Scientology's secret scriptures are revealed on the Internet
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Church of Scientology is fighting a legal battle against dissident members who have transmitted the church's secret scriptures on the Internet world-wide computer link.
The Los Angeles-based church, founded by the science- fiction writer L Ron Hubbard in 1954, restricts access to its religious texts until members pay thousands of dollars - sometimes forfeiting their life-savings - for the privilege of spiritual growth.
In a suit filed in Los Angeles last week the organisation accused Arnaldo Lerma, a former missionary of the church, of copyright infringement and trade-secret misappropriation for electronically posting the 136-page text. The teachings have become hot property. After Mr Lerma, 44, posted the teachings on 31 July on the Usenet discussion group "alt.religion.scientology", the material instantaneously became available all over the world.
In court papers the church alleged Mr Lerma had stolen the documents before posting them in cyberspace. Last Friday federal marshals confiscated his computer equipment. "They even took my [computer] mouse and modem," said Mr Lerma, who calls himself a "21st-century blacksmith".
"You have to jump through a lot of expensive hoops to get access to this," said Mr Lerma, a member of the church between 1968 and 1977. "This is the big secret at the end of the rainbow." In February another former member in California was sued for posting material about the church.
According to the texts the Scientologists, who are estimated to have anywhere between 50,000 and 8 million members, aim "to bring an individual to an understanding of himself and his life as a spiritual being".
Helena Kobrin, a lawyer for the Religious Technology Center, which holds the Scientologists' copyrights, said that other suits could follow. "There are people out there who think the Internet has created a medium where rules go away."
The case has caused outrage among Scientology dissidents on the forum that was set up in 1991 to "expose" the church. One critic in Arizona said: "A church that won't tell you what they teach unless you pay them? Most religions are happy to have you spread their gospel far and wide.''
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments