Well Done Belgium - Goodbye Scientology

LivelineDipso · 29-12-2012 07:19PM #1

Another reason to love this much under rated nation:

The Belgian government won't charge Scientology for being a cult — authorities are focusing on prosecuting it as a criminal organization. Which is a new twist, as most of the group's many court battles over the years have focused on establishing its legitimacy as a religion.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/12/belgium-scientology-charges/60398/

Iwasfrozen · 29-12-2012 07:21PM

LivelineDipso wrote: »

Another reason to love this much under rated nation:

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/12/belgium-scientology-charges/60398/

What ever you think about Scientology or it's dubious practices people should be allowed to worship what they want.

Pottler · 29-12-2012 07:21PM

Read this earlier. Well done Belgium, if they keep this up, they might even get around to prosecuting some of their paedo rings. Also, I LOLed at the "worship" bit. Surely you mean "buy"?

beaner88 · 29-12-2012 07:25PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

What ever you think about Scientology or it's dubious practices people should be allowed to worship what they want.

You'd have no problem with people sacrificing local kids to their satanic lord once it was a religious event?

Crimes are crimes.

My name is URL · 29-12-2012 07:28PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

What ever you think about Scientology or it's dubious practices people should be allowed to worship what they want.

I don't see what that has to do with anything. The CoS is a criminal organisation and should be treated as such. It's been shown plenty of times in the past. They're responsible for the biggest breach of US security in history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White

People can worship what they want, but that shouldn't give free reign to those involved to do what they like.

ITS_A_BADGER · 29-12-2012 07:29PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

What ever you think about Scientology or it's dubious practices people should be allowed to worship what they want.

I argree with you about letting people worship what ever religion they want. But if you read up more about scientology you might change your mind about allowing people to pratice it

Benny_Cake · 29-12-2012 07:30PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

What ever you think about Scientology or it's dubious practices people should be allowed to worship what they want.

It appears that the Belgians are simply going after the business operations of Scientology so that the organisation won't be able to operate there (which makes a lot more sense than trying to introduce anti-cult laws).I'm sure that individual Scientologists will be able to practise whatever they like.

MagicMarker · 29-12-2012 07:31PM

As soon as we do the same to Catholicism then we're laughing.

Biggins · 29-12-2012 07:32PM

(Reposting something I said elsewhere)

The cult will also now have to make up their mind – are they going to continue to say their are a ‘religion’ or are they going to say their are a group that supposedly is of a medical nature? Certainly they need first to make their own minds up before defending any cases they will have to answer to in a court!

In the annals of history – they are the first ‘religion’ that has an official army, a armed navy, a supposedly medical practise, hundreds of full-time investigators, a UFO landing pad, a city (Clearwater, USA) that is owned mostly by them filled with tower-blocks of many lawyers, financial investment staff/groups, open/hidden companies and subsidiaries under further masked names!

mikemac1 · 29-12-2012 07:33PM

Only took eight posts for someone to drag in Catholicism

Fr_Dougal · 29-12-2012 07:36PM

Biggins wrote: »

(Reposting something I said elsewhere)

The cult will also now have to make up their mind – are they going to continue to say their are a ‘religion’ or are they going to say their are a group that supposedly is of a medical nature? Certainly they need first to make their own minds up before defending any cases they will have to answer to in a court!

In the annals of history – they are the first ‘religion’ that has an official army, a armed navy, a supposedly medical practise, hundreds of full-time investigators, a UFO landing pad, a city (Clearwater, USA) that is owned mostly by them filled with tower-blocks of many lawyers, financial investment staff/groups, open/hidden companies and subsidiaries under further masked names!

Either way, if someone libels/defames/whatever them here on boards, they could, if they choose, bring Boards.ie Ltd to court over it under the Defamation Act of 2009 if Boards allows users to defame the organisation.

ColeTrain · 29-12-2012 07:42PM

Jack Reacher will be deployed into Belgium now.

Biggins · 29-12-2012 07:50PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Either way, if someone libels/defames/whatever them here on boards, they could, if they choose, bring Boards.ie Ltd to court over it under the Defamation Act of 2009 if Boards allows users to defame the organisation.

Let me be the first to say then that they have been shown to be (and its on historic record) involved in:

Crook activity - USA
Kidnapping - Italy
Possible murder - USA, Europe.
Fraud (with and without their once founder) - USA, France.
Government infiltrating - USA, France, Germany.
Illegal business activities - Russia
Operating under false pretences - Greece
Theft - France.
Tax evasion and establishing an illegal organization - Spain.
Court tampering - France
Liable - Canada
Broke anti-racketeering laws - USA
Involuntary homicide - France
Criminal association - Italy
Spying - USA, Greece
Assault, extortion, kidnapping, defamation, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress, and racketeering - USA

Just to begin with...

Further details of their MANY illegal actives are found here: http://factnet.org/node/1415/

Let them sue me - "...and the truth shall set me free!"

"Since 1986 authorities in France, Spain and Italy have raided more than 50 Scientology centers. Pending charges against more than 100 of its overseas church members include fraud, extortion, capital flight, coercion, illegally practicing medicine and taking advantage of mentally incapacitated people."
- Time Magazine, May 6, 1991

Source: http://www.scientology-lies.com/press/time/thriving-cult-greed-power.html

xper · 29-12-2012 08:21PM

Biggins wrote: »

In the annals of history – they are the first ‘religion’ that has an official army, a armed navy, a supposedly medical practise, hundreds of full-time investigators, a UFO landing pad, a city (Clearwater, USA) that is owned mostly by them filled with tower-blocks of many lawyers, financial investment staff/groups, open/hidden companies and subsidiaries under further masked names!

