Yes, Tom Cruise is Creepy
Well, Bridget, I would say you and I really don't disagree. It was the Germans' obstructing the filming of "Valkyrie" that I objected to. But now, it seems, they've given that up. Which is to say, they're no longer using the powers of the state to discriminate against someone (Tom Cruise) on the basis of his religion. They just think Cruise and Scientology are creepy. No argument there.
I would disagree that it would be discrimination based on religion. There's a difference between religions and cults. They see cults as a danger; those who escaped Jonestown would agree.
That might be true, if, say, the German government banned the Church of Scientology because it was engaging in cultish behavior -- eg, brainwashing. But the government is doing nothing to Scientology per se, just to Cruise. And not even for any crime he's ostensibly committed, but just because he believes what de does. And that is religious discrimination.
Actually, Germany has been engaged in a years-long battle with Scientology. The government monitors the group for undemocratic activities and the country's courts have ruled that it is a commercial enterprise masquerading as a religion. States the government's official position: "The German government considers the Scientology organization a commercial enterprise with a history of taking advantage of vulnerable individuals and an extreme dislike of any criticism. The government is also concerned that the organization's totalitarian structure and methods may pose a risk to Germany's democratic society. Several kinds of evidence have influenced this view of Scientology, including the organization's activities in the United States. ...The Federal Government has also conducted thorough studies on the Scientology organization. Expert reports and testimony by former members confirm again and again that membership can lead to psychological and physical dependency, financial ruin and even suicide. Because of its experiences during the Nazi regime, Germany has a special responsibility to monitor the development of any extreme group within its borders -- even when the group's members are small in number. Given the indisputable evidence that the Scientology organization has repeatedly attempted to interfere with the American government and has harmed individuals within Germany, the German federal government has responded in a very measured legal fashion to the Scientology organization."
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/archives/background/scientology.html
Scientologists have fired back with full-page newspaper ads comparing Germany's treatment of Scientologists to that of Jews during the Nazi era, comparisons that drew angry responses from Jewish leaders. "Making things worse is the Scientology effort to link the German ban of the group to Nazi persecution of Jews," wrote Abe Foxman of the ADL. "This is a disgrace and reflects the group's willingness to go to any lengths to take revenge on a Government that has taken action against it."
So my question remains, can it be religious discrimination if it's not a religion?