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An Open Letter to the people of Germany
Dear Fellow Citizen,
In this edition of Freedom we present information so that you can make up your own mind.
More people than ever are asking the question, “What is Scientology?” The purpose of this edition is to answer that question and to inform readers about some of our basic beliefs and activities in order to foster a true understanding of who we are and what we really do.
What you read in Freedom may not be what you have read in German press or what you heard a politician state during an interview, but then you may not be aware of what a distorted view our news media can give, especially if the flames are fueled by political opportunism.
For some reason, we are willing to accept information from the media without casting a critical eye over it. The words of Mark Twain should serve as reminders that we shouldn’t be too easily lured into relying on something as true just because it is printed. He said of people that “they generally tend to believe what is contained in the press, unless they’re reading the one story that they have personal knowledge about.”
Our country, considering its historical reputation, should make every effort to lead the world in tolerance toward religious and ethnic minorities. That would be the one sure way to change the view of Germany abroad, a view which is becoming increasingly critical towards the discrimination that becomes more brazen with each day.
Our hope is that the information contained in this magazine will help reduce the fear of the unknown, the new and the different. We want to provide the impetus for change to occur towards tolerance, dialogue and understanding.
I am confident that you will find this and future editions of Freedom informative and interesting. For those of you who are new to Freedom, it has been published since 1968, and today is printed in a dozen editions and six languages in countries all around the world.
Scientologists care about their communities and will continue to contribute to them for many years to come.
It is time for our country to stop listening to the few irrational voices of hatred or discord and to move into the future—a future that is brighter and more constructive for all Germans, working together.
You are welcome to contact me if you have questions or comments. And you are also very welcome to visit any Church or Mission of Scientology at any time to see it for yourself. Just call. Our doors are open.
Church of Scientology
of Germany
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