Scientology and Society

How does Scientology affect society at large?

More about Scientology and Society

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

Datesort icon Title Blurb Tags
August 13, 2008 As Scientology Expands, So Do Its Naysayers Anonymous protestors in Seattle call attention to Scientology's space opera teachings, tax exempt status, and Fair Game policy. pickets, Press, Scientology and Society, Seattle
August 6, 2008 Anonymous Returns, Scientology Responds Cringely outlines Scientology's long history of harassing journalists and critics. harassment, pickets, Press, Scientology and Society, Scientology's Chilling Effect on Free Speech
June 20, 2008 Scientology: The Anonymous Protestors An Anonymous protest in London targeted Scientology's elite Sea Org - a pseudo-paramilitary group that used to own a ship. "We are not targeting the beliefs, but the Church. Why does it take people's money? Why does it split people from their families? It is a dangerous cult." London, pickets, Press, Scientology and Society
December 8, 2007 Germany Prepares To Ban Scientology Erhart Korting, Berlin's Interior Minister, who chaired the meeting, insisted afterwards: "All ministers present were unanimous in their view that Scientology is an organisation not compatible with the constitution." He said steps would be taken to implement a ban. Hamburg's Interior Minister, Udo Nagel, the chief proponent of the ban, described the organisation as a "psycho-ideology" which aims at the "total suppression of the individual". Germany, Press, Scientology and Society
November 12, 2007 A Church Accounting While religious institutions have constitutional protection against certain taxation, they are also expected not to abuse their special status. In fact, while Grassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientology to the list. Scientology's shameful past includes a 25-year legal and psychological campaign against the IRS to be recognized as a tax- exempt religion. Scientology tactics included a criminal conspiracy in the 1970s to bug IRS offices, which led to 11 convictions of church members including founder L. Ron Hubbard's wife. Scientology filed dozens of lawsuits against the IRS, hired private investigators to dig up dirt on IRS employees and financed other IRS critics. crimes, IRS, Press, Scientology and Society
October 4, 2007 Samoan Christians March Against Scientology

Hundreds of Christian believers in Samoa have marched in protest against the government's support of the Scientology religion. They marched to the front of the government building in Apia where Scientology tents have been put up as the main venue for its disaster training and seminars over the next two weeks. The protesters have called on the government to reconsider its stance to allow the Scientology members into the country as they would try to persuade many Christian believers to join the scientologists.

Press, Samoa, Scientology and Society
November 22, 2006 Scientologists Woo Police With Gifts Worth Thousands Police officers have accepted gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology, it emerged yesterday. The wealthy religious movement has spent the money cultivating contacts in the City of London force. Officers received free invitations to film premieres and a Pounds 500 a head charity dinner where the guest of honour was Tom Cruise. Sources inside the City police have described the church as "grooming" selected officers in the hope of winning powerful influence inside the force. London, Press, Scientology and Society
October 24, 2006 The Strange Case Of The Cop And The Cult In 1984, Mr Justice Latey concluded a custody hearing involving Scientologists and former Scientologists by declaring that the organisation was "corrupt, sinister and dangerous", citing the Church of Scientology's "infamous practices" with regard to anyone who dares to criticise it or question its methods - though his rebuke appeared to have little effect on the Church's attack-dog approach to any kind of threat, however marginal. London, Press, Scientology and Society
October 24, 2006 Police Criticised over Scientology A cult information group has complained to a senior police officer about comments he made at the opening of the pounds 24m Church of Scientology centre in London. It also emerged yesterday that four City of London police officers attended a lavish reception at the headquarters of the Scientology movement in East Grinstead on Saturday night. London, Press, Scientology and Society
October 4, 2006 Anti-Gay Scientologists Backed Mark Foley Mark Foley, who resigned from Congress because he got caught sending sexually suggestive e-mails to teenage male pages, had a political relationship with the very anti-gay Church of Scientology. The controversial cult-like church has major operations in Clearwater, Fla., which just happens to be in Foley's district. The group also hosted a fund-raiser for Foley in May 2003 when he was considering a Senate run. Clearwater, Mark Foley, Press, Scientology and Society

Scientology and Society in the News

Date Titlesort icon 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