This article really just got me thinking about the relationship between church and state, in general. But I will take just a second to comment on this article specifically. Its tough to comment on because the decision was made in france, not here, and Im not familiar with their laws regarding religious organization. If, however, I think of this in terms of the USA - it's ridiculous. Honestly, I don't think it could/would ever happen here. If the legal system was at all interested in how religious organizations obtain funds, our jails would be at maximum capacity. How many televangelists are out there asking for money and making promises they can't fulfill? Scientologists would have to get into line behind the likes of Benny Hinn and Joel O'Steen.
Now, I know what you are thinking: Jim Bakker. Remember, though, his fraud involved those hotel memberships. There was an actual, physical measurement of whether or not those deals were legitimate. X dollars = X nights in a hotel, or whatever. And while I will concede that $15 for a prayer cloth is a tangible measurement, what the prayer cloth's are supposed to be capable of cannot be measured. Don't even get me started on faith healers and preachers who preach a gospel of prosperity for good Christian tithers.
Now, on to the more important question: Is Scientology a legit Religion? Absolutely. I'll post some more about this a little later, but briefly put, it's impossible to define religion and therefore impossible to define what it is not.
