Samoa’s Prime Minister says using teaching resources based on the works of the Scientology founder, Ron Hubbard, does not mean accepting his religious beliefs. Tuila’epa confirmed that the learning method known as ‘Study Technology’ was being trialled in six schools as a means to curb the decline in literacy, especially in primary schools. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Scientology’
Church of Scientology recruiting in Ireland
Friday, September 2nd, 2016The Church of Scientology may be widening its recruitment in Ireland to people in the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking areas) and other Irish-speakers throughout the country with attempts made by a sub-company of the church to translate their educational and information supplements into Irish. According to Tuairisc.ie, the subcompany – Golden Era Productions – recently wrote to Read more
Secularists upset by Scientologist’s driver’s licence courses
Tuesday, April 21st, 2015
The Secular Education Network is decrying government-funded driver licence courses using education techniques inspired by the teaching methodology of the Church of Scientology. The Network says any influence of the church on the education material meant a “biased education” was being delivered. Registered charity Rule Education Trust, run by David Rule, is delivering driver licence Read more
Scientologists to spend 16M restoring Auckland headquarters
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013
The Church of Scientology of New Zealand will be spending $16 million restoring and converting a heritage-listed Auckland building into its New Zealand headquarters. It is the church’s only New Zealand property. The New Zealand arm The church of Scientology purchased the former Whitecliffe Art College campus in 2007 for $10m using an interest free Read more
Scientology on move – maybe
Tuesday, August 6th, 2013An Auckland heritage-listed building bought by the Church of Scientology for more than $10 million six years ago may finally become the religious organisation’s new home. At the time of the sale, church secretary Mike Ferris said the church would fully renovate and restore the building, built in 1927, over two years and expected 100 Read more
Tom Cruise left Catholic seminary after stealing liquor
Friday, March 8th, 2013
Hollywood star Tom Cruise, now one of the most prominent members of the Church of Scientology, had notions of becoming a Catholic priest until he was asked to leave a Franciscan seminary for stealing liquor intended for a priests’ celebration. After his parents’ divorce, the 14-year-old Cruise — then Thomas Cruise Mapother IV — gravitated Read more
“Ease up on us guys”, says Scientology
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
The Church of Scientology is says it is copping it because it is a new movement. Spokesperson Mike Ferris says “It’s an easy target. People reject new ideas. They really do.” Ferris said the Salvation Army had been attacked when it was founded, because it was trying to tell people to quit drinking. He said Read more
Rupert Murdoch’s religious odyssey includes papal knighthood
Friday, July 20th, 2012Last week Rupert Murdoch launched a bitter crusade against the Church of Scientology. Initially this was interpreted as being a long-held grudge against the cult’s alleged attempt to seduce his son, Lachlan, with overtures from its highest-profile member, Tom Cruise. However, Murdoch’s comments on religion drew attention to his long personal history of religious affiliations, Read more
Katie Holmes returns to Catholic Church after divorcing Tom Cruise
Friday, July 13th, 2012
Six years after she converted to Scientology to marry actor Tom Cruise, actress Katie Holmes has divorced her high-ranking Scientologist husband and returned to the Catholic Church in which she was raised. Holmes and the twice-divorced Cruise were married in 2006 at a 15th-century castle in Italy, in a Scientology ceremony. They already had a Read more
Greens say tax payer money going to Church of Scientology
Thursday, May 10th, 2012Green’s drugs spokesman Kevin Hague has alleged in the New Zealand Parliament that the Church of Scientology is using tax-payer money to promote an anti-psychiatry agenda and messages against medication used to treat mental illness through charities disguised as social service organisations. Mr Hague said he had watched members of the church on Auckland’s Queen Read more