Scientology and Society

How does Scientology affect society at large?

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Scientology and Drugs

What does Scientology teach about medical drugs? What about psychiatric drugs?

Tax Court Denies Scientology-Like Deduction for Jewish Courses

December 21, 2005: The US Tax Court rules against Michael and Maria Sklar, who were seeking the right to deduct the cost of their children's religious education, a right that the IRS grants only to Scientologists.

Scientology and Society in the News

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December 9, 1997 Scientology's Attacks Rile Clearwater Leaders City leaders Monday said the Church of Scientology's angry protests of the Police Department over the weekend badly damaged Scientology's image in Clearwater and set back the church's efforts to become part of the city's mainstream. The church continued to blast police Chief Sid Klein on Monday with another in a series of public letters accusing him of "orchestrating harassment" against the church and its members. City officials responded in strong terms to the church's allegations. "You can't attack the chief of police without some repercussions," Roberto said. Clearwater, Press, Scientology and Society
December 9, 1997 The Prosecutor's Duty By their own admission, law enforcement authorities did not investigate the suspicious deaths of members of the Church of Scientology as thoroughly as they might have. They have an opportunity to correct that mistake as they wind up the investigation of the death of Lisa McPherson, a 36-year-old woman who died two years ago after spending 17 days at Scientology's Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater. A disturbing pattern now has been established of apparently healthy Scientologists who die suddenly after arriving in Clearwater for training or counseling. An investigation by the Times' Lucy Morgan found at least eight Scientology members, including McPherson, have died under circumstances that are not easily explained. Clearwater, Lisa McPherson, Press, Scientology and Society
December 7, 1997 Scientologists Attack Police Chief In Letter The Church of Scientology's campaign against Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein calls him "reactionary" and bigoted and blames him for "a two-decade pattern of discrimination" against the church. Scientology officials insisted that they should not be accused of stirring up controversy. 3,000 to 4,000 Scientologists held candles and demonstrated in front of police headquarters, many of them angrily chanting, "Sid Klein, what's your crime?" Clearwater, Press, Scientology and Society
November 30, 1997 Germany vs. Scientology To explain the furious hostility between Germany and the Church of Scientology, German officials might point to the story of a young man from Braunschweig named Jurgen Behrndt. In Behrndt's first year of membership, Scientology officials visited his parents with him seeking a DM 75,000 ($50,250) loan toward his activities. By the time he broke from the group in 1995, Behrndt had spent some DM 200,000 ($134,000), was unemployed and emotionally ravaged: "Many days I saw no reason to even get up." Germany, Press, Scientology and Society
November 14, 1997 Letters To The Editor on Scientology How can the U.S. government criticize Germany for regarding Scientology as a business and not a as tax-exempt religion, a legal ruling the United States held for 25 years? Could it really be possible under U.S. immigration law that, by the mere act of not being given tax-exempt status, German Scientologists would be allowed to seek asylum in the United States for religious persecution? Above all, why must Germany subscribe to the same religious definitions as the United States? Germany, Press, Scientology and Society
November 13, 1997 Germany: Scientology Stand To Be Explained The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology is - in Germany, at least - more of a business concern than a religion, and accuses it of exploiting the insecurities of its members for economic gain. Germany, Press, Scientology and Society
November 8, 1997 U.S. Immigration Court Grants Asylum to German Scientologist A Federal immigration court judge has granted asylum to a German member of the Church of Scientology who claimed that she would be subjected to religious persecution had she been required to return to her homeland, the woman's lawyer and a Scientology official said today. While few details of the case were available, it is believed to be the first time the United States has given asylum protection to a Scientologist. Germany, Press, Scientology and Society
October 28, 1997 Scientology Rally in Germany Sparsely Attended The Scientology movement, which the authorities here call mercenary and undemocratic, staged a demonstration through the heart of Berlin today intended to depict modern Germany as being just as intolerant toward Scientology as Hitler was toward Jews. But while the organizers had forecast a turnout of 10,000, fewer than 2,000 people gathered to march. Berlin, Press, Scientology and Society
April 15, 1997 Scientology's Publication Is Critical Of Police Scientology criticized the Clearwater Police Department in a blistering series of articles published in their tabloid "Freedom". Citing "an informed source" who is not named, the latest edition of the Scientology publication Freedom states that Clearwater police discriminate against black people, have a poor record of drug enforcement, and pad their law enforcement statistics. Police Chief Sid Klein said, "Freedom is at best journalistically bankrupt." Press, Scientology and Society
April 10, 1997 Scientologists Lose Case Against Germany The European Commission of Human Rights today threw out a discrimination case brought by the Church of Scientology against Germany on grounds that the sect had not exhausted domestic legal channels. Scientologists complained that the Government considers their church a commercial enterprise, rather than a religion. The church has also asserted that several German states have banned Scientology members from some jobs. Germany, lawsuits, Press, Scientology and Society

Scientology and Society in the News

Date Title Blurb Tags
December 21, 2005 Tax Court Denies Scientology-Like Deduction for Jewish Courses The US Tax Court rules against Michael and Maria Sklar, who were seeking the right to deduct the cost of their children's religious education, a right that the IRS grants only to Scientologists. court rulings, Scientology and Society