Scientology van spotted in Munich

It seems that the Scientologists are in town to attack Psychiatry with a travelling exhibition called "Psychiatrie - Tod Statt Hilfe". I was on my way home yesterday when I came across this van parked outside Bei Mario restaurant on Adalbertstr. It was hard to ignore its B-movie horror imagery complete with lightning effects. I took a couple of photos for future reference. Watch out for these guys - they won't mention that they are Scientologists, but that they are members of "The Citizens Commission on Human Rights". Here is some info from Wikipedia.

What nutters

I think I saw that, but my German is pretty useless so I assumed they were advertising some sort of kink show.

I guess it turns out I was right.

Are they saying that Psychiatry kills ?

"Death instead of Help" is what it says. So it suggests that psychiatry kills, yes.

So Scientologists are against mental health care professionals, could be they fear a reduction in the pool of potential recruits.

They are sneaking around a lot in this neighborhood (Uni viertal) lately. Has anyone tried garlic or crosses yet?

The exhibition if anybody is interested in on Schwanthaler Str. They've hired one of the big shops, and have posters all over. some of the diciples hang around outside informing passers by that it is free to enter. Easily spotted it a mile away. Had a look in the window but there is no refs to S-logy whatsoever. I'll possibly go in tomorrow for a laugh...

Psychiatry: an industry of death.



Eggs are a pretty good way of enturbulating nutters.

How does anyone know that they are Scientologists and not some new nutty cult?

Read this. And this. More.

I see! That 2nd link is funny.

This one not so funny.
Or is it.

i saw a group of scientologists with their dianetics stall just off marienplatz last week. first time ive ever seen them out trying to recruit. dont see that back in the uk.

Yes you do I've seen them there before

Well I'm happy sci-fi tology aint here for the money, thats ranks em right up there with the IRA and Al-Qaida in there religious quests in my book.

Such humble servants like Tom Cruise (sci-fi tologys Dalia lama)

He is the IAS Freedom Medal of Honor winner(I think you get them at your local fair when u hit 3 balloons in a row) and one of the shortest guys around(napoleon syndrome)

"As a Scientologist you drive by an accident and know your the ONLY one that can help" OOOKKKAAYY?

"If your on board, your on board" You got that right

"You better know it, better know it and if you dont...you know...go and learn it" AAAHHHHHH.

I'm sorry I couldn't listen any more it's like a football player being interviewed after being hit by a truck.

Last time I looked Scientology had a fullblown information operation going on Fendstr in Schwabing. they have the whole main floor of what used to be the Hotel Schwabing before it moved further up Leopoldstr. I don't know whether it"s a church or a chapel or retreat or whatever. They do hand out a lot of pamphlets and I suppose more advice that anyone could ever want. Isn't Scientology considered a cult and not a religion by the German government?

Xenu is gonna punish you heathens.

Don't you mean "Xenu is gonna punish you thetans."
Had a walk over and I have to say that even though the Scientologists may have bucket loads of cash, their window dressing skills just aren't up to scratch. Their oversized banner was more tacky than creepy and not exactly eye catching. On closer inspection the windows just displays heaps of books and DVD's about how Psychiatric care is the worlds greatest evil. I must have been at the window five seconds when one of the converted started to approach with a fistful of flyers - so I wandered off.

As soon as I spotted the Scientologist(pictured - blue coat) who tried to approach me talking to some passer-by I ventured in.

Anyone know the exact address on Schwanthalerstr?

I want to check out what kind of propaganda these undercover agents are soliciting

The exhibition consists of a series of film presentations displayed on widescreen TVs each flanked by imagery and text. The exhibition is exactly what is on display in L.A. albeit translated into German. At the first TV I sat on the provided chairs where a woman was already sitting watching the TV. After a minute of this documentary, about how psychiatry is just a scam to steal your money(scientologists are immune to irony don't you know), the woman passed a comment to me how correct the message was. I went to the next TV - about the supposed origins of psychiatry and so did the woman who passed a couple more comments about how disgraceful psychiatry is... mmm.

And so it continued, me shadowed by the plant, it was uncomfortable to say the least. After three or four films I had had enough, managed to take one photo, and left - no easy task I might add as two more Scientologists, one casual one in a suit, stood in the doorway asking me what I thought about the exhibition. I said thanks and left.
Be careful if you go down to this thing, these guys are pros. My advice would be to bring a friend.
Anyone know if they are breaking any laws displaying the swastika and claiming that psychiatry was the cause of the Holocaust? Here's a picture.

