Internet Group Declares War on Scientology 891
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."
Scientology is pervasive (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Re:The war (Score:3, Interesting)
Double-edged sword. If the mainstream media doesn't pick up on this, less law enforcement attention is paid to his malfeasance. Similarly, more attention into this issue can only be beneficial for his cause as Scientology comes under more and more scrutiny.
It's also worth noting that there's a lot of mainstream hatred of Scientology. Technically, it's bigotry, but Anonymous has way more support than you think he does. Enemy of my enemy and all that...
Re:It's not a church (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Anonymous? (Score:4, Interesting)
More Interesting... (Score:4, Interesting)
Where, after all, is the media trail of his development? From the newspaper's perspective, Ron Paul is one big discontinuity.
Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Interesting)
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:Why bother? (Score:5, Interesting)
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:Why bother? (Score:3, Interesting)
So why on earth would there be no point to not posting this story on slashdot. They have more invested in this story than most, they have been victims of this absurd litigation. They need to post more stories to bring awareness of it. So thats the point, nothing has changed but maybe more coverage of things like this will start a movement and institute change. Increase freedom of speech. So when you say there is no point there is. Stories have been removed from many sites, and it should be noted. If slashdot doesn't even attempt to speak out, if no one attempts to speak out because they have been a victim of a useless law, and an insane cult, who will?
So while there may be no point in posting the OCIII on the site(what good would it serve anyways) posting comments and stories saying there are people who don't agree and maybe you shouldn't either are good.
Re:More Interesting... (Score:2, Interesting)
It appears that the corporates are trying to spray Roundup on the grass roots, or at least keep them covered up in hopes that lack of sunshine will make them die.
Any candidate that the corporate media is afraid oof is a candidate that gets my vote. I don't expect to see him get nominated, but I plan on voting for Paul in the primaries anyway. Then I'll either vote Green or Libertarian in the general election.
IMO corporatism is a threat to capitalism AND freedom. I do not welcome our corporate overlords.
-mcgrew
OT but if anybody wants to downmod me, this is the best time to do it. Try "flamebait" because I'm in a really bad mood today.
Re:how moronic (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Re:'Anonymous' is actually... (Score:3, Interesting)
So no, it's not the same "RAID RAID RAID" cancer as before - and heck, it gives those kids something useful to do.
Re:It's not a church (Score:4, Interesting)
Today, the Mormon church controls a vast World wide financial empire built on the backs of their lay members. Their most visible member is currently waffling presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. Scientology also has a vast financial and real estate empire in Florida and in California. Their most visible member is Hollywood movie star, Tom Cruise. Give Scientology another 20-50 years, and maybe the two empires will be of equal size.
The Cruise award video may win "Sundance Audience Favorite" award, even though it was not even entered. Everyone there seemed to really enjoy it.
Re:It's not a church (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:'Anonymous' is actually... (Score:3, Interesting)
They raid almost anything and unlike normal hackers/crackers, they use pure brute force methods on their targets. Also they don't pick their targets based on any real reason. They prank call Tom Green for the hell of it, and phished tons of myspace accounts. They usually attack things that they won't get into serious trouble for. If you attack things people dislike, most people will just let them do as they please (see Hal Turner). CoS is probably one of the biggest targets they've ever had. Their attack on CoS includes DDoS, black faxes, harrassing/prank phone calls, and random other things.
Will it be effective? Probably not, its more annoying than anything else. The DDoSing is probably the thing that annoys CoS the most since it limits their web appeal. But considering they have tons of celebrities at their disposal, they probably aren't losing too many new members.
Re:It's not a church (Score:2, Interesting)
You're not fooling anyone, though. I'm sure that you see the difference between public disclosure and secrecy in any organization. Clearly, though, your threshold for "cult" is the same as your threshold for "church."
"Cult" is far easier to say than "bait-and-switch church," so why not allow for some formal distinction?
I think a cult is a bit like pornography. You know it when you see the piles of bodies.
Re:RIAA (Score:3, Interesting)
"L. Ron Hubbard's declaration that the purpose of a lawsuit was to "harass and discourage"" (see court transcript [xenutv.com])
Now if that doesn't describe the RIAA strategy, then I don't know what does.
Movie Stars (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Why not declare war on religion in general? (Score:2, Interesting)
That is official doctrine. There is no official planet-creation doctrine; take from what I have said what you will. Also... I think creating a planet does sound rather fun
Hoax or Real? (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Re:More Interesting... (Score:4, Interesting)
Because I'm not a single issue voter. If you've ever seen my journals you would know that I like pot and hookers, and the Libertarians want to legalize them both. They wouldn't, of course, be able to manage that unless they somehow got control of the House and Senate.
The biggest reason I'd like to see a Libertarian in the White House is because he would veto, veto, and veto some more. The President doesn't write the laws, he vetos them when he can, and must enforce them when he can't. And IMO we have way, way too many laws.
The law I'd like to see is one that gives term limits to laws; unless reenacted, all laws would expire after a ten year period. Do we really need to protect sugar farmers form their South American competetion?
The party I'd like to see doesn't exist. It would be a social libertarian party that understood that government's prime purpose is to protect me from you, not to protect the corporations from customers, voters, and environmental laws. It would be pro-osha, drug-neutral, and antiNannyState.
When I was a young man the only corporation I was against was the one that killed my grandfather (that was 1959 and I still refuse to buy Purina products). Perhaps being young made me naive (actually in retrospect I'm sure that was the case), but it didn't seem like corporations were all run by murderous theiving sociopaths like today's corporations are.
When I speak of "murderous theiving sociopaths" I speak of Ford and the exploding Pintos and crown victorias, the Firestone SUV rollovers, Microsoft's business practices, Ty's refusal to take lead tainted toys off of Illinois shelves despite our consumer protection laws, Sony's rootkit, Alpo's poison Chinese dog and cat food, Mattell's poison Chinese toys... the list is endless.
In fact, if I had my way most CEOs would be facing trial for negligent homicide amd Grand Theift.
Re:Insightful? Explain how! (Score:3, Interesting)
One man's words... (Score:5, Interesting)
"The only way you can control people is to lie to them."
-L. Ron Hubbard,
Re:It's not a church (Score:2, Interesting)
I thought that for something to be copyrighted, a copy needed to be maintained in the library of congress. If it's there, shouldn't it be available from a local library?
Re:RIAA (Score:1, Interesting)
The Catholics have a pretty fancy place too.
Just sayin'.
Re:RIAA (Score:3, Interesting)
The secrecy likely relates to debauchery rather than leisure and that KSW luxury yacht that's wandering around likely has a lot to do with keeping their personal activities out of territorial waters and legal duristiction for as much of the time as possible.
Re:Anonymous? Really? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:An inside view of the Scientology reality tunne (Score:5, Interesting)
"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:An inside view of the Scientology reality tunne (Score:1, Interesting)
now tell me this is comparable to every other religion. if think you belong with them.