Slashdot Mirror
'We the People' Petition To Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status
An anonymous reader writes: There has been a lot of interest in the activities of the Church of Scientology recently, especially since the release of Alex Gibney's documentary Going Clear. A petition against tax-exempt status for Scientology has been started on the U.S. White House petition website. If it receives more than 100,000 signatures, it will qualify for an official White House response. Even Slashdot has had its own run-ins with Scientology in the past — one of many internet sites to face legal threats from the Church. Has the time come for Scientology go "clear?"
I'm a Christian as well. The state recognizing other religions is fine with me and most conservative Christians I know. Their existence and lawful activity is a fact of American life. I have no problem with the state recognizing other religions equally in this capacity because religion is a major part of public life and ignoring it is in fact giving favoritism to atheism, not neutrality.
I also think Scientology should not be recognized as a religion because there is a documentation trail showing that it was deliberately created as a fraud by Hubbard. To my knowledge, no other religion in the US can be accused of that. That is a legitimate basis for the state not granting it protection under the first amendment.
I were an American citizen I would file a complaint as instructed in the Tony Ortega post.
That's the right way to do it.
Posting as AC, because I already moderated the thread.
Why do you think we care the reason you are posting as AC? Do you think that providing an unprovable reason makes your post seem more trustworthy or authentic?
It isn't just legal or tax advantages. There is also state organized discrimination against Scientologists. For example child custody issues or employment discrimination. Let's not minimize what Germany is doing here and what their advocates are arguing for. The difference with Al-Shabaab is say one of degree not one of kind.
The USA system has worked well for centuries why mess it up?
Because there's a significant number of people here that are hostile towards religion in any shape or form. The mere fact that it exists drives them insane.
Not certain I agree with you. I think most of these people are just trolls. They operate under the assumption that people who derive peace and serenity from their religion should be easy targets. When this proves false they just ramp things up to complete ass hat.