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The protest then moved to the Saint Hill Manor Information
centre and Bookshop in London Road where demonstrators
handed out leaflets to passers-by and shouted: "Get
Your information against Scientology here."
Organiser David Bird told the Courier: "I have been involved since about 1995. There are demonstrations about once a month, mostly in London, Poole and Brighton, but this is the first one here." Former Scientology member Roland Rashleigh-Berry, from London, who claimed he had handed over almost £50.000 to the cult, said the protest was to "bring awareness of the dangers of the church." Jens Tingleff, who had travelled from Paris after reading about the picket on the Internet, said: "I have been protesting for about two-and-a-half years. I feel very strongly about this. It is my mission to inform the public that no-one gets anything from Scientology." The group claims that the core belif of Scientology hinges on excorcising souls or "thetans" of galatic leader Xemu's subjects killed to solve overpopulation problems. One of the protesters dressed up as Xemu in a bid to get his message across. |
Scientology public affairs director Graeme Wilson said:
"Saturday was on the 48th anniversary of publication of
the book Dianetics. During these 48 years, nearly 18
million copies have been sold.
Religion
"Further research into the spiritual nature of man by the founder of Dianetics, L Ron Hubbard, resulted in the creation of the Scientology religion, the only new religion to be formed in the 20th century and recognised to be the fastest growing religion in the world. "Much of the research in the 1960s was done in East Grinstead. There are always those who attack efforts to better mankind. People wonder why our church is attacked. "You could equally ask why were Christians thrown to the lions? Why have religions been discriminated against or persecuted throughout history? In Scientology you don't need to take anyone's word for it --- you learn to think for yourself." |