Scientology Lies

Feedback - NOVEMBER 7th, 2005
Scientology extortion should not be on campus
Letter to the Editor
ROSS STEIN - UB student

The Spectrum's article on the Church of Scientology ("Scientology center to open on campus," Nov. 2) in Wednesday's issue missed some important facts.

The Church of Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard, who was previously a science fiction writer. One of the hidden beliefs of Scientology is that suffering exists on Earth because an alien warlord named Xenu brought millions of beings to earth and slaughtered them.

The souls of these beings now haunt mankind, causing sickness, depression and insanity. The teachings of Scientology are supposed to be able to remove these ghosts. This is not revealed to members until they reach a high enough level, probably because no one would believe it without previous indoctrination.

While the respected religions of the world give their knowledge freely, the Church of Scientology requires its members to pay for courses. Prices range upwards from $1,000 for lower-level courses, and it is estimated that the entire track of courses can cost over $300,000. Members of the Church are encouraged to take out loans or even sell their homes if they are not able to afford these courses.

The Church directly harasses, attacks, and even uses physical violence against critics. They attempt to prosecute any leaks of information through spurious copyright and media protection lawsuits.

Members are encouraged to eliminate all contact with friends or family members who criticize Scientology. The Church has been implicated directly in the deaths of at least 3 people, particularly that of Lisa McPherson, who died after being held for 17 days by Scientologists in Clearwater, Fla.

The sleek, clean profile that the Church of Scientology gets from its celebrity members is not its true face. The title of a Time Magazine article in 1991 on the Church was "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power." This does not describe a group we want to welcome onto our campus.