I was exposed to Scientology by getting involved with some individuals who live near Clearwater, Florida, the well-known spiritual center of Scientology in the US. At the beginning, it sounded like they had great ideas, with the tone scale and how to learn about people. The more I got involved the more horrendous my experience was. This sect or cult as I would call it, has the main purpose of total planetary disemmination, ruling over the world, they believe in this and they use techniques of brain-washing to capture new members, once you are in is difficult to get out, they will do whatever it takes to become quickly part of your life, family and friends, also your career, my relationship with my wife was jeopardized and they will encourage you highly to break your relationship calling your spouse a suppresive person (SP). They are not religion in absolute, they called it that name just to cover what they truly are after to. I am happy to be out for years and very happy with my wife.

Ed Thomas, Ocala, Florida

Wilfried Handl cannot possibly have been a Scientologist worthy the name when he describes Scn as "a small totalitarian creed, based on a small book by Hubbard." Scientology is a huge global movement and its writings, recordings and texts comprise about 50 million words, which is the exact opposite of what "Scientologist" Handl claims. He is just a shill for the government, the medical/psychiatric industry or some other suppressive operation, as usual.

Ola, Copenhagen, Denmark

I find it disturbing that people even question whether it is right or not to ban Scientology in Germany. Of course it isn't!

As you mention in your article, Scientology has been under intense surveillance in Germany over the last 10 years. Phones have been taped, spies have been sent to infiltrate the Church. Members have been denied basic citizen's rights on the sole basis of their religious beliefs.

But when it comes down to it, the truth of the matter is that after 10 years of careful scrutiny and (often illegal) investigations, German authorities have yet to find evidence of an single actual crime committed by the Church.

Why? Because Scientology is NOT a criminal organization. That's why no crimes were found. Duh!

You can find a few dubious individuals who have been in Scientology and left, but for each one of them, there is a hundred us.

Why do we only hear the voices of a minority of apostates? Why is the majority of us ignored? How about our opinion?

Sylvain, Chiang Mai, Thailand

If the cult of $cientology claims to be so squeaky clean then they won't mind being investigated will they?
Paulette Cooper was one of the first to write about and expose the cult of $cientology. Google and read what they did to her.
$cientology almost got away with what is the biggest infiltration of government offices in U.S. history.
Nothing has changed. They are just more careful and less obvious about it than before.
Also, by aligning themelves with religion (which any old insane sci-fi author could do), they expolit the all too common (and very sad fact) that most politcians are too scared to get involved with anything negative towards the R word. It's even worse across the atlantic in the United States of Jesus Christ.
The cult seems to think that "freedom of religion" means that a "church" can trample over our basic fundamental rights as individuals.

MartinWelbourne, London, UK

Strange the way that shortly before he founded Scientology, L Ron Hubbard is quoted as saying "The easiest way to become rich is to found a religion". Quite amusing really.

Rob, Singapore,

Eva,
So by following the ideas of a sect, you are THINKing FOR YOURSELF?
Well Done.

John Smith, London, UK

I've been a Scientologist since 1997. I have never paid Scientology of anyone any money that I was forced to do. I also don't know any Scientologists who would do so. If you're a Scientologist you learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF. I do not believe either of the people mentioned in the article are truly Scientologists.

Eva , Alhambra, Ca, USA/Calif

The country of Germany has the worst track record of any nation in the world for discriminating and harassing religious groups.

It's just disgusting that this government could even consider "again" this kind of action against religion.

Elan Vital, Sussex,

The German government is a joke! Lol!

They are going to go down hard!

bobby , Los Angeles, USA

I would like to see Scientology banned worldwide.Its not the Scientologists that are the problem.Its' the management.

The practice of Disconnection,which in turn causes the splitting up of families is just one of many practices i find abhorrent.I know first hand about Disconnection because my family were split up because of this.

Sharone Lander, Sussex, England