Anonymous protests the Church of Scientology.

While I think it is positive that people are active on different topics, I am left to wonder aren't there bigger issues facing the people? There are just as many troubling "belief systems" posing as "religions" that have multiple front groups and other interests. Many "christian" entities push political issues on the public, some instill guilt and fear into their members by reinforcing the concept that people are miserable sinners, born with "original sin." Some of these institutions have coerced, harassed, and terrified their members and demanded conformity for acceptance has been shown to cause a lot of suffering for people.

Maybe I am way off track or this is a covert rebuttal from the pharma/psych industry or other "religious" entities? Who knows... but this is NOT worthy of front page INDYBAY news, what a disappointment.

Nope, way off track. A suspiciously Scilon-esque track of thought, I might add, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

More pressing issues? Then let other people see to them, research them, protest them as they see fit. If people were always were to pass up issues just because there were something "more important", ultimately there would only be a single cause of the greatest importance, focused on to the exclusion of ALL else. For example, because there is a large scale war going on, should unfairly treated employees choose not to go on strike, JUST because there are "more pressing issues"? Just because (as there will always be) there are "more important" issues, doesn't mean the smaller ones in our own backyard should be ignored.

Unfortunately Anonymous chose to focus on the minor aspects of the previous comment; the primary point was there are many harmful "belief systems" of a "religious" and/or political nature. Many are coercive, harmful, and potentially dangerous, unfortunately these are rarely outed or are substantially covered up. Or to take the argument further maybe questioning motives behind a movement is not acceptable; we are expected to join and support without question -- unfortunately that's part of the problem.

Please, anyone who thinks Scientology is just a Hollywood fad, please do some research. It is much, much worse than you think. It is on a totally different order of magnitude from the Christian TV preacher money-grubbers -- Scientology is way beyond that. Please check out http://www.xenu.net and http://www.xenu-directory.net

Ah, a covering of all the points raised was desired? My apologies, I'll go through each. Before I do so, I offer the disclaimer that although Anonymous as a disorganized organized collective works against a common foe, its participants are (as with ANY organized group) not a hivemind of drones, and as such may be inclined to think differently about the points that have been raised. Here I speak only for myself, based on my own experiences with Anonymous as a collective and as an individual.

>>>"belief systems" of a "religious" and/or political nature. Many are coercive, harmful, and potentially dangerous, unfortunately these are rarely outed or are substantially covered up."

Fair enough, but let's get one thing straight right off the bat: Anonymous picked up on the church of Scientology to BEGIN with originally because of the CoS' ties in internet censorship (Anonymous' domain, as they saw it). It was not until further information was found through personal testimonies of ex-members (the abuses, the lack of transparency, the fraudulent lures) that Anonymous realized that far from being a simple money-hungry, wacky Hollywood new age religion, the church of Scientology in its current form is dangerous and underestimated. Perhaps dangerous /because/ it is underestimated.

But Anonymous didn't head into this fight because they wanted to go after ANY old belief system (more on that below)--it STARTED with the church of Scientology encroaching on Anonymous' ground, and that's why Anonymous took the fight to them.

Another thing that needs to be straightened out--Anonymous doesn't care what Scientologists believe because they have every right to do so. Freedom of every religion and creed, and all that. What Anonymous wants a major overhaul in the policies and practices of the authorities within the current existing church of Scientology. Anonymous wants the current church of Scientology to either admit to being a business and ACT like one, or to truly be the religion it claims to be and BEHAVE like one.

It isn't that Anonymous hasn't heard, for example, "Well why don't you guys go after the Catholic church?" many times before. People simply misunderstand that THAT isn't our fight. Pure and simple. I should hope people could respect that. For instance, I certainly don't go up to a group of Pro-Lifers (even though I don't support them anyhow!) and tell them, "Hey, there's a war going on in the Middle East, and lots of GROWN men and women are dying, don't you think THAT'S more important than some undeveloped fetuses being terminated? There's more (important/pressing/similar) issues, and you should be protesting them (instead/ALL)!"

>>>"Or to take the argument further maybe questioning motives behind a movement is not acceptable; we are expected to join and support without question -- unfortunately that's part of the problem."

Really? Who's asking you to join? Or even support? The truth of the matter is, part of being anonymous is that it's not ABOUT Anonymous. No names, no egos. Anonymous wants to turn the general public's attention on the current church of Scientology, and whether or not you or someone else supports our "motives" (whatever you believe them to be), or our methods, the fact is that Scientology is receiving attention--critical attention. And they hate that--much in the way that they hate when you research their organization. And if you're ALREADY aware of the dangers or fraudulent practices of the church of Scientology, hey, that's all Anonymous would ask of you.

The Anonynuts "cause" may be helped if they volunteered at a food bank, painted an orphanage, or cleaned a park, as well as protest at a church of their choice.

Otherwise I'm afraid I can't say I am too interested.

Wake me up when you can prove you are not instigated by big pharma, Turd-ezky and their ilk.

Go, Anonynuts, Go!

Go home. Sheesh.