An 'Anonymous' Challenge for the Church of Scientology

Scientology has been a controversial belief system since its inception. Although their inner workings are secretive (and protected by the Constitution as such), the Church manages to stay in the media because of some of its high profile members, like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Created by the charismatic author L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology has drawn considerable attention from religious groups, ex-members, and various individuals determined to thwart the organization's message in some way. At present, few attempts have succeeded.

But a video has surfaced within the past few days on YouTube.com that is nothing short of a declaration of war against the Church. Created and submitted by someone or an organization calling themselves "Anonymous," the video depicts a series of filtered scenes of lowering, fast-moving clouds and buildings that apparently are supposed to represent edifices owned and operated by the Church of Scientology. An obviously electronically altered voice delivers the warning/challenge/declaration in an ominous even tone, beginning with a disarming, "Hello, leaders of Scientology."

But that is where the civility ends. Stating that Anonymous is prepared to do battle with the Church of Scientology, they claim to have watched the Church grow and misinform, curb freedom of speech, and suppress its own members as well as the public, so on behalf of the members of the Church that have fallen under their "malign influence," Anonymous and their self-professed growing numbers intend to expel the Church of Scientology from the internet and "dismantle" the Church's infrastructure. Anonymous claims to be doing this for the good of Scientology members, "for the good of mankind, and for our personal enjoyment." In fact, Anonymous encourages the Church to fight, for they (Anonymous) will replace all that the Church silences with ten more. They close the two minute and three second video with: "We are Anonymous. We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."