Okay. I really need to get a newsreader with a filter then.

Actually, the CofS maintains that IQ's can be raised and that Purif
therapy is healthy. No doubt CofS has had some doctors agree on both
counts. But that's not the point. The point is that Scn services are not
sold or promoted with a feature being that they have been scientifically
proven to do anything.

No doubt with good cause. CofS made stronger claims in the 50's and 60's
than they have the last 30 years. Heat from outside critics back then
along with FDA interest in them were likely the reasons for not only the
grade chart, but for the shift in entry level marketing to happiness and
well-being rather than unprovable god-like abilities.

And why should they? At least to you or any other critic? You're not
buying what they're selling so it's not a productive use of time. The
ploy of hurling an accusation at a target and then demanding the target
prove it's not true is showmanship and PR on either side of an argument.
Politicians do it every election cycle and historically we all know it
as a 'witch hunt'. As long as CofS maintains cash flow and
constitutional protection as a church they are under no obligation to
prove anything to you or any critic. What they *must* prove though, to
their customers, is that it's worth the money - subjectively or
otherwise.

Excuse me? Have you filtered out 99% of the posts on this newsgroup? The
bulk of posters on ars enjoy the
clam-cootie-brainwashed-clambot-$ciendroid name calling and derision of
not only the CofS materials, but the ars posters who claim to be
members. If they doesn't give a damn about the beliefs, then why
ridicule them?

Paul, you seem like a nice fellow, intelligent and interested in CofS
and what threat (real or imagined) it may pose to whomever. But, because
you, me or anyone else calls something a fraud, or a bait-and-switch
doesn't mean that it's true. Has CofS defrauded people? I'm certain that
specific reg's and other staff, in specified cases throughout the
history of CofS have done so. The same for bait-and-switch. But does
that mean the entire membership, all it's staff, and each and every
person who is involved in selling these services is, by association, a
criminal? Nope. Not even close. When you read a headline about a
Catholic priest debauching himself with young boys do you immediatly
rush to the alt.religion.catholic ng and demand they be exposed as a
worlwide cult of pedophiles who have defrauded their members by asking
for donations in exchange for eternal salvation while secretly just
wanting to diddle their kids?

Whatever CofS's actual membership is, it's considerable. In there among
the majority are a few liars, cheats and crooks. So what? Same holds
true for ars most likely. And from time to time people who are also Scn
die. So what? Not every death is a 'cult death', nor, for that matter,
has it been proven yet that any deaths are 'cult deaths' (whatever that
is).

Many Ars posters will continue to demonize and degrade any who disagree
with them, citing the fraud&lies belief as the basis of their attacks.
Claiming that Scn has to prove anything is a dead horse. The burden of
proof rests squarely upon the shoulders of the accusers, not the accused
in all but tax law, environmental law and labor law (to name a few) and
no matter how loud you yell, how long you howl or how many "Scientology
Kills" pickets you make, CofS is much more experienced and well versed
at this game and will very likely outlive the usefulness of this ng.

That remains to be seen. How pious do you claim to be? <grin>

Wolf