Movie Presentation

Peter Alexander: "Der Prophit"

June 9, 2001 at 3:30 p.m. in Leipzig

The movie by American producer and former Scientology-Thetan (not to be confused with the German hit singer) had his world premiere at the Cannes film festival. http://www.theprofit.org

The movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. at the close of the press conference (June 9 at 2 p.m.) with which this year's Leipzig Human Rights Award http://www.leipziger-preis.de will be introduced.

2001 Award winner: ex-federal minister Norbert Bluem. Award ceremony and reception on Sunday, June 10, 2001.

The movie shows the rise and growth of a psycho-cult.

The production was massively obstructed by Scientology. The author, Peter N. Alexander, is a former management member of Scientology

"The Profit" tells the story of a cult leader and his rise to power - with the single goal of making profit. In the movie his name is L. Conrad Powers. Power's way begins with his release from the army after the Second World War. He is left without money and joins a Satanic cult. There he finds his wish to found a system similar to Satanism, one with which he can actually attain total control over men and women but which reaches a far larger market.

Powers runs into research on hypnotic regression, renames it "SciMind: The Breakthrough Psychotherapy for everyone" and publishes it as a book. In this book Powers asserts that he can create the state of perfection: a human being with perfect understanding.

The book becomes a best-seller and Powers makes his final breakthrough in the 1960s: he founds his own religion, the "Scientific Spiritualism Church." A famous celebrity joins the group and helps him to succeed.

Very quickly Powers gets in trouble with the tax offices, has to flee, then develops conspiracy theories. He feels like he's being shadowed and eavesdropped upon by the government and starts a counter-offensive with his own secret agents.

His paranoia climbs from year to year. He disappears, but continues to lead his church. Now he's giving his lectures by tape recorder. He succeeds in expanding his Scientific Spiritualism Church over the entire world. Powers also manages to make his original dream come true: he wins total control over men and women in that he promises them the secret of eternal life.

Why does Scientology protest against this film? Similarities to existing organizations, groups and "churches" were intended by the author of the film, Peter N. Alexander, former Thetan in Scientology.