Transkript "Hirnwäscher - Wie gefährlich ist Scientology?"

by  Anonymous (Source: http://forums.whyweprotest.net )

[Sprecher]

New York in gespannter Erwartung einer Filmpremiere. Tom Cruise wird höchstpersönlich erscheinen, der Star, der antritt, die Welt neu zu ordnen.

[Tom Cruise, YT Video]

Es liegt in unserer Verantwortung, den Menschen zu formen. Wir wollen eine neue Realität schaffen, wir sagen, wo es langgeht.

[Sprecher]

Klingt seltsam, hat aber Methode. Cruise ist Scientologe, Propagandist einer von Gerüchten umwobenen Sekte, die diese aufmüpfigen Demonstranten in Maske mächtig in Rage bringt. Und nun spielt Cruise auch noch Stauffenberg, den Hitler-Attentäter. Wird die "Operation Walküre" - deutscher Filmstart ist morgen - am Ende zur Werbung für Scientology?

[Titeleinblendung: "Hirnwäscher - wie gefährlich ist Scientology?"]

[Sprecher]

In New York: riesen Gedränge. Gleich muß er kommen. Über hundert Kamerateams aus aller Welt. Im Obergeschoß eines Einkaufszentrums ist - abgeschirmt von der Öffentlichkeit - der rote Teppich entrollt.

Geschlossene Gesellschaft. Hauptsache, die Gestalten mit den Masken bleiben draußen, die verhassten Spaß-Guerilleros, die sich die "Anonymen" nennen und Cruise und Co, die Scientologen dieser Welt einfach nicht ernst nehmen wollen. Derweil lässt sich Tom Cruise wenige Meter weiter als Stauffenberg feiern. Unliebsame Fragen werden abgebügelt: Hat ihm Scientology Kraft gegeben während der Dreharbeiten?

[Tom Cruise]

I don't understand the question. I'm sorry, I...

[Sprecher]

Der Mann ist ein geschulter Profi.

Und der Stauffenberg-Film ist besser, als zu befürchten war - auch, wenn die Dialoge nicht immer tiefsinnig sind.

[Cruise als Stauffenberg]

Ich betreibe Hochverrat - mit allen mir zur Verfügung stehenden Mitteln. Kann ich auf sie zählen?

[Schauspieler]

Ich mache alles.

[Cruise als Stauffenberg]

"Alles" ist ein sehr gefährliches Wort.

[Sprecher]

Eine seltsame Apparatur. Das sogenannte E-Meter. Das Allerheiligste aller Scientologen. Eine Art Lügendetektor, mit dem die Organisation ihre Mitglieder - und das sind laut Scientology weltweit 10 Millionen - regelmäßig überwacht, Schuldbekenntnisse einfordert. Kritiker und Aussteiger empfinden es als blanken Hohn, daß Cruise, das Sprachrohr der Scientologen, mit all seiner Spielkunst in die Rolle eines Mannes schlüpft, der seinen Widerstand gegen ein totalitäres System mit dem Leben bezahlte.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Es ist eine Farce. Weil Scientology ist ein diktatorisches, unterdrückerisches System.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Hier versucht ein Verführer abzulenken von dem, was Scientology macht. Der ganze Film war dazu gedacht, eben in Scientology den Einfluß von Scientology zu vergrößern.

[Günther Beckstein, ehem. Innenminister Bayern]

Unabhängig von schauspielerischen Qualitäten, die ich nicht beurteilen will, aber daß damit auch eine Botschaft verbunden ist, die ich für verheerend halte, daß damit unter Umständen junge Leute, oder Leute, die in psychischen Schwierigkeiten sind, sozusagen mit Glanz und Gloria Scientology vorgeführt bekommen, und damit die Hemmschwelle abgebaut wird, sich an Scientology zu wenden, und dann ist man sehr schnell in den Fängen und kommt nicht mehr heraus.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Prominente sind für Scientology enorm wichtig. Weil sie sind ja die Aushängeschilder. Wenn Tom Cruise, dieser tolle Typ, Scientology macht, dann kann das ja nicht so schlimm sein.

[Cruise als Stauffenberg]

Die Sache muß erfolgreich sein!

[Sprecher]

Die Art, wie Cruise als Scientologe redet, erinnert an alte Propagandareden.

[Tom Cruise, YT-Video von Scientology-Verantstaltung]

So what do say, are we gonna clean this place up? We're counting on you. Ok? All right? To LRH! *salutiert*

[Sprecher]

Die angekündigte Säuberungsaktion klingt nicht eben beruhigend. Aber wie gefährlich ist der eingetragene Verein, der sich Kirche nennt, wirklich?

Die Berliner Zentrale ist ein nobler Koloss. 30.000 Mitglieder habe man in Deutschland, sagt Scientology. Der Verfassungsschutz, der die Organisation seit Jahren im Auge hat, spricht allerdings von rund 6.000.

Hier waren wir verabredet. Wenige Stunden vor Drehbeginn wurden die Interviewzusagen zurückgezogen. Der Sendetermin am Vorabend des Walküre-Starts in Deutschland sei unpassend. Wir sollten die Dokumentation verschieben. Wollten wir aber nicht, also machten wir uns auf die Suche nach Insidern und Experten, die uns die scientologische Lehre und deren Praxis erläutern.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Da gibt es so Sätze wie: "Wir sind die einzigen Menschen, die das Recht haben zu richten". Wenn das ein islamischer Imam in einer Moschee sagt, wird er als Hassprediger ausgewiesen. Die Scientologen in Deutschland kriegen das in den Kopf gedrillt. Also, sie sind - es ist nichts anderes wie bei vielen totalitären Ideologien. Es gibt eine Menschenrasse - bei Hubbard heißt das "Art von Mensch" - die in die Lage versetzt werden durch das Training bei Scientology, die einzigen zu sein, die das Recht haben, über andere zu richten.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Scientology ist eine Organisation mit einem totalitären Anspruch. Sie dulden keine Kritik, sie dulden es aber noch nichtmal, gleichgültig zu sein. Sie wollen nur Unterstützer, und diejenigen, die dazu nicht bereit sind, die sollen entweder umerzogen werden oder in Quarantänelager gesteckt werden. Und 2,5% jeder Rasse sollen vernichtet werden, weil die unheilbar kritisch sind.

[Interviewer]

Vernichtet! Wo steht das?

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Das steht in den Anweisungen von Hubbard.

[Sprecher]

L. Ron Hubbard. 1911 bis 1986. Der Begründer von Scientology sah in jedem Gegner seiner Organisation einen Menschen mit krimineller Energie. Widerspruch ist unstatthaft, stört die Harmonie, die Scientology - etwa in diesem Werbestreifen - seinen Mitgliedern verspricht. Hubbard - in Jugendjahren Science-Fiction-Autor - schrieb: "Jenseits des Abgrunds erhebt sich ein höheres Plateau, wo es sich besser lebt. Scientology ist die Brücke über diesen Abgrund zu einer schöneren, glücklicheren Welt."

Schön gesagt, aber worum geht es konkret?

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Kommunikationstraining. Damit fängts an, es ist die Einstiegsdroge. In Kommunikationstrainings und Personaltrainingsseminare rennt in Deutschland die halbe Republik, weil all die Leute ja anscheinend Probleme haben und irgendwie nicht mehr miteinander reden können. Also, da gibts ein ganz breites Angebot, und mittendrin die Scientologen. Und die Scientologen machen da mit den Menschen aber nicht ein besseres Kommunikationstraining, sondern bringen Schritt für Schritt über die Kurse, über die Seminare den Menschen ihre Ideologie nahe und die Leute fangen dann an zu ticken.

[Sprecher]

In Stuttgart stieß 1984 ein junger Mann auf Scientology und widmete der Sekte 22 Jahre seines Lebens. Im Auftrag der Organisation, die nun sagt, er habe nur den Fuhrpark in England verwaltet, hat der Ire John Duignan die Welt bereist, über Jahre im Hauptquartier in Los Angeles gearbeitet. 2006 gelang ihm der Austieg. Jetzt hat er ein beklemmendes, von Scientology bislang juristisch unbeanstandetes Buch geschrieben.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich irrte orientierungslos durch Stuttgart, als plötzlich eine attraktive Sabine zielstrebig auf mich zuging und mir eine Frage stellte: "Haben Sie ein gutes Gedächnis?"

Ich war verwirrt und erklärte ihr, daß ich kein Deutsch verstehe. Also redete sie auf Englisch weiter und forderte mich auf, ihr zu folgen. Ich hatte keine Ahnung, was mich erwartete und ging mit ihr nach oben. Ich machte dann diesen OCA-Persönlichkeitstest. Und siehe da - in der Auswertung, die sie mir vorlegten, lag ich ganz am Ende der Skala. Die Scientologen sagten mir daraufhin sehr direkt, daß ich schwerwiegende Probleme habe und sogar sterben könnte. Es werde einmal bös' enden mit mir. Scientology sei der einzige Ausweg, der mir jetzt noch helfen könnte.

[Sprecher]

Minutiös wie bisher kein Anderer beschreibt Duignan, dessen Darstellung die Scientologen freilich widersprechen, die Techniken der Manipulation, des Abhängigmachens, des systematischen Ausforschens unter dem Deckmantel des frommen Prädikats "Kirche", was nun einmal kein geschützter Markenname ist. Schon die Sprache der Scientologen klingt bisweilen martialisch. Hubbards Dogmen werden von Kursüberwachern gelehrt. Was aber geschieht beim sogenannten Auditing, den regelmäßigen Verhören vor dem E-Meter?

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Ja, also, es ist eine Übung - da muss ich vielleicht eines erklären, das ist der sogenannte "Ton 40" - sagt Scientology dazu. Und dieser Ton ist am ehesten vergleichbar mit dem militärischen Kommandoton, den Ausbilder verwenden. Das heißt, wenn ich etwas sage, existiert keine Gegenwehr, wenn Sie so wollen. Und man übt das mit einem Aschenbecher, indem man den Aschenbecher anbrüllt - im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, so laut wie möglich. "Steh auf!", "Setz dich nieder!", man ist da relativ freundlich dabei, also man hilft dem Aschenbecher, weil Aschenbecher tun sich ein bißchen schwer mit dem Aufstehn und Niedersetzen. Und der Sinn und Zweck der Übung ist absolute Kontrolle letztendlich auszuüben über jemanden.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Man wird zum Beispiel dazu gezwungen, sich vor eine andere Person zu setzen und ihr in die Augen zu starren. Man darf sich selber nicht bewegen. Dann beschimpfen dich diese Menschen. Sie fuchteln vor deinem Kopf herum oder machen dich lächerlich. Sie können alles mit dir anstellen, was sie wollen. Nur anfassen dürfen sie dich nicht. Du aber darfst nicht mal mit den Augen zwinkern. Ich wurde dazu gezwungen, mein intuitives Verhalten, meine natürlichen Bedürfnisse aufzugeben. Jeder würde reflexartig zurückweichen, allein schon, um seine Augen zu schützen. Gleichzeitig ist damit ja auch eine mentale Abwehr verbunden. Ich habe Scientology in diesem Moment die Einwilligung gegeben, mich zu zerstören. Genau das haben sie mit mir gemacht, genau ist der Sinn dieser Übungen.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Einem Scientologen kann man sein Todesurteil vorlesen und der wird mit keiner Wimper zucken. Das ist der Sinn und Zweck dieser Übungen. Ja, also, daß man alles über sich ergehen lässt ohne irgendwie zu reagieren, also weder äußerlich durch Wimpernzucken oder sonstiges Zucken, noch emotional, also daß man komplett - wenn man so möchte - abgestumpft wird auf der einen Seite. Das erkennt man aber nicht unbedingt, wenn man die Übungen macht. Man erkennt während dem man das macht eigentlich nur - also das wird einem ja auch immer wieder vermittelt und man wird bestärkt darin, daß man einfach, wie man sagt, unheimlich cool wirkt auf die Umwelt.

[Sprecher]

Auch der Österreicher Wilfried Handl hatr eine lange scientologische Leidensgeschichte - 28 Jahre. Erst 2002 nach einer Krebserkrankung gelang ihm, der in der Organisation einmal ein hohes Tier war, der endgültige Absprung. Scientology sagt, man habe Handl selber rausgeworfen.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Ich hab die Organisation in Wien geleitet. Die war also damals noch relativ groß, das waren also über 90 Mitarbeiter, und deren - englisch ausgedrückt - "Executive Director" war ich.

[Sprecher]

Er hat - sagt er heute freimütig - mitgewirkt in einem System totaler Kontrolle. An das E-Meter geglaubt. Scientology spricht von einem religiösen Gerät. Bei den Auditing-Sitzungen, sagt Handl, ging es freilich keineswegs immer so heiter-entspannt zu, wie uns dieser scientologische Werbefilm glauben machen will. Die Organisation sagt: "Auditing stellt die individuelle Seelsorge in der Scientology-Kirche dar. Ziel ist die spirituelle Erlösung des Menschen."

Es gibt freilich Menschen, die sehen das Ganze profaner.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Hubbard sagt, "das E-Meter lügt nie, es hat immer recht". Und Scientology geht davon aus, daß wenn jemand ein Ziel nicht erreicht, egal wie realistisch das ist oder nicht, daß er - salopp ausgedrückt - Dreck am Stecken haben muß. Das heißt, er wird dann gezwungen, was in der Vergangenheit hat er ausgefressen, was hat er verbrochen, und das muß er zu Papier bringen, egal ob das jetzt irgendwelche Jugendsünden waren, ob das irgendwelche sexuellen Dinge sind, egal ob das irgendwelche Gedanken sind. Das heißt, er ist gezwungen, einmal im ersten Schritt das alles aufzuschreiben.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Du darfst keine Geheimnisse vor Scientology haben. Du hast keine Privatsphäre. Wenn du masturbierst, mußt du das Scientology mitteilen, aber nicht nur das: du mußt dich auch dafür rechtfertigen was du denkst beim Masturbieren. Das ist unglaublich. Ich habe eine Akte einer ziemlich wichtigen Frau bei Scientology gelesen. In der stand, daß sie in der vergangenen Nacht einen Orgasmus gehabt hat, einen Orgasmus mit ihrem Ehepartner. Welches Recht habe ich denn, diese Sachen zu wissen? Warum muß sie das bekennen? Was kümmert das die "Kirche" Scientology? Kirche in Anführungsstrichen!

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Wenn das E-Meter sagt, nee, der hat noch immer Leichen im Keller, die er nicht sehen will oder nicht ausspucken will, dann gibts die Strafverschärfung der sogenannten Sicherheitsüberprüfung. Das heißt, da sitzt man dann hinter dem E-Meter und bekommt dann Fragen gestellt. Von Fragen ob du jemals was gestohlen hast, ob du jemals Angst vor der Polizei hattest, ob du jemals böse Gedanken im Bezug auf L. Ron Hubbard hattest. Ob du jemals böse Gedanken in Bezug auf andere Scientologen hattest. Also man wird dann im Prinzip - das geht über Stunden - wird dann verhört über alles was man hat, und nur wenn man das abschließende Okay, also die Genehmigung kriegt, daß man sauber ist - [Zwischenfrage Interviewer: "Vom E-Meter?"] - vom E-Meter. Das E-Meter bestimmt, was ist oder nicht ist. Und wenn das E-Meter ja sagt, dann ist man quasi befreit, das heißt aber nicht daß man nicht in 3 Wochen wieder vor dem E-Meter sitzt.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Diese Auditing-Sitzungen sind eine der zentralen Psychotechniken in Scientology, die die Leute ja auch in einen Zustand versetzen, wo sie gar nicht mehr wissen, was sie eigentlich machen, also was sie auch erzählen.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Man muß sich das wirklich vorstellen, es wird auf die Art und Weise der gläserne Mensch schlechthin geschaffen. Diese Dinge werden ja nicht weggeschmissen, das wandert dann in die Akte.

[Sprecher]

Wie aber begegnet man der scientologischen Gefahr? New Yorks Anonyme, die mit den Masken, haben eine ganz eigene Antwort gefunden: Aufklärung mit den Mitteln von List und Satire. Im Internet und auf den Straßen. Spontanaktionen, Spaßattacken, die dem Religionskonzern nun überhaupt nicht gefallen, dort fürchtet man die Maskenmenschen schlicht wie der Teufel das Weihwasser. Scientology hat eigentlich für alles eine Lösung, nur nicht für Witz und Ironie.

[NY Anon 1]

Der einzige Weg, mit Leuten umzugehen, die ein derart übertriebenes Selbstverständnis haben wie die Scientologen, ist, sie zu verspotten. Wir wollen diese Leute nicht verfolgen und wir hassen sie auch nicht, wir machen uns lediglich über sie lustig.

[NY Anon 2]

Scientology ist eine seriöse Organisation {im Original sagt er wohl "serious organization". "Seriös" ist IMHO unglücklich übersetzt}, für die Satire und Humor absolut subversiv und gefährlich ist. Das widerspricht ihrem Anspruch, die Gedanken von Menschen zu unterdrücken.

[Sprecher]

Scientology ist ungehalten. In einer Erklärung heißt es: "Die Anonymen sind Cyber-Terroristen, die ihre Identität hinter Masken und in der Anonymität des Internet verbergen, und die Scientology mit Haßreden und Haßverbrechen verfolgen."

Doch die Spaßbewegung scheint kaum mehr zu stoppen. Selbst in den Sonnenstaat Florida sind die gefürchteten Maskenträger vorgedrungen. Clearwater. Das Mekka der Scientologen, das - Zitat - "spirituelle Zentrum" der Scientology-Kirche. Die pompöse Architektur suggeriert: "Uns kann nichts erschüttern".

Oder aber doch? 13. März 2008. Für Scientologen so etwas wie Weihnachten. L. Ron Hubbards Wiegenfest. Er wäre an diesem Tag 97 geworden. Rund 100 Anonyme wollen auf ihre Weise gratulieren und rüsten sich zur fidelen Demo in Richtung Scientology-Zentrale. Sollen Hubbards Jünger doch vor ihren E-Metern sitzen, den Thetan, den ewig währenden Geist, beschwören, und auditieren bis der letzte Orgasmus protokolliert ist. Die Maskenmenschen treiben lieber Mummenschanz. Da ist der Koloss auf einmal ganz klein. Die Anhänger der Organisation sind sichtlich genervt von den Demonstranten.

"Fair Game". Das ist ein Codewort bei Hubbard, das noch jüngst in den Schulungsunterlagen Verwendung fand.

[Tom Smith, Scientology-Aussteiger, Clearwater]

Jemand, dem sie den "Fair Game"-Status gegeben haben, ist für sie wie ein Tier, das sie loswerden oder töten müssen. Der kann angegriffen oder beleidigt werden. Der ist geächtet. Scientologen dürfen ihm bewußt schaden, ohne daß sie dafür von der Kirche bestraft werden.

[Sprecher]

Wozu so ein wenig faires "Fair Game" führen kann, zeigt der traurige Fall des Mannes, dem diese uralte Limousine gehörte. Er hat sich im Februar 2008 das Leben genommen, mit einem Schlauch Abgase seines Autos ins Wohnzimmer geleitet. Shawn Lonsdale sein Name, einer der prominentesten Scientology-Kritiker in Clearwater. Wichtiger Zeuge einer BBC-Fernsehdokumentation im Jahr 2007. Während des Interviews kommt ein Scientology-Mitarbeiter und liest dem Befrager aus einem Dossier vor. Lonsdale sei einmal drogenabhängig gewesen und habe als männliche Prostituierte gearbeitet. Lonsdale kontert: "Hat Scientology mir damals geholfen?"

Seit ein paar Jahren schon ist der passionierte Fotograf und Filmer den Scientologen ein Dorn im Auge. Lonsdale selber hat dokumentiert, wie sie ihn verfolgt haben. "Fair Game", überall in der Stadt haben sie kleine Steckbriefe ausgehängt, die über Lonsdales Vergangenheit informierten. Lonsdale hat niemals einen Hehl aus seinem längst abgeschlossenen Vorleben gemacht. Jetzt aber war er rechtlos.

[Tom Smith, Scientology-Aussteiger, Clearwater]

Sie haben ihn gedemütigt, ihn zum Feind erklärt, der angeblich Propaganda gegen sie betreibt. Sie haben andere Leute aufgestachelt, ihn zu meiden, und nicht mehr mit ihm zu sprechen.

