Opinion
Earth to Xenu: Let Scientology implode
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Charles Lim:
- Breaking resistance to interracial dating (February 12, 2008)
- Earth to Xenu: Let Scientology implode (January 29, 2008)
- Corporate abuse results in shrugs (December 12, 2007)
- Blackwater security firm raises questions of sovereignty, authority (October 4, 2007)
- Compassionate care measure heartless (September 19, 2007)
Frank Zappa once said, “The only difference between a cult and a religion is the amount of real estate they own.” It may be odd to quote such an ardent opponent of mainstream education in a paper such as this, but no matter your walk of life, the quote basically sums up most people’s dispute with organized religion. Under what requirements can we comfortably say, for example, if a group is a bunch of radical gun-toting tomato worshipers, or the divine prophets of the true sun-ripened savior? While that question is incredibly hard to answer, there is no better case of this ambiguity than Scientology.
With its pay-to-grace system, questionable lifestyle restrictions placed upon its members and strong-arm censorship tactics of its critics, Scientology certainly seems comfortably blur the definition of how a credible religious organization should behave. I understand the characteristics of Scientology I mentioned may ring familiar in many other entrenched religions, but only in Scientology do we see these in obscene proportions. In its short 50-odd years, mountains of anecdotal evidence point to extreme societal and emotional abuse at the hands of the organization, as well as a still controversial death of one of its members. This is not to mention the continuing attempt to censor all who criticize their inner workings.
The church’s actions have not gone unnoticed. In what is a fantastic example of empowerment the Internet gives to the common user, a grassroots movement of various Internet communities has banded together to attack, dismantle and ultimately destroy the institution. Calling themselves Anonymous, these vigilantes are a collection of various message board communities previously concerned with less noble feats such as raiding virtual online hotels, harassing the furry-fetish community and creating internet memes.
So how does a seemingly disparate collection of strangers plan to declare war on a far-reaching organization that claims many of America’s celebrities among its ranks? One of the main plans of attack is to assail the church’s websites with information, a method known as a denial of service attack, which overloads the website with user requests, rendering it unavailable for viewing.
Unavailable for viewing? Isn’t that nearly the same type of censorship Anonymous condemns Scientology for employing? Indeed, Anonymous does acknowledge this discrepancy, but it claims that since Scientology can hardly consider itself a religion and is merely an evil business venture, no form of religious persecution or denial of free speech has been committed.
Claiming this would imply the definitions of religion and cult are indeed so clearly defined and that Scientology unquestionably falls into the latter category. While most people of sound mind can agree this is the case, trying to forcefully press an ideal rather than organically change public opinion often ends disastrously, and vigilante activism such as Anonymous’ does provide the church with evidence it is being unfairly suppressed and persecuted.
No matter the organization and its motives, it is everyone’s right to be able to access all information and be able to make an informed decision on their own. While Scientology certainly seems to be unable to play by these rules, Anonymous’ actions, even if self-realized, are hypocritical and violate ethics in the process of obtaining the “greater good.” Rather than falling to the level of the church, Anonymous should instead reprioritize attacks from the censorship of information and instead focus on its dissemination. Some byproducts of Anonymous’ attacks were the release of secret internal church documents, as well as organized protests outside the church’s locations, both of which are not only much more effective in the goal of the church’s eventual death, but also allow the avoidance of hypocrisy.
The end of the church will not come through the blockage of its message and actions, but rather the education and knowledge of them. It does not need help in its destruction, because, let’s be honest: Scientology embarrasses itself considerably more than any of us ever could.
Charles Lim (celim@wisc.edu) is a junior with no declared major.
34 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Brother Ali makes an ‘Exclusive’ stop
Muckrakers
Report: Barrett to make decision by the end of the week
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com




See http://xenu.strangled.net/ for information they are trying to supress.
You’ve got it: Anonymous is moving towards free release of Co$ docs and RL protests. Be wary of Feb 10! The DDoS was just to get people’s attention.
buying favor w/ your religion is soooo 16th century
~anonymous
“Anonymous should instead reprioritize attacks from the censorship of information and instead focus on its dissemination.”
It has already begun. Be very wary of te 10th of February!
Power if a privilege. Knowledge is a right.
You have some good points there, but I am inclined to disagree with your conclusion.
At one time I thought that scientology would eventually self destruct in internecine battles or we would watch the new leader run off with the receipts. I no longer feel that way.
Sadly, at this point, I think that they are almost invulnerable from self-destruction. Most of their money seems to be wrapped up in real estate, which no one can run off with.
Barring an investigation by the American government that far exceeds the one following “Snow White” the cult is here to stay. What could prompt such an investigation? I don’t know but it would have to be something on the level of Jonestown or perhaps the Oklahoma bombings. Until then they will hide under the cloak of religion and be seen only as a group centred around movie stars with whacky beliefs.
