Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
It is amazing... you've certainly heard about Scientology.
But the mental picture of what is behind this organisation is vague at best.
Just that is obviously the concept.
Critics speak of an aggressive psycho cult...
...that is anti-democratic and totalitarian...
...and - one hardly dares to utter - that strives for world domination.
For years already it's been monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in several federal states...
...and if Scientologists are seeking potential adherents it often happens on the street, as today in Cottbus.
Promises of happyness in the shopping mile.
Scientology touts for new members and staff...
...but the Cottbus citizens are skeptical at least.
I don't dig cults...
This on the one hand, on the other hand the fear that you can't get out once you're in.
I'll read it and then...
... let's see.
I'm shocked about this troop that wants to wind people up.
To warn against Scientology.
To this end, critics of the organisation are in Cottbus since yesterday as well.
They want to educate social workers, public order office and other authorities of the city.
Scientology claims to improve the communication skills of the individual.
But actually Scientology wants to enact bans on communications.
They want to abolish the freedom of opinion.
And that's what people are recruited for.
I consider this a threat to our civil society.
Scientology disputes these allegations.
So far the organisation is rather present in major cities like Berlin.
There however they face regular protests.
This could be one reason for why Brandenburg is increasingly in the spotlight.
The more difficult it is for Scientology in Berlin, the more important it is...
...to recruit "raw meat", as they say, in the hinterland.
To thwart this, one of the most well known defectors is here.
Gerry Armstrong was high-ranking member into the eighties. He is being considered a major enemy to this day.
There's no limit to what Scientology will do to people like me if they think they'll get away with it.
I was attacked on numerous occasions, my reputation ruined.
And I'm being pursued, even here in Germany.
Scientology says, they don't want to yield the floor to the critics in southern Brandenburg.
We're standing here because the subject was in the press.
We were here in May already with an information booth.
And then the protestant pastor Polster felt obliged to...
...let's say attack Scientology as a religious community.
But the attempts at persuasion are not very successful with Cottbus citizens, today.
You have to look for yourself and try.
Well, but it's dangerous there, to try something out.
To date, Scientology has about 40 members in Brandenburg according to its own informations.
This will not have changed by much, today.