After Hilter's little wrote on Feb 13, 2008 7:53 AM:stunt, the last thing the German people need now is another pack of lies.

Vista Resident wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:32 AM:I read today that the Prince of Wales feels that he should be the "defender of faiths". "The Queen emphasised that it was easy to focus on the differences between religions rather than what they have in common. " -- TimesOnline

Also, today "An assembly representing Conservative rabbis worldwide expressed dismay on Tuesday over a revised Roman Catholic prayer calling for the conversion of Jews..." --Reuter's Canada

During the holocaust, some major religions in Germany stood by and did nothing while the Jews were persecuted. There is even evidence that in some instances there was collusion with the Nazis in persecution of Jews.

I find it inspiring when citizens are willing to stand up for the other guy's right to religious freedom. It's easy to stand up for your own right to religious freedom. But, it takes moral courage to stand up for somebody else's freedom of religion and civil liberties.

There was discussion above of how Scientologists count their members. I know of one major religion where they count you as a member forever -- even if you switch to another church. When Jesus encountered a mob about to stone a woman taken in adultery, he told the group that he who was without sin should cast the first stone.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

-- Pastor Martin Niemöller

Vista Resident wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:35 AM:I read yesterday that the Prince of Wales feels that he should be the "defender of faiths". "The Queen emphasised that it was easy to focus on the differences between religions rather than what they have in common. " -- TimesOnline

Also, yesterday "An assembly representing Conservative rabbis worldwide expressed dismay on Tuesday over a revised Roman Catholic prayer calling for the conversion of Jews..." --Reuter's Canada

During the holocaust, some major religions in Germany stood by and did nothing while the Jews were persecuted. There is even evidence that in some instances there was collusion with the Nazis in persecution of Jews.

I find it inspiring when citizens are willing to stand up for the other guy's right to religious freedom. It's easy to stand up for your own right to religious freedom. But, it takes moral courage to stand up for somebody else's freedom of religion and civil liberties.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

-- Pastor Martin Niemöller

bob wrote on Feb 14, 2008 4:49 PM:
To people who are not Scientologists, those Holacaust comparison are pretty sick, especially if you've lost family in concentration camps like I have. I think Germany did a great job here, don't ban a money-making organization disguised as a religion, just maintain surveillance on it and publish the information. Scientology tries to keep everything embarrasing about itself secret in this country, by fair means or foul. I also feel appalled as American that our State Department wants to shove this pyramid scheme down Germany's throat.

Vista Resident wrote on Feb 14, 2008 10:53 PM:You deny religious freedom to another religion? Why? Because it's OK if it's them and not me. This is exactly how the holocaust happened in the first place. Today Germany is watching over the Scientologists. Tomorrow maybe that escalates into Scientology banned in Germany.

Would you want Germany watching over your religion today? I wouldn't like it if they were doing that to my church. During the holocaust, didn't Germany start out with little steps of discrimination and then it escalated into full blown persecution as time went on? Aren't the skinheads active in Germany today and persecuting the same groups that were persecuted during the holocaust? Germany isn't exactly a role model of religious freedom.

If you want personal and religious freedom for yourself, the best way to get it is by fighting for that right for everyone. And, by hiring those of other faiths -- not just hiring one's own -- and by treating everyone in a respectful manner. In every country in which this is not done, trouble and sometimes violence follows. A perfect example is Ireland. One group there feels that it is getting discriminated against in hiring. They feel like they don't get the same status as the other group. So, guess what... they're fighting over it ... Protestants and Catholics... followers of Jesus that you would think have so much in common that they could never fight.

I remember in a round table discussion, a black person talked about how hard the discrimination was that he and the black community had endured. A representative of one faith on the round table encouraged blacks to hire and do business only amongst themselves -- and that would "pull yourselves up by the bootstraps". At the time I thought.... Oh no... don't follow that advice. When you practice discrimination in hiring or in buying or in who you do business with.... you end up reaping discrimination. What goes around comes around.

Oprah is the perfect example of why including everyone is a recipe for success. She includes white people on her staff. She treats audience members of all races with respect. She has guests of all nationalities on her show. So, when she showcases black talent, everyone can totally get behind it because nobody feels excluded.