Scientologist Church faces ‘slave labour’ lawsuits from ex-followers

According to the Daily Mail, the Church of Scientologists treats their followers as something like slave labour. The Scientology Sea Organisation compound in Los Angeles is said to be the headquarters of the worldwide faith organisation, but two former members have filed lawsuits against it, claiming they and other loyal members were forced to work around 100 hours a week for next to nothing.

Scientology is no stranger to controversy, but the latest reports suggest that two of the former followers, Marc Headley and Claire Headley (husband and wife) are demanding backpay of more than £1 million from the church.

There are worse accusations from the Headleys too; psychological abuse, pressure to have an abortion and cripplingly long working hours to name but a few.

The church’s response? Those filing lawsuits are “liars looking for money”.

Top religion prize goes to evolutionary scientist Francisco J. Ayala

Francisco J. Ayala used to be a Catholic priest but is now achieving great success with his work as an evolutionary scientist. Now, at first glance these two fields obviously seem completely incompatible, but it is Ayala’s work harmonising whilst at the same time differentiating science and religion that has won him one of the world’s top religion awards, the Templeton Prize.

Mr Ayala, 76, won a cash prize of approximately $1.5 million, which many feel is well deserved. He is extremely respected in scientific circles, but this award shows that his ideas also have relevance and applications outside of science.

Offensive fundamentalists vs. grieving family in Supreme Court Case over freedom of speech

In one of the most shocking stories I’ve read lately, the issue of hate-mongering religious fundamentalists picketing military funerals has raised its ugly head again, thanks to a high-profile case in the US Supreme Court.

On one side is a Kansas church, who follow the (il)logical line of thinking that terrorism and soldier’s deaths in Middle Eastern countries is, of course, a punishment from God for America’s tolerance of homosexuality.
On the other is the father of a soldier who was recently killed in action, who was subjected to abusive campaigning at his son’s funeral in Maryland.

The legal issue here is freedom of speech, a right upheld by the First Amendment. However, the moral issues for me are basic human consideration, empathy and also blind stupidity. The young man who died was a person loved by many – no matter his profession – and the signs the campaigners waved at his funeral, such as ‘Thank God for Dead Soldiers’ and ‘Thank God for 9/11’ were disgusting and shocking.

The aspect that most disturbs me about this story is that at the core of Christianity and many other religions is the concept of love, and I see no evidence of this in the message these fanatics are promoting.

Has Amy Winehouse embraced Scientology?

Recent press reports suggest that troubled singer Amy Winehouse has followed her off-again-on-again ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil (currently in rehab) into a new-found belief in Scientology. The controversial Church of Scientology has many celebrity followers, including John Travolta and Tom Cruise to name but a few.

According to sources close to Amy the press have managed to dig up, the singer will adopt anything Fielder-Civil thinks or believes without question, leading many to worry about her being led astray (again).

Well, whatever you believe about Scientology as a credible ‘religion’; it is at least less physically damaging than copious drug-taking.

Private faith school to open in Hull may cause concern for parents

A new school set to open in Hull this September is causing a great deal of controversy in the local area as well as in the press. The New Life Academy will cost parents £2,000 a year to send their children there, and will follow the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum.

Supporters say the school will provide children with an ‘individualised’ Christian education so that they may learn at their own pace, but those opposed to it hold a drastically different option. Amongst other arguments, those opposed are warning parents that the school will isolate children and attempt to condition them with ‘fundamentalist’ Christian teaching, where they will be taught to interpret the Bible entirely literally.