I have watched this organization for years. I have family who new Hubbard pretty well. Until his power slipped and he wasn't allowed to see them anymore.

      You know what? I can go to any church or synagogue learn their religion and then leave without any problems, not so with the CoS.
      Religions are a waste of time and resources, but I wouldn't stop someone from worshiping, OTOH I wouldn't stop someone from exposing the truth.

      Religion is like masturbation; I know people do it, but I don't want to hear about it.

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