[Sprecher]

Was hat Lonsdale getan? Er hat gefilmt und Flugblätter verteilt. Scientology hat ihn dafür selbst bei seinem Arbeitgeber angeschwärzt.

[Interviewer]

Scientology hat sie über seine Vergangenheit aufgeklärt?

[Jeffrey Taylor, ehemaliger Arbeitgeber]

Ja.

[Interviewer]

Was denken Sie über diese Vorgehensweise?

[Jeffrey Taylor, ehemaliger Arbeitgeber]

Ich denke nicht, daß so etwas normal ist. Ich denke, daß Scientology sehr besorgt darüber war, daß Shawn Lonsdale ihrem Ruf schaden könnte. Diese Leute wollten, daß ich meinen Angestellten fallen lasse.

[Sprecher]

Scientology weist jede Verantwortung für den Tod des armen Shawn Lonsdale von sich. Man habe doch in der letzten Zeit gar keinen Kontakt mehr zu ihm gehabt. Seine Freunde aber sagen, er hat sich von den Attacken der Scientologen, von er öffentlichen Bloßstellung seiner Person nie wieder erholt.

Scientology-Kritiker leben bisweilen gefährlich. Das hat vor Jahren auch Ursula Caberta erfahren. Als sie auf dem Flughafen in Tampa ankam, stand schon eine Meute aufgebrachter Scientologen am Gate. Sie solle wieder nach Hause fliegen. Ihren Vortrag hat sie dennoch gehalten. Ursula Caberta, Sektenbeauftragte des Hamburger Senats mit Schwerpunkt Scientology ist die deutsche Haßfigur der Organisation. Einige ihrer Mitstreiter haben längst zermürbt aufgegeben.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Es gibt ganz, ganz viele Leute, die sich schon damit befaßt haben, die alle aufgegeben haben. Weil es schwer zu vermitteln ist, was da eigentlich alles passiert. Weil, da steht ja nicht einer mit der Knarre vor der Tür. Aber wenn Sie nach Hause gehen, dann springen Leute aus dem Busch und sagen: "Sie sind doch Caberta!". Solche Sachen. Oder Morddrohungen am Telefon, Belästigungen und so. Oder Sie sitzen im Restaurant und erzählen da irgendwas und am nächsten Tag landet das auf dem Computer des ersten Bürgermeisters von Hamburg, was Sie da vielleicht gerade erzählt haben. Und das sollen Sie ja auch merken, also man soll es ja mitkriegen, "wir haben dich im Blick", das ist die Botschaft.

[Sprecher]

Hubbard schrieb: "Der Kriminelle scheut das Tageslicht. Wir aber sind das Licht. Wir fanden niemals einen Kritiker von Scientology, der keine kriminelle Vergangenheit hatte. Den, der sich Scientology in den Weg stellt, werden wir bloßstellen." Da verkneift sich mancher lieber ein kritisches Wort.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Das Wesentliche, worum es bei Scientology geht, ist Kontrolle. Also, Kontrolle ist, wenn Sie so wollen, die Grundfeste oder der Grundstein, auf dem das Ganze aufgebaut ist.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Jeder kontrolliert jeden. Die Ehefrau den Ehemann, die Kinder die Eltern, die Eltern die Kinder. Weil, es darf nur das, was Hubbard geschrieben hat, das darf gelebt werden. Alles andere nicht.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Sie melden auch gegenseitig, wer meckert. Also, das ganze System ist auch auf totale Kontrolle untereinander ausgelegt, weil schon derjenige, der nicht sagt, daß einer gemeckert hat, macht sich selber im Scientology-System strafbar.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Mich regt es immer noch auf. Es verletzt mich, wenn ich an diese Zeit zurückdenke. Du bist dort gefangen. Deine Seele wird dort eingesperrt. Ich bin um die ganze Welt für Scientology, aber ich war nie wirklich frei, weil ich stets und ständig an diese Organisation gefesselt war und ihr Bericht erstatten mußte.

[Sprecher]

Wer sich bei Scientology verdingt, führt - so sagen die Aussteiger - ein Leben unter enormem Druck. Da wird penibel Statistik geführt, Woche für Woche, jeden Donnerstag Leistungsnachweis gefordert. Vor allem heißt es, Mitglieder zu werben. Wer sein Soll nicht erfüllt, muß nachsitzen.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Das System ist ganz einfach. Man macht die Leute hungrig und sorgt dafür, daß sie auf Scientology fokussiert bleiben. Die Mitglieder müssen andere Menschen überzeugen, sich bei Scientology einzukaufen. Im Hinterkopf haben sie aber immer die Angst, keine Zeit für ihre Kinder zu haben, wenn sie nicht erfolgreich sind. Oder nicht bezahlt zu werden, wenn ihre Statistik, ihre Zahlen nach unten gehen. Ich habe die gesamte Nacht den Empfangsbereich geschrubbt, nur, weil ich eine schlechte Statistik hatte. Ich hätte alles getan, um diese Auditing-Seminare zu verkaufen.

[Sprecher]

Sie werkeln wie emsige Ameisen. Aussteiger sprechen von Ausbeutung pur. Die Arbeitszeit betrage nicht selten 12 Stunden. Den Alltag in der Berliner Scientology-Zentrale, die Strategien der Anwerbung hat jüngst der Undercover-Journalist Freddy Gareis in einer tollkühnen Recherche erkundet.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Denen wird zum Beispiel erzählt, daß, wenn sie viel Geld ausgeben, können sie Krebs heilen, können sie ihren eigenen Krebs heilen, können sie ihr Leben verlängern.

[Interviewer]

Wie, wenn sie Geld ausgeben? Also, wenn sie viel an die Organisation stiften?

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Nein. Wenn sie auf der Brücke der Erleuchtung nach oben schreiten. Wenn sie clear werden, wenn sie über clear hinausgehen, dann können sie Krebs heilen. Und das ist natürlich... das darf man den Leuten nicht erzählen. Das wird keineswegs zutreffend sein, daß man den Krebs dann heilen kann. Und wenn den Menschen sowas erzählt wird, und das auch noch als Vorgabe benutzt wird, daß sie mehr und mehr Geld ausgeben, um die Brücke weiter hoch zu kommen, dann finde ich das sehr gefährlich.

[Sprecher]

Vor wenigen Tagen starb der Sohn des Scientologen John Travolta. Er war - behaupten Medien weltweit - psychisch krank. Scientology aber lehnt jede psychiatrische Betreuung ab, Pychopharmaka erst recht. Ist Jett womöglich zum Opfer von Scientology geworden? Scientology bestreitet dies, doch es gibt viele, die anderer Auffassung sind.

[Magoo auf YT]

Here I am again. Somebody else has died inside Scientology.

[NY Anon 2]

Scientology begeht gefährliche Körperverletzung. Sie verweigern ihren Mitgliedern jede medizinische Versorgung, wenn sie psychisch oder neurologisch krank sind. Sie lehnen eine entsprechende Behandlung ab.

[Sprecher]

Hamburg. Nach Berlin der wohl zweitwichtigste Umschlagsplatz der deutschen Scientologen. Rund 1.000 Mitglieder werden von hier aus gesteuert. Etwa 80 Mitarbeiter schieben hier Dienst. Zu ihnen gehörte bis Ende der 90er Jahre auch Astrid von Rönn. Sie war krank und dachte, sie könne mit Scientology, wo man ein eigenes Reinigungsprogramm anbietet {Purification Rundown?}, von ihrem Leiden genesen.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Das Geld war damals für mich nicht so wichtig. Also, ich fand das spannender, einfach dieses Reinigungsprogramm zu machen, zumal ich auch chronischen Schnupfen hab, also allergisch bin, und hab mir davon versprochen, daß es davon besser wird.

[Interviewer]

Hat es was geholfen?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Nein.

[Interviewer]

Wie haben Sie sich das erklärt, ich meine, Sie zahlen 5.000 Mark ein und dann wird das nichts. Ich meine, dann müssen Sie doch irgendwie eine Erklärung haben. Sind Sie nicht ungeduldig geworden?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Nein, dafür gab es dann ja die nächste Lösung.

[Interviewer]

Welche?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Auditing.

[Interviewer]

Können Sie beschreiben... Also, dann saßen Sie am E-Meter. Können Sie beschreiben, wie das ablief?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Ja, also man sitzt am E-Meter, hat diese Dosen in der Hand, und es werden einem spezielle Fragen gestellt. Wenn jemand krank ist, dann ist er grundsätzlich eine PTS-Person, also steht mit einem Unterdrücker in Verbindung. Dieser Unterdrücker kann in diesem Leben real existieren oder in einem vergangenen Leben.

[Interviewer]

Aha. Und, haben Sie da was entdeckt?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Ja, ich hab mehrere Sachen entdeckt. Also, mehrere Unterdrücker.

[Sprecher]

Es sei wie mit einer Droge, so der Vorwurf derer, die das Unternehmen von innen kennen. Je länger man dabei sei, desto schwerer falle es, den Absprung zu schaffen. Scientology mache die Mitglieder psychisch abhängig.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Es wird also relativ rasch verschärft. Es beginnt mit 20 Euro und man ist also dann blitzartig bei 1.500 Euro [Einwurf Interviewer: "1.500 Euro!"] und ist dann blitzartig bei 50.000 Euro. Das geht also alles innerhalb von, würd ich mal sagen, 1, 2 Jahren.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Die Brücke der Erleuchtung hat mehr Stufen als einem lieb ist. Und jede Stufe bringt einen näher an die erste Grenze, die der Clear ist.

[Interviewer]

Und kostet auch was.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Natürlich. Jede weitere Stufe kostet Geld, also jeder Schritt auf der Stufe kostet Geld, und diese Brücke der Erleuchtung ist laut Hubbard der einzige Weg zur vollkommenen Freiheit in diesem Universum.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Dann kommt es auch auch ein bißchen darauf an, wer das ist. Also, jemand der zum Beispiel als Promi gilt, in der Celebrity-Szene ist, also wichtig ist, der wird schneller clear und billiger clear als die anderen. [Einwurf vom Interviewer: "Das Fußvolk muß länger schwitzen?"] Das Fußvolk muß länger rumkaspern. Und werden es vielleicht nie.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Wenn man einen Hund hernimmt, ja, und hängt ihm ans Halsband ein Stöckchen, und hängt vorne an das Stöckchen eine Wurst. Wie lange wird der laufen? Und genauso ist es bei einem Scientologen.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Was wir immer wieder erlebt haben, ist daß die Scientologen dann Leute überhaupt nicht loslassen, sondern solange ausquetschen, bis sie ihr ganzes Geld oder auch das gesamte Vermögen der Familie verballert haben in der Organisation.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Die scheuen nicht davor zurück, in die Tasche des anderen zu greifen, also ich würd einmal sagen, jede Bankauskunft ist relativ diskret im Verhältnis zu Scientology. Also, die durchleuchten einen wirklich komplett. [Einwurf vom Interviewer: "Konkret?"] Da wird nicht nur gefragt, wieviele Kreditkarten man hat, wieviele Konten man hat, wie der Kontostand ist, wie die Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse sind, ob Erbschaften zu erwarten sind, ob es ein Haus gibt, das man belehnen kann. Es wird also wirklich - ich weiß zum Beispiel aus meiner eigenen Vergangenheit - das geht dann soweit, daß man also mit der Person auf die Bank geht. Also, ich bin mit einigen auf die Bank gegangen, um dort von denen das Geld gleich in Empfang zu nehmen wenn sie es bekommen haben, damit sie nicht auf irgendwelche blöden Ideen kommen, auf dem Weg zu Scientology es vielleicht für irgendwas anderes auszugeben, sondern daß es direkt in den Kassen von Scientology landet.

[Sprecher]

Wer aber kann sich die teuren Kurse bei Scientology leisten? Jedermann - sagt Scientology. Unsere Türen stehen offen. Wer kein Geld für die Hubbard-Lektionen hat, der muß eben Mitarbeiter werden und sich vertraglich über Jahre an die Organisation binden. Wer früher aussteigt, muß die Kurse im Nachhinein bezahlen, das hat durchaus abschreckende Wirkung.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich hatte kein Geld, ich war einfach ein junger Ire, der herumreiste. Deshalb haben sie mir nahegelegt, Mitarbeiter zu werden, um mir so meine Auditing-Sitzungen zu erarbeiten.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Die einen, die Geld haben, die werden also, wenn Sie so wollen, gerupft und die anderen, die kein Geld haben, die dürfen Mitarbeiter werden. Und zwar ist der Hauptgrund, daß einer Mitarbeiter wird: er bekommt die Kurse und das Auditing in Scientology umsonst. Und nachdem ich damals kein Geld hatte, war also mein Weg vorgezeichnet, ich wurde also Mitarbeiter.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Ich mußte ja auch Geld verdienen, und so hab ich morgens von halb neun bis halb drei gearbeitet in einer Scientologenfirma, und danach bin ich in die Organisation gefahren und hab da immer bis halb zwölf gearbeitet.

[Interviewer]

Also von morgens früh bis abends um halb zwölf gearbeitet. Hat den Scientology Sie für Ihre Dienste innerhalb der Organisation wenigstens adequat entlohnt?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Nein, natürlich nicht.

[Interviewer]

Was haben Sie verdient?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also, ich hab in der Woche so zwischen 60 und 80 Mark verdient.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Man kann sich also vorstellen, von 30 Euro in der Woche kann man nicht nur keine Miete zahlen, da kann man nicht einmal die Zigaretten bezahlen, die man vielleicht braucht. Das heißt, die meisten haben einen Nebenjob.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Man steht morgens auf, sieht zu, daß man zur Arbeit kommt, ein bißchen Geld verdient, also Teilzeit, dann fährt man in die Org und arbeitet für seine Statistik und sieht einfach zu, daß man das Ziel erreicht, das der Woche, des Monats und das Gesamtziel, einfach den Planeten zu klären.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Du arbeitest so zielstrebig, daß alles Andere, sogar meine Freunde und auch meine Lebensgefährtin unwichtig für mich wurden.

[Interviewer]

Es gab nur Scientology?

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Richtig. Binnen weniger Wochen, in nur zwei Monaten hatte ich nur noch Scientology und Scientologen um mich herum. Scientology rund um die Uhr. Das war mein Leben.

[Sprecher]

Wer ausbrechen will, dem kann unter Umständen sogar ein Lager drohen. Der Aufenthalt in einem sogenannten "Rehabilitierungscamp", kurz RPF. Vor allem die 5.000 Mitglieder der Eliteeinheit Sea Org werden hier wieder auf Kurs gebracht. Über diese Rehabilitierungsanstalten, deren Existenz nicht leugnet, wird viel spekuliert. Hier sind die düsteren Fakten:

[Interviewer]

Was wissen Sie über diese Straflager?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also ich hab selbst an einem teilgenommen, das war allerdings in Kopenhagen. Das ist sehr straff organisiert, man darf zum Beispiel mit niemandem sprechen, der nicht in diesem Straflager ist, und man darf nur im Laufschritt durch die Organisation laufen oder durch Kopenhagen, man muß schwere körperliche Tätigkeiten ausüben, also wo man wirklich hinterher echt fertig ist.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Du hast keine Wahl. Sie sagen dir, du bist ein Hund, du bist ein Schwein. Die zerstören jede Form der Selbstachtung, die du noch hast. Sie reißen es dir heraus, bis du dich schließlich wie ein Hund oder ein Schwein fühlst. Da weigerst du dich nicht mehr, ins Lager zu gehen.

[Interviewer]

Und wie lange ist man da?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also, ich war 14 Tage da, dieses härtere Straflager, was in den USA ist, da ist man 2 bis 3 Jahre.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Also, ich hab zwei "Absolventen" - in Anführungszeichen - dieses Lagers kennengelernt, in England. Und was mir nur aufgefallen ist - damals war ich noch Scientologe - es sind extrem entkernte Menschen, ent-icht, ja. Da ist nichts mehr von irgendeiner Persönlichkeit vorhanden, die sind also, wenn Sie so wollen, Roboter. Und man kann sich das in etwa so vorstellen, wie es zu dem kommt: die haben also einen Tagesplan, da - irgendwas zwischen 10 und 15 Stunden müssen die arbeiten, dann müssen sie auch noch die Werke Hubbards studieren, und in der kurzen Zeit, die ihnen dann noch bleibt, dürfen sie schlafen. Das Essen sind mehr oder weniger Abfälle.

[Interviewer]

Warum tut man sich das an?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Das ist dieser innerscientologische Druck. Man will ja diese Brücke zur Freiheit nicht verlieren. Man hat ja das Gefühl, wenn man diese Brücke zur Freiheit verliert, dann fällt man tot um. Und davor hat man Angst.

[Sprecher]

Im Herbst 2007 beschlossen die Innenminister der Länder, die Sekte verschärft und gezielt zu beobachten, mit der Absicht, im Jahr darauf das Prüfungsverfahren für ein Verbot von Scientology einzuleiten. Der Verein sei menschenverachtend und stehe nicht auf dem Boden unserer Verfassung.

[Günther Beckstein, ehem. Innenminister Bayern]

Es ist völlig eindeutig, daß Scientology ein System ist, das nicht etwa auf dem Boden des Grundgesetzes steht, sondern eine Organisation, die verfassungsfeindlich ist.

[Sprecher]

Fieberhaft wurde in allen Bundesländern erkundet. Sind 6.000 bis 8.000 Scientologen wirklich eine Bedrohung des Rechtsstaats? Wir fragen nach. Was ist bei den Ermittlungen der Verfassungsschutzbehörden herausgekommen?

[Beate Bube, Präsidentin Verfassungsschutz Baden-Württemberg]

Eine wirklich ernstzunehmende Bedrohung und Gefahr für unsere Gesellschaft im Sinne einer wirklich flächendeckenden oder wirklich substantiellen Neuordnung nach scientologischen Regeln ist nicht wirklich zu befürchten, gleichwohl denke ich, daß eine Weiterbeobachtung durch den Verfassungsschutz angezeigt ist.

[Sprecher]

So wurde die Gangart gegen Scientology auf der letzten Jahreskonferenz der Innenminister notgedrungen entschärft. Für einen Verbotsantrag fand sich keine Mehrheit. Nur Bayern und Hamburg hoffen noch immer darauf. Aber vom Verfassungsschutz werden Hubbards Jünger weiter beobachtet.

[Ehrhart Körting, Innensenator Berlin]

Der Verfassungsschutz hat Material aus der Geschichte von Scientology, aus ihren Veröffentlichungen gefunden, die uns zeigen, wes Geistes Kind diese Organisation ist. Da ändert sich auch nichts dran, er hat aber keine schwerwiegenden kriminellen oder sonstigen Verfehlungen finden können, bei denen wir sagen, denen kann man nur mit einem Verbot begegnen. Wir halten es für richtiger, eine solche Organisation offensiv öffentlich zu bekämpfen.

[Sprecher]

Aufklärung - so die Devise der Innenminister - ist wichtiger als ein Verbot. Es gilt, die Diskrepanz zwischen der Welt der scientologischen Werbestreifen und dem Alltag in der Organisation öffentlich zu machen, an Schulen, in Firmen, und nicht zuletzt in den Medien. Aus den Schicksalen der Aussteiger lässt sich lernen.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Für mich ist es einfach eine schmerzhafte Erfahrung gewesen, die ich nicht nochmal erleben möchte, die ich auch meinem schlimmsten Feind nicht gönne. Und ich bin einfach froh, daß ich es geschafft hab, da rauszukommen und daß ich jetzt mein Leben leben kann.

