tortured, robbed, and/or literally thrown in the street by Scientology officers. Your ignorance is much like those who tout Hizbollah and Hamas as having been great economic and social reformists. No, Hitler is a better example - he pulled Germany out of their economic slump by erasing the competition. I have personally met victims of Scientology, including officers who were forced to commit crime, ultimately woke up, and escaped with only the shirts on their backs after going through perilous ordeals. You have no clue what you are talking about, and by being so vocal and condescending, insult each and every life destroyed.

I figured out why Scientology takes thousands of dollars from each member. They need millions of dollars for all their lawsuits whose goal is to suppress their critics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_the_legal_system

The scientology movement has done the very illegal and cruel things to members and ex-members that you claim they are against. If you don't know that you should. They have NO PLACE in Israel.

Oded, how predictable! By asking "what crimes" you are the stereotypical Scientologist trying to deflect people's legitimate criticism by impeaching their credibility...you are like clockwork; one might even say...wait for it...BRAINWASHED...HAHAHA!!! Ariella, spare us with your sarcasm...read Hubbard's autopsy (drug addict) and his son's reports of his scams (but his son is not as reliable as his followers right?), and the litigation records from his life: "That he was a much decorated war hero. He was not. That he commanded a corvette squadron. He did not. That he was awarded the Purple Heart, a gallantry decoration for those wounded in action. He was not wounded and was not decorated. That he was crippled and blinded in the war and cured himself with Dianetic technique. He was not crippled and was not blinded. That he was sent by U.S. Naval Intelligence to break up a black magic ring in California. He was not. He was himself a member of that occult group and practiced ritual sexual magic in it. That he was a graduate of George Washington University and an atomic physicist. The facts are that he completed only one year of college and failed the one course on nuclear physics in which he enrolled. There is no dispute about any of this. The evidence is unchallenged." Justice Latey, High court of London I would check to see your maternal lineage because a Jew would see right through this scoundrels b.s....

So these summer camps are just another front group for the Co$. They didn't tell the parents that their children would be learning L Ron Hubbard's doctrine while they were at summer camp. The Scientologist that posted in this discussion seem to think there's nothing wrong with being dishonest, and lying to parents. They lose all their credibility right there. As if they had any credibility to begin with. $cientology has a documented history of illegal activity that they can't hide. They haven't earned are trust, and they don't deserve it. Their attempts at lecturing us in morals, is laughable at best, but it's offensive more than anything else because they think it's their right. They have no moral or ethical ground to stand on. They deceived, and lied to the parents that sent their children to their summer camps, and there is nothing else that they can say to defend themselves. If they have to lie to get their charlatan guru L Ron Hubbard's B.S. doctrine taught then their organization is rotten at it's core. P.S. The parents should be refunded.

If teaching kids positive values is brainwashing - particularly kids in the Middle East, the most explosive source of violence and unrest on the entire Earth - then I suggest we do it faster before they blow us all up. If their parents aren't doing it, then someone had better do so. These people are already brainwashed - with hatred and intolerance of others. The proof is in the violence of their world.

If the goal of The Way to Happiness were to recruit for Scientology, they would mention it. But they don't. What kind of person could be opposed to teaching kids moral values like honesty, respect, and industry? The author, Bat-Hen Epstein Elias, obviously hasn't read the booklet or looked at the poster. What has he/she done that he/she doesn't want people to know about?

I've been a practicing Scientologist for over 30 years. After having helped thousands of people improve the quality of their lives, it's always a curiosity for me when I hear somebody attack Scientology. But years and years later, I reaized the majority of those that attack a subject that has helped so many people, so effectively -- the vast majority fall into two categories: 1) Those who have had very little to no direct contact with Scientology itself. Often they haven't even read a Scientology book. 2) Those that are actually being paid (in some way, not always financially) by a vested interest to attempt to make Scientology look bad. When Scientologists take a VERY vocal stand against the drugging of children or the atrocities of psychiatry (and these are not imagined atrocities), when Scientologists speak out against mental health and human rights abuses, then it is not a mystery when a newspaper or magazine or web site decides to attack Scientology. We are not talking advanced detective work here. When you take the two categories above and take them out of the equation, you're left with millions of people being helped on a daily basis and millions of others interested in the real help that is available.

Dear Editor, I think that the Way to Happiness booklet is a breath of fresh air. It does not promote any single religion, but suggests that you will live a better life by following it. This is a good thing! Thanks, Pat

I have been a Scientologist for 25 years and I can tell you from long personal expereince that the only reasonssomeone would have something disparaging to say about my religion are these: 1) They did not understand something they read or heard 2) they themselves are doing something criminal or immoral that they don't want other people to know about 3) they came in contact with an individual that called himself a Scientologist but behaved badly - that can happen in any religion. In all my time I have found excellent people who do more good for society than most and teaching that has been invaluable in my life and great for my family and friends. The world is not in great condition, that's pretty obvious. Why do you attack people who are working to make it better? Please devote your time and coverage to the real problems in the world and how they can be solved.

