Okay, this topic comes out of a hijacked Pit Thread where I was asked what Anonymous was and why it’s battling the Church of Scientology. This isn’t exactly witnessing, I’m not here to tell you that everyone should hate the CoS. I can only explain why I’ve attended two protests against them and will continue to do so.
First, I don’t speak for Anonymous. Nobody does. That’s pretty much the point. For every generalization I make, a hundred people will tell you why it doesn’t apply to them. For every fact about Anonymous I give, two hundred will tell you I’m mistaken. I can only tell you my views. Second, I am lifting liberally from this site: Why We Protest I feel it does an excellent job explaining what is going on. Finally, I consider myself as having joined Anonymous in early February. So while I can comment on what was happening beforehand, I wasn’t there.
What is Anonymous?
Anonymous is a group of people who gather solely via messageboard. I’m assuming everyone reading this is familiar with how those work and how you can feel part of a group of people you’ve never met in real life. 
There is no leader; there is no reason to follow anyone besides thinking they have a good idea.
We are your sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends.
Unsuprisingly, we’re also a bunch of Suppressive Persons. Go figure. 
What isn’t Anonymous?
It isn’t a bunch of people sitting in their mother’s basement cataloguing their pokemon collections.
It isn’t a bunch of terrorists, religious bigots, communists, fascists, KKK members, or nazis.(Illinois or otherwise)
It isn’t a group against Freedom of Religion or Freedom of Speech. In fact, it’s very much the opposite.
How large is Anonymous?
That’s a hard question to answer. I don’t know how many people attended last saturday’s protests, but the one in
Febuary had over 7,500 people in 17 different countries. The people who attend the protests are but a very small part of the people who consider themselves Anonymous. Many, many more people have done things such as write emails, make flyers, or even just share their views with friends.
Exactly who is considered a member is pretty broad. Have you ever told someone of the dangers of Scientology? Have you ever told someone about Anonymous? Have you ever provided someone with the resources to educate themselves against Scientology?
If you answered yes to any of those, congratulations. You’re Anonymous. I’d offer you cake, but that’d be a lie. Except for last saturday when it was most and delicious and the very opposite of a lie.
Do you know people between the ages of 15 and 30? Odds are good you’ve met at least one member of Anonymous.
How did it start?
Anonymous’s roots are either a thing of pride for having come so far, or a source of embarrassment depending on how you look at it. Much of it’s roots come from 4chan, Something Awful, YouTube, and other places best known as the retarded sandbox of the internet. And considering that the two most common things on the internet are porn and really stupid ideas, that’s pretty low.
There is at the root of Anonymous a general “information wants to be free” feeling, and people in it tend to have Free Content viewpoints of varying strength. From “let’s take a look at how we handle copyright laws” to “nobody owns any form of media and we should have access to everything.” Personally, I think that abolishing the idea of copyrights is utterly stupid, but the whole spectrum is represented. This isn’t really an intrinsic part of Anonymous, just my opinion of the social beliefs of its members. It also helps explain some of Anonymous’s actions and opinions.
Why Scientology?
For lulz. Okay, that may have been the start, but believing that’s why it’s continued is shortchanging what Anonymous has become. Scientology has a history of suppressing information, as well as outright litigation of anyone they don’t like. For a group believing that there is no such thing as too much information, that’s a big strike against them.
Scientology has a long history of abuses. They tear families apart, they engage in brainwashing, they’ve participated in assult, fraud, child neglect, and more. People have died because of them.
Their abuses are not limited to their own members either. Their Fair Game policy is a direct call to destroy by any means their critics. They will not shy away from doing so either.
They are a malicious con game masquerading as a religion. We oppose them because it is the moral and ethical thing to do.
Why now?
Honestly, because of the way Scientology reacted to the leaked Tom Cruise video. Not the most noble of reasons to join the fight, but there you go. The video was a big hit amongst various groups, played everwhere, and was posted all over the internet. Instead of taking the smart option and trying to ignore it, Scientology lashed out with its usual battery of lawsuits. Many of these lawsuit were directed to websites that members of Anonymous considered their own. Scientology’s plan didn’t work, and the more they tried to suppress it, the more enjoyment people got out of posting it. The Anonymous of the time got a big kick out of watching Scientology squirm and be outraged about everything they did. This was the point at which the fight was truly being carried out for laughs, with no other real reason.
But the more people took notice of Scientology, the more they stopped being that wacky Hollywood cult and became a monster in the eyes of Anonymous. Scientology’s crimes were real, and they didn’t see Anonymous as a group playing pranks but a threat.
Eventually Anonymous started taking real action against them. They joined with others who had been longtime opponents of Scientology, and became an activist group for real. Anonymous’s numbers have only continued to grow since.
What does Anonymous want?
For a start, an end to Scientology’s tax exempt status. An end to their crimes and possible punishment for them is a dream, but one that is still a long way off.
What about people who actually believe in Scientology’s teachings? (Or, why do you hate religion?)
We don’t make a judgement of people’s personal beliefs. We oppose the bait and switch tactics and outright brainwashing of Scientology members. We oppose their practice of charging their members in the name of religion.
Anonymous continues to support Free Zone as a group that practices the teachings of Hubbard without the price tag.
The best video I can direct you to is one that I feel strongly about. It’s about the formation of Anonymous and the start of the war on Scientology. It includes footage of the Febuary 10th protest and an invitation to come to the last protest. (It was held 3-15) It’s long at 14 minutes, but if a bunch of ritalin popping youth can sit through it I’m confident at least one member of this board can as well. 
Road to February 10
Other links detailing Scientolgy, their beliefs, and crimes:
Operation Clambake/xenu.net More information on Scientology then you ever wanted to know.
Ex-Scientology Kids Ever wonder what it’s like growing up as a Scientologist? These people did it, and still bear the emotional and mental scars. This is what Suri Cruise has to look forward to. I found the part on Scientology’s school system fascinating, if horrifing.
Why are they dead? A list of people who’s deaths have been attributed to the Church of Scientology.
I suppose the debate here is three part. Is Anonymous right in protesting Scientology? Is Anonymous right in protesting Scientology over other, more mainstream religions? And does Anonymous have a snowball’s chance in heck of acomplishing anything?
I’d say the answer to the first two is yes. I’d like to say the same about the third, but I am forced to admit that I can really only hope that the answer is yes.
Thanks for reading what turned out to be a fairly long post.
We are Anonymous. We are Legion.
My only defense is that it’s something you have to learn for yourself no matter how much you’re told and that Anonymous has done this on an international scale.)