[Interviewer]

Also, Sie sind nicht clear oder clean.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Genau so.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich habe mich entschieden, auf die Universität zu gehen, obwohl ich schon so alt bin. Ich mußte lernen, wieder normal zu denken. Ich hatte ja nicht mal eine Ahnung mehr, was normal war. Und jetzt habe ich die Möglichkeit, mit wunderbaren Professoren ein Stück Normalität wiederzuerlangen.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also, Verbote machen Menschen neugierig. Viel wichtiger finde ich, daß man Politiker dafür sensibilisiert, daß es Scientology gibt, was für Absichten Scientologen haben, wie sie sich an Menschen heranmachen.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Bei Scientology handelt es sich um einen Verein. Dieser Verein wäre nach Grundgesetz aufzulösen, weil er gegen die Strafgesetze gerichtet ist. Das kann man festmachen an der Frage des Wuchers, die betreiben Lohnwucher, die betreiben Wucher für ihre Kurse, sie verstoßen gegen das Heilpraktikergesetz, und da wären noch ein paar andere Paragraphen in Richtung Betrug zu nennen.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Wozu hat man einen Staat, wenn jeder alles machen kann? Und das Hauptproblem ist, daß die meisten Menschen nicht wissen, worum es sich bei Scientology handelt, man muß also sehr sorgfältig, sehr sorgsam damit umgehen. Und ich würde auch Scientology nicht einfach so - wenn Sie so wollen - komplett verbieten. Ich würde hergehen und würde mir einfach ansehen, die einzelnen Techniken oder die einzelnen Kurse die sie anbieten und die verbieten.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich bin immer noch wütend und werde Scientology auch niemals vergeben, was sie mir angetan haben. Man sollte ihnen, so wie es im liberalen Europa Brauch ist, aber das Recht geben, sich zu treffen und sich als Gruppe zu organisieren. Das heißt freilich nicht, daß sie Leute täuschen dürfen.

[Sprecher]

Und bloße Narretei ist nach Ansicht vieler Experten - von Theologen vor allem - das Etikett "Kirche", mit dem sich der scientologische Verein so gerne schmückt. Niemand wird einen mündigen Bürger daran hindern können, dieser Organisation beizutreten, und ihr sehr viel Geld zu vermachen. Nur mit Spiritualität, mit den Fragen nach Dingen jenseits des Hier und Jetzt hat dieses sehr irdische Unternehmen wenig zu tun.

Der evangelische Pfarrer Thomas Gandow, seit Jahren ein wacher Kritiker und eben deshalb von der Organisation auch persönlich attackiert, fühlt sich als Christ verhöhnt, wenn ein Verein wie Scientology sich "Kirche" nennt.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Scientology benutzt das Wort "Kirche" zur Täuschung von Leuten. Weil Leute dann denken, naja, das muß ja irgendwas religiöses sein. Das ist aber nicht bloß sozusagen eine Markenverletzung, so wie wenn jemand an braune Brause "Coca Cola" ranschreibt, sondern hier handelt es sich um einen Glaubensartikel. Kirche ist nicht einfach nur unser Firmenname, sondern das ist ein Artikel in unserem Glaubensbekenntnis. Wir glauben an die heilige allgemeine christliche Kirche. Und wenn jemand den Begriff der Kirche benutzt, um Erpressung, Ausforschung, Unterdrückung von Leuten, totalitäre Durchsetzung zu propagieren, ist das ein Mißbrauch und bringt Schande auf den Namen "Kirche".

[Günther Beckstein, ehem. Innenminister Bayern]

Für mich ist Scientology - völlig eindeutig - nicht etwa eine Religionsgemeinschaft, sondern ein Finanzkonzern, der die Leute in seine Macht kriegen will und dann systematisch sie ausbeutet, ein höchst undemokratischer Verein, aber keine Kirche.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Also, wenn Scientology eine Kirche ist, dann ist die Mafia auch eine Kirche.

[Interviewer]

Warum?

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Und zwar: sie gibt den Menschen Sinn im Leben - also wenn man bei der Mafia ist, kann man Drogendealer werden oder Kurier, oder Geldwäscher, also da gibts sicher Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten, bei Scientology ist das ähnlich.

[Sprecher]

Bilder des gestrigen Abends. Deutschlandpremiere von Operation Walküre in Berlin. Auch Tom Cruise, Stauffenbergdarsteller und Top-Scientologe, ist mit von der Partie. Unweit vom Geschehen versammeln sich uneingeladen maskierte Gestalten. Die Bewegung der Anonymen hat Deutschland erreicht. Die Spaß-Partisanen sind da. Sie haben das vielleicht beste Rezept des Umgangs mit Scientology gefunden: Aufklärung und heiteres Verlachen.

Here is the first ten minutes in English.

Originally Posted by Itwasntme View Post from another thread 

VO:

New York is excited - awaiting a film premiere. Tom Cruise himself will be there, the celebrity who has set out to bring about a new world order.

TC.

It's our resposibility to educate… to create a new reality. It's our responsibilty… This is the way it should be done.

VO:

All this may sound strange, but it serves a purpose. Cruise is a Scientologist on a propaganda mission for the much talked about cult that is enraged by these masked protesters.

VO:

And now ruise is even playing Stauffenberg, the would-be Hitler assasin. Will "Valkyrie" - in German movie theaters starting tomorrow - turn into an instrument to promote Scientology?

Brainwashing - how dangerous is Scientology?

VO:

In New York the crowd is pushing and shoving… he will be here soon. More than one hundred camerateams from around the world are here. The red carpet has been rolled out on the top floor of a shopping mall, well shielded from the public. This is an invite-only event, the masked people must be kept out at all costs, those much-hated party-guerillas that call themselves "Anonymous" and refuse to take Cruise and his buddies- the Scientologists of the world- seriously.

VO:

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise is only a few feet away, hoping to be praised for his performance as Stauffenberg. Unpleasant questions are brushed off. "Did being a scientologist give you strength to play this part?"

TC:

I don't understand the question.

VO:

The man is a professional in dealing with the press.

VO:

And the Stauffenberg movie is not as bad as had been feared. Even if the dialogue is not always very deep.

(Valkyrie clip)

VO:

A strange device. The so-called E-Meter, the holiest of holy things for a scientologist, a kind of lie detector that the organisation uses to monitor it's members - according to Scientology that's ten million people worldwide. Guilt must be admitted.

VO:

Critics and ex-members find it insulting that Cruise, Scientology's most public figure, is now playing the role of a man who paid with his life for standing up to a totalitarian regime.

Astrid von Rönn:

It's ridiculous. Because Scientology is a dictatorship, it's a suppressive system.

Thomas Gandow:

He is trying to seduce the masses and to distract from what Scientology is doing. The purpose of making the movie was to increase Scientology's influence in Germany.

Günter Beckstein:

Apart from his acting qualities, I don't want to comment on them, there is also a message here that is in my opinion disastrous. Trying to possibly lure in young people or people with psychological problems and introduce them to the of Scientology. This way the hesitance to turn to Scientology is reduced, then they are quickly caught up and can't get back out.

Astrid von Rönn:

Celebrities are very important for Scientology. They're walking advertisements.

Tom Cruise is a cool guy and likes Scientology, so it can't be all bad.

(Valkyrie clip)

VO:

Tom Cruise's speeches to Scientologists are reminiscent of old propaganda speeches.

TC:

Are we gonna clean this place up?

TC:

We're counting on you.

TC:

To LRH!

VO:

This "cleaning up" they speak of sounds alarming. But how dangerous is this registered association that calls itself a "church" really?

VO:

The Berlin headquarters building is quite big and posh. Scientology claims to have 30.000 members in Germany. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution however, which has been keeping an eye on the organisation for years, estimates there are no more than 6.000 members in Germany.

VO:

We had an interview scheduled. A few hours before the shoot the interview was cancelled. It was explained that airing the documentary the day before "Valkyrie" starts showing in German movie theaters was not right. We should change the air-date - but we didn't want to. So we went looking for insiders and experts that could explain what Scientology is and what Scientologists do.

Uschi Caberta:

They believe things like, "We are the only people that have a right to judge others." If an islamic imam were to say this in a mosque, he would be kicked out of the country for hate preaching. But Scientologst in Germany get this drilled into their heads. They are... It's the same as in many totalitarian ideologies, there is a race, Hubbard says it's a kind of person, that is enabled through Scientology's training to become one of the only ones that have a right to judge and decide for others.

Thomas Gandow:

Scientology is a totalitarian organisation. They do not tolerate critics but they don't even tolerate indifference.All they want is supporters. Anyone not willing to be one is supposed to be turned around or quarantined and 2,5% of all races are supposed to be destroyed, because they are beyond saving.

Tilmann:

Where is this written?

Thomas Gandow:

In Hubbards instructions.

VO:

L. Ron Hubbard. 1911-1986. The founder of Scientology viewed all people opposed to scientology as criminals. Onjection is not allowed, it disturbs the peace and harmony Scientology promises, as shown in this promotion film.

VO:

Hubbard, who started out as a science-fiction writer, wrote: On the other side of the valley there is a higher level, with a better life. Scientology is the bridge across this valley, the bridge to a more beautiful and happy world.

Sounds nice, but what is it really about?

Uschi Caberta:

Communication skills training. That's how it starts. That's to get people hooked. Communications training and employee training is very big in Germany right now. Apparently people have a lot of problems and have difficulty communicating. There's an endless demand for this kind of thing, and Scientology wants a piece of the pie.

But Scientolgy doesn't improve people's communication skills, instead they introduce their ideology step by step through their courses and seminars. And that's when people get started.

VO:

1984 in Stuttgart, Germany, a young man found Scientology and invested 22 years of his life to the cult. Under orders of the organisation - that claims he only took care of the car fleet in England - he spent years travelling the world and working in the L.A. headquarters. He managed to get out in 2006. Now he has written a disturbing book, which has as of yet not been objected to by Scientology.

John Duigan:

I found myself walking around Stuttgart, very very lost. An attractive German girl, Sabine, came to me and said, "Haben Sie ein gutes Gedächtnis?" And I was a bit out there and explained that I speak English. So she said, "Have you got a good memory?", I said no, she said, "Come with me." Just like this, incredible control. Come with me.

And of ourse my situation, I didn't know what to expect. So I went and took a OCA personality test. And after it was evaluated, I find that I'm all along the bottom. The Scientologists then told me I had major troubles and could even die. Every thing is terrible unless you do Scientology, it's the only thing that's going to help you.

VO:

Like noone before him, Duigan describes in detail the manipulation techniques, the conditioning, the systematic spying on members - all this under the guise of being a "church". Even they way Scientologists speak sounds martialistic.

VO:

Hubbards dogmas are taught by auditors. But what happens during this so-called auditing, those regular interrogations using the e-meter?

Wilfried Handl:

Yes, it's an excercise... I need to explain something first, the so called Tone Forty. That's what Scientology calls it, and this tone is comparable to the tone of military drill sergeants. This means there is no resistance when I say something. This is trained by using an ashtray, and you yell at the ashtray, "get up, sit down," being quite nice, you're helping the ashtray because ashtrays find it hard to get up and sit down. And the point of the exercise is to have complete control over someone else.

[part by blank starts here]

JD: An example is, you're made to sit down in front of another person and stare into its eyes. You are not allowed to move. And then these people swear at you and mock you. They can do anything with you what they want except for touching you. You on the other side may not even blink. I was forced to give up my intuitive, normal behaviour and desires. Anyone under normal circumstances would react and protect himself.

With that also a mental barrier breaks. I have given Scientology my complete consent to destroy me and that's what they did with me, that's the purpose of this routine in essence.

WH: A scientologist won't even blink, if you read him his death sentence. The purpose of this training routine is that one lets everything happen to oneself without reacting in any way, neither physical by blinking or moving nor emotional. So that one completely numbs down. You won't necessarily recognize this, when you do the routine. The only thing you recognize and what they always tell you while doing this routine, is that you are appearing very "cool" to the environment.

VO: Also the austrian Exscientologist Wilfried Handel, who held once a high position in the organisation, has a long history of suffering, 28 years.

Only 2002 after a cancer treatment, he succeded to drop out. Scientology claims, they had dismissed Handel themselves.

WH: I led the organisation in Vienna, which was relatively big at that time with over 90 staff members and me being their executive director.

VO: As he frankly says today himself, he has participated in a system of total control. He has believed in the emeter.

Scientology is considering this a "religious" device. The auditing sessions, so says Handel, are not so cheerful and relaxed, how the scientology PR film wants to make us believe. The organisation says: Auditing is the individual spiritual counseling in the Scientology church. Goal is spiritual salvation of man.

There are people, who see this more profane.

[new content starts here]

draft of translation of some parts from later on, without consideration of original english material, i.e. it's all translated from the transcript without specifically considering the english statements heard in the background.

Quote:

Scientology ist ungehalten. In einer Erklärung heißt es: "Die Anonymen sind Cyber-Terroristen, die ihre Identität hinter Masken und in der Anonymität des Internet verbergen, und die Scientology mit Haßreden und Haßverbrechen verfolgen."

Doch die Spaßbewegung scheint kaum mehr zu stoppen. Selbst in den Sonnenstaat Florida sind die gefürchteten Maskenträger vorgedrungen. Clearwater. Das Mekka der Scientologen, das - Zitat - "spirituelle Zentrum" der Scientology-Kirche. Die pompöse Architektur suggeriert: "Uns kann nichts erschüttern".

Oder aber doch? 13. März 2008. Für Scientologen so etwas wie Weihnachten. L. Ron Hubbards Wiegenfest. Er wäre an diesem Tag 97 geworden. Rund 100 Anonyme wollen auf ihre Weise gratulieren und rüsten sich zur fidelen Demo in Richtung Scientology-Zentrale. Sollen Hubbards Jünger doch vor ihren E-Metern sitzen, den Thetan, den ewig währenden Geist, beschwören, und auditieren bis der letzte Orgasmus protokolliert ist. Die Maskenmenschen treiben lieber Mummenschanz. Da ist der Koloss auf einmal ganz klein. Die Anhänger der Organisation sind sichtlich genervt von den Demonstranten.

"Fair Game". Das ist ein Codewort bei Hubbard, das noch jüngst in den Schulungsunterlagen Verwendung fand.  

Scientology is outraged. A statement says: "Anonymous are cyber-terrorists, hiding their identities behind masks and the internet's anonymity, they are persecuting Scientology by hate speech and hate crimes."

But the fun movement seems to be almost unstoppable. The dreaded mask-bearers have advanced even into the sunshine state of Florida. Clearwater. The Scientologists' mekka, the, quote unquote, "spiritual center" of the Church of Scientology. The pompous architecture suggests: "There's nothing that may shake us".

Or is there? March 13th 2008. It's something like christmas day to Scientologists. L. Ron Hubbard's birthday. He would have turned 97 that day. Around 100 anonymous intend to congratulate in their fashion and prepare for a fun-filled protest march to the Scientology central. May Hubbard's adherents sit in front of their e-meters, summon the thetan, the eternal spirit, and may they keep on auditing until the last orgasm has been brought to paper: The mask people prefer to do a masquerade. Suddenly the colossus has become very small. The organisation's adherents clearly feel annoyed by the protesters.

"Fair Game". That's a code word used by Hubbard, which was still in use very recently in training materials.

Quote:

[Interviewer]

Also von morgens früh bis abends um halb zwölf gearbeitet. Hat den Scientology Sie für Ihre Dienste innerhalb der Organisation wenigstens adequat entlohnt?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Nein, natürlich nicht.

[Interviewer]

Was haben Sie verdient?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also, ich hab in der Woche so zwischen 60 und 80 Mark verdient.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Man kann sich also vorstellen, von 30 Euro in der Woche kann man nicht nur keine Miete zahlen, da kann man nicht einmal die Zigaretten bezahlen, die man vielleicht braucht. Das heißt, die meisten haben einen Nebenjob.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Man steht morgens auf, sieht zu, daß man zur Arbeit kommt, ein bißchen Geld verdient, also Teilzeit, dann fährt man in die Org und arbeitet für seine Statistik und sieht einfach zu, daß man das Ziel erreicht, das der Woche, des Monats und das Gesamtziel, einfach den Planeten zu klären.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Du arbeitest so zielstrebig, daß alles Andere, sogar meine Freunde und auch meine Lebensgefährtin unwichtig für mich wurden.

[Interviewer]

Es gab nur Scientology?

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Richtig. Binnen weniger Wochen, in nur zwei Monaten hatte ich nur noch Scientology und Scientologen um mich herum. Scientology rund um die Uhr. Das war mein Leben.

[Sprecher]

Wer ausbrechen will, dem kann unter Umständen sogar ein Lager drohen. Der Aufenthalt in einem sogenannten "Rehabilitierungscamp", kurz RPF. Vor allem die 5.000 Mitglieder der Eliteeinheit Sea Org werden hier wieder auf Kurs gebracht. Über diese Rehabilitierungsanstalten, deren Existenz nicht leugnet, wird viel spekuliert. Hier sind die düsteren Fakten:

[Interviewer]

Was wissen Sie über diese Straflager?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also ich hab selbst an einem teilgenommen, das war allerdings in Kopenhagen. Das ist sehr straff organisiert, man darf zum Beispiel mit niemandem sprechen, der nicht in diesem Straflager ist, und man darf nur im Laufschritt durch die Organisation laufen oder durch Kopenhagen, man muß schwere körperliche Tätigkeiten ausüben, also wo man wirklich hinterher echt fertig ist.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Du hast keine Wahl. Sie sagen dir, du bist ein Hund, du bist ein Schwein. Die zerstören jede Form der Selbstachtung, die du noch hast. Sie reißen es dir heraus, bis du dich schließlich wie ein Hund oder ein Schwein fühlst. Da weigerst du dich nicht mehr, ins Lager zu gehen.

[Interviewer]

Und wie lange ist man da?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also, ich war 14 Tage da, dieses härtere Straflager, was in den USA ist, da ist man 2 bis 3 Jahre.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Also, ich hab zwei "Absolventen" - in Anführungszeichen - dieses Lagers kennengelernt, in England. Und was mir nur aufgefallen ist - damals war ich noch Scientologe - es sind extrem entkernte Menschen, ent-icht, ja. Da ist nichts mehr von irgendeiner Persönlichkeit vorhanden, die sind also, wenn Sie so wollen, Roboter. Und man kann sich das in etwa so vorstellen, wie es zu dem kommt: die haben also einen Tagesplan, da - irgendwas zwischen 10 und 15 Stunden müssen die arbeiten, dann müssen sie auch noch die Werke Hubbards studieren, und in der kurzen Zeit, die ihnen dann noch bleibt, dürfen sie schlafen. Das Essen sind mehr oder weniger Abfälle.

[Interviewer]

Warum tut man sich das an?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Das ist dieser innerscientologische Druck. Man will ja diese Brücke zur Freiheit nicht verlieren. Man hat ja das Gefühl, wenn man diese Brücke zur Freiheit verliert, dann fällt man tot um. Und davor hat man Angst.

[Sprecher]

Im Herbst 2007 beschlossen die Innenminister der Länder, die Sekte verschärft und gezielt zu beobachten, mit der Absicht, im Jahr darauf das Prüfungsverfahren für ein Verbot von Scientology einzuleiten. Der Verein sei menschenverachtend und stehe nicht auf dem Boden unserer Verfassung.

[Günther Beckstein, ehem. Innenminister Bayern]

Es ist völlig eindeutig, daß Scientology ein System ist, das nicht etwa auf dem Boden des Grundgesetzes steht, sondern eine Organisation, die verfassungsfeindlich ist.

[Sprecher]

Fieberhaft wurde in allen Bundesländern erkundet. Sind 6.000 bis 8.000 Scientologen wirklich eine Bedrohung des Rechtsstaats? Wir fragen nach. Was ist bei den Ermittlungen der Verfassungsschutzbehörden herausgekommen?

[Beate Bube, Präsidentin Verfassungsschutz Baden-Württemberg]

Eine wirklich ernstzunehmende Bedrohung und Gefahr für unsere Gesellschaft im Sinne einer wirklich flächendeckenden oder wirklich substantiellen Neuordnung nach scientologischen Regeln ist nicht wirklich zu befürchten, gleichwohl denke ich, daß eine Weiterbeobachtung durch den Verfassungsschutz angezeigt ist.

[Sprecher]

So wurde die Gangart gegen Scientology auf der letzten Jahreskonferenz der Innenminister notgedrungen entschärft. Für einen Verbotsantrag fand sich keine Mehrheit. Nur Bayern und Hamburg hoffen noch immer darauf. Aber vom Verfassungsschutz werden Hubbards Jünger weiter beobachtet.

[Ehrhart Körting, Innensenator Berlin]

Der Verfassungsschutz hat Material aus der Geschichte von Scientology, aus ihren Veröffentlichungen gefunden, die uns zeigen, wes Geistes Kind diese Organisation ist. Da ändert sich auch nichts dran, er hat aber keine schwerwiegenden kriminellen oder sonstigen Verfehlungen finden können, bei denen wir sagen, denen kann man nur mit einem Verbot begegnen. Wir halten es für richtiger, eine solche Organisation offensiv öffentlich zu bekämpfen.

