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The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religious movement. The movement has been the subject of a number of controversies, and the Church of Scientology has been described by government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous superior court judgements as both a dangerous cult and a manipulative profit-making business. In 1979, several executives of the organization were convicted and imprisoned for multiple offenses by a U.S. Federal Court. The Church of Scientology itself was convicted of fraud by a French court in 2009, a decision upheld by the supreme Court of Cassation in 2013. The German government classifies Scientology as an unconstitutional sect. In France, it has been classified as a dangerous cult. In some countries, it has attained legal recognition as a religion.
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My Scientology Movie is a 2015 British documentary film about Scientology directed by John Dower, and written by and starring Louis Theroux. The film takes an unconventional approach to the subject matter, featuring young actors "auditioning" for parts playing high-profile Scientologists in scenes recreating accounts from ex-members about incidents involving senior church management. The Church of Scientology responded by putting the filmmakers under surveillance and denouncing the film.
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References
- 1 2 Kirchner, Stephanie (24 March 2010). "German Movie Angers Scientologists, Prompts Rival Film - TIME". Time magazine. Berlin. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- 1 2 Müller, Martin U. (2 February 2010). "Based on a True Story: TV Movie Portrays Dark Side of Scientology". Hamburg, DE: Der Spiegel Online. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ Connolly, Kate (11 March 2010). "Scientologists try to block 'intolerant' German feature film". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ "Scientologists try to ban critical German feature film". Telegraph. London. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ Bates, Theunis (13 March 2010). "Scientologists Accuse German Film of 'Intolerance'". AOL News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ "Bis nichts mehr bleibt: Quotenerfolg für Scientology-Film" [Until Nothing Remains ratings success for Scientology film] (in German). Der Spiegel Online. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2012. (Eng. tr.)
- ↑ Fröhlingsdorf, Michael (25 March 2010). "Scientology gegen ARD: "Geschichten, die vorne und hinten nicht stimmen"" [Scientology versus ARD: "Stories that are not true front and rear"] (in German). Der Spiegel online. Retrieved 12 October 2012. (Eng. tr)
