Scientology is a Cult

The City of London ought to be re-branded the City of Scientology. Or so its recent decision to have it's law enforcement officials arrest a fifteen year old kid for calling Scientology a cult. The next thing you know, it will be promoting Shariah, (Islamic law), as the best way to discipline local Muslims, even if they're not religious, and prefer to live under British civil law.

London's absurd decision comes at a very difficult time in British political life in manners concerning faith. Subject to ten years of Evangelical hectoring by Tony Blair, who wanted to destroy the UK's secular consensus and bring God back to public life, and an Islamic revival amongst Britons of south Asian and Middle Eastern decent, London has decided to promote its own third way and promote Scientology as though it were a religion.

If there was ever a sign of Britain's illiteracy when it comes to religion, it is the decision to punish a teenager for having the temerity to take on a Hollywood pyramid scheme like Scientology. The fifty-six year old cult is exactly that, and it shows no sign of crossing the bridge and becoming a religion either. Besides, what's the point in being recognized as a religion, anyway? That it might sound less pejorative than being called a cult? The difference between a religion and a cult is that a cult is another way of explaining why religion is bad

An ironic situation, isn't it? The fact that London's city government is even wading into this discussion is itself problematic, and ought to be condemned. The civil servant that's behind this useless and stupid affair ought to be removed from his position, and sent back to university, where they can be reminded, once again, of why its of the utmost necessity to emphasize democracy over all forms of religion - including American cults like Scientology. Anything less than this will be a betrayal of British values, and a waste of taxpayer money.

To read more about this affair, the Guardian has an excellent overview.