[Sprecher]

Aufklärung - so die Devise der Innenminister - ist wichtiger als ein Verbot. Es gilt, die Diskrepanz zwischen der Welt der scientologischen Werbestreifen und dem Alltag in der Organisation öffentlich zu machen, an Schulen, in Firmen, und nicht zuletzt in den Medien. Aus den Schicksalen der Aussteiger lässt sich lernen.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Für mich ist es einfach eine schmerzhafte Erfahrung gewesen, die ich nicht nochmal erleben möchte, die ich auch meinem schlimmsten Feind nicht gönne. Und ich bin einfach froh, daß ich es geschafft hab, da rauszukommen und daß ich jetzt mein Leben leben kann.

[Interviewer]

Also, Sie sind nicht clear oder clean.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Genau so.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich habe mich entschieden, auf die Universität zu gehen, obwohl ich schon so alt bin. Ich mußte lernen, wieder normal zu denken. Ich hatte ja nicht mal eine Ahnung mehr, was normal war. Und jetzt habe ich die Möglichkeit, mit wunderbaren Professoren ein Stück Normalität wiederzuerlangen.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Also, Verbote machen Menschen neugierig. Viel wichtiger finde ich, daß man Politiker dafür sensibilisiert, daß es Scientology gibt, was für Absichten Scientologen haben, wie sie sich an Menschen heranmachen.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Bei Scientology handelt es sich um einen Verein. Dieser Verein wäre nach Grundgesetz aufzulösen, weil er gegen die Strafgesetze gerichtet ist. Das kann man festmachen an der Frage des Wuchers, die betreiben Lohnwucher, die betreiben Wucher für ihre Kurse, sie verstoßen gegen das Heilpraktikergesetz, und da wären noch ein paar andere Paragraphen in Richtung Betrug zu nennen.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Wozu hat man einen Staat, wenn jeder alles machen kann? Und das Hauptproblem ist, daß die meisten Menschen nicht wissen, worum es sich bei Scientology handelt, man muß also sehr sorgfältig, sehr sorgsam damit umgehen. Und ich würde auch Scientology nicht einfach so - wenn Sie so wollen - komplett verbieten. Ich würde hergehen und würde mir einfach ansehen, die einzelnen Techniken oder die einzelnen Kurse die sie anbieten und die verbieten.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich bin immer noch wütend und werde Scientology auch niemals vergeben, was sie mir angetan haben. Man sollte ihnen, so wie es im liberalen Europa Brauch ist, aber das Recht geben, sich zu treffen und sich als Gruppe zu organisieren. Das heißt freilich nicht, daß sie Leute täuschen dürfen.  

[Interviewer] So you worked from early in the morning to 11:30pm. Did Scientology at least pay you appropriately?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member] No, of course not.

[Interviewer] How much did you earn?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]Well, I earned between 30 and 60 Deutschmarks a week.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

So you may understand, not only are you unable to pay a rent from 30 Euros a week, you can't even pay the cigarettes that you might need. This means that most need a second job.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

You get up in the morning, see to it that you get to work, earn a little money, so it's part time, then you drive to the org and work for your statistics and see to it that you reach the goal, the goal of the week, the month and the total goal, just to clear the planet.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

You work in such a focused manner, that everything else became unimportant to me, even my friends and my partner in life.

[Interviewer]

There was only Scientology?

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Right. Within a few weeks time, in only two months, I was only surrounded by Scientology and Scientologists. Scientology around the clock. That was my life.

[Commentary]Who wants to break free may even have to face -under certain circumstances- a camp. A stay at the "Rehabilitation Project Force", in short RPF. Especially the 5.000 members of the elite unit Sea Org are made to tow the line here. There's a lot of speculation about these camps, whose existence is not being denied by the organisation. Here are the dark facts:

[Interviewer]

What do you know about these penal camps?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, I took part in one myself, however this was in Copenhagen. It is very strictly organized, e.g. you are not allowed to talk to anyone who is not inside this penal camp and you may only move through the organisation or Copenhagen running, you have to do hard manual labor, which really exhausts you.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

You got no choice. They tell you "You're a dog, you're a pig". They destroy any form of self-respect until you finally feel like a dog or a pig. Then you won't refuse to go to the camp.

[Interviewer] So, how much time do you spend there?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member] Well, I was there for 14 days, in the more severe camp, which is in the USA, there you are 2-3 years.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] Well, I have met two "graduates" -quote unquote- of these camps, in England. And what struck me -back then I was still a Scientologist- these are extremely empty people, de-individuized. There is nothing to be seen of any personality, they are, if one wants to put it that way, robots. And you may get an idea how this comes about when you consider: They have something between 10 to 15 hours of labor each day, then they also have to study Hubbard's writings and in the small time that remains, they are allowed to sleep. The food is more or less waste.

[Interviewer] Why does one go through this?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member] That's this inner-scientologic pressure. You don't want to loose that bridge to freedom. You know, you feel that if you loose that bridge you will drop dead. And you are afraid of this.

[Commentary] In autumn of 2007 the ministers of interior of the states decided to enhance the observation of the cult and to be more targeted in it with the intent of introducing in the following year investigative proceedings for a ban of Scientology. The association was despising humans and not compatible with our constitution, they said.

[Günter Beckstein, former bavarian interior minister] It is completely clear that Scientology is a system, which is not grounded in our constitution, but an organisation, which has an anti-constitutional stance.

[Commentary] Feverish investigations began in all the states. Do 6.000 to 8.000 Scientologists actually pose a threat to our lawful state? We investigate. What were the results of the investigations by the Offices for the Protection of the Constitution?

[Beate Bube, President of OPC Baden-Württemberg]There is no need to actually fear a threat or a danger to our society through a really large or really substantial re-organisation of our society according to scientologic rules, however, I'm of the opinion that a continuation of the observation by the OPC is appropriate.

[Commentary]

So the proceedings against Scientology were toned down on the last annual conference of the interior ministers due to necessity. There was no majority for a request for a ban. Only Bavaria and Hamburg still hope for it. But the OPC is still watching Hubbartd's adherents.

[Ehrhart Körting, Senator of the Interior, Berlin]

The OPC has found material from Scientology's history, from their publications, which show us, what type of organisation we have here. That does not change, but the OPC didn't find such grieveous criminal or other offences, that we would say, you can only answer those with a ban. We think it's better to fight such an organisation in an aggressive public way.

[Commentary]

Education - that's the interior ministers' approach - is more important than a ban. It's important to make the discrepancy visible, existing between the world of scientologic advertisment films and the everyday life within the organisation, to do it in schools, in companies and last but not least in the media. There's something to be learned from the experiences of the ex-members.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

For me, it has simply been a painful experience, which I don't want to go through again, which I don't wish even for my worst enemy to experience. And I'm just happy, that I've managed to get out of there and that I can live my life now.

[Interviewer]

So, you are not clear or clean?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Exactly.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I've decided to go to university, even though I'm that old. I had to learn to think normal again. I didn't even know what "normal" was. And now I have the possibility to regain a peace of normality with the help of wonderful professors.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, bans only make people curious. I think it's way more important to make politicians cognizant of Scientology's existence, of Scientologists' goals, how they approach people.

[Thomas Gandow, protestant minister, sect commissioner]

Scientology is an association. This association ought to be banned according to the constitution, because it is directed against the criminal law. This can be demonstrated when it comes to the topic of practising usury, they exploit their employees, they practise usury with their courses, they violate the laws for practising madicine and there are some other paragraphs concerning fraud that could be mentioned.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

Why is there a state when anyone can do anything? And the main problem is that most people don't know what Scientology is about, so you have to act with care when dealing with it. And I wouldn't ban Scientology outright either. I would go and simply take a look at the specific techniques or the specific courses that they offer and then I would ban these.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I'm still angry and I will also never forgive Scientology what they have done to me. But, as it's usual in liberal Europe, they ought to have the right to meet and to organise themselves as a group. However, this does not mean that they may deceive people.

[Sprecher]

Bilder des gestrigen Abends. Deutschlandpremiere von Operation Walküre in Berlin. Auch Tom Cruise, Stauffenbergdarsteller und Top-Scientologe, ist mit von der Partie. Unweit vom Geschehen versammeln sich uneingeladen maskierte Gestalten. Die Bewegung der Anonymen hat Deutschland erreicht. Die Spaß-Partisanen sind da. Sie haben das vielleicht beste Rezept des Umgangs mit Scientology gefunden: Aufklärung und heiteres Verlachen.

[Commentary]

Pictures of yesterday evening. German premiere of Operation Walkyrie in Berlin. Tom Cruise, playing Stauffenberg and top scientologist, attends the party. Not far from it, uninvited masked people are gathering. The Anonymous movement reached Germany. The fun partisans are here. They perhaps found the best prescription for handling Scientology: Clearing-up and cheerful laughter.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Also, wenn Scientology eine Kirche ist, dann ist die Mafia auch eine Kirche.

[Interviewer]

Warum?

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Und zwar: sie gibt den Menschen Sinn im Leben - also wenn man bei der Mafia ist, kann man Drogendealer werden oder Kurier, oder Geldwäscher, also da gibts sicher Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten, bei Scientology ist das ähnlich.

[Wilfried Handl, ex-director, Scientology Austria]

Thus, if Scientology is a church, then the mafia is also a church.

[Interviewer]

Why?

[Wilfried Handl, ex-director, Scientology Austria]

It gives people a meaning in their life - thus if one is with the mafia, one can become drugs dealer or courier, or take care of money laundering; it gives real advancement opportunities; scientology is similar to that.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Scientology benutzt das Wort "Kirche" zur Täuschung von Leuten. Weil Leute dann denken, naja, das muß ja irgendwas religiöses sein. Das ist aber nicht bloß sozusagen eine Markenverletzung, so wie wenn jemand an braune Brause "Coca Cola" ranschreibt, sondern hier handelt es sich um einen Glaubensartikel. Kirche ist nicht einfach nur unser Firmenname, sondern das ist ein Artikel in unserem Glaubensbekenntnis. Wir glauben an die heilige allgemeine christliche Kirche. Und wenn jemand den Begriff der Kirche benutzt, um Erpressung, Ausforschung, Unterdrückung von Leuten, totalitäre Durchsetzung zu propagieren, ist das ein Mißbrauch und bringt Schande auf den Namen "Kirche".

[Günther Beckstein, ehem. Innenminister Bayern]

Für mich ist Scientology - völlig eindeutig - nicht etwa eine Religionsgemeinschaft, sondern ein Finanzkonzern, der die Leute in seine Macht kriegen will und dann systematisch sie ausbeutet, ein höchst undemokratischer Verein, aber keine Kirche.

[Thomas Gandow, evangelist minister, in charge of cults]

Scientology uses the word "church" to deceive people. Because people then think, OK, that must be something religious. That is however not only as it were a trademark abuse, as if someone describes a brown drink "Coca Cola", but it concerns a faith issue here. Church is not simply only our company name, but that is a part of our belief system. We believe in the holy general Christian church. And if someone uses the term of the church for extortion, interrogation, suppression of people, totalitarian penetration to develop, that is an abuse and brings dishonor on the word "church".

[Günther Beckstein, former Ministers of the Interior Bayern]

For me - to be completely clear - scientology is not a religious community, but an financial group, which wants to get the people into its power and then systematically exploit them, a most undemocratic association, but no church.

[Sprecher]

Und bloße Narretei ist nach Ansicht vieler Experten - von Theologen vor allem - das Etikett "Kirche", mit dem sich der scientologische Verein so gerne schmückt. Niemand wird einen mündigen Bürger daran hindern können, dieser Organisation beizutreten, und ihr sehr viel Geld zu vermachen. Nur mit Spiritualität, mit den Fragen nach Dingen jenseits des Hier und Jetzt hat dieses sehr irdische Unternehmen wenig zu tun.

Der evangelische Pfarrer Thomas Gandow, seit Jahren ein wacher Kritiker und eben deshalb von der Organisation auch persönlich attackiert, fühlt sich als Christ verhöhnt, wenn ein Verein wie Scientology sich "Kirche" nennt.

[Speaker]

In the opinion of many experts - from theologians above all - the "church" label with which the scientologist association decorates itself so gladly is completely misleading. Nobody will be able to prevent a citizen of age to step inside this organization and to give it a lot of money. It is just that this very terrestrial enterprise has little to do with spirituality, with the questions about things beyond the Here and Now.

The protestant minister Thomas Gandow, a long-time critic and therefore attacked by the organization also at a personal level, feels lampooned as a Christian when an association such as Scientology labels itself "church".

ok, this is directly after the part from blank ended:

Quote:

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Hubbard sagt, "das E-Meter lügt nie, es hat immer recht". Und Scientology geht davon aus, daß wenn jemand ein Ziel nicht erreicht, egal wie realistisch das ist oder nicht, daß er - salopp ausgedrückt - Dreck am Stecken haben muß. Das heißt, er wird dann gezwungen, was in der Vergangenheit hat er ausgefressen, was hat er verbrochen, und das muß er zu Papier bringen, egal ob das jetzt irgendwelche Jugendsünden waren, ob das irgendwelche sexuellen Dinge sind, egal ob das irgendwelche Gedanken sind. Das heißt, er ist gezwungen, einmal im ersten Schritt das alles aufzuschreiben.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Du darfst keine Geheimnisse vor Scientology haben. Du hast keine Privatsphäre. Wenn du masturbierst, mußt du das Scientology mitteilen, aber nicht nur das: du mußt dich auch dafür rechtfertigen was du denkst beim Masturbieren. Das ist unglaublich. Ich habe eine Akte einer ziemlich wichtigen Frau bei Scientology gelesen. In der stand, daß sie in der vergangenen Nacht einen Orgasmus gehabt hat, einen Orgasmus mit ihrem Ehepartner. Welches Recht habe ich denn, diese Sachen zu wissen? Warum muß sie das bekennen? Was kümmert das die "Kirche" Scientology? Kirche in Anführungsstrichen!

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Wenn das E-Meter sagt, nee, der hat noch immer Leichen im Keller, die er nicht sehen will oder nicht ausspucken will, dann gibts die Strafverschärfung der sogenannten Sicherheitsüberprüfung. Das heißt, da sitzt man dann hinter dem E-Meter und bekommt dann Fragen gestellt. Von Fragen ob du jemals was gestohlen hast, ob du jemals Angst vor der Polizei hattest, ob du jemals böse Gedanken im Bezug auf L. Ron Hubbard hattest. Ob du jemals böse Gedanken in Bezug auf andere Scientologen hattest. Also man wird dann im Prinzip - das geht über Stunden - wird dann verhört über alles was man hat, und nur wenn man das abschließende Okay, also die Genehmigung kriegt, daß man sauber ist - [Zwischenfrage Interviewer: "Vom E-Meter?"] - vom E-Meter. Das E-Meter bestimmt, was ist oder nicht ist. Und wenn das E-Meter ja sagt, dann ist man quasi befreit, das heißt aber nicht daß man nicht in 3 Wochen wieder vor dem E-Meter sitzt.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Diese Auditing-Sitzungen sind eine der zentralen Psychotechniken in Scientology, die die Leute ja auch in einen Zustand versetzen, wo sie gar nicht mehr wissen, was sie eigentlich machen, also was sie auch erzählen.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Man muß sich das wirklich vorstellen, es wird auf die Art und Weise der gläserne Mensch schlechthin geschaffen. Diese Dinge werden ja nicht weggeschmissen, das wandert dann in die Akte.

[Sprecher]

Wie aber begegnet man der scientologischen Gefahr? New Yorks Anonyme, die mit den Masken, haben eine ganz eigene Antwort gefunden: Aufklärung mit den Mitteln von List und Satire. Im Internet und auf den Straßen. Spontanaktionen, Spaßattacken, die dem Religionskonzern nun überhaupt nicht gefallen, dort fürchtet man die Maskenmenschen schlicht wie der Teufel das Weihwasser. Scientology hat eigentlich für alles eine Lösung, nur nicht für Witz und Ironie.

[NY Anon 1]

Der einzige Weg, mit Leuten umzugehen, die ein derart übertriebenes Selbstverständnis haben wie die Scientologen, ist, sie zu verspotten. Wir wollen diese Leute nicht verfolgen und wir hassen sie auch nicht, wir machen uns lediglich über sie lustig.

[NY Anon 2]

Scientology ist eine seriöse Organisation {im Original sagt er wohl "serious organization". "Seriös" ist IMHO unglücklich übersetzt}, für die Satire und Humor absolut subversiv und gefährlich ist. Das widerspricht ihrem Anspruch, die Gedanken von Menschen zu unterdrücken.

[Tom Smith, Scientology-Aussteiger, Clearwater]

Jemand, dem sie den "Fair Game"-Status gegeben haben, ist für sie wie ein Tier, das sie loswerden oder töten müssen. Der kann angegriffen oder beleidigt werden. Der ist geächtet. Scientologen dürfen ihm bewußt schaden, ohne daß sie dafür von der Kirche bestraft werden.

[Sprecher]

Wozu so ein wenig faires "Fair Game" führen kann, zeigt der traurige Fall des Mannes, dem diese uralte Limousine gehörte. Er hat sich im Februar 2008 das Leben genommen, mit einem Schlauch Abgase seines Autos ins Wohnzimmer geleitet. Shawn Lonsdale sein Name, einer der prominentesten Scientology-Kritiker in Clearwater. Wichtiger Zeuge einer BBC-Fernsehdokumentation im Jahr 2007. Während des Interviews kommt ein Scientology-Mitarbeiter und liest dem Befrager aus einem Dossier vor. Lonsdale sei einmal drogenabhängig gewesen und habe als männliche Prostituierte gearbeitet. Lonsdale kontert: "Hat Scientology mir damals geholfen?"

Seit ein paar Jahren schon ist der passionierte Fotograf und Filmer den Scientologen ein Dorn im Auge. Lonsdale selber hat dokumentiert, wie sie ihn verfolgt haben. "Fair Game", überall in der Stadt haben sie kleine Steckbriefe ausgehängt, die über Lonsdales Vergangenheit informierten. Lonsdale hat niemals einen Hehl aus seinem längst abgeschlossenen Vorleben gemacht. Jetzt aber war er rechtlos.

[Tom Smith, Scientology-Aussteiger, Clearwater]

Sie haben ihn gedemütigt, ihn zum Feind erklärt, der angeblich Propaganda gegen sie betreibt. Sie haben andere Leute aufgestachelt, ihn zu meiden, und nicht mehr mit ihm zu sprechen.

[Sprecher]

Was hat Lonsdale getan? Er hat gefilmt und Flugblätter verteilt. Scientology hat ihn dafür selbst bei seinem Arbeitgeber angeschwärzt.

[Interviewer]

Scientology hat sie über seine Vergangenheit aufgeklärt?

[Jeffrey Taylor, ehemaliger Arbeitgeber]

Ja.

[Interviewer]

Was denken Sie über diese Vorgehensweise?

[Jeffrey Taylor, ehemaliger Arbeitgeber]

Ich denke nicht, daß so etwas normal ist. Ich denke, daß Scientology sehr besorgt darüber war, daß Shawn Lonsdale ihrem Ruf schaden könnte. Diese Leute wollten, daß ich meinen Angestellten fallen lasse.

[Sprecher]

Scientology weist jede Verantwortung für den Tod des armen Shawn Lonsdale von sich. Man habe doch in der letzten Zeit gar keinen Kontakt mehr zu ihm gehabt. Seine Freunde aber sagen, er hat sich von den Attacken der Scientologen, von er öffentlichen Bloßstellung seiner Person nie wieder erholt.

