alt.religion.scientology
alt.religion.scientology
>From miscaviage@flag.sea.org
Wed Jul 17 12:46:28 1991
>Path: rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!
>snorkelwacker.mit.edu!ai-lab!flag!miscaviage
>From: miscaviage@flag.sea.org (David
Miscaviage)
>Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology.ctl
>Subject: newgroup alt.religion.scientology
>Message-ID: <80235@flag>
>Date: 17 Jul 91 08:06:31 GMT
>Control: newgroup alt.religion.scientology
>Sender: news@ai.mit.edu
>Lines: 0
>Approved: miscaviage@flag.sea.org
alt.religion.scientology was created on July 17, 1991, by Scott Goehring, who says he started the newsgroup half as a joke and half "because I felt Usenet needed a place to disseminate the truth about this half-assed religion." He forged the signature miscaviage@flag.sea.org onto the message used to create the group - a misspelling for church leader David Miscavige ('flag' and 'sea' refer to Scientology branches, known as Orgs).
To this day, a.r.s. is mainly populated by Scientology critics. There are
rarely any Scientologists who post there. At most there are about two or three at any one
time. This is generally true of many alt.religion newsgroups. Today it seems such groups
are used by the anti-religious rather than the religious. A obvious sign, one
would think, that the Internet has become haven to the intolerant and the hateful.
alt.religion.scientology is often accused, by
many Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike, of being a forum of hatred and online
bigotry. Critics have frequently denied this, many stating that no religion is above
criticism. True enough, one might say, if that indeed is the intent. But a closer look at
the postings made to the newsgroup shows a very different story.
Welcome
to alt.religion.scientology
An excellent website detailing the online bigotry present on alt.religion.scientology and
certain critical websites.
alt.religion.scientology: a forum of hatred
Some notable statements from Scientology critics with some comparisons to other notorious
forms of hatred and bigotry.
WARNING: Contains extreme language
Religious Freedom Watch
A site promoting tolerance and defending religious rights on the Internet. Profiles many
notable Internet anti-cultists, some of which whom are well-known on
alt.religion.scientology.
Freddie Does A.R.S.
An interesting collection of pieces, written by a Scientologist,
about some of the Scientology criticism that comes up on the newsgroup
alt.religion.scientology.
Scientology: Control, Freedom &
Responsibility
An outstanding essay written by Mark Perrin, a Scientologist, analysing, in detail, the
critical debate on Scientology.
Operation
Critic-Bake
An in-depth analysis of the largest anti-Scientology website: Operation Clambake.
Bigotwatch
Fascinating site detailing acts of hate and intolerance made by a number of Scientology
critics (who also post to a.r.s.) against Scientologists and their Church.
Some Facts about the 'Free Zone'
An in-depth look at the founder of, and the claims made by, the FreeZone - a Scientology
splinter group that is critical of the Church of Scientology.
Racists, Bigots and the Law on the Internet