Church of Scientology Marks 45 Years of Service in Germany with Festive Munich Street Celebration

Event highlighting the religion’s impact in Bavaria along with Church-sponsored humanitarian and social betterment programs blends education and information with an atmosphere of gaiety.

On one of Europe’s busiest walking streets—Munich, Germany’s Neuhauser Straße—a festive assortment of colorful pavilions, tents, balloons, banners and flags called attention to a milestone achievement: The 45th anniversary of the Scientology Church in Munich.

Dozens of Scientologists were on hand both to mark the momentous occasion and to answer the question “What is Scientology?” Visitors were also introduced to the acclaimed humanitarian and social betterment programs the Church supports.

 

An addiction counselor was inspired to pay a visit to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World tent and found its Truth About Drugs materials fascinating. He was pleased to receive a set of booklets as well as an information kit containing every element of the campaign, including public service announcements and the feature-length documentary The Truth About Drugs—Real People, Real Stories.

A banner displaying a unique version of the “Golden Rule” drew the interest of another passerby. It read, “Try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you” and “Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you.” The man was eager to take a copy of The Way to Happiness booklet when he learned that these principles are among the 21 precepts of that nonreligious moral code, authored by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

A professor of sociology and psychology had previously heard about the Church’s humanitarian activities and was pleased to have the opportunity to learn about them in greater depth.

Scientology has had an active presence in Germany since 1970, but over the past decade, this has taken on an entirely new dimension. Inspired by Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, a movement has coalesced to reach out with effective solutions to society’s most pressing problems. These humanitarian programs, based on technology developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, were showcased in a series of Pavilions that described:

• Scientology Volunteer Ministers, one of the largest independent relief forces in the world. With its motto, “Something can be done about it,” Volunteer Ministers provide unconditional assistance in times of disasters great and small.
  
• Citizens Commission on Human Rights, the world’s leading independent mental health watchdog group since 1969, responsible for helping to enact some 181 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive psychiatric practices.
  
• United for Human Rights and its sister organization Youth for Human Rights—global education initiatives working to raise awareness of human rights by educating people worldwide on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  
• The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, whose international Truth About Drugs initiative has reached 260 million people worldwide. The program is committed to eradicating drug abuse and providing meaningful drug education and prevention to young people.
  
• The Way to Happiness: Published in 112 languages, its 21 precepts have brought calm to communities torn by violence, peace to areas ravaged by civil strife, and self-respect to millions.