Internet Authority Google Prefers Xenu.Net Over Scientology.Org - Page 2
Third Party-Site News Sites
The New York Times - Page Rank 9
The LA Times - Page Rank 8
Washington Post - Page Rank 8
USAToday - Page Rank 8
CNN - Page Rank 9
News, Reviews Magazine
Blogcritics Magazine - Page rank 6
Rolling Stone Page Rank 7
I found these results surprising on one hand, but not shocking. In general, Scientology, despite its wealth, implausible claims, and celebrity backing, isn't very highly regarded in the general public. The entire top-down operation is viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism, not so much for its "out there" claims about attainable God-like powers or space aliens, but simply because it operates in a secretive and litigious nature.
It's also important to note the affect the internet has had on this insular culture. Prior to the world wide web, CoS was able to manage its information through copyright and intellectual property laws, but with so many people having access to the web, critics and ex-members alike have an opportunity to share Scientology's most closely guarded secrets with a public who might not otherwise care or understand what goes on behind its gilded walls.
It is safe to say, the public at large does not hold Scientology up as the authority on ANYTHING, let alone the mind. Now, we have concrete verification that Google sides with the public on this, even if it is filtered through a complicated process of 0's and 1's.
I found it particularly interesting that three celeb tabloid sites had the same page rank or higher, as Scientology's main site. Does this mean we can safely say that Google views Scientology on par with tabloid sites who are best known for doodle bombs on people's faces, openly suggestive speculation on who's gay and who isn't, and whether Sasquatch really exists?
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