I think you are going too far and not acting better than them.
What is your point?

If they have nothing to hide then why all the secrecy?

How am I "going too far" Sinderbox?
What's my point? To start with I don't like dangerous cults, especially dangerous cults that use the Holocaust as a prop in their attempt to make money.

What exactly is the IRA's religious quest?
You're in Hamburg, aren't you?

I am not defending them, just questioning Jamie's attitude.

You made your point in your first post.
What is your point now?
What if they have a pic of Hitler with a Swastika?
You seem to be persecuting them, not just criticizing.

Then maybe they can be closed down if it is illegal to show the swastika in this way, thus saving the world! (well, making it harder for them, anyway).

How have I persecuted them?

Your swastika comment looks like a simple excuse to hunt them down.

I see no evidence of enturbulation here. Curiosity, yes.

This is where I actually have a wee problem. They should be able to show the swastika , I really don't believe in that form of censorship. However they have to be open about what they are, which they will not be.

Hunt them down. You must be shitting me - I asked was it illegal to do what they were doing concerning the use of Nazi symbols in Germany.

Why do you care about its legality?

As far as I know if you walk down the street with a big fat swastika on your t-shirt then the cops in this country will have a problem with it.

You did not answer my question though...

Sinderbox, you are making an issue out of nothing.

jamie quite rightly questioned the legality of them using a swastika, that's all.

However, as a trained psychologist they ARE persecuting me so maybe I'll just give the Polizei a little tinkle

I care if people instrumentalize the symbols of the NS regime and the victims of that regime for monetary purposes. I am not engaging in a discussion about the rights and wrongs of German laws concerning Nazi symbols, I simply asked if what the Scientologists were doing was legal or not. I got fined €5 for crossing the street at a red light yesterday(seriously), there are laws in this country I don't agree with but I didn't feel persecuted. If the Scientologists are breaking German law do you think that is okay or what? Am I persecuting them by simply asking if their activities and practices are legal?

The Swastika comment made no sense at all, unless she was looking for active actions against them which, in my view, was going too far.

I side with The American Psychiatric Association "We have not responded in any way, shape or form. There has not been a hue and cry from members to respond. And anyway, the publication speaks for itself".

The psychologists will also understand they psychological techniques being used within Scientology and understand that attacking ain't going to solve anything.

You left the main issue and looked for a loophole against them. Criticize their views and leave unrelated German laws for the German institutions.

what is the legal tatus of Scientology itself here in germany? i was under the impression it was an illegal organisation here?

They are the CCHR. Maybe that's why they have created a second organization

surely it is obvious that CCHR is just a scientology front?

Obvious does not make it illegal per se.

I don't agree with their ridiculous and dangerous views, I find it repulsive that they attempt to trick people in need of psychiatric care into following their doctrine.
They are the ones instrumentalizing the Holocaust and NS symbols for severe agendas. It is related as they made it so, not me, I merely drew attention to it and asked was it legal in this country.

on a tangent from the legality issues, I have to give them credit where credit's due: when the church of scientology was founded in the 50s (and right up through the 60s and 70s), there was some messed up stuff going on in psychiatry and psychology, and some really messed up treatments. How may people do you know who were seriously messed up because of electric shock treatment? I know three people who recieved it: one was cured, the other two were messed up beyond recognition. Then there's the lobotomy thing... taking out part of someone's brain? not such a good idea.
by psychiatry and psychology have both changed dramatically in the years since, and I think that anyone who honestly believes that they cause more harm then good is deluding him/herself.
Moderation in all things, including religion. fanaticism isn't healthy, and I don't think it's possible to belong to the Church of Scientology without being fanatic. they had a point at the beginning, but times have changed and so have clinical techniques, so maybe the CofS should get off their asses and realise that?

@garibaldi sorry just cant stop adding the Irish everywhere

but there was/is quite a religious spin on the issue (god knows why )

Are you in Munich?

The exit lights were not properly marked.
Call the cops to close the event (because I don't agree with their ridiculous and dangerous views).
But that is still not the proper way to do it.

Did I miss something?
EDIT: Feck this, I'm off to the beergarden.