The Church of Scientology in Germany has attracted thousands of followers but also an army of detractors. In 2007 Germany's interior ministers declared Scientology to be in conflict with the principles of the nation's constitution and called for a ban on the organization. This backfired after investigations failed to uncover evidence of illegal or unconstitutional activity.
The deep seated animosity toward Scientology in some circles in Germany became apparent during the making of the 2008 film Valkyrie that dealt with the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Some critics had a problem with prominent Scientologist Tom Cruise taking on the role of iconic Nazi resistance fighter Claus Von Stauffenberg. Many saw it as an attempt by the Church to curry favor with Germans in an effort to improve the image of Scientology and increase support - an accusation the Church denies.
A new row has broken out between the Church and the German state broadcaster. The broadcaster ARD is behind a feature film titled Until Nothing Remains that is due to air at the end of March. The film deals with a German family and the story of its involvement with Scientology. According to the film makers it is the true story of Heiner von Rönn who left Scientology and was faced with the break-up of his family.
A Der Spiegel online article offers this take on Rönn:
Rönn had never heard of Scientology before he was talked into taking a "communication course" in 1984. His wife at the time had already been involved with the organization for a few months, having been persuaded to join by her brother. It took more than 10 years before Rönn managed to get back out. By that time he was deeply in debt and socially isolated. His family life was in tatters. Rönn felt he wanted to give meaning to his experiences, at least in retrospect, by serving as a warning to others.
Photo still from the film
The Church disagrees with the film makers' portrayal. Spokesperson Jürg Stettler said: “We will show that the so-called expert engaged by ARD Ursula Caberta is feeding the media false information.” Stettler claims the story behind the feature film is fabricated. He went further and accused ARD of a violation of its programming guidelines by engaging in "religious intolerance". The Church has even gone so far as to accuse ARD of creating anti-Scientology propaganda and has demanded to view the film before its release.
A Guardian article on the story says:
Scientology officials have said the film is false and intolerant. At a preview screening in Hamburg members distributed flyers in which the filmmakers were accused of seeking to "create a mood of intolerance and discrimination against a religious community".
Jürg Stettler, a spokesman for Scientology in Germany said: "The truth is precisely the opposite of that which the ARD is showing." The organisation is investigating legal means to prevent the programme from being broadcast.
Stettler said the organisation was planning its own film to "spread our own side of the story".
ARD denies the accusations by the Church. Program director, Volker Herres, said the aim of the film makers was to get at the truth. Herres: "We're not dealing here with a religion, rather with an organisation that has completely different motives... Scientology is about power, business, and building up a network. Its lessons are pure science fiction, it's no religion, no church, no sect."
There have been claims of harassment, even suggestions of criminal activity made by the film makers. They claim they have been "bombarded" with phone calls and emails.
The Der Spiegel article includes similar allegations:
On one occasion, there were reports on set that a man who acts as a kind of spokesperson for Scientology had been spotted. Another time, one of director Niki Stein's informants found that the trunk of his car had been broken into. He didn't think anything of the break-in until Stein's telephone rang -- and he remembered the notebooks he had left in the car's trunk. "We know you're making a movie about Scientology," said a voice on the other end of the line, before hanging up.
Although the Church denies it has crossed the line in defense of its position, aggressive tactics on the part of Scientologists risk adding weight to the perception of intolerance. Corporations, churches, and prominent individuals are routinely slammed and pilloried in the media but the lengths to which Scientology is prepared to go to challenge its critics gives rebuttal a whole new meaning.
When Until Nothing Remains makes it to the small screen all of the lead-up controversy will guarantee that a film that might only have received average attention could well now be catapulted into the "must see" category. If the content is as problematic as Scientologists allege, it's unclear how turning the film into an attention magnet serves the organization's interests.
For more on the story link also to Der Spiegel and Guardian.
YouTube clip - here.