Scientology-Kritiker leben bisweilen gefährlich. Das hat vor Jahren auch Ursula Caberta erfahren. Als sie auf dem Flughafen in Tampa ankam, stand schon eine Meute aufgebrachter Scientologen am Gate. Sie solle wieder nach Hause fliegen. Ihren Vortrag hat sie dennoch gehalten. Ursula Caberta, Sektenbeauftragte des Hamburger Senats mit Schwerpunkt Scientology ist die deutsche Haßfigur der Organisation. Einige ihrer Mitstreiter haben längst zermürbt aufgegeben.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Es gibt ganz, ganz viele Leute, die sich schon damit befaßt haben, die alle aufgegeben haben. Weil es schwer zu vermitteln ist, was da eigentlich alles passiert. Weil, da steht ja nicht einer mit der Knarre vor der Tür. Aber wenn Sie nach Hause gehen, dann springen Leute aus dem Busch und sagen: "Sie sind doch Caberta!". Solche Sachen. Oder Morddrohungen am Telefon, Belästigungen und so. Oder Sie sitzen im Restaurant und erzählen da irgendwas und am nächsten Tag landet das auf dem Computer des ersten Bürgermeisters von Hamburg, was Sie da vielleicht gerade erzählt haben. Und das sollen Sie ja auch merken, also man soll es ja mitkriegen, "wir haben dich im Blick", das ist die Botschaft.

[Sprecher]

Hubbard schrieb: "Der Kriminelle scheut das Tageslicht. Wir aber sind das Licht. Wir fanden niemals einen Kritiker von Scientology, der keine kriminelle Vergangenheit hatte. Den, der sich Scientology in den Weg stellt, werden wir bloßstellen." Da verkneift sich mancher lieber ein kritisches Wort.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Das Wesentliche, worum es bei Scientology geht, ist Kontrolle. Also, Kontrolle ist, wenn Sie so wollen, die Grundfeste oder der Grundstein, auf dem das Ganze aufgebaut ist.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Jeder kontrolliert jeden. Die Ehefrau den Ehemann, die Kinder die Eltern, die Eltern die Kinder. Weil, es darf nur das, was Hubbard geschrieben hat, das darf gelebt werden. Alles andere nicht.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Sie melden auch gegenseitig, wer meckert. Also, das ganze System ist auch auf totale Kontrolle untereinander ausgelegt, weil schon derjenige, der nicht sagt, daß einer gemeckert hat, macht sich selber im Scientology-System strafbar.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Mich regt es immer noch auf. Es verletzt mich, wenn ich an diese Zeit zurückdenke. Du bist dort gefangen. Deine Seele wird dort eingesperrt. Ich bin um die ganze Welt für Scientology, aber ich war nie wirklich frei, weil ich stets und ständig an diese Organisation gefesselt war und ihr Bericht erstatten mußte.

[Sprecher]

Wer sich bei Scientology verdingt, führt - so sagen die Aussteiger - ein Leben unter enormem Druck. Da wird penibel Statistik geführt, Woche für Woche, jeden Donnerstag Leistungsnachweis gefordert. Vor allem heißt es, Mitglieder zu werben. Wer sein Soll nicht erfüllt, muß nachsitzen.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Das System ist ganz einfach. Man macht die Leute hungrig und sorgt dafür, daß sie auf Scientology fokussiert bleiben. Die Mitglieder müssen andere Menschen überzeugen, sich bei Scientology einzukaufen. Im Hinterkopf haben sie aber immer die Angst, keine Zeit für ihre Kinder zu haben, wenn sie nicht erfolgreich sind. Oder nicht bezahlt zu werden, wenn ihre Statistik, ihre Zahlen nach unten gehen. Ich habe die gesamte Nacht den Empfangsbereich geschrubbt, nur, weil ich eine schlechte Statistik hatte. Ich hätte alles getan, um diese Auditing-Seminare zu verkaufen.

[Sprecher]

Sie werkeln wie emsige Ameisen. Aussteiger sprechen von Ausbeutung pur. Die Arbeitszeit betrage nicht selten 12 Stunden. Den Alltag in der Berliner Scientology-Zentrale, die Strategien der Anwerbung hat jüngst der Undercover-Journalist Freddy Gareis in einer tollkühnen Recherche erkundet.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Denen wird zum Beispiel erzählt, daß, wenn sie viel Geld ausgeben, können sie Krebs heilen, können sie ihren eigenen Krebs heilen, können sie ihr Leben verlängern.

[Interviewer]

Wie, wenn sie Geld ausgeben? Also, wenn sie viel an die Organisation stiften?

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Nein. Wenn sie auf der Brücke der Erleuchtung nach oben schreiten. Wenn sie clear werden, wenn sie über clear hinausgehen, dann können sie Krebs heilen. Und das ist natürlich... das darf man den Leuten nicht erzählen. Das wird keineswegs zutreffend sein, daß man den Krebs dann heilen kann. Und wenn den Menschen sowas erzählt wird, und das auch noch als Vorgabe benutzt wird, daß sie mehr und mehr Geld ausgeben, um die Brücke weiter hoch zu kommen, dann finde ich das sehr gefährlich.

[Sprecher]

Vor wenigen Tagen starb der Sohn des Scientologen John Travolta. Er war - behaupten Medien weltweit - psychisch krank. Scientology aber lehnt jede psychiatrische Betreuung ab, Pychopharmaka erst recht. Ist Jett womöglich zum Opfer von Scientology geworden? Scientology bestreitet dies, doch es gibt viele, die anderer Auffassung sind.

[Magoo auf YT]

Here I am again. Somebody else has died inside Scientology.

[NY Anon 2]

Scientology begeht gefährliche Körperverletzung. Sie verweigern ihren Mitgliedern jede medizinische Versorgung, wenn sie psychisch oder neurologisch krank sind. Sie lehnen eine entsprechende Behandlung ab.

[Sprecher]

Hamburg. Nach Berlin der wohl zweitwichtigste Umschlagsplatz der deutschen Scientologen. Rund 1.000 Mitglieder werden von hier aus gesteuert. Etwa 80 Mitarbeiter schieben hier Dienst. Zu ihnen gehörte bis Ende der 90er Jahre auch Astrid von Rönn. Sie war krank und dachte, sie könne mit Scientology, wo man ein eigenes Reinigungsprogramm anbietet {Purification Rundown?}, von ihrem Leiden genesen.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Das Geld war damals für mich nicht so wichtig. Also, ich fand das spannender, einfach dieses Reinigungsprogramm zu machen, zumal ich auch chronischen Schnupfen hab, also allergisch bin, und hab mir davon versprochen, daß es davon besser wird.

[Interviewer]

Hat es was geholfen?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Nein.

[Interviewer]

Wie haben Sie sich das erklärt, ich meine, Sie zahlen 5.000 Mark ein und dann wird das nichts. Ich meine, dann müssen Sie doch irgendwie eine Erklärung haben. Sind Sie nicht ungeduldig geworden?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Nein, dafür gab es dann ja die nächste Lösung.

[Interviewer]

Welche?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Auditing.

[Interviewer]

Können Sie beschreiben... Also, dann saßen Sie am E-Meter. Können Sie beschreiben, wie das ablief?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Ja, also man sitzt am E-Meter, hat diese Dosen in der Hand, und es werden einem spezielle Fragen gestellt. Wenn jemand krank ist, dann ist er grundsätzlich eine PTS-Person, also steht mit einem Unterdrücker in Verbindung. Dieser Unterdrücker kann in diesem Leben real existieren oder in einem vergangenen Leben.

[Interviewer]

Aha. Und, haben Sie da was entdeckt?

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Ja, ich hab mehrere Sachen entdeckt. Also, mehrere Unterdrücker.

[Sprecher]

Es sei wie mit einer Droge, so der Vorwurf derer, die das Unternehmen von innen kennen. Je länger man dabei sei, desto schwerer falle es, den Absprung zu schaffen. Scientology mache die Mitglieder psychisch abhängig.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Es wird also relativ rasch verschärft. Es beginnt mit 20 Euro und man ist also dann blitzartig bei 1.500 Euro [Einwurf Interviewer: "1.500 Euro!"] und ist dann blitzartig bei 50.000 Euro. Das geht also alles innerhalb von, würd ich mal sagen, 1, 2 Jahren.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Die Brücke der Erleuchtung hat mehr Stufen als einem lieb ist. Und jede Stufe bringt einen näher an die erste Grenze, die der Clear ist.

[Interviewer]

Und kostet auch was.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Natürlich. Jede weitere Stufe kostet Geld, also jeder Schritt auf der Stufe kostet Geld, und diese Brücke der Erleuchtung ist laut Hubbard der einzige Weg zur vollkommenen Freiheit in diesem Universum.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology-Expertin im Hamburger Senat]

Dann kommt es auch auch ein bißchen darauf an, wer das ist. Also, jemand der zum Beispiel als Promi gilt, in der Celebrity-Szene ist, also wichtig ist, der wird schneller clear und billiger clear als die anderen. [Einwurf vom Interviewer: "Das Fußvolk muß länger schwitzen?"] Das Fußvolk muß länger rumkaspern. Und werden es vielleicht nie.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Wenn man einen Hund hernimmt, ja, und hängt ihm ans Halsband ein Stöckchen, und hängt vorne an das Stöckchen eine Wurst. Wie lange wird der laufen? Und genauso ist es bei einem Scientologen.

[Thomas Gandow, ev.Pfarrer, Sektenbeauftragter]

Was wir immer wieder erlebt haben, ist daß die Scientologen dann Leute überhaupt nicht loslassen, sondern solange ausquetschen, bis sie ihr ganzes Geld oder auch das gesamte Vermögen der Familie verballert haben in der Organisation.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Die scheuen nicht davor zurück, in die Tasche des anderen zu greifen, also ich würd einmal sagen, jede Bankauskunft ist relativ diskret im Verhältnis zu Scientology. Also, die durchleuchten einen wirklich komplett. [Einwurf vom Interviewer: "Konkret?"] Da wird nicht nur gefragt, wieviele Kreditkarten man hat, wieviele Konten man hat, wie der Kontostand ist, wie die Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse sind, ob Erbschaften zu erwarten sind, ob es ein Haus gibt, das man belehnen kann. Es wird also wirklich - ich weiß zum Beispiel aus meiner eigenen Vergangenheit - das geht dann soweit, daß man also mit der Person auf die Bank geht. Also, ich bin mit einigen auf die Bank gegangen, um dort von denen das Geld gleich in Empfang zu nehmen wenn sie es bekommen haben, damit sie nicht auf irgendwelche blöden Ideen kommen, auf dem Weg zu Scientology es vielleicht für irgendwas anderes auszugeben, sondern daß es direkt in den Kassen von Scientology landet.

[Sprecher]

Wer aber kann sich die teuren Kurse bei Scientology leisten? Jedermann - sagt Scientology. Unsere Türen stehen offen. Wer kein Geld für die Hubbard-Lektionen hat, der muß eben Mitarbeiter werden und sich vertraglich über Jahre an die Organisation binden. Wer früher aussteigt, muß die Kurse im Nachhinein bezahlen, das hat durchaus abschreckende Wirkung.

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Ich hatte kein Geld, ich war einfach ein junger Ire, der herumreiste. Deshalb haben sie mir nahegelegt, Mitarbeiter zu werden, um mir so meine Auditing-Sitzungen zu erarbeiten.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Direktor, Scientology Österreich]

Die einen, die Geld haben, die werden also, wenn Sie so wollen, gerupft und die anderen, die kein Geld haben, die dürfen Mitarbeiter werden. Und zwar ist der Hauptgrund, daß einer Mitarbeiter wird: er bekommt die Kurse und das Auditing in Scientology umsonst. Und nachdem ich damals kein Geld hatte, war also mein Weg vorgezeichnet, ich wurde also Mitarbeiter.

[Astrid von Rönn, Scientology-Aussteigerin]

Ich mußte ja auch Geld verdienen, und so hab ich morgens von halb neun bis halb drei gearbeitet in einer Scientologenfirma, und danach bin ich in die Organisation gefahren und hab da immer bis halb zwölf gearbeitet.  

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] Hubbard states "the e-meter never lies, it's always right." And Scientology does assume that if someone doesn't reach a goal, independent of how realistic it is, that that person has to have a skeleton in his closet. This means, that he is being forced- how did he go wrong in the past, what are his crimes and he has got to put it on paper, no matter whether these were some youthful aberrations, whether these are sexual issues or whether these are some thoughts. So he's forced, as a first step, to write all of this down.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author] You may have no withholds. There is no private area. When you masturbate, you have to tell it to Scientology, but not only this: You also have to justify what you were thinking while masturbating. This is incredible. I have read a file about a pretty important woman within Scientology. It said that she had had an orgasm last night, an orgasm with her husband. How do I have any right to know of these sort of things? What does it concern the "church" quote unquote of Scientology?

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] If the e-meter says: Nope, that guy still got skeletons in his closet, which he doesn't want to see or which he doesn't want to admit to, then there is still the harsher punishment of a security check. This means that you sit behind the e-meter and get asked questions. These questions range from whether you have ever stolen anything to whether you were ever in fear of the police or also whether you ever had any bad thoughts on L. Ron Hubbard. Whether you ever had any bad thoughts on other Scientologists. So in principle - it takes hours - you're being interrogated on everything you have and only if you receive the final ok, the permission that you are clean [Interviewer: by the e-meter?] - by the e-meter. The e-meter determines what is and what isn't. And if the e-meter agrees, you are sort of liberated, but this doesn't mean that you won't sit in front of the e-meter again three weeks from now.

[Ursula Caberta, expert on Scientology at the Senate of Hamburg] These auditing sessions are one of the most central psycho techniques which are used within the organisation, they also transform people into a state, in which they don't even know what they are actually doing, what they are saying.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] You really have to get the idea, that this way, the transparent human is being created. This stuff is not put into the rubbish bin, it goes into the file afterwards.

[Commentary] How to confront the scientologic danger? New York's anonymous, those with the masks, have found their very own answer: Education by means of cleverness and satire. In the internet and on the streets. Spontaneous actions, humorous attacks, which the religious corporation doesn't enjoy at all. Over there, they fear the masked people like the devil fears the holy water. Scientology has a solution for virtually everything, except for joking and irony.

[NY Anon 1] The only way to deal with people that have such an exaggerated self-image such as the Scientologists, is to make fun of them. We don't want to persecute these people and we don't hate them either, we simply make fun of them.

[NY Anon 2] Scientology is a serious organisation, satire and humour are absolutely dangerous to it. It contradicts their claim to supress people's thoughts.

[Tom Smith, ex-member, Clearwater]

When they have assigned the state of "fair game" to someone, that person is like an animal to them, which they have to get rid of or kill. He may be attacked and insulted. He is ostracized. Scientologists may consciously do damage to him without being punished for it by the church.

[Commentary]

What the outcome of a fair little "fair game" such as this may be, can be learned from the sad case of the man, who was the owner of this ancient limousine. In February 2008 he took his life by using a pipe directing car exhaust fumes into his living room. His name was Shawn Lonsdale, one of the most prominent Scientology critics in Clearwater. Important witness for a BBC TV documentary in 2007. During the interview a Scientology staff member appears and reads to the interviewer from a dossier. Lonsdale had once been dependent on drugs and had worked as a male prostitute. Lonsdale answered: "Did Scientology help me at that time?"

For some years the avid photographer and videographer had been a thorn in Scientology's flesh. Lonsdale himself documented, how they persecuted him. "Fair Game" around the city they placed small wanted posters informing about Lonsdale's past. Lonsdale never obscured his past, which he had left behind a long time ago. But now he didn't have any rights.

[Tom Smith, ex-member, Clearwater]

They have humiliated him, they declared him to be an enemy, allegedly doing propaganda against them. They have encited other people to avoid him and to no longer speak to him.

[Commentary]

What did Lonsdale do? He filmed and distributed flyers. Scientology denounced him because of this, even to his employer.

[Interviewer]

Scientology did inform you about his past?

[Jeffrey Taylor, former employer]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

What do you think of this method?

[Jeffrey Taylor, former employer]

I don't think it's normal. I think Scientology was very worried that Shawn Lonsdale may damage their reputation. These people wanted me to let my employee down.

[Commentary]

Scientology denies any responsibility for the death of poor Shawn Lonsdale. There had been no contact recently they say. However, his friends say that he never recovered from the attacks by the Scientologists, from the public exposure of himself.

Scientology critics live dangerous at times. Years ago, Ursula Caberta experienced this as well. As she arrived at the Tampa airport, a horde of outraged Scientologists were at the gate already. She gave her talk anyway. Ursula Caberta, sect commissioner of the Hamburg senate with a focus on Scientology, is the german main subject of hate for the organisation. Some of her colleagues have given up a long time ago due to attrition.

[Ursula Caberta, expert on Scientology at the Hamburg Senate]

There have been many, many people, all of them have given up. That's because it is hard to tell all that happens to you. You see, it's not like there's someone with a gun in front of your door. But when you go home, people jump out from behind bushes and say "You are Caberta, right!" Such things. Or death threats on the phone, harassment and such things. Or, you're sitting in a restaurant, talking about something and the next day what you may just have said ends on the computer of the mayor of Hamburg. And it is intentional that you realize this is happening, you ought to understand, "we're watching you", that is the message.

[Commentary]

Hubbard wrote: "The criminal abhors daylight. And we are the daylight. ...

Every time we have investigated the background of a critic of Scientology, we have found crimes ... If you oppose Scientology we promptly look up—and will find and expose—your crimes."

So some prefer it not to criticize.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

The main thing in Scientology is control. So, one might put it that way, control is the foundation on which the entire thing is built.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Everyone controls everyone. The wife controls the husband, children control the parents, parents control the children. That's because life may only consist of what Hubbard wrote. Nothing else must be part of it.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology expert at the Hamburg Senate]

They also report to each other who is complaining. So, the entire system is also designed to ensure complete control between each other, because if someone does not tell that someone complained, then that person has also become culpable in the Scientology system.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I still get upset about it. It hurts me to think about this time. You're caught there. Your soul is being imprisoned there. I've been around the world for Scientology, but I was never free, because I was always and constantly bound to this organisation and had to report to it.

[Commentary]

Who is working at Scientology leads - according to ex-members - a life under constant pressure. There is fatsidious keeping of statistics, week after week, each thursday, there has to be a proof of performance. Above all it is necessary to get new members to join. Who doesn't fulfill the target statistic has to work longer.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

The system is really easy. You make people hungry and make sure that they stay focused on Scientology. The members have to convince other people to buy their way into Scientology. But in the back of their mind they constantly are afraid to have no time for their children, in case they won't be succesful. Or to get no payment, should their statistics, their numbers go down. I scrubbed lobby the whole night through, just because I had a bad statistic. I would have done anything to sell these auditing seminars.

[Commentary]

They work like busy ants. Ex-members call it pure exploitation. The working hours of more than 12 per day would regularly occur. Everyday life in the Berlin Scientology center as well as the recruitment strategies were recently investigated by undercover journalist Fredy Gareis in a daredevil research.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

They are being told for example that, if they spend a lot of money, they can cure cancer, they will be able to cure their own cancer, they can prolong their life.

[Interviewer]

"if they spend money"- how is that? Do you mean if they donate a lot to the organisation?

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

No. If they move up the bridge to enlightenment. If they become clear, if they pass clear, then they can heal cancer. That is of course... you can't tell people such things. It won't be accurate at all, that you can then cure cancer. When people are being told such things and when this is also being used as a motivation for them to spend more and more money to move up the bridge, then I think that is very dangerous.

[Commentary]

A few days ago the son of Scientologist John Travolta died. He was - it is alleged by media around the world - mentally ill. But Scientology opposes any psychiatric treatment, psychiatric drugs even more. Has Jett possibly become a victim of Scientology? Scientology denies this, but there are many that think differently.

[Magoo on YT]

Here I am again. Somebody else has died inside Scientology.

[NY Anon 2]

Scientology commits grieveous bodily harm. They deny their members any medical treatment if they are mentally or neurologically ill. They oppose such treatment.

[Commentary]

Hamburg. Probably the most important place of activity for german Scientologists, second only to Berlin. Around 1000 members are being controlled from here. Around 80 staff members work here. Until the end of the 90s, Astrid von Rönn was one of them. She was sick and thought, she could be heal from her suffering with the help of Scientology, which offers its own purification program.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Money wasn't that important for me back then. Well, I found it more interesting to just do this purfication program, given that I suffer from chronic snifles, I am allergic and I thought this would help me.

[Interviewer]

Did it help?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

No.

[Interviewer]

How did you explain this to yourself? I mean, you pay 5.000 Deutschmarks and then nothing comes out of it. You must have had some sort of explanation for this. Didn't you grow impatient?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

No, as there was the next solution for this.

[Interviewer]

Which one?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Auditing.