The Vatican has had all of those! Still has most of them.

Well, okay, maybe not the UFO landing pad but I am sure St. Peter's Square would suffice with a few adjustments!

Pottler · 29-12-2012 08:32PM

Biggins wrote: »

Let me be the first to say then that they have been shown to be (and its on historic record) involved in:

Crook activity - USA
Kidnapping - Italy
Possible murder - USA, Europe.
Fraud (with and without their once founder) - USA, France.
Government infiltrating - USA, France, Germany.
Illegal business activities - Russia
Operating under false pretences - Greece
Theft - France.
Tax evasion and establishing an illegal organization - Spain.
Court tampering - France
Liable - Canada
Broke anti-racketeering laws - USA
Involuntary homicide - France
Criminal association - Italy
Spying - USA, Greece
Assault, extortion, kidnapping, defamation, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress, and racketeering - USA

Just to begin with...

Further details of their MANY illegal actives are found here: http://factnet.org/node/1415/

Let them sue me - "...and the truth shall set me free!"

That's all great but surely there must be some negatives to Scientology Biggins?

Biggins · 29-12-2012 08:42PM

Pottler wrote: »

That's all great but surely there must be some negatives Biggins?

No free Jelly Babies!

books4sale · 29-12-2012 09:06PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

What ever you think about Scientology or it's dubious practices people should be allowed to worship what they want.

There is nothing to think about.

If you had bothered to read the article instead of typing out your whingy sh*te then you might understand that this has nothing to do with what people should be allowed to worship.

They are being charged as a criminal organisation for the following...

"charges of extortion, fraud, privacy breaches, and the illegal practice of medicine."

...about time!

Pottler · 29-12-2012 09:49PM

books4sale wrote: »

There is nothing to think about.

If you had bothered to read the article instead of typing out your whingy sh*te then you might understand that this has nothing to do with what people should be allowed to worship.

They are being charged as a criminal organisation for the following...

"charges of extortion, fraud, privacy breaches, and the illegal practice of medicine."

...about time!

Tom Cruise is supposedly doing their next Belgian PR campaign, it's being provisionally called "Mission Impossible 7 ; Defending the indefensible".

Chuck Stone · 29-12-2012 09:50PM

Will any country have the balls to outlaw hacking the foreskin of baby boys?
yeah balls

nocoverart · 29-12-2012 09:52PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Will any country have the balls to outlaw hacking the foreskin of baby boys?
yeah balls

Speaking of balls, Belgium have a great football team too!

philologos · 29-12-2012 09:52PM

LivelineDipso wrote: »

Another reason to love this much under rated nation:

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/12/belgium-scientology-charges/60398/

I disagree with banning any religion its highly illiberal. If profits are made it should be taxed but impeding religious freedom is in violation with human rights law, I can imagine this easily going to the European Court of Human Rights if passed.

Pottler · 29-12-2012 09:54PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Will any country have the balls to outlaw hacking the foreskin of baby boys?
yeah balls

Doubtful, people will always find some way to circumcise the ban.

JonathanAnon · 29-12-2012 09:57PM

Does this mean that anybody caught jumping on a couch will be arrested?

ColeTrain · 29-12-2012 09:57PM

philologos wrote: »

I disagree with banning any religion its highly illiberal. If profits are made it should be taxed but impeding religious freedom is in violation with human rights law, I can imagine this easily going to the European Court of Human Rights if passed.

Admit it, you want Scientology fully legalised because it makes Christianity look half decent in comparison.

Pottler · 29-12-2012 09:58PM

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Does this mean that anybody caught jumping on a couch will be arrested?

Oprah time will tell.

philologos · 29-12-2012 10:00PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

Admit it, you want Scientology fully legalised because it makes Christianity look half decent in comparison.

I support the freedom of conscience whether that is for believers or non-believers in society.

Cienciano · 29-12-2012 10:03PM

Well done Belgium, would love if other EU countries did the same.

Pottler · 29-12-2012 10:04PM

philologos wrote: »

I support the freedom of conscience whether that is for believers or non-believers in society.

So now. No arguing with that, is there. Ah well, and we were having such fun. Anything good on the telly?

Shryke · 29-12-2012 10:07PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Will any country have the balls to outlaw hacking the foreskin of baby boys?
yeah balls

I doubt Germany will be falling over themselves.

Biggins · 29-12-2012 10:14PM

Just out of curiosity philologos - and I ask this of you because of your clear admirable strong faith, not as an attempt to have a go at you on any way, shape of form - how do you feel about Scientology hi-jacking the cross of Jesus symbol and incorporating it into their symbolism as to try portraying themselves further as a religion?

Myself, even as an atheist, I consider their act despicable and does no justice to the true believers of the Catholic faith or those that have it genuinely incorporated into their religion based on actual usage by the god they follow.

Pottler · 29-12-2012 10:14PM

Shryke wrote: »

I doubt Germany will be falling over themselves.

Well, they used to think they had a final solution to the issue, but they've gone a bit quiet lately. Which is probably for the best. It wasn't their(or anyones)finest moment first time round.

Biggins, I know the thread is about commercialised religions, but calling it the "Catholic Fair" is pushing it too far. Although the Vatican bank might agree with you.

Well Done Belgium - Goodbye Scientology

Comments