"Newly compiled figures show the federal and state governments will give a Scientologist-linked private school in Sydney more than $1 million.

The Athena School in Newtown says on its website that it teaches from the booklet The Way to Happiness, which was written by Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard.

New South Wales Greens MP John Kaye has compiled data sourced from answers given to questions on notice in both federal and state parliaments.

He found that over the next four years, the school will get about $1.4 million of government funding.

"Public money is now being used to support a school that admits to using the discredited Scientology-based teaching methodology," he said."
Source ABC http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/02/2759186.htm

Unless the Scientologists have acted illegally in any way, it is just a eligible for government funding as an Anglican or Catholic School. Even The Brethren receives government funding in this country.

Personally I think any religious group that isolates its members from the general community via strict regulation, coercion or threats should be banned from receiving any government funding. Particularly in cases of family breakdown where the non-believing parent is excluded from contact with their children.

I don't know enough about the Scientologists to make comments about them specifically but that would be the only proviso I would wish in regard to government funding to private religious schools.

I accept that they are a weird lot, those Scientologists.

In fact, I am convinced that Hubbard started the whole thing as a joke, but found that people actually wanted to believe in it. So he kept on embellishing and embellishing the story, fully expecting his followers to reach the end of their credulity quotient... but it never happened.

Which I would suspect is pretty much how all religions, major and minor, actually come into existence, and continue to thrive.

After all, is belief in thetans so very much different from belief in any other deity?

Historically, governments have given tax breaks, handouts and other dispensations to organizations calling themselves religions. The test that they need to pass is not particularly tough, and it would appear that Scientology qualifies.

The only reasonable courses of action are therefore i) cease any and all subsidies to any and all religious groups, or ii) de-classify Scientology itself as a religion.

However, if the latter path is chosen, I would expect the exact same criteria to be applied to Catholicism, Protestantism, Methodism, Happy-Clappies and the whole raft of other believers-in-ethereal-beings.

Funding to ANY non-govt schooling should definitely stop.

The divide and conquer effect is ONE of the myriad of problems facing education today.

Basically if we are already funding a service (education) why should we fund an alternative? regardless of their well meaning intent or not.

Doesn't government have any measures to test learning? New South Wales Greens MP John Kaye should seek that evidence and leave the sensationalism and politics out of it.

Independent schools exist because not all citizens are happy with the State school system and let's face it, some independence in education is highly desirable to protect our democracy.

Besides, since when were taxpayers willing to cough up the sort of money that would provide education for everyone?

The Greens are fond of quoting the UN resolutions when it suits them but they very soon forget when defaming religions of their choosing and in trying to deny the right of people to hold religious beliefs.

Scientology is not my cup of tea, however Greens MP John Kaye seems to be more about discrimination on the basis of religion than anything else.

Beefyboy...... Unfortunately withdrawing government subsidies would exacerbate the gap between private schools and government schools as then only the very privileged wealthy could afford them. We should be grateful that some of our educational taxes are reduced by the willingness of parents to pay school fees and thus alleviate some of the government cost. It would cost us all a lot more if these so called private schools became government facilities. I also suspect the standard of education would drop considerably with less money to go round.

Dear Examinator,

I'm afraid that I agree with Pericles and other
like-minded posters - on this issue.

I agree with his suggestion:

1)Either de-classify Scientology as a religion,
or 2)Stop funding all privately-run religious schools.

At present however, Scientology qualifies as a religion,
and therefore is eligible for government funding - the
same as other privately run religious schools.

Yes, while Scientology is classified as a religion, then it must be treated the same by our Government as other religions.

Wikipedia tells us that "...One belief of Scientology is that a human is an immortal alien spiritual being, termed a thetan, that is trapped on planet Earth in a physical body."

Hmmm... well I guess this notion is no sillier than some notions from other religions, however, I would class it as pretty bizarre really!

I believe the Government is considering some sort of investigation into some of the scientology dealings.
Could be interesting.

If the Government would stop brainwashing the kids with secular humanism there would be no need for Private schools. The billions upon billions has largely been a failure with multitudes deserting the failed system. A million or two to the scientology cult is insignificent compared to the wasted money on the flawed secular system. Must admit it is one weird cult.

It is strange that we even let this mob claim to be a religion, we got it wrong.
We must understand they have money and spite to burn.
They could, they may, take OLO on to stop us saying things like that.
Bar them, out law them.
And for once the greens got it right get into them bloke.

foxy, Pericles,

My point entirely personally From what I understand of Scientology, I'd do both. I would suggest it's on par with Milan Brick and his bogus cure for cancer. I also think that the leaders deserve the same.
In one of my activities, I had to arrange legal action against the organization, on behalf of a young woman who had separated from her member hubby. They were allegedly harassing her at home and work. The case is current.

Best of luck with that, examinator.