[Interviewer]

Would you please describe... well, you sat at the e-meter then. Would you please describe how that worked?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, you sit before the e-meter, you have these cans in your hands and you are being asked specific questions. If someone is ill, that person is a PTS person on principle, so there is a connection to a suppressive. This suppressive may exist in reality in this life or in a past life.

[Interviewer]

Aha. And did you find something then?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Yes, I found several things. That is to say, several suppressives.

[Commentary]

It was like a drug allege those that know the corporation from within. The longer you were there, the harder it became to manage to leave. Scientology made their members psychologically dependent.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

So it is enhanced relatively quickly. It starts with 20 euro and then all of a sudden you are at 1.500 euros [Interviewer: "1.500 euros!"] and then all of a sudden you are at 50.000 euros. This happens within a time of maybe 1 or 2 years.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

The bridge to enlightenment has more steps than you would like. And each step brings you closer to the first boundary, Clear.

[Interviewer]

There are also costs involved.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Of course. Each step costs money, i.e. each step taken on the level costs money and this bridge to enlightenment is the only way to total freedom in this universe according to Hubbard.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology expert at Hamburg Senate]

It also depends a bit on who you are. So, if someone is considered to be a celebrity, someone in that scence, who is thus important, then that person becomes a Clear faster and with less expenses than the others. [Interviewer: "The rank and file members have to work longer?"] The rank and file members have to clown around longer. And then they may never become clear.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

Let's say you take a dog, and you put a small stick to his collar and at the end of that stick you put a sausage. For how long will that dog keep running? It's just the same with a Scientologist.

[Thomas Gandow, protestant minister, sect commissioner]

We've seen it time and again, that the Scientologists won't let go of people at all unless they have wasted all their money for the organisation or also all of their family's assets.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

They also don't shy away from reaching into other people's pockets, I'd put it this way: Any credit report from a bank is outright discreet compared to Scientology. They really screen you completely [Interviewer: "how does this manifest itself?"] They don't only ask how many credit cards you have, how many accounts you have, how much is on them, what is the financial situation in your family, are there any inheritances to be expected, is there a house which you may mortgage? Actually they - I know this from my own past as an example - it goes as far as accompanying the person to the bank. So, I've gone to the bank with some, to directly get the money from there after they have gotten it, so they don't get any stupid ideas, such as spending the money for something else on their way to Scientology, so that it adds directly to Scientology's cash.

[Commentary]

But who can afford the expensive courses at Scientology? Everyone - says Scientology. Our doors are open. Who has got no money for the Hubbard lessons, has to become a staff member and bind himself by a treaty for years to the organisation. Who leaves early has to pay for the courses afterwards. This actually has a detering effect.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I had no money, I was just a young Irishman traveling about. So they suggested to me to become a staff member, so I would work for my auditing sessions.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

Those that have money are being fleeced and the others - those that have no money - may become staff members. The main reason why a person becomes a staff member: He gets the courses and the auditing in Scientology for free. And as I didn't have money back then, my path was thus predetermined: I became a staff member.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, I had to earn money and so I worked at a scientologist business from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, before driving to the organisation and there I always worked until 11:30 pm.

First draft here

The rules of THE GAME just changed: Everything that is in the following quote and which is marked blue is part of a first draft. To see whether this post is still accurate check when it was made/updated and also check the date of the latest post of this thread.

Suggestions, corrections and remarks are welcome, do with it as you see fit.

When copying other parts I only changed three parts of other people, this was because I saw it at that very moment and it seemed clear to me that it ought to be changed: "Günter Beckstein, ministers", took away the finals

In the description of Pastor Gandow "in charge of cults" changed it to "sect commissioner" and changed "clearing-up" to "education", as it was a translation for "Aufklärung" (final part).

Quote:

VO:

New York is excited - awaiting a film premiere. Tom Cruise himself will be there, the celebrity who has set out to bring about a new world order.

TC.

It's our resposibility to educate… to create a new reality. It's our responsibilty… This is the way it should be done.

VO:

All this may sound strange, but it serves a purpose. Cruise is a Scientologist on a propaganda mission for the much talked about cult that is enraged by these masked protesters.

VO:

And now ruise is even playing Stauffenberg, the would-be Hitler assasin. Will "Valkyrie" - in German movie theaters starting tomorrow - turn into an instrument to promote Scientology?

Brainwashing - how dangerous is Scientology?

VO:

In New York the crowd is pushing and shoving… he will be here soon. More than one hundred camerateams from around the world are here. The red carpet has been rolled out on the top floor of a shopping mall, well shielded from the public. This is an invite-only event, the masked people must be kept out at all costs, those much-hated party-guerillas that call themselves "Anonymous" and refuse to take Cruise and his buddies- the Scientologists of the world- seriously.

VO:

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise is only a few feet away, hoping to be praised for his performance as Stauffenberg. Unpleasant questions are brushed off. "Did being a scientologist give you strength to play this part?"

TC:

I don't understand the question.

VO:

The man is a professional in dealing with the press.

VO:

And the Stauffenberg movie is not as bad as had been feared. Even if the dialogue is not always very deep.

(Valkyrie clip)

VO:

A strange device. The so-called E-Meter, the holiest of holy things for a scientologist, a kind of lie detector that the organisation uses to monitor it's members - according to Scientology that's ten million people worldwide. Guilt must be admitted.

VO:

Critics and ex-members find it insulting that Cruise, Scientology's most public figure, is now playing the role of a man who paid with his life for standing up to a totalitarian regime.

Astrid von Rönn:

It's ridiculous. Because Scientology is a dictatorship, it's a suppressive system.

Thomas Gandow:

He is trying to seduce the masses and to distract from what Scientology is doing. The purpose of making the movie was to increase Scientology's influence in Germany.

Günter Beckstein:

Apart from his acting qualities, I don't want to comment on them, there is also a message here that is in my opinion disastrous. Trying to possibly lure in young people or people with psychological problems and introduce them to the of Scientology. This way the hesitance to turn to Scientology is reduced, then they are quickly caught up and can't get back out.

Astrid von Rönn:

Celebrities are very important for Scientology. They're walking advertisements.

Tom Cruise is a cool guy and likes Scientology, so it can't be all bad.

(Valkyrie clip)

VO:

Tom Cruise's speeches to Scientologists are reminiscent of old propaganda speeches.

TC:

Are we gonna clean this place up?

TC:

We're counting on you.

TC:

To LRH!

VO:

This "cleaning up" they speak of sounds alarming. But how dangerous is this registered association that calls itself a "church" really?

VO:

The Berlin headquarters building is quite big and posh. Scientology claims to have 30.000 members in Germany. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution however, which has been keeping an eye on the organisation for years, estimates there are no more than 6.000 members in Germany.

VO:

We had an interview scheduled. A few hours before the shoot the interview was cancelled. It was explained that airing the documentary the day before "Valkyrie" starts showing in German movie theaters was not right. We should change the air-date - but we didn't want to. So we went looking for insiders and experts that could explain what Scientology is and what Scientologists do.

Uschi Caberta:

They believe things like, "We are the only people that have a right to judge others." If an islamic imam were to say this in a mosque, he would be kicked out of the country for hate preaching. But Scientologst in Germany get this drilled into their heads. They are... It's the same as in many totalitarian ideologies, there is a race, Hubbard says it's a kind of person, that is enabled through Scientology's training to become one of the only ones that have a right to judge and decide for others.

Thomas Gandow:

Scientology is a totalitarian organisation. They do not tolerate critics but they don't even tolerate indifference.All they want is supporters. Anyone not willing to be one is supposed to be turned around or quarantined and 2,5% of all races are supposed to be destroyed, because they are beyond saving.

Tilmann:

Where is this written?

Thomas Gandow:

In Hubbards instructions.

VO:

L. Ron Hubbard. 1911-1986. The founder of Scientology viewed all people opposed to scientology as criminals. Onjection is not allowed, it disturbs the peace and harmony Scientology promises, as shown in this promotion film.

VO:

Hubbard, who started out as a science-fiction writer, wrote: On the other side of the valley there is a higher level, with a better life. Scientology is the bridge across this valley, the bridge to a more beautiful and happy world.

Sounds nice, but what is it really about?

Uschi Caberta:

Communication skills training. That's how it starts. That's to get people hooked. Communications training and employee training is very big in Germany right now. Apparently people have a lot of problems and have difficulty communicating. There's an endless demand for this kind of thing, and Scientology wants a piece of the pie.

But Scientolgy doesn't improve people's communication skills, instead they introduce their ideology step by step through their courses and seminars. And that's when people get started.

VO:

1984 in Stuttgart, Germany, a young man found Scientology and invested 22 years of his life to the cult. Under orders of the organisation - that claims he only took care of the car fleet in England - he spent years travelling the world and working in the L.A. headquarters. He managed to get out in 2006. Now he has written a disturbing book, which has as of yet not been objected to by Scientology.

John Duigan:

I found myself walking around Stuttgart, very very lost. An attractive German girl, Sabine, came to me and said, "Haben Sie ein gutes Gedächtnis?" And I was a bit out there and explained that I speak English. So she said, "Have you got a good memory?", I said no, she said, "Come with me." Just like this, incredible control. Come with me.

And of ourse my situation, I didn't know what to expect. So I went and took a OCA personality test. And after it was evaluated, I find that I'm all along the bottom. The Scientologists then told me I had major troubles and could even die. Every thing is terrible unless you do Scientology, it's the only thing that's going to help you.

VO:

Like noone before him, Duigan describes in detail the manipulation techniques, the conditioning, the systematic spying on members - all this under the guise of being a "church". Even they way Scientologists speak sounds martialistic.

VO:

Hubbards dogmas are taught by auditors. But what happens during this so-called auditing, those regular interrogations using the e-meter?

Wilfried Handl:

Yes, it's an excercise... I need to explain something first, the so called Tone Forty. That's what Scientology calls it, and this tone is comparable to the tone of military drill sergeants. This means there is no resistance when I say something. This is trained by using an ashtray, and you yell at the ashtray, "get up, sit down," being quite nice, you're helping the ashtray because ashtrays find it hard to get up and sit down. And the point of the exercise is to have complete control over someone else.

JD: An example is, you're made to sit down in front of another person and stare into its eyes. You are not allowed to move. And then these people swear at you and mock you. They can do anything with you what they want except for touching you. You on the other side may not even blink. I was forced to give up my intuitive, normal behaviour and desires. Anyone under normal circumstances would react and protect himself.

With that also a mental barrier breaks. I have given Scientology my complete consent to destroy me and that's what they did with me, that's the purpose of this routine in essence.

WH: A scientologist won't even blink, if you read him his death sentence. The purpose of this training routine is that one lets everything happen to oneself without reacting in any way, neither physical by blinking or moving nor emotional. So that one completely numbs down. You won't necessarily recognize this, when you do the routine. The only thing you recognize and what they always tell you while doing this routine, is that you are appearing very "cool" to the environment.

VO: Also the austrian Exscientologist Wilfried Handel, who held once a high position in the organisation, has a long history of suffering, 28 years.

Only 2002 after a cancer treatment, he succeded to drop out. Scientology claims, they had dismissed Handel themselves.

WH: I led the organisation in Vienna, which was relatively big at that time with over 90 staff members and me being their executive director.

VO: As he frankly says today himself, he has participated in a system of total control. He has believed in the emeter.

Scientology is considering this a "religious" device. The auditing sessions, so says Handel, are not so cheerful and relaxed, how the scientology PR film wants to make us believe. The organisation says: Auditing is the individual spiritual counseling in the Scientology church. Goal is spiritual salvation of man.

There are people, who see this more profane.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] Hubbard states "the e-meter never lies, it's always right." And Scientology does assume that if someone doesn't reach a goal, independent of how realistic it is, that that person has to have a skeleton in his closet. This means, that he is being forced- how did he go wrong in the past, what are his crimes and he has got to put it on paper, no matter whether these were some youthful aberrations, whether these are sexual issues or whether these are some thoughts. So he's forced, as a first step, to write all of this down.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author] You may have no withholds. There is no private area. When you masturbate, you have to tell it to Scientology, but not only this: You also have to justify what you were thinking while masturbating. This is incredible. I have read a file about a pretty important woman within Scientology. It said that she had had an orgasm last night, an orgasm with her husband. How do I have any right to know of these sort of things? What does it concern the "church" quote unquote of Scientology?

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] If the e-meter says: Nope, that guy still got skeletons in his closet, which he doesn't want to see or which he doesn't want to admit to, then there is still the harsher punishment of a security check. This means that you sit behind the e-meter and get asked questions. These questions range from whether you have ever stolen anything to whether you were ever in fear of the police or also whether you ever had any bad thoughts on L. Ron Hubbard. Whether you ever had any bad thoughts on other Scientologists. So in principle - it takes hours - you're being interrogated on everything you have and only if you receive the final ok, the permission that you are clean [Interviewer: by the e-meter?] - by the e-meter. The e-meter determines what is and what isn't. And if the e-meter agrees, you are sort of liberated, but this doesn't mean that you won't sit in front of the e-meter again three weeks from now.

[Ursula Caberta, expert on Scientology at the Senate of Hamburg] These auditing sessions are one of the most central psycho techniques which are used within the organisation, they also transform people into a state, in which they don't even know what they are actually doing, what they are saying.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] You really have to get the idea, that this way, the transparent human is being created. This stuff is not put into the rubbish bin, it goes into the file afterwards.

[Commentary] How to confront the scientologic danger? New York's anonymous, those with the masks, have found their very own answer: Education by means of cleverness and satire. In the internet and on the streets. Spontaneous actions, humorous attacks, which the religious corporation doesn't enjoy at all. Over there, they fear the masked people like the devil fears the holy water. Scientology has a solution for virtually everything, except for joking and irony.

[NY Anon 1] The only way to deal with people that have such an exaggerated self-image such as the Scientologists, is to make fun of them. We don't want to persecute these people and we don't hate them either, we simply make fun of them.

[NY Anon 2] Scientology is a serious organisation, satire and humour are absolutely dangerous to it. It contradicts their claim to supress people's thoughts.

Scientology is outraged. A statement says: "Anonymous are cyber-terrorists, hiding their identities behind masks and the internet's anonymity, they are persecuting Scientology by hate speech and hate crimes."

But the fun movement seems to be almost unstoppable. The dreaded mask-bearers have advanced even into the sunshine state of Florida. Clearwater. The Scientologists' mekka, the, quote unquote, "spiritual center" of the Church of Scientology. The pompous architecture suggests: "There's nothing that may shake us".

Or is there? March 13th 2008. It's something like christmas day to Scientologists. L. Ron Hubbard's birthday. He would have turned 97 that day. Around 100 anonymous intend to congratulate in their fashion and prepare for a fun-filled protest march to the Scientology central. May Hubbard's adherents sit in front of their e-meters, summon the thetan, the eternal spirit, and may they keep on auditing until the last orgasm has been brought to paper: The mask people prefer to do a masquerade. Suddenly the colossus has become very small. The organisation's adherents clearly feel annoyed by the protesters.

"Fair Game". That's a code word used by Hubbard, which was still in use very recently in training materials.

[Tom Smith, ex-member, Clearwater]

When they have assigned the state of "fair game" to someone, that person is like an animal to them, which they have to get rid of or kill. He may be attacked and insulted. He is ostracized. Scientologists may consciously do damage to him without being punished for it by the church.

[Commentary]

What the outcome of a fair little "fair game" such as this may be, can be learned from the sad case of the man, who was the owner of this ancient limousine. In February 2008 he took his life by using a pipe directing car exhaust fumes into his living room. His name was Shawn Lonsdale, one of the most prominent Scientology critics in Clearwater. Important witness for a BBC TV documentary in 2007. During the interview a Scientology staff member appears and reads to the interviewer from a dossier. Lonsdale had once been dependent on drugs and had worked as a male prostitute. Lonsdale answered: "Did Scientology help me at that time?"

For some years the avid photographer and videographer had been a thorn in Scientology's flesh. Lonsdale himself documented, how they persecuted him. "Fair Game" around the city they placed small wanted posters informing about Lonsdale's past. Lonsdale never obscured his past, which he had left behind a long time ago. But now he didn't have any rights.

[Tom Smith, ex-member, Clearwater]

They have humiliated him, they declared him to be an enemy, allegedly doing propaganda against them. They have encited other people to avoid him and to no longer speak to him.

[Commentary]

What did Lonsdale do? He filmed and distributed flyers. Scientology denounced him because of this, even to his employer.

[Interviewer]

Scientology did inform you about his past?

[Jeffrey Taylor, former employer]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

What do you think of this method?

[Jeffrey Taylor, former employer]

I don't think it's normal. I think Scientology was very worried that Shawn Lonsdale may damage their reputation. These people wanted me to let my employee down.

[Commentary]

Scientology denies any responsibility for the death of poor Shawn Lonsdale. There had been no contact recently they say. However, his friends say that he never recovered from the attacks by the Scientologists, from the public exposure of himself.

Scientology critics live dangerous at times. Years ago, Ursula Caberta experienced this as well. As she arrived at the Tampa airport, a horde of outraged Scientologists were at the gate already. She gave her talk anyway. Ursula Caberta, sect commissioner of the Hamburg senate with a focus on Scientology, is the german main subject of hate for the organisation. Some of her colleagues have given up a long time ago due to attrition.

[Ursula Caberta, expert on Scientology at the Hamburg Senate]

There have been many, many people, all of them have given up. That's because it is hard to tell all that happens to you. You see, it's not like there's someone with a gun in front of your door. But when you go home, people jump out from behind bushes and say "You are Caberta, right!" Such things. Or death threats on the phone, harassment and such things. Or, you're sitting in a restaurant, talking about something and the next day what you may just have said ends on the computer of the mayor of Hamburg. And it is intentional that you realize this is happening, you ought to understand, "we're watching you", that is the message.

[Commentary]

Hubbard wrote: "The criminal abhors daylight. And we are the daylight. ...

Every time we have investigated the background of a critic of Scientology, we have found crimes ... If you oppose Scientology we promptly look up—and will find and expose—your crimes."

So some prefer it not to criticize.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

The main thing in Scientology is control. So, one might put it that way, control is the foundation on which the entire thing is built.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Everyone controls everyone. The wife controls the husband, children control the parents, parents control the children. That's because life may only consist of what Hubbard wrote. Nothing else must be part of it.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology expert at the Hamburg Senate]

They also report to each other who is complaining. So, the entire system is also designed to ensure complete control between each other, because if someone does not tell that someone complained, then that person has also become culpable in the Scientology system.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I still get upset about it. It hurts me to think about this time. You're caught there. Your soul is being imprisoned there. I've been around the world for Scientology, but I was never free, because I was always and constantly bound to this organisation and had to report to it.

[Commentary]

Who is working at Scientology leads - according to ex-members - a life under constant pressure. There is fatsidious keeping of statistics, week after week, each thursday, there has to be a proof of performance. Above all it is necessary to get new members to join. Who doesn't fulfill the target statistic has to work longer.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

The system is really easy. You make people hungry and make sure that they stay focused on Scientology. The members have to convince other people to buy their way into Scientology. But in the back of their mind they constantly are afraid to have no time for their children, in case they won't be succesful. Or to get no payment, should their statistics, their numbers go down. I scrubbed lobby the whole night through, just because I had a bad statistic. I would have done anything to sell these auditing seminars.

[Commentary]

They work like busy ants. Ex-members call it pure exploitation. The working hours of more than 12 per day would regularly occur. Everyday life in the Berlin Scientology center as well as the recruitment strategies were recently investigated by undercover journalist Fredy Gareis in a daredevil research.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

They are being told for example that, if they spend a lot of money, they can cure cancer, they will be able to cure their own cancer, they can prolong their life.

[Interviewer]

"if they spend money"- how is that? Do you mean if they donate a lot to the organisation?

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

No. If they move up the bridge to enlightenment. If they become clear, if they pass clear, then they can heal cancer. That is of course... you can't tell people such things. It won't be accurate at all, that you can then cure cancer. When people are being told such things and when this is also being used as a motivation for them to spend more and more money to move up the bridge, then I think that is very dangerous.

[Commentary]

A few days ago the son of Scientologist John Travolta died. He was - it is alleged by media around the world - mentally ill. But Scientology opposes any psychiatric treatment, psychiatric drugs even more. Has Jett possibly become a victim of Scientology? Scientology denies this, but there are many that think differently.

