Ben Gamblin Online - Blog: 'Cult' is offensive? (no I didn't spell it w...

'Cult' is offensive? (no I didn't spell it wrong)

21 May '08, 21:18

A rather disturbing article appeared on the Guardian website yesterday regarding a youth who has been summoned to appear at court for the use of the word 'cult' on a demonstration placard.

According to the news article (linked) the placard was used by the said teenager as part of a peaceful demonstration against the Church of Scientology and read 'Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult'. The police quoted Section 5 of the Public Order Act which prohibits words that are threatening, abusive or insulting being used on signs.

The word cult has a perfectly valid definition that can factually apply to the Church of Scientology. A dictionary definition of the word is "a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.". Unless I'm mistaken, members of the Church would be bound together by the ideals of scientology.

So now, in this free nation we call Britain, we have people facing prosecution for using harmless words in peaceful demonstrations. It looks to me like this nation just got a little less free.

To be fair, it's only the City of London Police who seem to be overly heavy handed in their interpretation of the law. The Metropolitan Police don't appear to have any issue with the word. There is also some issue with the Guardian's article or the reports that fed into it as summons are not issued on the street by police officers. More likely is that the officer has reported this alleged 'offence' and the youth is waiting to here of any possibly court action.

It's a slippery slope though. If this teenager does get prosecuted, that could set a dangerous precedent for future protests and demonstrations. The right to protest freely is a staple part of our right to freedom of speech. If that right becomes eroded, we are all in a very bad situation.

Now repeat after me:

Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult
Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult
Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult
Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult
Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult
(repeat ad nauseum)

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