Governments (Belgium and Germany aside) don’t seem to want to do much about them and they have managed to beat away attacks from picketers, letters to the editor writers, ex-members, those who would launch lawsuits, and the lone banker who used his financial resources against them.
Uh, you missed the entire point. Anonymous are bringing a buttload of attention to the dangers of Scientology, and that is the ENTIRE point of their campaign, to get attention, as silly as their campain is. These people do not honestly believe they’re going to bring down Scientology over the net. What they are doing is raising awareness, whether people like the way they are doing it or not.
They have also gone out of their way to say that they are not persecuting Scientology’s religious beliefs (the aliens and whatnot) but their cult behavior. There’s a clear difference.
You are such a tool of the man! “mountains of anecdotal evidence point to…” Making up fictitious “evidence” and then pretending it is true is so yesterday and so mainstream education. Scientology is the fastest growing religion in the world today because of this type of propaganda “fictional knowledge for censorship” has become too sickening. What is your problem with actually knowing something truthful instead of simply what you’ve been told to believe? Anecdotal; what a joke, read a book actually written by Hubbard instead of what someone said Hubbard said. The truth is you don’t know anything about Scientology other than what you have been told to believe - and you are not even choosy on who doing the telling. Some day you may get tired of being a tool and discover a need to honestly learn and know something.
Congrats. The gumption it takes to even mention Scientology in a negative light on a news outlet is more than most newspapers have.
The DDoS attacks on their sites may be somewhat hypocritical, but consider this: the sites are filled with lies anyway. The real information about Scientology was locked away on their servers, and is now floating about freely, thanks to the actions of Anon.
DDoS attacks were only the beginning. They accomplished their goal of garnering attention for what aims to be a longterm grassroots movement.
Visit http://www.funky-bunch.blogspot.com/ for more information on the war.
“read a book actually written by Hubbard instead of what someone said Hubbard said.”
I watched a movie based on a Hubbard book—Battlefield Earth. It was on the Science FICTION channel the other day. Does that count?
Anonymous read your article. Good points were taken and censorship will no longer occur. What will occur is a series of protests and information dissemination. You can help this more logical move by attending the protests on the 10th of febuary. Not sure where to go? Just find the nearest scientology center. Problem solved
Scientology locks people up. Scientology lies. Scientology is breaking the law. Scientology has a long, well-documented history of criminal activities. Scientology attacks free speech. Scientology hurts people. http://www.scientology-lies.com/whatswrong.html
If you are attacked for writing this article in any way, by scientologists, I hope that you write about it and do not hide. They may call and threaten you, they may call your boss or your neighbor.
Stand up and fight against opressive censorship.
You are a voice to be heard, and that voice matters.
Thanks for bringing any coverage to this fight.
Our tactics are unfortunately necessary to draw attention from mainstream media to the threat that the Church of Scientology poses.
One issue I have is that you equate the CoS and Scientology as a whole. We do not object to Scientology as a religion, we object to the abusive, dangerous, subversive and outright criminal actions of the Church of Scientology Inc.
The dissemination of information has already begun. Look for it, on filesharing networks where the CoS’ abusive cease-and-desist orders cannot force Google and ISPs to delist and delete the information. It is out there, the first two disks of a $900 set have been publicised, more will come.
We are Anonymous. We are your neighbors, your friends, your sisters, your mothers. We are the people that sell you your half-caf latte. We are the people that clean your offices We are your teachers, your students, your mentors, your bosses, your subordinates. We are Legion, for we are many.
get this artwork:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/xenu90210/mini-flyer_sheet.jpg
print twelve mini-flyers on the other side of the sheet — and you can figure out the rest.
Grn Ap is obviously a scientologist. Also, look out for Terryeo, Luanne (Lu), Iain C and CountessKrak (CountessK) on message boards defending their cult. They can usually be counted on to attack the credibility of the author of the article, divert blame and brag about the cult’s financial and legal achievements.
I like how all the comments are unintentionally from “Anonymous.”
The logic to sit by and wait only applies when Someone is only hurting themselves, but when scientology is hurting others, then more drastic measeures will always be ethically approved.
Hey Charles, would you pick a damn major already? You’re a junior! Time to make a decision.
I find it all so very very interesting, nevertheless, Scientology is not going anywhere. It’s just going to get bigger,and happier to deal with. I hope. So; Thank you very much! Anon, Fucktard creep. I don’t just believe Scientology to be a Religion, I know it is, just as sure as water is wet. The truth is; it has real problems and despite fault, somebody needs to be held responsible for that. And that is why I would like to point out right here WHAT the CORRECT handling is; You stuff all 4’11” David Miscavage into a suitcase and turf him overboard! (with an Ethics book of course).
Hubbard gave the Church all the ammunition it needs to fight back hard, and it IS being abused.
DAVID Misguided has long screwed everyone; 1) in his personal stewardship of Hubbard’s death. 2) disgraced all further by allowing/making Mary-Sue Hubbard to “disappear” from sight. 3)Effectively making LRON a trademark “mystic” rather then a normal Man, like all other great men, albeit with a arcane Second Dynamic. Now “what” second dynamic is there to speak of for Hubbard? And this isn’t to mention, Declaring falsely almost everyone important (hundreds) all SPs since 1986 onward…
Despite everything, what is incorrect can be corrected, but opportunity lost can not be ever regained. It is so importance that things lead to better days, fast fast fast.
Plain truth? Hubbard’s work works! In the right hands.
UFOs; Aliens; Body-Thetans; Xenu; or Crop-Circles; it matters not what you believe or not, U R free to fail to confront. Call it what you will; These things ARE part of life AND Scientology.
Scientology is currently grossly misinterpreted. And Suppressed.
It is high time to enter International Waters Davie boy.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=966639197455233571 www.upperbridge.org
Individuals contribute while dogs run in packs. Anonymous and hidden, their community lacks. Individual wisdom springs from personal effort and then falls on those who refuse to understand at all. James Madison said it this way: Knowledge shall forever govern ignorance.
Anonymous is legion.
Fredric Rice here, founding member of the ARSCC (which does not exist.)
The Anonymous seem to be ramping up to speed on what it is that they are attacking, I’ve noticed. From the start it looked like The Anonymous were just a bunch of script kiddies out for kicks yet as they’ve done their homework and actually researched the notoriously evil Scientology corporation, from my perspective it looks like a lot of kiddies are growing up.
The ARSCC (which does not exist) obverwhelmingly opposes the DDOS attacks however I must say that the injection of new blood into the efvfort to stop Scientology’s crimes and abuses is a welcome sight.
What remains to be seen is whether any of The Anonymous stick around for the long haul. Dismantleing organized crime is hard, lengthy work when law enforcement and governments are corrupt and equally criminal. It is hoped that some of The Anonymous will find opposing Scientology to be a rewarding hobby.
My opinions only and only my opinions.
“Scientology is not going anywhere.”
So it’s going nowhere? We can hope!
CO$ is not the ‘fastest growing religion’ in the world… there is less than 100,000 ‘devotees’ worldwide. And falling…
If you are a Scientologist - be happy in the knowledge that you are amongst some of the least intelligent people on the planet (let alone universe…)
Enjoy your billion year contract… suckers…
“Dismantleing organized crime is hard, lengthy work when law enforcement and governments are corrupt and equally criminal.”
That was a funny one. So now “law enforcement” and “governments” are in on the big pro-Scientology push. Oh, and the “media” too.
So in other words … Scientology plays by the books … proves to the powers that be that they are a bona fide religious organization … this pisses off a few Scientology haters. And voila! A perfect recipe for mob-mentality in the vigilante group called Anonymous.
I’m just waiting for the pitchforks and torches.
:by Terryeo-Lightfield-Arkaitz-Churilov-Luana1980-Chewyandbert
I’m not a scientologist and I wish I could change this conversation to one about Christianity but I went to several Scientology web sites and think that what it has to offer is very much needed in our world. They do a lot of good things. I remember reading something in the Katrina news too about Scientology crews there and John Travolta going around in a boat to help. I have a lot of respect for John Travolta and personally am moved by Tom Cruz’s passion for what he believes in. I did notice that no matter how angry they become in their subject of passion, they don’t lower themselves to the level you have permitted yourselves to sink. But then that is likely normal ops for you in daily life. You guys are a bunch of bored computer nerds with too much time on your hands. I don’t care how far fetched a religion seems or how passionate the members. But what I read so far was positive and actually quiet admirable. I found a personality test on one of the sites. I’m tired tonight but I’m going to take it tomorrow. Interesting. Back off and get a life okay
First of all, Anonymous would like to remind you that we are NOT attacking the BELIEFS of Scientology. We are not saying their beliefs are evil or somehow wrong. In fact, we could care less what you believe. God is a very personal thing, and we know better than to tell people our version of “the truth”.
Neither are we attacking the FREEDOM OF SPEECH of Scientologists. Any Scientologist is welcome to share his or her views, just as anyone else is. I understand how taking down an organization’s website could be misconstrued as an attack on CoS’s freedom of speech, but this is simply not the case.
The truth is that your rights (including your right to freedom of speech, thought, and religion) END at the moment when they infringe upon someone else’s rights. Scientology has a history of a “fair game” policy, attacking anyone who does not agree with them in various ways with their vast resources. They have forced abortions on their members above their private navy, SeaOrg. They have even been responsible for the death of at least one confirmed member (google Lisa McPherson) through their irresponsible practice of therapy. They have numerous human rights abuses on their record. For more information, I direct you to http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/. If you think that website is biased, keep searching. Everywhere (except sites maintained by Scientologists) there is well-documented evidence of the crimes of CoS.
