Pete_H Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 So, I wouldn't argue that the Church of Scientology hasn't engaged in fraud, but are there any religions in the world that don't try to take your money by selling you crap? French court convicts Church of Scientology of fraud Paris, France (CNN) -- A French court's verdict against the Church of Scientology amounts to a "modern Inquisition" and threatens freedom of religion in France, a senior Scientologist said Tuesday. Eric Roux, a spokesman for the group and an official representative of the organization's Celebrity Center, also said the church would appeal Tuesday's verdict. A three-judge panel at the Correctional Court in Paris convicted the church and six of its members of organized fraud, but stopped short of banning the church, as prosecutors had asked. The court also fined the members as much as 400,000 euros ($595,000) each and sentenced them to as much as two years in prison, though the sentences were suspended. The decision follows a three-week trial in May and June, during which two plaintiffs said they were defrauded by the organization, which is classified as a sect in France. Scientology has about 45,000 followers in France, and some of them were in court Tuesday. "We think that this is really a modern Inquisition and that this is really dangerous for the freedom of religion in our country, and for sure we do not agree with that and we will go to appeal," Roux told CNN. One of the judges on the panel said the church may continue its activities in France, but she said those activities must remain "on the correct side of the law." As part of the penalties, the church was ordered to publish the results of the verdict in several national and international magazines to warn people, the judge said, about what Scientology offers and what was discovered at trial. "It's an empty case," Roux said. "It's run like an Inquisition, (as) if some people did not wake up from the Inquisition time." The plaintiffs focused their complaints on the use of a device that Scientologists say measures spiritual well-being. Members used the electropsychometer, or E-Meter, to "locate areas of spiritual duress or travail so they can be addressed and handled," according to Scientology's Web site. The plaintiffs said that, after using the device, they were encouraged to pay for vitamins and books. They said that amounted to fraud. Roux said Scientology is doing well in Europe, and he specifically mentioned Spain, Britain, and Sweden. He said a church opening in Rome, Italy, last weekend attracted 6,000 people. "This is expansion, and people want to support the church," he said, when asked about members being asked to pay money. "We are 12 million in the world, and this 12 million want to support the church, and that's what they do." He said France was a special case within Europe. "You have in France a clique of anti-religious extremists that are making a lot of noise," he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidjr Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 is a bit more, or a lot more, f*cked up than other "religions." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_rutl Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 tom cruise will always prevail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 is a bit more, or a lot more, f*cked up than other "religions." By sole virtue of the fact that Tom Cruise is their most well-known proponent, I would have to agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 This thread needs some Pam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Kevbone, you're living proof that poor taste and stupidity go hand-in-hand. I'm suprised your not shelling out money hand-over-hand to the Scientologists to get your vitamins and electropsychometer reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 (edited) is a bit more, or a lot more, f*cked up than other "religions." No, it really isn't, actually. Nor is it any less 'legitimate'. It's just more recent. I heard an evangelical preacher making fun of Scientology the other day. The Emperor of the Universe. The Spaceship. The volcanoes. Now THAT was funny. Edited October 27, 2009 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 its better than being a nihilist. talk about a leap of faith! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 The Mo's believe in spaceship shit too. Plus they try to convert dead Jewish people to their religion. Now that is goofy. And offensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 yes but they also built in the multiple wives clause. they aren't as stupid as you'd think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 But then there is the no beer, no coffee clause. Damn stupid. They may as well take one M out and just be mo-rons. I'd rather have the same amount of sex with one wife and be allowed to drink what I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 The Mo's believe in spaceship shit too. Plus they try to convert dead Jewish people to their religion. Now that is goofy. And offensive. Spaceships seem more credible than floating down on an silver cloud or riding down on a flying silver horse or... and how do you try to convert dead jewish people? "Hey, you...wake up!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 But then there is the no beer, no coffee clause. Damn stupid. They may as well take one M out and just be mo-rons. I'd rather have the same amount of sex with one wife and be allowed to drink what I want. dru no one wants that vile image in their minds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 am i the only one here who ever attended a taping of the 700 club? reggie white was present 1988 it musta been w/ my psycho 7th grade born-again-and-shtting-in-his-diapers football coach driving the short bus - digg it bitches! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 am i the only one here who ever attended a taping of the 700 club? reggie white was present 1988 it musta been w/ my psycho 7th grade born-again-and-shtting-in-his-diapers football coach driving the short bus - digg it bitches! "DJEETHUTH LUVTH YOU!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 am i the only one here who ever attended a taping of the 700 club? reggie white was present 1988 it musta been w/ my psycho 7th grade born-again-and-shtting-in-his-diapers football coach driving the short bus - digg it bitches! "DJEETHUTH LUVTH YOU!" and extra laps after (public school football) practice for blaspheming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) Watching the Evangelicals duke it out with the hapless but hyper-wealthy scientologists (market share predation?) is like watching the various flailing arms of the GOP beat their own near-corpse to death. Meanwhile, the Catholics...the world's least sexy religion, are creating a parallel Vaticanverse in their attempts to woo the Anglicans, who have married, female priests. "How is this not a total screw job, again?" Everyone knows, of course, that people are finally giving up religion by the millions: Atheism is winning. Good times! Edited October 28, 2009 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Well, I suppose it's about time to haul this one out again [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ee9VwHQt44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Watching the Evangelicals duke it out with the hapless but hyper-wealthy scientologists (market share predation?) is like watching the various flailing arms of the GOP beat their own near-corpse to death. Meanwhile, the Catholics...the world's least sexy religion, are creating a parallel Vaticanverse in their attempts to woo the Anglicans, who have married, female priests. "How is this not a total screw job, again?" Everyone knows, of course, that people are finally giving up religion by the millions: Atheism is winning. Good times! but the near -corpse is itself the jesus-fish, which can not die but rise from the ashes again - the republicans will be back up on their feet and stark raving mad in control agian in short order - how many years seperated the vileness of republifuck corruption under nixon from ragean? i don't really understand it well, but i know its not really about religion - if it was then war-mongering and poor-fucking wouldn't be the order of the day, eh? republicans sell conservativsim, which by a poll discussed in the news last week grows unchecked - the idea that gramma, ignorant bitch that she was, was always right and the future is to be feared if it's not just like the past Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) You are correct on all points, of course, which is why I used the term 'near corpse', to signify the undead, brain eating hysterical mosh that is the GOP. Behind it all, of course, are the quiet, very rational hyper-wealthy, who will continue doing what they've been doing for all these decades until we burn them out of their estates, violate their shitzus, and convert their country clubs into communal schools for the eligitimate blue blood/bad blood half breeds that spring forth in the wake of our rude boy horde. Edited October 28, 2009 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 am i the only one here who ever attended a taping of the 700 club? reggie white was present 1988 it musta been w/ my psycho 7th grade born-again-and-shtting-in-his-diapers football coach driving the short bus - digg it bitches! "DJEETHUTH LUVTH YOU!" and extra laps after (public school football) practice for blaspheming! The silver lining from your fucked up childhood, however, is the hours of entertainment we've all gained from its after-effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 The Mo's believe in spaceship shit too. Plus they try to convert dead Jewish people to their religion. Now that is goofy. And offensive. Spaceships seem more credible than floating down on an silver cloud or riding down on a flying silver horse or... and how do you try to convert dead jewish people? "Hey, you...wake up!" This is true, I seen it on PBS too. http://www.jewishgen.org/infoFiles/ldsagree.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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