Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive
Scientologists use ads to tell the 'real story'
Press Association, 20 October 1996
From nobody@huge.cajones.com Fri Oct 25 11:22:54 BST 1996
By Mark Bradley, PA News
The Church of Scientology has launched a "public information
campaign" designed to tell what it called "the real story" about its
aims and beliefs.
The religious group has been widely criticised for allegedly
operating like a cult in using high-pressure sales techniques and
imposing a strict regime on its members.
But the organisation denies the claims and has recently been
attempting to widen its appeal and membership through its first
television advertising campaign, which began in Britain last month.
Yesterday, the first in a series of full-page advertisements
appeared in The Economist weekly news magazine with the headline --
"At last .... The Inside Story of Scientology".
According to the group's international president, Heber C Jentzsch,
the campaign is designed to "meet a growing demand for factual
information about Scientology following the Church's social
responsibility television advertisement aired on two UK cable
channels".
The magazine ads cover the Church of Scientology's basic beliefs
and practices, the work of its founder L Ron Hubbard, and the "wide
range of social reform issues" in which the group is said to be
active.
The dangers of prejudice in evaluating a new religion, founded in
1954, are also stressed.
"Through this campaign, people can get the facts and make up their
own mind," said Graeme Wilson, UK spokesman for the Church of
Scientology.
The organisation claims to have eight million members worldwide --
100,000 of them based at eight churches in Britain -- including
Hollywood stars John Travolta, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
The group argues that it is a legitimate religion but has been
accused of brain-washing, financial exploitation and forcing children
to leave their families to join up.
And Ian Haworth, of the Cult Information Centre, today warned: "The
worry is that people will be drawn into something they won't properly
understand just by relying on the information in these adverts.
"The real story about Scientology, as we understand it, is rather
different to the picture painted in these adverts. This campaign
deeply concerns me because it means there will be a lot more work for
people in our field."
The Church of Scientology was allowed to advertise on television --
starting with slots on satellite channels UK Gold and UK Living --
after the Independent Television Commission lifted a ban imposed three
years ago.
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