Some of the information written in Jason Worthy's article ("Scholars assess Scientology" SN 7/14) left a lot to be desired in regard to the truth. Journalists try to tell "both sides to the story" which, if you really think about it, pretends that truth does not exist - there cannot be two sides to the truth.

It also seems to be a media tradition to insert controversy where none exists and use half-truths in order to make the piece more interesting, which is what it appears Worthy has done.

Truth: L. Ron Hubbard was always a writer. He wrote many types of fiction: Westerns, detective stories, romance and adventure. In fact, one of his most memorable stories was a horror story, in addition to millions of works of nonfiction. Hubbard was an accomplished professional in many different fields including writing.

Too bad the journalists who try to write about him might not ever write as much or as well as Hubbard did in his lifetime.

Rev. Robert Grimwood obviously knows little about the Scientology religion or even his own. Prior to the Council of Nicea, the Catholic Church (this was in the fourth or fifth century and well before the Protestant Reformation happened) held belief in past lives. His church at inception was some sort of offshoot of the Catholic Church.

Scientology is one of the only major religions to have been founded in the 20th century and is the fastest growing religion on the planet. We have more than 10 million members worldwide.

If a person is planning on becoming a journalist, it seems to me that he/she should seek the truth, not just answers justifying denigrating and attacking the religious beliefs of others or through others.

We have religious freedom in the United States last I heard.

Rev. Mary Anne Ahmad
Church of Scientology of Illinois spokeswoman