February 11, 2008
'Anonymous' Scientology Protests on Saturday Sunday
Supporters of Anonymous, the loosely organized group of internet activists who have attacked the Church of Scientology recently with videos and server hacks, appeared outside D.C.'s Founding Church of Scientology center on Sunday. The protest was part of a planned "global day of action" with the stated purpose of setting off a government investigation into how Scientology got tax-exempt status.
The Feb. 10 protests, which took place in dozens of cities, were initially announced last month after a video attributed to Anonymous coincided with an online effort that managed to temporarily knock out servers belonging to the Church of Scientology. The date was chosen for the protest because Feb. 10 was the birthday of Lisa McPherson, who died of a pulmonary embolism in 1995 under the care of a branch of the Church of Scientology.
More photos after the jump, and check out Bas88's entire Flickr group covering the D.C. protest.
All photos by Bas88.
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pretty sure christianity is just as much of a scam as scientology, while being a lot more harmful to us as a nation. and on the scale of things worthy of protest, this barely event rates. who cares if some rich idiots want to throw their cash into this toilet? besides, all the nonsense these clowns believe is GREAT comedy fodder, so viva la operating thetan, i say.
Anytime a religion copyrights its "sacred texts", you know you got some shenanigans going on.
I always wondered what would come of the "video game" culture. Apparently like their video games the young heads of mush have no attachment to reality. In fact the common denominator seems to be that all activity must be void of reality. The worst that can be found wrong with Scientology is that Fred said, Sue said, Joe said, someone said... Like video games, the kkk, or the nazi's it is hard to find any redeeming quality with anonymous or those who would support them.
It is well-known how and why Scientology aka Dianetics became a religion. The NJ Board of Medical Examiners instituted proceedings against the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation for teaching medicine without a licence in 1951; founder L. Ron Hubbard skipped town and moved to LA.
These guys are gonna be so sorry when Xenu drops them in the volcano and destroys them with H bombs.
As a "religion", with Tax Exempt status, they should not be allowed to cry copyright infringement any of their texts or videos being posted on the internet.
If they want to be a business, that's fine. They can pay their taxes and cry copyright infringement all day long.
Results of abusing copyright like this:
1) You can still charge your loyal followers $ to be granted the right to read about Xenu's space airplanes. (Hello Mr.Business, why are you tax exempt?)
2) It creates an external environment that is less aware of the goings-on of the "church." You can avoid criticism by not letting people know what is going on inside the "church." Members, as a result, are less likely to meet critics and be exposed to points of view that question what the "church" is telling them. YES copyright can be a tool for mind control... that's why it should little or no place in religion.
I agree with Goat Boy. Yes, these folks are nuts. But they are just as entitled to tax exempt status as any other religion.
But, then, I'd argue that religions should be taxed like businesses, as that's what they are.
But if we don't tax churches, then we need to apply that to anyone that claims to be a church.
I'm sorry, but I just can't disrespect any club that is privileged enough to count Doug E. Fresh as one of its members. Get fresh Doug, get fresh.
Anytime a religion copyrights its "sacred texts", you know you got some shenanigans going on.
On the other hand, the catholic church refused to recognize non-church created texts for centuries, including non-Latin translations (and non-Latin masses, of course). But on the OTHER other hand, I believe the catholic church is a cult.
Anyway, cue DCist being sued by the Scientologists in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...
Also, GrnApl is a Scientologist operative. You can tell by the poor grammar and attempts to paint those who oppose Scientology as racists and/or Nazis.
I think scientology is fairly bat shit crazy, but I HATE scientology bashers. Like it not, these are people's legit beliefs and you're not going to change them just by being annoying.
@west
that's fine if these are people's legit beliefs, but what beliefs are those? why are those beliefs held secret from people on the "outside?" why does the "church" attempt to separate individuals from family and friends who are not members?
and while there are those of us who hate the catholic church, which is fine, it does not meet these definitions of a cult. it is open, for free, to anyone who wants to join.
@GrnApl
where did the kkk and nazi's comment come from??? that's agressive.
The KKK / Nazi comparison tactic is standard operating procedure explicitly set out by Scientology PR corps; actually the better one I've seen them use is "baby killer" - that is, anyone who asks any question about Scientology is a baby killer - see: Jenna Elfman, or " Sea Org " for examples.
The xenu.net website on some of these signs is just awesome.
And aids cannon - the problem isn't that scientology protects its copyright re: "these are the only legitimate versions of these works," they protect it re: "if you say anything about our practices in public, we will sue (or as commonly,) harass you."
