Scientology, growingly recognized as a religion worldwide, becomes 60 in Denmark
The Church of Scientology Denmark celebrated its 60th anniversary with a lively event in Copenhagen, where distinguished speakers, such as a respected religious scholar, a passionate human rights advocate and the daughter-in-law of the church’s first Danish pioneer participated. The festivities included performances, thought-provoking speeches, delicious treats and a special tour of the church’s historic premises.
Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, 21st May 2024 – It was on 1st April 1964 that the very first Church of Scientology got registered in Denmark. The day was celebrated with an Open House anniversary in the premises of the Church of Scientology Denmark, located right in the oldest square in Copenhagen. Among the speakers celebrating the day were a renowned religious scholar, a Human Rights advocate and the daughter-in-law of the man, who first brought Scientology to Denmark in 1964.
The 60 years anniversary was celebrated with an Open House attended by dignitaries, friends, neighbors, professionals, members of the Church and people passing by, who experienced both enlightening speeches and uplifting live entertainment.
The first speaker, scholar of religion, Adjunct Professor Tim Jensen, expressed his gratitude for having had the opportunity over the years to follow the Church of Scientology. He said:
“As a religious scholar it is interesting to be able to follow the development and establishment of a new religion like Scientology. In my scientific work with comparative religious history I have looked at both Scientology and other minority religions vis-à-vis the religion of the Danish majority and the dominant perceptions of what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ when it comes to religion.
It is my hope that this work is paving the way for people to reflect more on whether their culturally determined views of religion are the only correct and possible ones. That perhaps religion can exist in other ways and perhaps people such as Scientologists could be perfectly fine even if their religion may seemed ‘foreign’ and ‘different’. I want to thank you for the extreme openness and kindness I have been met with in the Church.”
The next speaker was long-term human rights advocate and author, Bashy Quraishy. After giving the anecdotes about how he got introduced to the Church of Scientology more than 30 years ago, he went on to saying:
“Even if I do not know in full detail, what the Church of Scientology stand for, I have a pretty good idea of the work you are engaged in.
Top of the list is to uplift an individual spirit, thus making that person, not only a happy and satisfied human being but also a valuable contributor to spread kindness, freedom and hope in the society and the world at large. To me, this is the greatest achievement of the Church of Scientology and the continuation of the legacy of Mr. L. Ron Hubbard’s lifelong work.”
Before the guests were able to enjoy more live entertainment, delicious refreshments and were given the opportunity to tour the esthetically renovated property in the Copenhagen middle-age city, which since 7 years has been the home of the Church of Scientology Denmark, there were two more final speakers.
The first one was Kirsten Jørck, daughter-in-law of the man who first brought Scientology to Denmark in 1964, Knud Jørck. She told how he had visited the home of the founder of the Scientology religion, L. Ron Hubbard, in the south of England in the early 1960ies. After having read some of the books about the subject, he was so enthusiastic that he filled up his car with books and brought them back to Denmark for his friends.
Kirsten Jørck continued:
“I remember the first Scientology Center in a Copenhagen suburb, where a lecture was held every Wednesday. People were lining up in front of the house an hour before the lecture started and the queue went all the way down the street. And when the room was full, the door was simply closed and people were told to come back next Wednesday.”
The description was so picturesque that it made everyone laugh. She went on to tell about how she and her husband, Peter Jørck, became executives in the Danish Church of Scientology, a position they held for many years after having done a full education as Church Executives directly under the supervision of L. Ron Hubbard.
At the end, Kirsten Jørck introduced her son, Mikkel Jørck, who is now the Executive Director in the Danish Church of Scientology and who could tell how he has himself just gone through an even fuller education for Church Executives as developed by L. Ron Hubbard together with a whole team from the Danish Church. In his address to the audience he underlined:
“This Church has never had a more competent team at the helm and we are very happy to now be able to present all the tools of Scientology to our parishioners, our neighbors and the society at large.”
Aside from the Danish Church, Copenhagen is also home to the Church of Scientology Europe, which was first established in Denmark in 1968. Here parishioners from all over Europe come to participate in the more advanced religious Scientology services provided in this special Church of Scientology.
Further, the publishing house, New Era Publications ApS, was also established in Copenhagen back in 1968 and is now located in a Copenhagen suburb, housing one of the two publishing houses in the world, established uniquely to only present the works on one author, L. Ron Hubbard.
Scientology’s recognition as a religion, but also for its positive impact in civil and humanitarian causes has not stop increasing, specially since the creation of Ideal Churches around the world and the laser precision tailored programs on drug prevention, human rights education, education, moral values and religious freedom worldwide.
Media Contact
Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights
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