Religions Should Be Appreciated, Not Taunted

Your article contains aspersions and bigotry toward bona fide, recognized and accepted religions—such as the Church of Latter-day Saints, the Church of Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science.

January 16, 2018

Jess Bolluyt
Cheatsheet.com

Dear Jess,

I read your “Most Powerful Cults” article and having done so recommend you return to Gear & Style as a writer. Your article contains aspersions and bigotry toward bona fide, recognized and accepted religions—such as the Church of Latter-day Saints, the Church of Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science.

It may seem like a joke—to belittle another’s faith—but really all it reveals is the shortcomings of cynical intolerance with its resultant discrimination.

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2013 found Scientology to be a religion, as did the Australian High Court in 1983, as did a trial court in Belgium in 2016, as did the European Court of Human Rights (twice), and the National Court of Spain, the Italian Supreme Court, the Internal Revenue Service of the United States, numerous courts in Germany and governments of many other countries. Each is composed of people tasked with evaluating information about Scientology and who returned with unequivocal findings that Scientology is a religion.

Similarly, religious scholars all over the world have reached the same conclusion after extensive research. And what research have you done?

It appears that some members of the media remain behind the times, unable to absorb factual information. Maybe one day that will all change.

Find out about Scientology. Go to scientology.org and scientologyreligion.org and get the real story. Then you won’t need to “cheat.”

Sincerely,

Judy S.
Los Angeles, Calif

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