Echos of Jewish Persecution in Germany

[Miles]

Steve wrote:
> No denying that the German government can get a bit fanatical
> at times, but they seem hell-bend on ridding Germany of the
> Church of Scientology, saying that it is a threat to the
> Constitution of Germany and it is attempting to "...abolishing
> the free democratic basic order".
>
> Seems a little extreme when you consider that Scientology only
> has about 6,000 members in a country of 82.4 million.
>
> "Germany's Battle Against Scientology"
> http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1695514,00.html

Miles:
Well, first: Scientology *is* an anti-democratic ideology. If they could
what they say they want, there would be no free society and no democracy at
all.

So, to compare the issue with the Jewish Persecution is not only extremely
distasteful, it's historically the wrong side of the story. The laws that
constrict anti-democratic organizations are a reaction to the Nazi
takeover - they used democratic elections and institutions to abolish
democracy, so the Grundgesetz (German constitution) wants to build a
"wehrhafte" (well-fortified) democracy. There were few bans on political
parties (two since 1949, one Nazi and one Communist party) and some bans on
clubs/associations (again mostly Nazi's, and islamistic ones).
Some parties and associations are observed by intelligence services, among
them Scientology.

The problem with Scientology as a "church" in Germany would simply be, that
they would have the right to get money from the state, mostly tax
advantages. They would get money to build schools etc. So, to observe
Scientology and embank their actions has political reasons beyond being
"afraid" of 6,000 people - the idea is to make it difficult for them to let
the state pay for their propaganda.

Martin, shivering in Germany, but not because there are political
"Persecutions", but because it's cold out there ;)