[Lewis The Second]

Firstly, an acknowledgement and a warning. Issues regarding faith and belief systems are always going to be contentious, and I appreciate that this topic has a relatively high potential for offense. Thus, if you feel you are likely to be offended by this thread, I ask initially that you think, really think, about whether reading or contributing to it is a good idea. My aim here is not to belittle, demean, insult or otherwise offend any persons, but it is to question and challenge the Church in question, which I believe is my right and indeed duty as an intelligent human being. I hope, and am sure, that potential readers of and contributors to this discussion will understand this.

Moderators: I'm not entirely sure where I stand among the board rules with this thread. Just allow me to reiterrate the above: I mean not to offend or insult; I am curious about the Church of Scientology and about people's thoughts on the matter. Unless it gets totally out of hand, I ask that you are perhaps a little lenient here. Thank you.

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When he was in his twenties, my uncle moved to Copenhagen in Denmark, and thus became involved, through friends, with the Church of Scientology.

Within just a short space of time, and despite meeting a number of what he refers to as 'fascinating and interesting people', my uncle began to feel suspicious of those inside the Church who were attempting to steer him away from the outside world, and into a sinister web of confusing beliefs they called Scientology. He moved back to England, a task the Church made as difficult as possible for my kind, friendly and completely innocent uncle.

Rewind. A lot.

From 1949, Laffayette Ronald Hubbard, a known science-fiction author, began publishing a series of works called 'Dianetics'. It was centred around various abstract methods of self-improvement, and as it developed became a somewhat unlikely candidate for a religious scripture. In 1952, Hubbard claimed Dianetics to be an 'applied religious philosophy' and, over the coming years, the Church of Scientology was formed.

I strongly and vehemently claim that Scientology is not, in any conventional sense, a religion. Instead, it is the simplistic idea of a human soul being the core of life and existence, and the idea that nurturing a good soul is the way one should live his or her life - but around it is woven a rich tapestry of nonsensical stories, lies and deceit, violence, corruption and - above all - the desire of those at the top to make as much money as possible from those whose lives are unfulfilled.

People like me. And people like you.

Today I read an interesting article written by one of the first journalists to investigate and ultimately challenge the Church of Scientology. As a result of the book she published, she was hounded by the Church, who - it was eventually proven - had infiltrated her personal life, sent a Church member to 'befriend' and essentially spy and report back on her day-to-day life, and eventually frame her for the bombing of a Scientology headquarters. Some UK residents may remember the Panorama documentary a couple of years ago in which reporter John Sweeney was followed by a total of thirteen strangers - who he believes were hired private investigators - during his investigation. Every time he arranged an interview with any person challenging Scientology, a member of the Church was there waiting to disrupt the filming. In the months following the investigation, members of his family were hounded, threatened and spied upon.

Is this what a religion does? Religions, surely, are about the coming together for a greater good. This, to me, is the exact opposite - particularly when the Church charges a membership fee for those who wish to learn particular 'truths' about the organisation.

I am not here, though, to pass judgement without evidence, and as such I would love for members of this forum to comment on and discuss this bizarre church. I do not claim to know anywhere near enough about Scientology to accurately draw any opinions with any more depth than the above, and would love to learn more. I am not anti-Scientology per se; I am merely confused by the information I have been given, as it provides me with no reason to find the Church remotely worthy. For it to have become such a renowned organisation, a great many people must disagree with me. I aim to find out why.

Thank you for reading.