>>I had to arrange legal action against the organization, on behalf of a young woman who had separated from her member hubby. They were allegedly harassing her at home and work. The case is current.<<

Scientology is notoriously litigious, and happily spends heaps to keep this sort of thing under wraps - I've had experience of it too, but fortunately only indirectly.

It didn't end well.

I suspect that the final stage of "enlightenment", having moved through the levels and paid your dues at each stage, when you finally get to pay the required several gazillion dollars for access to the meaning of life... you are told that it is all a hoax, perpetrated by Hubbard to amuse himself.

By that point (think famous actor) you'd be far too embarrassed to actually tell anyone else, wouldn't you?

Of course the government shouldn't give funding to a school of scientology, as if it isn't wealthy enough! That's what it is all about gathering wealth, as do all the other religions. Therefore, the government should not fund any religious schools of any persuasion.

Perhaps secular private schools might be the answer? Think about this; if atheists started a private school heralding it's cause of non worship, no god, humanism and the fundamental belief in natural selection, would the government aid a school of this nature, if it met the guidelines and also considering some seem to think atheism is a 'new religion'.

Scientologists believe in beings from outer space, apparently that qualifies it as a 'religion'.

Governments throw money at any body of people who set up independent schools so they don't have to fully fund them we all know that.

We got it wrong a long time ago, see The Glebe in Sydney.
a gift suburb to the Church of England.
And Catholic Church's world wide are rich but still find a way to put their hands in our pockets.
This group has form, some of us lived at the time of its birth/invention.
And quite rightly some of us will forever be concerned at its tactics.
I could focus on an offshoot of Christianity alive and far too well in our country and others, it too has unlimited cash to litigate.
While we have zero right to give tax protection to any creed, it is strange we overlook this threads group.
Simple as it sounds if their religion is right, and its not, every other God is a fraud.

What's the difference between their imaginary friend and that say of the Catholics'?

As they meet the criteria for a legitimate church, they get the funding in spite of their heresy.

At least they have yet to have their priests fiddling with kids.

Hearing some of the stories from ex scientologists who are calling for an inquiry into the sect, how do we know that they aren't into fiddling with kids? It is a sect of course not even a true religion. There are numerous sects in this country receiving our tax dollars.

It's all about power of course, Catholic priests used their positions over the weak and uneducated, the Muslims leaders kill, main and rape in the name of Islam or send others to do so, because they hold the position of power. Sect leaders do as they please because they can and they can because they indoctrinate the children in their schools.

Our tax dollars go to help that end. Amazing really that a goverment gives to these religious set-ups to save them funding decent public schools. Imagine how much money there would be for public education if we demanded they stop the hand-outs. Millions every year.

Of course those wanting private religious schooling for their precious offspring would disagree with this. To them I would just say, if that's what you want, pay for it, don't ask us to. I do believe that religious schools are akin to indoctrination. Children schould not be forced into these schools, they have no say and know no better. It is not right.

Why not give them the money?
The church of scientology provides a service for all those that are moving away from mainstream religion and a belief in God.
How?
Because they belive that aliens are coming to provide us with much needed salvation! ( and God knows we need it )
If funding in this country can be provided to just about anything to please just about anybody why not continue the stupidity?

Why not provide the funding?
The church of scientology provides a much needed service for those that are removing themselves from the mainstream religions and a belief in God.
How?
They believe in the coming of Aliens to offer us much needed salvation and considering that,here in Australia, public funding is used for anybody and anything,why not continue the stupidity!

As a CONSTITUTIONALIST I hold that any monies for any religion is unconstitutional unless the monies are likewise provided to non-religions and even then any monies cannot be use for the purpose of religious material as it must be for non-religious material.
.
Hansard 2-3-1898 Constitution Convention Debates
QUOTE
Mr. REID.-I suppose that money could not be paid to any church under this Constitution?
Mr. BARTON.-No; you have only two powers of spending money, and a church could not receive the funds of the Commonwealth under either of them.
[start page 1773]
END QUOTE
.
It also means any tax deduction for donations to religious bodies is unconstitutional.
.
But with politicians not interested in the constitution, unless it suits their purposes, they rather go for the political benefits and even if this means acting unconstitutional.
.

Gerritt, I totally agree but how do we the people get the constitution changed? Once a law is made, it is there forever so it seems. Politicians take advantage of that, the same as the passing law in the senate, it is almost impossible to get it changed. We are so naive in this country and so laid back, we trust our politicians! Stupid, stupid, stupid...

To Grouch, don't be ridiculous. You know scientology is out to get your hard earned dollars if you fall for it. There's no religion, they are just greedy, power seeking individuals there for what they can get out of it for themselves and thier egos. There is no justice in this country it seems and the bloody scientologists will continue to get our money to further their crazy beliefs.