Ask yourself, what kind of religion forces you to PAY for a truth they claim will make your life happier, better, richer? What kind of religion then uses that money to enact lawsuits against detractors and give commissions to their higher-ups? The answer is, religion doesn’t do that. Beliefs don’t do that. Beliefs in the hands of evil, greedy people do that. Scientology is more corporation than religion. There is absolutely no reason for them to be tax exempt. Do they worship any type of deity, as most religions do, or are they just hawking bad medicine to the vulnerable?
These are questions that must be answered. Scientology must not continue its abuse of human rights. If it continues, the war will never end until the organization is gone. Allowing them freedom to continue their money-grubbing pyramid scheme because “they have freedom of speech” is equivalent to allowing skinheads to beat up blacks just because “that’s their personal belief”.
Putting aside that Terryeo is probably a Scientologist that has copy-pasted the same pro-Scientology drivel in comments of various articles, “I found a personality test on one of the sites” is a great example of the deception inherent in Scientology. Members that talk to people that have taken this test are instructed to find the “ruin” of the person that took it (anything that makes them feel bad) and regardless of what it is, say “Scientology can help you with that.” Responding in any way other than trying to recruit the person is prohibited as “out ethics” since there is no such thing to them as a better way than theirs.
Well spoken. Be sure to document any harassment you will likely experience for sharing information that $cientology wishes to supress. There are all too many accounts of this.
Good job!
Scientology is a dangerous organized fraud.
Clearwater FL has already been taken over by Scientology.
Scientology viciously opposes free speech and sues people and organizations who oppose them.
Go to www.xenu.org to get more information on how completely whacked out Scientology is.
Hi Terryeo, Been seeing you around a lot lately, and you are grumpier by the post! Take a break!
Yes, Scientology has taken major PR damage. Don’t blame us — unlike CoS, we don’t create facts out of thin air. It’s documented all over the place by people who were there, but you’re not able to lend it any credence.
I know this hurts. You’re taking it so personally because it’s your “hat” in the OSA to run out and refute all this. It’s a losing battle, though, because you can’t hide the truth forever.
This is going to be hard. In your room, late a night, after you’re too tired to go on these forums anymore and make another single post… you’re discouraged, and angry. Focus somewhere more productive, like thinking about the rest of your life. Who in the org can you get an apartment with? Who can be counted on for some references to get a job outside the CoS? Tory Christman is incredibly nice and would vouch for your abilities, if she knows you. She can also help you figure out what your relationship to the real world will be when CoS starts collapsing from within.
I wish you the best of luck, Terryeo, really. I also wish you could get back some of the money they took from you. You’ve sunk your whole life into this, and David Miscavige is living like an emperor while you do all this work.
Believe what you want. Practice your religion and talk about your beliefs. It’s fine. But you’re going to be out of a job soon, because this corporation is going down. The market isn’t interested in this product.
Sorry. Truly. We’re just not that into you.
Life is good when you know how. Scientology, really, has but one direction. It is method to understand what you already know, and to understand what you gain as knowledge. Libraries of knowledge can not help you, if you do not understand what you know. That is the kernel, the nut, the bottom line, the gist of Scientology. It is ways to understand what you know. To a critic (a Scientology critic) this is wonderfully simple, passed over, denied and refused.
You ask why celebrities study Scientology. It aids them greatly in their acting. We all know there is an emotion, “anger”, but could we portray anger for hours? Understanding anger is helpful to an actor. Life is good when you know how.
Terryeo is a scientologist, he is one of the OSA Clones tasked with destroying Project Scientology on Wikipedia, one look at any talk page on this subject will leave you in no doubt he is no stranger to the EMeter. a little clue, if they claim not to be a Co$ member in the first paragraph of a post its almost guaranteed they are, since normal people never feel the need to state it.
Despite my screen name, I am not Anonymous, but I am a critic of CoS and support Anon all the way. I hope that they can garner enough support to have the media get over their “Hackers vs. Cult” style headlines. Those are damaging and make it a throw away story.
This is about protecting people from an organization that is designed to take away their freewill, money, connections to non-Scienos (including friends & family), etc. CoS takes advantage of susceptibilities ALL PEOPLE have and Anon, I think, is motivated in part by that. Don’t think Scientologists are all weak-minded idiots who get what they deserve - The church was engineered to manipulate. When members decided to get involved with CoS to better themselves and the world, they didn’t have much chance against the evil that lurked beneath.
xenu.net, youtube, wiki, google, yahoo. search it online and find out why so many “hackers” want to bring this information to light. The media has overall done an unimpressive job of explaining the back story because “Hackers v. Cultists” is a better attention grabber.