The Church of Scientology Collapse
Religion is a field comprised of different beliefs, perceptions, among many other things. One of the controversial debates that have happened in the world includes the Scientology discussion. Scientology refers to the set of religious beliefs as well as practices that were initialed started by Author Ron Hubbard. The core beliefs of this religious movement were based on religious perceptions that a human being is immortal as well as a spiritual being that lives in the physical body. Hence, the church of Scientology was based on such beliefs. It involved a group of networked corporate entities as well as corporate organizations that were meant to advocate and push for Scientology. Historically, it has been described as a cult or a religious movement whose intentions were unknown.
With time, the church of Scientology started to drawn criticism and conflicting confrontations in society. Many people and organizations began to scrutinize the Church of Scientology. In many cases and as a result of the various controversial situations that have been associated with the church of Scientology, many governments, international organizations, judicial systems have described the church as a religious cult or a manipulative profit-making movement.
In the year 1977, the FBI raided the church of Scientology headquarters churches both in Los Angeles and Washington DC. From their investigation, the church was found with stolen government documents, which raised questions on the intention of the movement. From the investigation and FBI findings, it was suspected to be a plot of the church to take over the Clearwater city (McManus, 2019). The movement was planning such a coup by installing spies in various government offices such as attorneys of the state. Some of the other intentions that were found included the plan to smear critics as well as spreading misinformation. Two years later, the commission of the city requested the congress to scrutinize what were the intentions of this movement as well as its impacts on Clearwater after the FBI investigations.
There were other controversies that made the government start being keen on this movement. In the same year of 1979, the church of Scientologist top officials was convicted of participating and facilitating the operation snow white (McManus, 2019). It led to the imprisonment of approximately 11 church members. As time went by, the controversies increased. However, their secret plans of installing spies in government offices are what led to protests and requests from the various stakeholders for the government to take political action against the self-proclaimed religious movement. The following years included cases against the church on various political crimes and thefts, such as the soliciting of money from the public through indirect means.
In Germany, there were similar revolts that pushed for the removal of the church of Scientology in the country. The church was blamed due to its acts of brainwashing the public. Germany was the first one to act before the USA. The movement was burnt and considered unconstitutional, as well as a threat to the democracy of the country (kirchick, 2019). Since its formation, the church was faced with serious controversies and accusations, which in many cases, when investigations were done, they were found to be true. This led them to face the wrath of the various governments, not only the united states governments. Don Jason is an example of a former follower of the church who finds it difficult to cope with the movements’ activities (Jason, 2013). There were still other church activities that raised many questions.