Religious Freedom
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."(click here to download a pdf of the full declaration)
We firmly belief that Scientology is a “religion or belief” in the sense of this human right or in the sense of the many clauses in constitutions of many nations of the world which protect the freedom of belief.
As we have explained in the article “Scientology and Religion” this is not just a minority view but can stand a scientific test.
What does it mean in practice? Obviously it means that a state cannot forbid a Scientologist to audit another, to study LRH’s works, to meet and form communities or groups with fellow Scientologists etc.
However we are not only concerned about the possibility that a state interferes in these basic rights of Scientologists. Currently it is much more of a threat to our religious freedom that the Church of Scientology, the Religious Technology Center or other affiliated organizations:
- Alter the scriptures of the Founder and mispresent the altered versions as originals, thus leading those falling for it to believe they study Scientology when in fact they don’t;
- Try to remove original materials from circulation and destroy them, thus making it impossible for many to study Scientology in the form written down by the Founder;
- Oppress their members so they have to conform to the many ways and means to reduce their affinity for, reality about and communication with fellow Scientologists;
- Deny to independent Scientologists the access to the Founder's books, bulletins, policy letters, tape lectures etc. and stop them by all means from owning and applying those religious works;
- Try to attack and wipe out Scientologists who practice their religion outside the reach of these organizations or even form their own organizations – by all possible means, including legal attacks, slander and defaming them towards their friends or even their family.
We do not only want to encourage every Scientologist to resist these attempts to drive him or her away from his religion but want to help actively by doing our share of establishing affinity, reality and communication (and yes, also knowledge, responsibility and control!) amongst Scientologists and between Scientologists and the materials of Scientology.
We think that the above quoted human right must also help us Free Scientologists to protect ourselves from any attacks the Church of Scientology levels on us as individuals and groups. We also think that this must find the agreement of the current management of the Church of Scientology because they themselves pound the drum of Religious Freedom very much… we are sure that the logic of the conclusion that you have to grant to others the exact same human rights which you claim for yourselves is insurmountable.
If this logic does not make those in power in the Church of Scientology realize that what we do is exactly in accordance with their own creed – quote, "We of the Church believe... That all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance" – we are sure that we and all independent Scientologists can avail ourselves of the protection of the states we live in with regards to our right of religious freedom.
