Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive
(Comment by Richard Ingrams on Scientology)
The Observer, 19 September 1999
From ahein@xs4all.be Tue Sep 21 10:42:41 BST 1999
Scientology now
Our old friends the Scientologists have adopted a new softly-softly approach towards press criticism. In the old days if you attacked them you were likely to get a libel writ and in extreme cases become the target of black propaganda.
Now the response is more likely to be a pained letter to the editor and an invitation to the Scientology HQ at East Grinstead to talk it through over a nice cup of tea.
Such tactics are already paying off. In their march towards public acceptance and respectability, the Scientologists have embarked on a massive advertising campaign (with the help of the authorities). There are posters all over the London Underground, the electronic screen at Piccadilly Circus flashes out its message 240 times a day and, meanwhile, there are commercials on Sky television.
The next step will be to try to get onto ITV and Channel 4. Given all the rubbish currently put out on Channel 4, it will come as no surprise to learn that the Scientologists' request is already being favourably considered. A spokesman for the Independent Television Commission is quoted as saying that any advertisements would be monitored closely to ensure that the Scientologists did not denigrate other faiths.
The success of this sinister organisation lies precisely in persuading people such as the ITC that it is a religious faith, but if anything is a breach of advertising ethics it is the Scientologists calling themselves the 'church' of Scientology when the organisation is nothing of the kind. There are no churches, no religious beliefs, no services and the only thing approaching a god is the person of the late L. Ron Hubbard, one of this century's greatest-ever rogues and con men.
Now I look forward to getting another pained letter from East Grinstead.
Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive