Rob Ryley wrote:

> Nor could one criticize astrologers, faith healers, mentalists, etc.

I think there's a misunderstanding here. I didn't say anything about the
beliefs on which Scientology is based.

I was referring to gossip about the way they (supposedly) tyranize
(ex-)members and extort money from people. Whether or not they, or some
of them, do these things, is quite investigatable, but not by me, nor
can I establish the reliability of public testimony presented in web
sites by parties to the dispute. And I don't believe you can either.

Of course we can read their philosophy and form an opinion about it. But
their philosophy, whether you or I agree with it or not, has nothing to
do with these rumors about the methods they employ for, lets say,
fostering harmony within the group.

Mira