Anonymous Declares War Against Scientology

In what may be one of the strangest turn of events that early 2008 brings, the near-end of our decade has begun to show signs of shedding the skin of the previous tidings of the years. However, this revolution is to not be fought against corrupt political leaders or greedy businessmen, but religious extremists. Not the types you are thinking of though, although, you may have heard about them if you’ve picked up a tabloid in the past few years.

L. Ron Hubbard developed an applied religious philosophy called Scientology in 1952, and from that day forward the world may not have known it but it was never going to be the same. Fifty years later, the Church of Scientology has thrived ever since the glamor of Hollywood has graciously smiled upon the church’s message, one of handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. Celebrities like Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, John Travolta and Isaac Hayes all settled into their system of beliefs, the story of our alien souls being trapped in cave-men's bodies appeasing their spirits.

However, this fairy tale didn’t go as planned. In fact, it seemed like the story tellers themselves were the ones that had been turning Scientology into a nightmare. Severe controversy has certainly followed the organization when names like Lisa McPherson or Paulette Cooper are mentioned. Also, various online videos and documentaries of the group have sparked much debate over whether Scientology is a religion or a cult. More and more each day, more evidence has been unearthed about Scientology, its restricting beliefs and methods seeming now almost like brainwashing through testimonies of its former members who urge people not to get involved with the Church.

For a while, these people’s voices went unheard. Scientology was winning through the legal systems it played and through flashy celebrity appeal. Nothing could stop this machine.

And then on January 21st, 2008, everything hit the fan. Odd enough, a YouTube video was released online by a group only calling themselves Anonymous. Masked by a digitalized voice, their videos of time passing over various buildings and landscapes sent out a clear warning to Scientology: to stand down or be destroyed. The first video, simply titled on YouTube as Message to Scientology cuts straight to the point of their goal: “Anonymous has therefore decided that your organization should be destroyed. For the good of your followers, for the good of mankind—and for our own enjoyment— we shall expel you from the Internet and systematically dismantle the Church of Scientology in its present form”.

Once again on the 25th of January, Anonymous delivered a message on YouTube and called a Second Address to Scientology. Given a face now, although masked by a G-Mac motorcycle helmet and computerized voice, this was a plea to the people of Scientology to get out before it gets ugly. Referencing them as the “common Scientologist”, they do not belittle their beliefs or pressure them into joining, they simply give them the message that they need to research all the horrors that Scientology has produced. Once again, the cryptic message flows fourth: “Your religious beliefs are not wrong, like any other religion, and they are yours to keep. However beliefs should not come at a price. Not from your wallet or compromising your thoughts. Those who have left feel a new life, a rebirth into true freedom. You can join them if you wish. You may not believe us. We ask of you one thing: make up your own mind. That is a sentence of more profound meaning for you now than at any other time in your life...”.

Now Anonymous, although clearly blind to the general public, is beginning to pick up speed. Online blogs and articles talk of their threat after threat, Scientology picked up upon their messages. They have responded to Anonymous through various spokespeople, labeling them as “computer geeks” and “web pirates”, but time will tell if we see if this internet revolution hit real life. Helping the invisible group pick up more steam, a website called Project Chanology had begun documenting the actions of Anonymous in a Wiki-like forum. The website gives out numbers and e-mail addresses of Scientology centers and high ranking members, asking you to spam the e-mails or sign them up for telemarker lists. Through the actions of Anonymous, the war rages on.

Anonymous’ most recent stab into the heart of the Scientology community happened January 28th, 2008 this time with a video called Call To Action. However, unlike the previous videos that seemed to only provide an introspective look into the group, this video gives the people watching it a chance to either join them or watch them bring down the Church. The video states that on the 10th of February, members of Anonymous around the world will assemble upon the Churches of Scientology, masked to represent their group and to simply watch the Churches to let the members know that their actions have not gone ignored. The members of anonymous are kept (surprise!) anonymous, but listed simply as, “Among our numbers you will find individuals from all walks of life - lawyers, parents, IT professionals, members of law enforcement, college students, veterinary technicians and more. Anonymous is everyone and everywhere.”

To make this message even more cryptic, Anonymous reminds us of the dangers of Scientology, dropping names and organizations later in the video that are associated with several strange happenings. The third video says, “We want you to know about Lisa McPhearson. We want you to know about former members of Scientology's private navy, SeaOrg, who were forced to have abortions so that they could continue in service to the church. We want you to know about Scientology's use of child labor and their gulags. We want you to know about Operation Freakout and Paulette Cooper.” Lisa McPherson, a woman who died December 5th, 1995, had her last 17 days documented when she was taken to a Fort Harrison Hotel away from doctors in the hospital who highly urged McPherson that she get some psychological help rather than listening to the Scientology doctors. The other woman, Paulette Cooper, is an author whose attempts to expose Scientology only revealed to her their Operation Freakout plan, a plan composed by the Church of Scientology to put Ms. Cooper into a metal hospital or even imprisoned.

The revolution will not be televised, but it will be heard. And it will appeal directly to the face of Scientology, although they will stare back only unto Anonymous masks come 11:00 a.m., on February 10th. These cryptic YouTube messages have been left for us to decipher, as we will find on February 10th if indeed Anonymous is a force to be reckoned with.


Anonymous Video 1 – Message To Scientology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ

Anonymous Video 2 – Second Message To Scientology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yozvaMGkDjo

Anonymous Video 3 – Call To Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrkchXCzY70

Project Chanology (Down as of 1/28/07): http://www.partyvan.info/index.php/Project_Chanology