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| "Goddammit Belgium!" |
After a long lasting legal battle Belgium prosecutors demand to label the Church of Scientology as a criminal organization and charge it and its leaders with extortion, fraud, privacy breaches, and the illegal practice of medicine.
The subpoenas have been sent to the scientologists, the local financial newspaper De Tijd reported.
The charges against the Church of Scientology stem from employment contracts issued to recruit volunteers and members allegedly breaching the country's strict employment laws. In Belgium as in some other countries Scientology is not recognized as a faith.
In 2008 the Belgium Labor Mediation Service complained about number of labor contracts, prompting an investigation.
A judge then ordered raids on Scientology premises where police allegedly “managed to seize a wealth of evidence,” that the organization had spied on and extorted money from its members, the Flanders News reported.
Belgian authorities have been legally battling Scientologists since 2007, when the country tried to label the movement as a cult. Around the same time Belgian prosecutors ruled that the Belgian Church of Scientology, plus Scientology's Office of Human Rights and their 12 members, should be charged with extortion, fraud, organized crime, illegal medical practice.
They were accused of practicing medicine without a license and violating privacy laws.
God I love this!
Now since they are going after false faiths that lie to the congregations and make impossible claims to in order to extort, who's next? I mean Belgium's not going to just stop there are they?
Oh, but of course they are. As if the crazy belief system embraced by Scientologists is REALLY any crazier than the one embraced by the adherents of any number of different faiths.
Oh well, baby steps. Perhaps someday we'll ALL finally get there.
Right. Because your way is the only way, and your path in life is the only path. Got it.
ReplyDeleteNope, missed it.
DeleteSo why are you on this blog WakeUp? Obviously Gryph isn't your cup of tea. Or is it you just get off on getting your grumpies on? From other posts on other article/blog comment sections, I'm guessing you just love to be sarcastic and upset.
DeleteI'm okay with Gryphen's path in life. I admire his sense of decency and fair play, among other things.
DeleteI've never seen Gryphen exhort anyone to follow in his footsteps, but he ought to, and I would suggest that you, having clearly illustrated that you are in need of waking up, would be well served by following a similar path.
I accept that that will never happen, though. You see, Gryphen has something you don't possess: an open and inquisitive mind.
Actually, I don't begrudge Gryphen his path. My point is that believing in God and believing in science are not mutually exclusive paths. Don't confuse believing in God with believing in the literal meaning of the Bible. There are many paths to spirituality, and not all of them are anti-science, though many are.
DeleteMaybe the spying was a value-added service intended to save its members a trip to the confessional.
ReplyDeleteThe difference, as I see it, is that the CoS actually does commit extortion, fraud etc. There are some churches who don't seem to be able to exist without enforcing their wishes on other people, and yes, Christianity, I'm looking at you. I have absolutely no problems with faith systems that leave other people the hell alone.
ReplyDeleteScientology isn't the only "religious" organization that extorts and blackmails it's congregants. I would say most of them do to a certain extent or another. From the basic, put your dollars in the dish being passed around or you are going to hell - to the extreme of phone hacking, personal records theft, etc. that can be demonstrably shown in the habits of the Church of Scientology, the Morman's, and the Catholic church, among others.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me that this country, which was founded upon the concept of not only freedom of religion, but also freedom FROM religion, has allowed itself to become so darn wrapped up in it.
I agree. While spirituality can be an important part of one's life, organized religion seems to corrupt it in all cases, some worse than others. It's sad that something that can bring such inner peace and comfort can also be used for purely evil intent. There's nothing like the human factor to debase something good.
DeleteJust wait til the moralists and TeaVangelicals hear about this church of thieves getting beat up by a government.
ReplyDeleteThey will no doubt start screaming about persecution of Christians, and beating their never silent war drums.
There is one fact that the evangelicals need to recognize, being that they are not the only humans on earth with a "moral compass".
I hear that term used more and more as the ultra religious in every religion, sect, or cult attempt to undermine the integrity of anyone not conforming to their prejudiced standards.
There is no reason, logic, or analysis one can use in a rational discussion with such folks, more's the pity.
They are completely subsumed by their belief system, and in a sad twist of irony, we might even call it Blind Faith
Evangelicals, at least the ones I've seen, seem to be completely devoid of a moral compass.
Delete
ReplyDeleteAll of these money grubbing hypocrites and bible thumpers should be exposed for the frauds that they are and put out of business or at least pay a full share of taxes on the money they swindle people out of.
I think you will find these 4 video clips very enlightening about which "messiah's" birthday is celebrated on December 25.
Zeitgeist - Religion (Part 1 of 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXDFFK2bBjQ
And take a look at biblical verses your pastor won't be preaching about .........
Hey lady, shut your mouth and pop out some babies…
I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
(1 Timothy 2:12-15)
Rape: the biblical way to find yourself a wife for life…
If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.
(Deuteronomy 22:28-29)
http://callingchristians.com/2011/12/23/29-sexually-explicit-profane-and-dirty-stories-and-verses-in-the-bible/
Stephen Colbert Reads Dirty Bible rather than 50 Shades of Grey
http://rackjite.com/stephen-colbert-reads-dirty-bible-rather-than-50-shades-of-grey/
Related posts:
Which is more disgusting, the Koran or the Bible? Carlson
Sarah Palin proves God is stupid
Religion Stones Afghan Couple
Jon Stewart, Crazy Pope Says Condoms make AIDS Worse
Video: Bill Maher on O’Reilly and Religion
Who's next - Mormons?
ReplyDeleteJoe Smith receiving enlightenment by looking at magic stones at the bottom of a top-hat?
Using "magic glasses" to read "reformed Egyptian" (a language NO etymologist has EVER endorsed) on golden plates - want proof? Sorry - he lost the glasses - and the golden plates!
The ancient, post-exilic Jews all got in big enclosed boats and sailed down the Red Sea, around Africa, and across the Atlantic to become the indigenous people of North America (American Indians)?
That 2000 years ago the Jewish American Indians built great cities and rode around in metal chariots and used metal swords (NO evidence of which has EVER been found by ANY archaeologists - not one single sword - much less entire cities!)?
That after Jesus rose from the tomb in Jerusalem he continued to rise up into the sky and then floated over to North America where he floated back down?
Oh - and the angel that helped old Joe figure all this out? His name was "Moroni". (How appropriate.)
Hey Joe, can you prove any of this?
Sorry - you're just going to have to trust me.
By the way - Jesus says he wants me to sleep with your wife. AND your daughters. Sorry old bean, what can I say? I'm a prophet...
Sheesh!
Belgium is a secular country, i live there and and aside from american mormons on mission stalking people on the streets i've never seen anyone preaching religion. Granted there a LOTS of catholic schools who get government money (i went to one) and have a specific lesson labelled "religion", but skyfairy stays out of the classrooms, that means no creationnism whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteLet the war on organised, for-profit religion begin!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Holidays!
Yeah, I can get behind that.
DeleteDarned if that isn't almost as satisfying as this.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/05/13/george-w-bush-dick-cheney-convicted-of-war-crimes/
To bad The Hague isn't the one handing down the verdict.
DeleteMy greatest fear is for Suri. Tom Cruise is a whacko and so far out on the Scientology limb he may as well drop from it. He might as well. Every time he is asked even an innocent question that APPEARS to paint scientology negatively - even slightly - he goes ballistic.
ReplyDeleteHow long will it be before Suri "disappears", only to show up years later so totally brainwashed she would never be brought back to "normal", reasonable thinking.
With luck, if this case is won by Belgium, his ex-wife will be able to appeal the custody case and get SOLE custody with him completely out of the picture. THAT I would like to see.
How can people still go to his movies?
Right. I can't stand him. He plays all of his characters the same way, intense.
DeleteBBC reporter claims to have found Scientologists’ ‘alien space cathedral’
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/31/bbc-reporter-claims-to-have-found-scientologists-alien-space-cathedral/
Revealed - the 'alien space cathedral' built in New Mexico desert by Tom Cruise’s Scientology church
ReplyDeleteDeep inside its vaults sealed within titanium caskets, are the original texts of founder L Ron Hubbard on gold discs - the religion's most sacred scriptures.
A report in the Sun newspaper tells how Sweeney visited the site, known as Trementina Base, and interviewed former members of the church of Scientology for the new book Church of Fear.
Mr Sweeney,who the church has previously described as 'a bigot, a liar and psychotic' said: 'I'd alway wanted to visit Trementina because when you go to the church they always deny this talk of Xenu and space aliens.
'When I spoke to Kirsty Alley and Juliette Lewis in 2007 and asked them 'who is Xenu?' they'd say "John, you're crazy".
'But if I'm wrong about the church believing in aliens, then why have they built these giant symbols in the middle of the desert that can only be seen from outer space?
'I think there is something very strange about a church which builds an enormous cathedral but then hides it away from everyone.
'What concerns me is that Scientology says it wants religious status in the UK. But our rules state religions must be open and honest about their beliefs and I think these are good rules.
'This place is physical proof that they do believe in aliens. I'd like to see Tom Cruise and John Travolta explain why they hide this from people.'
The symbols, which consist of two interlinking circles with diamonds in the centre, are reportedly there to guide Scientologists returning to earth after fleeing to outer space to escape armageddon.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255215/Revealed--alien-space-cathedral-built-New-Mexico-desert-Tom-Cruise-s-Scientology-church.html#ixzz2GfNHySCe
Well, that was interesting! Sheesh. What a lot of wasted money.
DeleteAnd all the HUGE Mosques and Temples and Tabernacles and Churches and whatever you want to call them, aren't?
DeleteThat's one of my most disliked things about BIG religions. They BRAG about how successful they are. I keep asking them how successful they would be in following the teachings of charity that they mostly spout about if they didn't have such huge buildings!
Leland, I didn't say the others weren't also a huge waste of money. I totally think they are. Every time I am in a church reeking of opulence, I wonder how many hungry children could have been fed.
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