[Magoo on YT]

Here I am again. Somebody else has died inside Scientology.

[NY Anon 2]

Scientology commits grieveous bodily harm. They deny their members any medical treatment if they are mentally or neurologically ill. They oppose such treatment.

[Commentary]

Hamburg. Probably the most important place of activity for german Scientologists, second only to Berlin. Around 1000 members are being controlled from here. Around 80 staff members work here. Until the end of the 90s, Astrid von Rönn was one of them. She was sick and thought, she could be heal from her suffering with the help of Scientology, which offers its own purification program.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Money wasn't that important for me back then. Well, I found it more interesting to just do this purfication program, given that I suffer from chronic snifles, I am allergic and I thought this would help me.

[Interviewer]

Did it help?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

No.

[Interviewer]

How did you explain this to yourself? I mean, you pay 5.000 Deutschmarks and then nothing comes out of it. You must have had some sort of explanation for this. Didn't you grow impatient?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

No, as there was the next solution for this.

[Interviewer]

Which one?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Auditing.

[Interviewer]

Would you please describe... well, you sat at the e-meter then. Would you please describe how that worked?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, you sit before the e-meter, you have these cans in your hands and you are being asked specific questions. If someone is ill, that person is a PTS person on principle, so there is a connection to a suppressive. This suppressive may exist in reality in this life or in a past life.

[Interviewer]

Aha. And did you find something then?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Yes, I found several things. That is to say, several suppressives.

[Commentary]

It was like a drug allege those that know the corporation from within. The longer you were there, the harder it became to manage to leave. Scientology made their members psychologically dependent.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

So it is enhanced relatively quickly. It starts with 20 euro and then all of a sudden you are at 1.500 euros [Interviewer: "1.500 euros!"] and then all of a sudden you are at 50.000 euros. This happens within a time of maybe 1 or 2 years.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

The bridge to enlightenment has more steps than you would like. And each step brings you closer to the first boundary, Clear.

[Interviewer]

There are also costs involved.

[Freddy Gareis, Journalist]

Of course. Each step costs money, i.e. each step taken on the level costs money and this bridge to enlightenment is the only way to total freedom in this universe according to Hubbard.

[Ursula Caberta, Scientology expert at Hamburg Senate]

It also depends a bit on who you are. So, if someone is considered to be a celebrity, someone in that scence, who is thus important, then that person becomes a Clear faster and with less expenses than the others. [Interviewer: "The rank and file members have to work longer?"] The rank and file members have to clown around longer. And then they may never become clear.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

Let's say you take a dog, and you put a small stick to his collar and at the end of that stick you put a sausage. For how long will that dog keep running? It's just the same with a Scientologist.

[Thomas Gandow, protestant minister, sect commissioner]

We've seen it time and again, that the Scientologists won't let go of people at all unless they have wasted all their money for the organisation or also all of their family's assets.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

They also don't shy away from reaching into other people's pockets, I'd put it this way: Any credit report from a bank is outright discreet compared to Scientology. They really screen you completely [Interviewer: "how does this manifest itself?"] They don't only ask how many credit cards you have, how many accounts you have, how much is on them, what is the financial situation in your family, are there any inheritances to be expected, is there a house which you may mortgage? Actually they - I know this from my own past as an example - it goes as far as accompanying the person to the bank. So, I've gone to the bank with some, to directly get the money from there after they have gotten it, so they don't get any stupid ideas, such as spending the money for something else on their way to Scientology, so that it adds directly to Scientology's cash.

[Commentary]

But who can afford the expensive courses at Scientology? Everyone - says Scientology. Our doors are open. Who has got no money for the Hubbard lessons, has to become a staff member and bind himself by a treaty for years to the organisation. Who leaves early has to pay for the courses afterwards. This actually has a detering effect.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I had no money, I was just a young Irishman traveling about. So they suggested to me to become a staff member, so I would work for my auditing sessions.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

Those that have money are being fleeced and the others - those that have no money - may become staff members. The main reason why a person becomes a staff member: He gets the courses and the auditing in Scientology for free. And as I didn't have money back then, my path was thus predetermined: I became a staff member.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, I had to earn money and so I worked at a scientologist business from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, before driving to the organisation and there I always worked until 11:30 pm.

[Interviewer] So you worked from early in the morning to 11:30pm. Did Scientology at least pay you appropriately?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member] No, of course not.

[Interviewer] How much did you earn?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]Well, I earned between 30 and 60 Deutschmarks a week.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

So you may understand, not only are you unable to pay a rent from 30 Euros a week, you can't even pay the cigarettes that you might need. This means that most need a second job.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

You get up in the morning, see to it that you get to work, earn a little money, so it's part time, then you drive to the org and work for your statistics and see to it that you reach the goal, the goal of the week, the month and the total goal, just to clear the planet.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

You work in such a focused manner, that everything else became unimportant to me, even my friends and my partner in life.

[Interviewer]

There was only Scientology?

[John Duignan, Scientology-Aussteiger, Autor]

Right. Within a few weeks time, in only two months, I was only surrounded by Scientology and Scientologists. Scientology around the clock. That was my life.

[Commentary]Who wants to break free may even have to face -under certain circumstances- a camp. A stay at the "Rehabilitation Project Force", in short RPF. Especially the 5.000 members of the elite unit Sea Org are made to tow the line here. There's a lot of speculation about these camps, whose existence is not being denied by the organisation. Here are the dark facts:

[Interviewer]

What do you know about these penal camps?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, I took part in one myself, however this was in Copenhagen. It is very strictly organized, e.g. you are not allowed to talk to anyone who is not inside this penal camp and you may only move through the organisation or Copenhagen running, you have to do hard manual labor, which really exhausts you.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

You got no choice. They tell you "You're a dog, you're a pig". They destroy any form of self-respect until you finally feel like a dog or a pig. Then you won't refuse to go to the camp.

[Interviewer] So, how much time do you spend there?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member] Well, I was there for 14 days, in the more severe camp, which is in the USA, there you are 2-3 years.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria] Well, I have met two "graduates" -quote unquote- of these camps, in England. And what struck me -back then I was still a Scientologist- these are extremely empty people, de-individuized. There is nothing to be seen of any personality, they are, if one wants to put it that way, robots. And you may get an idea how this comes about when you consider: They have something between 10 to 15 hours of labor each day, then they also have to study Hubbard's writings and in the small time that remains, they are allowed to sleep. The food is more or less waste.

[Interviewer] Why does one go through this?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member] That's this inner-scientologic pressure. You don't want to loose that bridge to freedom. You know, you feel that if you loose that bridge you will drop dead. And you are afraid of this.

[Commentary] In autumn of 2007 the ministers of interior of the states decided to enhance the observation of the cult and to be more targeted in it with the intent of introducing in the following year investigative proceedings for a ban of Scientology. The association was despising humans and not compatible with our constitution, they said.

[Günter Beckstein, former bavarian interior minister] It is completely clear that Scientology is a system, which is not grounded in our constitution, but an organisation, which has an anti-constitutional stance.

[Commentary] Feverish investigations began in all the states. Do 6.000 to 8.000 Scientologists actually pose a threat to our lawful state? We investigate. What were the results of the investigations by the Offices for the Protection of the Constitution?

[Beate Bube, President of OPC Baden-Württemberg]There is no need to actually fear a threat or a danger to our society through a really large or really substantial re-organisation of our society according to scientologic rules, however, I'm of the opinion that a continuation of the observation by the OPC is appropriate.

[Commentary]

So the proceedings against Scientology were toned down on the last annual conference of the interior ministers due to necessity. There was no majority for a request for a ban. Only Bavaria and Hamburg still hope for it. But the OPC is still watching Hubbartd's adherents.

[Ehrhart Körting, Senator of the Interior, Berlin]

The OPC has found material from Scientology's history, from their publications, which show us, what type of organisation we have here. That does not change, but the OPC didn't find such grieveous criminal or other offences, that we would say, you can only answer those with a ban. We think it's better to fight such an organisation in an aggressive public way.

[Commentary]

Education - that's the interior ministers' approach - is more important than a ban. It's important to make the discrepancy visible, existing between the world of scientologic advertisment films and the everyday life within the organisation, to do it in schools, in companies and last but not least in the media. There's something to be learned from the experiences of the ex-members.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

For me, it has simply been a painful experience, which I don't want to go through again, which I don't wish even for my worst enemy to experience. And I'm just happy, that I've managed to get out of there and that I can live my life now.

[Interviewer]

So, you are not clear or clean?

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Exactly.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I've decided to go to university, even though I'm that old. I had to learn to think normal again. I didn't even know what "normal" was. And now I have the possibility to regain a peace of normality with the help of wonderful professors.

[Astrid von Rönn, ex-member]

Well, bans only make people curious. I think it's way more important to make politicians cognizant of Scientology's existence, of Scientologists' goals, how they approach people.

[Thomas Gandow, protestant minister, sect commissioner]

Scientology is an association. This association ought to be banned according to the constitution, because it is directed against the criminal law. This can be demonstrated when it comes to the topic of practising usury, they exploit their employees, they practise usury with their courses, they violate the laws for practising madicine and there are some other paragraphs concerning fraud that could be mentioned.

[Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria]

Why is there a state when anyone can do anything? And the main problem is that most people don't know what Scientology is about, so you have to act with care when dealing with it. And I wouldn't ban Scientology outright either. I would go and simply take a look at the specific techniques or the specific courses that they offer and then I would ban these.

[John Duignan, ex-member, author]

I'm still angry and I will also never forgive Scientology what they have done to me. But, as it's usual in liberal Europe, they ought to have the right to meet and to organise themselves as a group. However, this does not mean that they may deceive people.

[Speaker]

In the opinion of many experts - from theologians above all - the "church" label with which the scientologist association decorates itself so gladly is completely misleading. Nobody will be able to prevent a citizen of age to step inside this organization and to give it a lot of money. It is just that this very terrestrial enterprise has little to do with spirituality, with the questions about things beyond the Here and Now.

The protestant minister Thomas Gandow, a long-time critic and therefore attacked by the organization also at a personal level, feels lampooned as a Christian when an association such as Scientology labels itself "church".

[Thomas Gandow, evangelist minister, sect commissioner]

Scientology uses the word "church" to deceive people. Because people then think, OK, that must be something religious. That is however not only as it were a trademark abuse, as if someone describes a brown drink "Coca Cola", but it concerns a faith issue here. Church is not simply only our company name, but that is a part of our belief system. We believe in the holy general Christian church. And if someone uses the term of the church for extortion, interrogation, suppression of people, totalitarian penetration to develop, that is an abuse and brings dishonor on the word "church".

[Günther Beckstein, former Minister of the Interior Bayern]

For me - to be completely clear - scientology is not a religious community, but an financial group, which wants to get the people into its power and then systematically exploit them, a most undemocratic association, but no church.

[Wilfried Handl, ex-director, Scientology Austria]

Thus, if Scientology is a church, then the mafia is also a church.

[Interviewer]

Why?

[Wilfried Handl, ex-director, Scientology Austria]

It gives people a meaning in their life - thus if one is with the mafia, one can become drugs dealer or courier, or take care of money laundering; it gives real advancement opportunities; scientology is similar to that.

[Commentary]

Pictures of yesterday evening. German premiere of Operation Walkyrie in Berlin. Tom Cruise, playing Stauffenberg and top scientologist, attends the party. Not far from it, uninvited masked people are gathering. The Anonymous movement reached Germany. The fun partisans are here. They perhaps found the best prescription for handling Scientology: Education and cheerful laughter.  

Anonymous introduction: I changed the title as it was suggested, unified the format (e.g. speaker, voiceover, commentary) and corrected obvious mistakes when they caught my eye. The only other substantial change made was near the end at Handl's mafia statement, where I replaced "thus," by "well,", it was "Also," in the german original and I don't think it was "Also" in the sense of drawing a conclusion from the previous statement by Beckstein, but rather "Also," as in introducing a statement of which he is quite sure, thus no thus here. Maybe "Look," would have been even better.

Quote:

VO: New York is excited - awaiting a film premiere. Tom Cruise himself will be there, the celebrity who has set out to bring about a new world order.

TC: It's our resposibility to educate… to create a new reality. It's our responsibilty… This is the way it should be done.

VO: All this may sound strange, but it serves a purpose. Cruise is a Scientologist on a propaganda mission for the much talked about cult that is enraged by these masked protesters.

VO: And now ruise is even playing Stauffenberg, the would-be Hitler assasin. Will "Valkyrie" - in German movie theaters starting tomorrow - turn into an instrument to promote Scientology?

The Brainwashers - how dangerous is Scientology?

VO: In New York the crowd is pushing and shoving… he will be here soon. More than one hundred camerateams from around the world are here. The red carpet has been rolled out on the top floor of a shopping mall, well shielded from the public. This is an invite-only event, the masked people must be kept out at all costs, those much-hated party-guerillas that call themselves "Anonymous" and refuse to take Cruise and his buddies- the Scientologists of the world- seriously.

VO: Meanwhile, Tom Cruise is only a few feet away, hoping to be praised for his performance as Stauffenberg. Unpleasant questions are brushed off. "Did being a scientologist give you strength to play this part?"

TC: I don't understand the question.

VO: The man is a professional in dealing with the press.

VO: And the Stauffenberg movie is not as bad as had been feared. Even if the dialogue is not always very deep.

(Valkyrie clip)

VO: A strange device. The so-called E-Meter, the holiest of holy things for a scientologist, a kind of lie detector that the organisation uses to monitor it's members - according to Scientology that's ten million people worldwide. Guilt must be admitted.

VO: Critics and ex-members find it insulting that Cruise, Scientology's most public figure, is now playing the role of a man who paid with his life for standing up to a totalitarian regime.

Astrid von Rönn: It's ridiculous. Because Scientology is a dictatorship, it's a suppressive system.

Thomas Gandow: He is trying to seduce the masses and to distract from what Scientology is doing. The purpose of making the movie was to increase Scientology's influence in Germany.

Günter Beckstein: Apart from his acting qualities, I don't want to comment on them, there is also a message here that is in my opinion disastrous. Trying to possibly lure in young people or people with psychological problems and introduce them to the of Scientology. This way the hesitance to turn to Scientology is reduced, then they are quickly caught up and can't get back out.

Astrid von Rönn: Celebrities are very important for Scientology. They're walking advertisements.

Tom Cruise is a cool guy and likes Scientology, so it can't be all bad.

(Valkyrie clip)

VO:Tom Cruise's speeches to Scientologists are reminiscent of old propaganda speeches.

TC: Are we gonna clean this place up?

TC: We're counting on you.

TC: To LRH!

VO: This "cleaning up" they speak of sounds alarming. But how dangerous is this registered association that calls itself a "church" really?

VO: The Berlin headquarters building is quite big and posh. Scientology claims to have 30.000 members in Germany. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution however, which has been keeping an eye on the organisation for years, estimates there are no more than 6.000 members in Germany.

VO: We had an interview scheduled. A few hours before the shoot the interview was cancelled. It was explained that airing the documentary the day before "Valkyrie" starts showing in German movie theaters was not right. We should change the air-date - but we didn't want to. So we went looking for insiders and experts that could explain what Scientology is and what Scientologists do.

Ursula Caberta: They believe things like, "We are the only people that have a right to judge others." If an islamic imam were to say this in a mosque, he would be kicked out of the country for hate preaching. But Scientologst in Germany get this drilled into their heads. They are... It's the same as in many totalitarian ideologies, there is a race, Hubbard says it's a kind of person, that is enabled through Scientology's training to become one of the only ones that have a right to judge and decide for others.

Thomas Gandow: Scientology is a totalitarian organisation. They do not tolerate critics but they don't even tolerate indifference.All they want is supporters. Anyone not willing to be one is supposed to be turned around or quarantined and 2,5% of all races are supposed to be destroyed, because they are beyond saving.

Tilmann: Where is this written?

Thomas Gandow: In Hubbards instructions.

VO: L. Ron Hubbard. 1911-1986. The founder of Scientology viewed all people opposed to scientology as criminals. Onjection is not allowed, it disturbs the peace and harmony Scientology promises, as shown in this promotion film.

VO: Hubbard, who started out as a science-fiction writer, wrote: On the other side of the valley there is a higher level, with a better life. Scientology is the bridge across this valley, the bridge to a more beautiful and happy world.

Sounds nice, but what is it really about?

Ursula Caberta: Communication skills training. That's how it starts. That's to get people hooked. Communications training and employee training is very big in Germany right now. Apparently people have a lot of problems and have difficulty communicating. There's an endless demand for this kind of thing, and Scientology wants a piece of the pie.

But Scientolgy doesn't improve people's communication skills, instead they introduce their ideology step by step through their courses and seminars. And that's when people get started.

VO: 1984 in Stuttgart, Germany, a young man found Scientology and invested 22 years of his life to the cult. Under orders of the organisation - that claims he only took care of the car fleet in England - he spent years travelling the world and working in the L.A. headquarters. He managed to get out in 2006. Now he has written a disturbing book, which has as of yet not been objected to by Scientology.

John Duigan: I found myself walking around Stuttgart, very very lost. An attractive German girl, Sabine, came to me and said, "Haben Sie ein gutes Gedächtnis?" And I was a bit out there and explained that I speak English. So she said, "Have you got a good memory?", I said no, she said, "Come with me." Just like this, incredible control. Come with me.

And of ourse my situation, I didn't know what to expect. So I went and took a OCA personality test. And after it was evaluated, I find that I'm all along the bottom. The Scientologists then told me I had major troubles and could even die. Every thing is terrible unless you do Scientology, it's the only thing that's going to help you.

VO: Like noone before him, Duigan describes in detail the manipulation techniques, the conditioning, the systematic spying on members - all this under the guise of being a "church". Even they way Scientologists speak sounds martialistic.

VO: Hubbards dogmas are taught by auditors. But what happens during this so-called auditing, those regular interrogations using the e-meter?

Wilfried Handl:

Yes, it's an excercise... I need to explain something first, the so called Tone Forty. That's what Scientology calls it, and this tone is comparable to the tone of military drill sergeants. This means there is no resistance when I say something. This is trained by using an ashtray, and you yell at the ashtray, "get up, sit down," being quite nice, you're helping the ashtray because ashtrays find it hard to get up and sit down. And the point of the exercise is to have complete control over someone else.

JD: An example is, you're made to sit down in front of another person and stare into its eyes. You are not allowed to move. And then these people swear at you and mock you. They can do anything with you what they want except for touching you. You on the other side may not even blink. I was forced to give up my intuitive, normal behaviour and desires. Anyone under normal circumstances would react and protect himself.

With that also a mental barrier breaks. I have given Scientology my complete consent to destroy me and that's what they did with me, that's the purpose of this routine in essence.

WH: A scientologist won't even blink, if you read him his death sentence. The purpose of this training routine is that one lets everything happen to oneself without reacting in any way, neither physical by blinking or moving nor emotional. So that one completely numbs down. You won't necessarily recognize this, when you do the routine. The only thing you recognize and what they always tell you while doing this routine, is that you are appearing very "cool" to the environment.

VO: Also the austrian Exscientologist Wilfried Handel, who held once a high position in the organisation, has a long history of suffering, 28 years.

Only 2002 after a cancer treatment, he succeded to drop out. Scientology claims, they had dismissed Handel themselves.

WH: I led the organisation in Vienna, which was relatively big at that time with over 90 staff members and me being their executive director.

VO: As he frankly says today himself, he has participated in a system of total control. He has believed in the emeter.

Scientology is considering this a "religious" device. The auditing sessions, so says Handel, are not so cheerful and relaxed, how the scientology PR film wants to make us believe. The organisation says: Auditing is the individual spiritual counseling in the Scientology church. Goal is spiritual salvation of man.

There are people, who see this more profane.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: Hubbard states "the e-meter never lies, it's always right." And Scientology does assume that if someone doesn't reach a goal, independent of how realistic it is, that that person has to have a skeleton in his closet. This means, that he is being forced- how did he go wrong in the past, what are his crimes and he has got to put it on paper, no matter whether these were some youthful aberrations, whether these are sexual issues or whether these are some thoughts. So he's forced, as a first step, to write all of this down.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: You may have no withholds. There is no private area. When you masturbate, you have to tell it to Scientology, but not only this: You also have to justify what you were thinking while masturbating. This is incredible. I have read a file about a pretty important woman within Scientology. It said that she had had an orgasm last night, an orgasm with her husband. How do I have any right to know of these sort of things? What does it concern the "church" quote unquote of Scientology?

