DeviantART is currently displaying advertisements for Scientology.

You can only see those ads if you're either not logged in, or a basic user. Subscribers can't see those ads. Everybody else can.

Why is a site that's geared towards community and ART allowing advertisements by a "religious" organisation (and I have put religious into quotation marks on purpose - I do not consider Scientology a religion, but a dangerous cult, but that's just my opinion)? Is it just about making money, taking advertising money from anybody that comes along with a big enough wallet?

Not everybody may have seen those ads. I know of two screenshots that have been posted:




Personally, I have a serious problem with those ads. There is a LOT of teenagers and young adults on this site that may well be vulnerable to being lured into the net that is Scientology, and once you're in, you're in. No way out.

I know that in Germany, the government is attempting to ban Scientology. They are not recognized as a church in a whole bunch of countries in Europe. They may be in the US, but certainly not across the pond. Read the Wikipedia article if you want to know more: [link]

Here's a small extract from the article:

The controversies involving the Church and its critics, some of them ongoing, include:

* Scientology's disconnection policy, in which members are encouraged to cut off all contact with friends or family members considered "antagonistic."
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* Criminal activities committed on behalf of the Church or directed by Church officials
* Conflicting statements about L. Ron Hubbard's life, in particular accounts of Hubbard discussing his intent to start a religion for profit, and of his service in the military.
* Scientology's harassment and litigious actions against its critics encouraged by its Fair Game policy.
* Attempts to legally force search engines such as Google and Yahoo! to omit any webpages critical of Scientology from their search engines (and in Google's case, AdSense), or at least the first few search pages
* Allegations by former high-ranking Scientologists that David Miscavige beats and demoralizes staff and that physical violence by superiors towards staff working for them is a common occurrence in the church. Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis denied these claims and provided witnesses to rebut them.

Due to these allegations, a considerable amount of investigation has been aimed at the Church, by groups ranging from the media to governmental agencies.
[Source: [link]

I have lodged a complait with the advertising department, and I know I'm not the only one who did that. But more people need to be made aware, hence this news article.

Tom Cruise and John Travolta can smile at me all they want, I don't buy any of it. Scientology is dangerous, and Deviantart should NOT be supporting this organisation, or taking money off them in return for displaying ads. And that should be a matter of principle, not only geared towards Scientology, but all religion.

Focus on what this community is about - ART.