It is utterly baffling and terribly ironic that religious intolerance, such as is voiced in this article, can occur in Israel of all places. The Shema urges, "Impress Them On Your Children" , in regards to The Commandments, Is it entirely too difficult to explain the word "promiscuous" to a child than it is to explain "adultery"? Surely one must understand clearly that if "Never Again" is to be forever, then the precepts 19 and 20 of The Way To Happiness must be a reality for us all --- "Try Not To Do Things To Others That You Would Not Like Them To Do To You." and "Try To Treat Others As You Would Want Them To Treat You."

This article is chuck full of falsehoods and mis-information. The author is twisting something very good for all into something bad. Why on earth would anyone object to helping children learn a positive non-religious moral code. Sounds like the author was trained in American media - you can't believe anything on our TVs or newspapers. The Way to Happiness booklets are for everyone. They help people think for them selves and make up their own minds about things - is that why the Ministry of Education does not approve of the booklet? We sure wouldn't want people to make up their own mind about things! That really would be bad for the Ministry! Disgusted, Rev. Jay Cltheroe

Only an editor who is clamped up in a stiff office with no personal experience with helping improve the lives of others could conceive of an article bashing good people like this articles does. And mind you bashing a religious group on top of that. Isn't the editor due for a vacation! Or is he getting a pay raise for following instructions to publish this smear campaign on an agenda from 'oh who owns the owners of the NYTimes?'

Take a down and out individul Tell them who they are is not good enough When they are broken, give them conditional hope, friendship, and postive reinforcement for accepting what you want them to learn. Don't let them rejoin their friends and more importantly, do not leave them alone in their thoughts. Let them know you are watching them and everything they do. If they do someting wrong, withdraw good things and act unjust, even cross to the point of being mean. Is this how scientology works? You an use the same thing on converts. As Bob Marley states in his song "Don't let them fool you, or even try to school you. and... "Go to Hel if what your thinking is not right." If G-d loves you, who cares what Scientology or any religion of that matter, tries to force on you. Stick to Torah Pashoot

Ridiculous there they go again, the Scientology squad doing their usuial damage control. Tell me Scientologists how do you teach children honesty when you lie to their parents? Is it moral to lie when it suits your goals? The leasons that you teach are taught by your actions. Your group was caught behaving dishonestly AGAIN! Indoctrinating children without their parents consent is not honest, and it is not your right. It is you that needs to learn honesty, you have no business teaching other peoples children "The Way to Happyness" without their parents expressed permission. You LIED about your intentions. You're only lying to yourselves, your lies don't devieve us. We don't want you teaching our kids, we don't care what L Ron Hubbard wrote, we arn't going to by your bridge... to happyness. We don't need you, take your pamplets and shove them.

I can't believe the attack in your article on The Way To Happiness. We've had spectacular results using this booklet in even the worst parts of Los Angeles. How can someone argue with the tenets of The Way To Happiness? Trying to make it look bad by associating it with Scientology is wrong in two ways: 1) It was written by L. Ron Hubbard not as a Scientology thing but as a gift to the world to help put ethics and morals back into a planet where they have largely been abandoned; and 2) Maybe if someone thinks Scientology is so bad they should take another look at Scientology. If they say "Do not take drugs" and Do not abuse drinking alcohol", what is so bad about that?

The article has an almost comic slant to anyone who is vaguely familiar with the Way to Happiness. The common sense precepts have been used around the world to great success helping people. What on earth could be wrong with concepts encouraging personal responsibility, respect and competence? Only a bigoted misinformed person or one attempting to create a "controversy" where non exists would have any objection. The Way to Happiness is used successfully by members of several religions and while authored by L. Ron Hubbard is a non religious text. Roger Harrison

See "Scientology: Religion or racket?" by Benjamin Beit-Hallahymi, online here: http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/beit.html Also "Scientology in Israel" by Ruth Eglash and Kodo, here: http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/israel.htm

"Every news organization has only its credibility and reputation to rely on." Tony Burman, editor-in-chief of CBC New Ynetnews could stand some improvement. Start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism_ethics_and_standards#Objectivity

Scientology is the first religious philosophy organized solely along lines of applicability and workability. It really does work - that's how it's designed. It has helped me a lot, and I recommend it to others who want to improve themselves or to help society. The Way to Happiness is pure goodness. We need more of it in society, and less war, racism and crime. Truly, A.

One has to wonder whether Ynet is interested in reporting the news or just repeating the same old stories over and over? Ynet wrote the exact same story with almost the same headline just two months ago (June 7, 2007)!! So why regurgitate the same trite cliches now? If there is nothing new to say, then let's not waste everyone's time. Surely the writers and editors can find something fresh to report on, or do they just have a personal axe to grind?

I have personally had great success using The Way to Happiness. I have had children come to respect one another, have had previous gang members apply the precepts to better their lives and helped organize community clean up as a direct result of using The Way to Happiness.

Excerpts from 'The Way to Happiness'. Some of my favorites w/ [translation]: 1. Take care of yourself. [but if you're sick we won't let you take medication or seek psychiatric help] 2. Honor and help your parents. [but if they're not Scientologists we'll make sure you never see them again] 3. Seek to live with the truth. [but lie and deceive people to recruit more members] 4. Do not murder. [but if someone dies 'accidently' while trying to escape...] 5. Support the government designed and run for all the people. [but harass judges and anyone else who gets in our way] 6. Respect the religious beliefs of others. [get Israelis to leave Judaism and join our church]

Look at the posts of the crazies!!! Again, they accuse people of having nefarious goals, criminal backgrounds, or being comical simply because we (jewish people) can SEE THROUGH the b.s. that you sling. Calling a cult a cult is not bigoted, misinformed or wrong. I would ask the State to look into enforcing any anti-proselytizing law...Scientologists can maliciously litigate everywhere in the world, but let's stop them in Israel. Am Yisrael Chai!!!

Dear Sir, The recent article by Bat-Hen Epstein Elias on the Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East, and "The Way to Happiness" booklet which they are distributing, was full of lies, generalities, misleading statements and just plain goofs. In fact, it was purely a hate article, obviously not intended to present the facts or to inform. Personally, I would be ashamed to have written such an article and still call myself a "reporter". Venemous spin doctor would be a better representation of Mr. Elias' craft. How can anyone find fault with a group that's promoting peace and understanding in an area of the world that has far too little of both? And make no mistake, the article in question was all about finding fault with a group that is promoting a book which contains workable rules for happy living, and peaceful methods of living together with others, which people of all faiths and religions can agree with. It has been proven over many years, that spreading The Way To Happiness booklet, causes peace to descend on the area in which it is distributed. So maybe Mr. Elias (and your publication) work for people who don't want peace. That's what the article seems to say, at any rate. I would like to see you carry another article apologizing for such a crass attempt to keep peace from happening in the Middle East, and for slandering a group that is helping to promote peace and understanding in the Middle East. Or perhaps your publication is controlled by those who profit from war, and therefore think war is a good thing. That's what it looks like from your article. So tell me it isn't true. Alan K

Scientology is a subject that is often misunderstood in society. This article does not help matters. I quote: "According to Scientology, some 75 million years ago, a tyrant from space named Zino arrived on Earth and left behind extraterrestrial parasites that cling to humans." This is FALSE. Many critics, and some unenlightened journalists, continue to believe that Scientologists believe in this sort of stuff. Whilst it is true that Hubbard did investigate past life data (including the notion that if one has lived before, is it possible one has lived before outside of Earth?) gathered from years of research and thousands of case studies) and whilst it is true that there are writings comparable to what is described here, all such data comes under the category of PARA-SCIENTOLOGY and are NOT any way part of the core subject. Scientologists are free to believe in what the heck they like. Everyone is different afterall. * * * "Those things I tell you are true, are not true because I tell you they are true. And if anything I tell you, or have ever told you, is discovered to differ from the individual observation...then it isn't true! It doesn't matter whether I said it was true or not!" L. Ron Hubbard, from Scientology & Effective Knowledge * * * I also quote from the article, "The advanced stages of Scientology deal with removing those parasites by hypnosis and, if this treatment fails, the patient is placed in isolation. " ROFL! I've never heard such total bullsh*t! The author of this piece has clearly not even bothered to investigate Scientology in any real depth aside from skimming through a hate site off the web. This really is very poor journalism and personally I could feel quite insulted that someone is describing my beliefs and spiritual practice in this way. It's absolute rubbish!!! If someone wants to learn about Scientology then they should look into it for themselves. Listen to people's opinions, sure. But think for yourself and study it as any other Scientologist would. Read a book on the subject - Dianetics: Evolution of a Science is a great place to start, you can read it online at http://www.dianetics-theevolutionofascience.com/ - do a life improvement course or perhaps have a go at some Auditing (Dianetics/Scientology spiritual counselling). Scientology continues to grow for one reason only: it works.

it was a bit over the edge but true to the spirit of southpark #57 you are a delusional sucker... sadly you have taken it upon yourself to try and propagate your cult like beliefs on others. p.s. hubbard was a pedophile p.p.s. aliens didnt suck up my soul

When one happens to have knowledge of something, and sees some utter idiocy published, it is perplexing. The murderer, Charles Manson, a Scientologist? Completely invented. He would be the last person to be drawn to a philosophy based on care and responsibility for others. He had attained no state and had no contact, other than someone's allegedly finding a book somewhere among his effects. The other "information" in the article is similarly absurd. The Way to Happiness bookets, etc. are and always have been completely non-religious. They are used by various churches, clubs, companies, etc. and were always intended to provide non-religious, simple guides toward a happier life. Even the most cursory investigation would expose the nonsense, but evidently no real research was even attempted.

Hey, what's the problem. How can teaching the kids moral principles be bad. If that's all they are doing, who cares what their religious beliefs are. In fact, it seems strange that the author of the article gets so upset about it. It like he thinks moral principles is a bad idea.