More pictures from the event:
http://flickr.com/photos/23687680@N04/sets/72157603889051763/
We were not out to protest the religion. People have the right to believe whatever they wish to. However, we take issue with the actions of the church, their highly litigious nature, forced abortions of employees, required fees to advance in knowledge of the faith, and the 1000 lawsuits within one week that GRANTED Scientology the tax-exempt status it is.
www.xenu.net
@goat boy and @Hillman....
Both of you need to open your eyes. Did you even read anything that nermal the kitten wrote? This is NOT a religion. It is a business that somehow managed to scam their way into a tax-exempt status.
People can preach all they want about how equally destructive and manipulative other religions are, but fact of the matter is that you can become a member of said religions and learn all you want without having to pay a single DIME.
Scientology was created using a BUSINESS model and its foundations arise from the imagination of a fucking science fiction writer. This is a cult that is extremely dangerous and should be treated as such. This is no joke and no laughing matter.
Silly Scientologists....it wasn't an Alien, it was a Virgin who got pregnant. Yeah, a Virgin....
My bet is that most of the protesters are Mormons and other evangelicals who are competing for the same suckers.
@ west: maybe these people legitimately believe, but that does not make what they believe legitimate. there's a big difference. just like people can bang the drum for creationism all they want, but that doesn't make it the truth. as a friend of mine says, you're entitled to your opinion, but you aren't entitled to the facts.
@ yonas: right, i've never been to a religious service where people were "asked" to give money. cracka please. if that collection plate passes through your hands without you dropping anything in, some nasty looks will be shot your way.
Note: when I first passed by (I think they were just getting started),there was a group of only about 10 people on the corner in hockey masks, blasting the Fresh Prince theme song.
but fact of the matter is that you can become a member of said religions and learn all you want without having to pay a single DIME.
Unlike Monkeyrotica, yonas is clearly not familiar with the for-profit Church of the Subgenius, "the only religion that is proud to pay its taxes."
I always thought Scientology was a pyramid-scheme that may or may not be tied in with Amway, and chain letters. Probably have something to do with the Nigerian Bank scams as well. Heck, let's blame everything on them!
Btw, people are entitled to an EDUCATED opinion, if they're stupid, no dice.
such backlash and I wasn't even supporting Scientology in the least. I was just trying to say that fanatical opposition to Scientology serves no purpose but to rally more people for it.
I would love to try and defend it (if not for the payment aspect, that's so asinine) because some of the people against the group sound just as ridiculous.
The attempt here to define which religions are right or wrong is hilarious. My solution to this is the same as my solution to the gay marriage debate. Drop all tax/legal incentives altogether to even the playing field and remove the government from having to decide what is or is not appropriate.
On the subject of secret/copyrighted religious texts, legal tactics similar to those employed by Scientology are being used locally... well in Arlington anyway... by a religious order called the Legionaries of Christ, against an ex-Priest from their order who allegedly 'stole' copies of their secret rules and regulations.
Washington post picked this up a while back . The whole affair sounds pretty sordid, with its founder being 'retired' by the Vatican over allegations of molestation.
@krisa
good point. without tax/$ issues, there is no need for legality and no utility of pandering to voters' morality.
@realidealist
"no dice" HA i love that phrase.
someone please
explain how the music : protest
@goat boy
yes even as a ten year old i felt obligated to dig around in my pockets for a dime or Quarter for the plate, whcih is actually a bowl but 'plate' sounds more innocuous, and i remember the fear and guilt....
@grnapl
your argument is invalid. regardless of how ridiculous your premise is, your delivery is worse.
"People can preach all they want about how equally destructive and manipulative other religions are,"
I'll get back to you on that, right after me and my friends stop getting gay-bashed and having my basic rights as an American and as a human being denied by Christians.
Last time I checked gay-bashings almost always come from hard core right wing Christians, not Scientologists.
That's it? That's all you Scientology-getters got?
The Thetans are going to eat you alive, with nary a pause for fresh air.
We are not a hate group.
We want you to be aware of the very real dangers of Scientology. We want you to know about the gross human rights violations committed by this cult. We want you to know about Lisa McPhearson. We want you to know about former members of Scientology's private navy, SeaOrg, who were forced to have abortions so that they could continue in service to the church. We want you to know about Scientology's use of child labor and their gulags. We want you to know about Operation Freakout and Paulette Cooper. We want you to know about Operation Snow White and Scientology's efforts to infiltrate the government of the United States of America (L. Ron's wife did time for this).
Go to xenu.net for more truth.
Scientologists = The Others ?