According to the 2001 Stats Can report, 1525 citizens listed their religion as Scientology.
Over 150 Canadians protested in front of Scientology offices in Toronto, Winnipeg and Montreal as part of a world wide protest called for by a cyber group named Anonymous. Scientology lists eight locations in Canada.
Scientologists reacted with their usual outrage; calling the protests religious hate crimes.
“Anonymous’ is perpetrating religious hate crimes against Churches of Scientology and individual Scientologists for no reason other than religious bigotry,” the church said in a statement.
It also said the “altruistic purposes” claimed by Anonymous were “no different than those heard from any terrorist or hate group.”
Scientology is banned in several countries.
Protests against the organization were held in 13 countries.
see Religion News Blog
Scientology and the internet - wiki
Published 9 months, 1 week agoIn Canada, the Church of Scientology is considered a religious non-profit organization. The church applied for Canadian tax-exempt charity status in 1998, was reportedly rejected in 1999,and is not registered as a charity as of December 2007. In 1992, Scientology became the only religious organization convicted in criminal court on two counts of breach of the public trust (for an organized conspiracy to infiltrate government offices) following a trial by jury
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What is the “legal” difference between an cult and a religion? Protecting society from bad and the ugly becomes more difficult from a secular point of view (where even the good can be seen as a threat to human right and freedoms).
hm
Harvey:
Theologically, a cult is a religious group which claims harmony with Christianity but which either denies or misinterprets essential biblical doctrines;
…and/or, psychologically or behaviorally, a cult is a secular or religious group which tends to use extreme and unethical techniques of manipulation to recruit, assimilate, control and retain members.
Sociological definitions of the term cult
…include consideration of such factors as authoritarian leadership patterns, loyalty and commitment mechanisms, lifestyle characteristics, [and] conformity patterns (including the use of various sanctions in connection with those members who deviate).
Religious
Eastern Mystical: groups related to Hinduism, Buddhism and other pantheistic Eastern religions; examples in this category are Hare Krishnas and Self-Realization Fellowship.
Aberrant Christian: groups that claim to be Bible-based but which deviate in practice or belief, such as The Way International, the Boston Church of Christ and the Shepherding Movement.
Psychospiritual or Self-Improvement: groups offering seminars or workshops providing self- improvement or personal transformation (a growing cultic trend), includes Transcendental Meditation, Lifespring and The Forum (formerly est).
Eclectic/Syncretistic: a combination of several religious traditions, includes the Unification Church (”Moonies”) and the Church Universal and Triumphant.
Psychic/Occult/Astral: these groups offer ‘’secret wisdom” and ”lost truths;” examples include UFO cults and Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research and Enlightenment.
Established Cults: Bible-based, cultic religious movements which have achieved mainstream status; this would include Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science.
Extremist/Political/Social Movements: groups cultic in the psychological or social sense which include the Aryan Nation, White Aryan Resistance and the Ku Klux Klan.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c09a04.html
There are countries that have a state religion codified into their laws, it is illegal to practise other religions.
However those countries might recognize sects or cults within the legally sanctioned religion.
It’s useful when you use the word cult or sect to define why it is seen as such.