Score another one for the scary church of Scientology, which was based on the book Dianetics by hack science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who even though extremely dead for years had a best-seller last year.

The nation of Sweden, which until this week appeared to be a lovely little country filled with handsome blond people on toboggans, Volvo drivers and Ricola users, upgraded Scientology from a nonprofit group to a religious one. Uncle Sam long ago caved in after a $25-million-dollar campaign of, oh let's say intimidation, by the church, which sued the Internal Revenue Service and individual employees of the IRS.

The Associated Press reported that the change came along with a broad new law that separated the national Lutheran church from state control, and that the change for Scientology means little except that it can apply for the right to marry people. (Maybe they can marry people to the incredibly dead Hubbard, who seems to be some sort of god in the organization.)

Denmark holds out, as does Germany and much of Europe, against Scientology. The German government views Scientology as an "enterprise out to bilk its members" and keeps the group under surveillance as a threat to democracy.

France registers Scientology on a list of 173 groups "that should be closely screened for cult activities," the AP says.

Belgium has investigated the group's finances and Britain has denied it charitable status.

We must revise our opinion of Sweden now.

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