Friday, July 20, 2007
The Germans object to an oppressive religion
The German chattering classes are upset about the religious beliefs of a famous actor:
German officials have baulked at the choice of Cruise to play Count Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, who was executed by firing squad in 1944 after the failed assassination attempt.
They cite the actor's ties to the Church of Scientology, which is viewed here as a "totalitarian" group that exploits vulnerable people, as making him unfit to play a German martyr.
My questions for these Germans: Are there any other activities from which we should bar people who have religious beliefs that "exploit vulnerable people"? You know, religions that believe that the state should be a tool for the enforcement of religious law, and which deplore the very idea that the governed should give their consent to be governed?
9 Comments:
By 
Purple Avenger, at
Fri Jul 20, 10:44:00 AM:
Approx 3,000,000 Muslims in Germany these days. Probably not as many Scientologists...
...so the Scientologists are easier to persecute.
Next up: pogroms against Scientologist "cells", while jihadi vest bombers are going off at the local malls like firecrackers.
By 
, at
Fri Jul 20, 12:55:00 PM:
Calling Scientology a religion, or the Church of Scientology a religious organization, is a pretty charitable definition in my view. It's an organized crime ring, more or less.
How do you know that the Germans wouldn't likewise object to a militant Muslim playing the role of Stauffenberg?
By , at
Fri Jul 20, 01:03:00 PM:
von Stauffenberg is, not quite revered, but certainly regarded by the Germans. I agree with Phrizz11, calling the secretive, manipulative "Church" of Scientology a religion is charitable. Under most definititions it would be considered more like a cult.
By Dawnfire82, at
Fri Jul 20, 02:19:00 PM:
That's actually how it's defined under German law. The German religious tax that everyone pays cannot go to the Church of Scientology.
By Christopher Chambers, at
Fri Jul 20, 02:51:00 PM:
Are you talking about the theocracy that is the GOP and Bush Administration? oops, I'm sorry...you're digging at ANOTHER such regime. My bad. I blame myself. leave the fricking Germans alone this time...
By Escort81, at
Fri Jul 20, 05:32:00 PM:
von Stauffenberg is highly regarded by the Germans and Austrians for his participation in the July 20, 1944 Plot against Hitler. The Austrian-born founder of Taos Ski Valley, Ernie Blake, named a ski run after him (off of West Basin Ridge) -- Stauffenberg (black/expert) and Lower Stauffenberg (blue intermediate). Maybe if CC takes out a Top 5 fascist dictator, or dies trying, we can get a run named after him.
Some members of the Schulenburg family (one of the co-conspirators was Friedrich-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg) made it to the U.S. and reside here.
By , at
Fri Jul 20, 09:28:00 PM:
I've listened to this "Bush theocracy" and the "fundamentalists are in control of the White House" crapola for 7 years. Cripes, I'm tired of hearing it; it's NOT some sort of sophisticated synopsis on the Bush presidency. Do you get that, Christopher Chambers? It's nothing more than a load of self-pious holier-than-thou superior CRAP. Only some kind of screwball would believe it!
My last visit to a church, by the way, was a good 3 years ago; before that, oh, 1981 maybe. So don't pull that "you're just another Christian" moral superiority B.S. on me.
And by the way, no, I didn't vote for George W. Bush... although I DID vote for Stephen Harper. If ya know what I mean.
By , at
Sat Jul 21, 01:08:00 AM:
SCIENTOLOGY is afreaky new age stuff just right for a bunch of new age hollywood celeberties so far out of freaks town they are just plain lost
By Assistant Village Idiot, at
Sat Jul 21, 04:36:00 PM:
The Germans clearly believe that the general population might be too easily deceived and led astray if the national government did not step in to protect them. Maybe they know themselves better than we give them credit for.
