The German position on religion goes way deeper than mere opposition to Scientology. The US system and the German Basic Law have similar values (freedom, tolerance, plurality, order, private property), but are based on quite different principles.

Also, I'm pretty sure none of the German churches make money. If I recall, they are all subsidized by the State, some at great cost as part of the heritage and yes, as part of the grand bargain to keep the peace after the Thirty Years war. Possibly, the mosques could be self-supporting if they had to be?

Anyway, Scientology is feared because it would make money and that's not fair; also, since they would not be part of the subsidy system, they would not be subservient to the state. If they made an exception for Scientology, where would it end, etc, etc.

You could even say, the German approach is downright un-American! But that's OK because it is Germany.

I like to think of it this way: Each country has a general consensus as to what range of views and practices are acceptable or respectable. If you are part of the consensus in Europe, you get full rights, and full entitlement to a welfare system that is more generous than the American one. However, if you are outside of the consensus, you may find your welfare, and even your basic rights can be taken away.

I am thinking of Hirsi Ali, although of course she was Dutch, not German. My point is, she was a duly elected member of parliament who broke no laws and hurt no-one. However, because of her views, certain groups considered her an apostate and were determined to violently silence her. The authorities tried to protect her, but eventually determined that she was a threat to public order and stripped her of her office, made her move away from her district into an inferior house, in which she was a virtual prisoner. I don't know if they revoked her citizenship, or if she left on her own.

This simply could not happen in the US, our laws and traditions dictate that her enemies are the threat to public security, not her. It is nearly impossible to take away someone's citizenship, unless they lied in the immigration application. You can't force a citizen to move if they own the house and pay the bills, period. Much less an elected official! For any elected official, or indeed any American who got the national and international attention she did, the authorities would have had no choice but to protect her at all costs.

I like to think of the old safety net metaphor. In Europe generally, the net is set so that no-one has to fall very far before they are saved, and there are few gaps or holes. The net is well padded and attractively decorated. The landing is so gentle, you might not even realize you're on it. If you are an immigrant, you aren't really permitted to live your life above the net that everyone else uses; but you are given your own net, that is far better than the old country.

In the US, the net is there, but you have much further to fall, and it isn't designed to be comfortable. If you fall, your supposed to get back up again and get off the net. The gaps are larger, but most people don't fall completely through, they instead get stuck in awkward positions. Everyone, native born or immigrant, uses the same net.

A critical difference is, in America, people are permitted to live outside of the net entirely. You are on your own, but you aren't limited by the consensus. This applies to non-conformists, free thinkers, nut jobs, etc. but even illegal economic immigrants are widely tolerated once they get past the border (although this might be changing).

OK I am painting with a broad brush. What do you think?

Thanks for the complement. Yes, I read the Leviathan in my first year philosophy class.

Philosophically, I do see the problem with Scientology in Germany.

Practically, I have a hard time seeing how Scientology itself threatens the Germans. None of its practices are incompatible with German law or lifestyle, as far as I can tell. They are a tiny, tiny group. Even in the US there are only about 0.02% Scientologists, and I'd be shocked if they ever got above 1%.

However, I *reluctantly* accept the argument that if Scientology were permitted, Germany would have to permit a lot of other non-traditional religions (the slippery slope), and it would break the grand bargain. Reluctantly, because not everything is a slippery slope, and because it is impossible to "prove" that the churches the Germans have accepted are the "true" churches...