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: If the e-meter says: Nope, that guy still got skeletons in his closet, which he doesn't want to see or which he doesn't want to admit to, then there is still the harsher punishment of a security check. This means that you sit behind the e-meter and get asked questions. These questions range from whether you have ever stolen anything to whether you were ever in fear of the police or also whether you ever had any bad thoughts on L. Ron Hubbard. Whether you ever had any bad thoughts on other Scientologists. So in principle - it takes hours - you're being interrogated on everything you have and only if you receive the final ok, the permission that you are clean [Interviewer: by the e-meter?] - by the e-meter. The e-meter determines what is and what isn't. And if the e-meter agrees, you are sort of liberated, but this doesn't mean that you won't sit in front of the e-meter again three weeks from now.

Ursula Caberta, expert on Scientology at the Senate of Hamburg: These auditing sessions are one of the most central psycho techniques which are used within the organisation, they also transform people into a state, in which they don't even know what they are actually doing, what they are saying.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: You really have to get the idea, that this way, the transparent human is being created. This stuff is not put into the rubbish bin, it goes into the file afterwards.

VO: How to confront the scientologic danger? New York's anonymous, those with the masks, have found their very own answer: Education by means of cleverness and satire. In the internet and on the streets. Spontaneous actions, humorous attacks, which the religious corporation doesn't enjoy at all. Over there, they fear the masked people like the devil fears the holy water. Scientology has a solution for virtually everything, except for joking and irony.

NY Anon 1: The only way to deal with people that have such an exaggerated self-image such as the Scientologists, is to make fun of them. We don't want to persecute these people and we don't hate them either, we simply make fun of them.

NY Anon 2: Scientology is a serious organisation, satire and humour are absolutely dangerous to it. It contradicts their claim to supress people's thoughts.

VO: Scientology is outraged. A statement says: "Anonymous are cyber-terrorists, hiding their identities behind masks and the internet's anonymity, they are persecuting Scientology by hate speech and hate crimes."

But the fun movement seems to be almost unstoppable. The dreaded mask-bearers have advanced even into the sunshine state of Florida. Clearwater. The Scientologists' mekka, the, quote unquote, "spiritual center" of the Church of Scientology. The pompous architecture suggests: "There's nothing that may shake us".

Or is there? March 13th 2008. It's something like christmas day to Scientologists. L. Ron Hubbard's birthday. He would have turned 97 that day. Around 100 anonymous intend to congratulate in their fashion and prepare for a fun-filled protest march to the Scientology central. May Hubbard's adherents sit in front of their e-meters, summon the thetan, the eternal spirit, and may they keep on auditing until the last orgasm has been brought to paper: The mask people prefer to do a masquerade. Suddenly the colossus has become very small. The organisation's adherents clearly feel annoyed by the protesters.

"Fair Game". That's a code word used by Hubbard, which was still in use very recently in training materials.

Tom Smith, ex-member, Clearwater:

When they have assigned the state of "fair game" to someone, that person is like an animal to them, which they have to get rid of or kill. He may be attacked and insulted. He is ostracized. Scientologists may consciously do damage to him without being punished for it by the church.

VO: What the outcome of a fair little "fair game" such as this may be, can be learned from the sad case of the man, who was the owner of this ancient limousine. In February 2008 he took his life by using a pipe directing car exhaust fumes into his living room. His name was Shawn Lonsdale, one of the most prominent Scientology critics in Clearwater. Important witness for a BBC TV documentary in 2007. During the interview a Scientology staff member appears and reads to the interviewer from a dossier. Lonsdale had once been dependent on drugs and had worked as a male prostitute. Lonsdale answered: "Did Scientology help me at that time?"

For some years the avid photographer and videographer had been a thorn in Scientology's flesh. Lonsdale himself documented, how they persecuted him. "Fair Game" around the city they placed small wanted posters informing about Lonsdale's past. Lonsdale never obscured his past, which he had left behind a long time ago. But now he didn't have any rights.

Tom Smith, ex-member, Clearwater:

They have humiliated him, they declared him to be an enemy, allegedly doing propaganda against them. They have encited other people to avoid him and to no longer speak to him.

VO: What did Lonsdale do? He filmed and distributed flyers. Scientology denounced him because of this, even to his employer.

Interviewer: Scientology did inform you about his past?

Jeffrey Taylor, former employer: Yes.

Interviewer: What do you think of this method?

Jeffrey Taylor, former employer: I don't think it's normal. I think Scientology was very worried that Shawn Lonsdale may damage their reputation. These people wanted me to let my employee down.

VO: Scientology denies any responsibility for the death of poor Shawn Lonsdale. There had been no contact recently they say. However, his friends say that he never recovered from the attacks by the Scientologists, from the public exposure of himself.

Scientology critics live dangerous at times. Years ago, Ursula Caberta experienced this as well. As she arrived at the Tampa airport, a horde of outraged Scientologists were at the gate already. She gave her talk anyway. Ursula Caberta, sect commissioner of the Hamburg senate with a focus on Scientology, is the german main subject of hate for the organisation. Some of her colleagues have given up a long time ago due to attrition.

Ursula Caberta, expert on Scientology at the Hamburg Senate: There have been many, many people, all of them have given up. That's because it is hard to tell all that happens to you. You see, it's not like there's someone with a gun in front of your door. But when you go home, people jump out from behind bushes and say "You are Caberta, right!" Such things. Or death threats on the phone, harassment and such things. Or, you're sitting in a restaurant, talking about something and the next day what you may just have said ends on the computer of the mayor of Hamburg. And it is intentional that you realize this is happening, you ought to understand, "we're watching you", that is the message.

VO: Hubbard wrote: "The criminal abhors daylight. And we are the daylight. ...

Every time we have investigated the background of a critic of Scientology, we have found crimes ... If you oppose Scientology we promptly look up—and will find and expose—your crimes."

So some prefer not to criticize.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: The main thing in Scientology is control. So, one might put it that way, control is the foundation on which the entire thing is built.

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Everyone controls everyone. The wife controls the husband, children control the parents, parents control the children. That's because life may only consist of what Hubbard wrote. Nothing else must be part of it.

Ursula Caberta, Scientology expert at the Hamburg Senate: They also report to each other who is complaining. So, the entire system is also designed to ensure complete control between each other, because if someone does not tell that someone complained, then that person has also become culpable in the Scientology system.

John Duignan, ex-member, author:I still get upset about it. It hurts me to think about this time. You're caught there. Your soul is being imprisoned there. I've been around the world for Scientology, but I was never free, because I was always and constantly bound to this organisation and had to report to it.

VO: Who is working at Scientology leads - according to ex-members - a life under constant pressure. There is fatsidious keeping of statistics, week after week, each thursday, there has to be a proof of performance. Above all it is necessary to get new members to join. Who doesn't fulfill the target statistic has to work longer.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: The system is really easy. You make people hungry and make sure that they stay focused on Scientology. The members have to convince other people to buy their way into Scientology. But in the back of their mind they constantly are afraid to have no time for their children, in case they won't be succesful. Or to get no payment, should their statistics, their numbers go down. I scrubbed lobby the whole night through, just because I had a bad statistic. I would have done anything to sell these auditing seminars.

VO: They work like busy ants. Ex-members call it pure exploitation. The working hours of more than 12 per day would regularly occur. Everyday life in the Berlin Scientology center as well as the recruitment strategies were recently investigated by undercover journalist Fredy Gareis in a daredevil research.

Fredy Gareis, Journalist: They are being told for example that, if they spend a lot of money, they can cure cancer, they will be able to cure their own cancer, they can prolong their life.

Interviewer: "if they spend money"- how is that? Do you mean if they donate a lot to the organisation?

Fredy Gareis, Journalist: No. If they move up the bridge to enlightenment. If they become clear, if they pass clear, then they can heal cancer. That is of course... you can't tell people such things. It won't be accurate at all, that you can then cure cancer. When people are being told such things and when this is also being used as a motivation for them to spend more and more money to move up the bridge, then I think that is very dangerous.

VO: A few days ago the son of Scientologist John Travolta died. He was - it is alleged by media around the world - mentally ill. But Scientology opposes any psychiatric treatment, psychiatric drugs even more. Has Jett possibly become a victim of Scientology? Scientology denies this, but there are many that think differently.

Tory Christman on YT: Here I am again. Somebody else has died inside Scientology.

NY Anon 2: Scientology commits grieveous bodily harm. They deny their members any medical treatment if they are mentally or neurologically ill. They oppose such treatment.

VO: Hamburg. Probably the most important place of activity for german Scientologists, second only to Berlin. Around 1000 members are being controlled from here. Around 80 staff members work here. Until the end of the 90s, Astrid von Rönn was one of them. She was sick and thought, she could be heal from her suffering with the help of Scientology, which offers its own purification program.

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Money wasn't that important for me back then. Well, I found it more interesting to just do this purfication program, given that I suffer from chronic snifles, I am allergic and I thought this would help me.

Interviewer: Did it help?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: No.

Interviewer: How did you explain this to yourself? I mean, you pay 5.000 Deutschmarks and then nothing comes out of it. You must have had some sort of explanation for this. Didn't you grow impatient?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: No, as there was the next solution for this.

Interviewer: Which one?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Auditing.

Interviewer: Would you please describe... well, you sat at the e-meter then. Would you please describe how that worked?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Well, you sit before the e-meter, you have these cans in your hands and you are being asked specific questions. If someone is ill, that person is a PTS person on principle, so there is a connection to a suppressive. This suppressive may exist in reality in this life or in a past life.

Interviewer: Aha. And did you find something then?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Yes, I found several things. That is to say, several suppressives.

VO: It was like a drug allege those that know the corporation from within. The longer you were there, the harder it became to manage to leave. Scientology made their members psychologically dependent.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: So it is enhanced relatively quickly. It starts with 20 euro and then all of a sudden you are at 1.500 euros [Interviewer: "1.500 euros!"] and then all of a sudden you are at 50.000 euros. This happens within a time of maybe 1 or 2 years.

Fredy Gareis, Journalist: The bridge to enlightenment has more steps than you would like. And each step brings you closer to the first boundary, Clear.

Interviewer: There are also costs involved.

Fredy Gareis, Journalist: Of course. Each step costs money, i.e. each step taken on the level costs money and this bridge to enlightenment is the only way to total freedom in this universe according to Hubbard.

Ursula Caberta, Scientology expert at the Hamburg Senate: It also depends a bit on who you are. So, if someone is considered to be a celebrity, someone in that scence, who is thus important, then that person becomes a Clear faster and with less expenses than the others. [Interviewer: "The rank and file members have to work longer?"] The rank and file members have to clown around longer. And then they may never become clear.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: Let's say you take a dog, and you put a small stick to his collar and at the end of that stick you put a sausage. For how long will that dog keep running? It's just the same with a Scientologist.

Thomas Gandow, protestant minister, sect commissioner: We've seen it time and again, that the Scientologists won't let go of people at all unless they have wasted all their money for the organisation or also all of their family's assets.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: They also don't shy away from reaching into other people's pockets, I'd put it this way: Any credit report from a bank is outright discreet compared to Scientology. They really screen you completely [Interviewer: "how does this manifest itself?"] They don't only ask how many credit cards you have, how many accounts you have, how much is on them, what is the financial situation in your family, are there any inheritances to be expected, is there a house which you may mortgage? Actually they - I know this from my own past as an example - it goes as far as accompanying the person to the bank. So, I've gone to the bank with some, to directly get the money from there after they have gotten it, so they don't get any stupid ideas, such as spending the money for something else on their way to Scientology, so that it adds directly to Scientology's cash.

VO: But who can afford the expensive courses at Scientology? Everyone - says Scientology. Our doors are open. Who has got no money for the Hubbard lessons, has to become a staff member and bind himself by a treaty for years to the organisation. Who leaves early has to pay for the courses afterwards. This actually has a detering effect.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: I had no money, I was just a young Irishman traveling about. So they suggested to me to become a staff member, so I would work for my auditing sessions.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: Those that have money are being fleeced and the others - those that have no money - may become staff members. The main reason why a person becomes a staff member: He gets the courses and the auditing in Scientology for free. And as I didn't have money back then, my path was thus predetermined: I became a staff member.

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Well, I had to earn money and so I worked at a scientologist business from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, before driving to the organisation and there I always worked until 11:30 pm.

Interviewer: So you worked from early in the morning to 11:30pm. Did Scientology at least pay you appropriately?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: No, of course not.

Interviewer: How much did you earn?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Well, I earned between 30 and 60 Deutschmarks a week.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: So you may understand, not only are you unable to pay a rent from 30 Euros a week, you can't even pay the cigarettes that you might need. This means that most need a second job.

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: You get up in the morning, see to it that you get to work, earn a little money, so it's part time, then you drive to the org and work for your statistics and see to it that you reach the goal, the goal of the week, the month and the total goal, just to clear the planet.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: You work in such a focused manner, that everything else became unimportant to me, even my friends and my partner in life.

Interviewer: There was only Scientology?

John Duignan, ex-member, author: Right. Within a few weeks time, in only two months, I was only surrounded by Scientology and Scientologists. Scientology around the clock. That was my life.

VO: Who wants to break free may even have to face -under certain circumstances- a camp. A stay at the "Rehabilitation Project Force", in short RPF. Especially the 5.000 members of the elite unit Sea Org are made to tow the line here. There's a lot of speculation about these camps, whose existence is not being denied by the organisation. Here are the dark facts:

Interviewer: What do you know about these penal camps?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member:Well, I took part in one myself, however this was in Copenhagen. It is very strictly organized, e.g. you are not allowed to talk to anyone who is not inside this penal camp and you may only move through the organisation or Copenhagen running, you have to do hard manual labor, which really exhausts you.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: You got no choice. They tell you "You're a dog, you're a pig". They destroy any form of self-respect until you finally feel like a dog or a pig. Then you won't refuse to go to the camp.

Interviewer: So, how much time do you spend there?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Well, I was there for 14 days, in the more severe camp, which is in the USA, there you are 2-3 years.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: Well, I have met two "graduates" -quote unquote- of these camps, in England. And what struck me -back then I was still a Scientologist- these are extremely empty people, de-individuized. There is nothing to be seen of any personality, they are, if one wants to put it that way, robots. And you may get an idea how this comes about when you consider: They have something between 10 to 15 hours of labor each day, then they also have to study Hubbard's writings and in the small time that remains, they are allowed to sleep. The food is more or less waste.

Interviewer: Why does one go through this?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: That's this inner-scientologic pressure. You don't want to loose that bridge to freedom. You know, you feel that if you loose that bridge you will drop dead. And you are afraid of this.

VO: In autumn of 2007 the ministers of interior of the states decided to enhance the observation of the cult and to be more targeted in it with the intent of introducing in the following year investigative proceedings for a ban of Scientology. The association was despising humans and not compatible with our constitution, they said.

Günter Beckstein, former bavarian interior minister: It is completely clear that Scientology is a system, which is not grounded in our constitution, but an organisation, which has an anti-constitutional stance.

VO: Feverish investigations began in all the states. Do 6.000 to 8.000 Scientologists actually pose a threat to our lawful state? We investigate. What were the results of the investigations by the Offices for the Protection of the Constitution?

Beate Bube, President of OPC Baden-Württemberg: There is no need to actually fear a threat or a danger to our society through a really large or really substantial re-organisation of our society according to scientologic rules, however, I'm of the opinion that a continuation of the observation by the OPC is appropriate.

VO: So the proceedings against Scientology were toned down on the last annual conference of the interior ministers due to necessity. There was no majority for a request for a ban. Only Bavaria and Hamburg still hope for it. But the OPC is still watching Hubbartd's adherents.

Ehrhart Körting, Senator of the Interior, Berlin: The OPC has found material from Scientology's history, from their publications, which show us, what type of organisation we have here. That does not change, but the OPC didn't find such grieveous criminal or other offences, that we would say, you can only answer those with a ban. We think it's better to fight such an organisation in an aggressive public way.

VO: Education - that's the interior ministers' approach - is more important than a ban. It's important to make the discrepancy visible, existing between the world of scientologic advertisment films and the everyday life within the organisation, to do it in schools, in companies and last but not least in the media. There's something to be learned from the experiences of the ex-members.

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: For me, it has simply been a painful experience, which I don't want to go through again, which I don't wish even for my worst enemy to experience. And I'm just happy, that I've managed to get out of there and that I can live my life now.

Interviewer: So, you are not clear or clean?

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Exactly.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: I've decided to go to university, even though I'm that old. I had to learn to think normal again. I didn't even know what "normal" was. And now I have the possibility to regain a peace of normality with the help of wonderful professors.

Astrid von Rönn, ex-member: Well, bans only make people curious. I think it's way more important to make politicians cognizant of Scientology's existence, of Scientologists' goals, how they approach people.

Thomas Gandow, protestant minister, sect commissioner: Scientology is an association. This association ought to be banned according to the constitution, because it is directed against the criminal law. This can be demonstrated when it comes to the topic of practising usury, they exploit their employees, they practise usury with their courses, they violate the laws for practising madicine and there are some other paragraphs concerning fraud that could be mentioned.

Wilfried Handl, Ex-Director, Scientology Austria: Why is there a state when anyone can do anything? And the main problem is that most people don't know what Scientology is about, so you have to act with care when dealing with it. And I wouldn't ban Scientology outright either. I would go and simply take a look at the specific techniques or the specific courses that they offer and then I would ban these.

John Duignan, ex-member, author: I'm still angry and I will also never forgive Scientology what they have done to me. But, as it's usual in liberal Europe, they ought to have the right to meet and to organise themselves as a group. However, this does not mean that they may deceive people.

VO: In the opinion of many experts - from theologians above all - the "church" label with which the scientologist association decorates itself so gladly is completely misleading. Nobody will be able to prevent a citizen of age to step inside this organization and to give it a lot of money. It is just that this very terrestrial enterprise has little to do with spirituality, with the questions about things beyond the Here and Now.

The protestant minister Thomas Gandow, a long-time critic and therefore attacked by the organization also at a personal level, feels lampooned as a Christian when an association such as Scientology labels itself "church".

Thomas Gandow, evangelist minister, sect commissioner: Scientology uses the word "church" to deceive people. Because people then think, OK, that must be something religious. That is however not only as it were a trademark abuse, as if someone describes a brown drink "Coca Cola", but it concerns a faith issue here. Church is not simply only our company name, but that is a part of our belief system. We believe in the holy general Christian church. And if someone uses the term of the church for extortion, interrogation, suppression of people, totalitarian penetration to develop, that is an abuse and brings dishonor on the word "church".

Günther Beckstein, former Minister of the Interior in Bavaria: For me - to be completely clear - scientology is not a religious community, but an financial group, which wants to get the people into its power and then systematically exploit them, a most undemocratic association, but no church.

Wilfried Handl, ex-director, Scientology Austria: Well, if Scientology is a church, then the mafia is also a church.

Interviewer: Why?

Wilfried Handl, ex-director, Scientology Austria: It gives people a meaning in their life - thus if one is with the mafia, one can become drugs dealer or courier, or take care of money laundering; it gives real advancement opportunities; scientology is similar to that.

VO: Pictures of yesterday evening. German premiere of Operation Valkyrie in Berlin. Tom Cruise, playing Stauffenberg and top scientologist, attends the party. Not far from it, uninvited masked people are gathering. The Anonymous movement has reached Germany. The fun partisans are here. They perhaps found the best prescription for handling Scientology: Education and cheerful laughter.  

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Un must: "Ron Hubbard, le gourou démasqué"

Ce livre de Russell Miller révèle la face cachée de la scientologie. On y découvre un Ron Hubbard, malade, mythomane et poursuivi par la justice. Il est disponible en format pdf ou html sur notre site. Nous avons également publié une version résumée.

• Ron Hubbard, un escroc démasqué - version courte (format html)
"Hubbard, le Messie de la scientologie" de Russell Miller - version longue (format html)
"Le Gourou Démasqué" de Russell Miller ( format pdf - 550K)
"The Bare-Faced Messiah" by Russell Miller /version originale (format pdf) English