Tom Cruise's religion

[ArenaBoy]

DISCLAIMER: I'm not typing in the name out of fear of retaliation from them and i don't want Raps to get in trouble.

For those who know what his religion is, it's quite odd. From what I know and learned they happen to be quite out there. What's your opinion on TC's religion? Mine is that they're dangerous and quite vindicative should someone call them out.

[April]

I honestly don't know if I know enough about them to form a fully honest concrete debate about them.

That being said....I find the whole thing rather odd. Isn't the whole religion based on a Sci Fi book? A FICTION sci fi book?

I do find it rather cultish

[rahmota]

April:I know what you mean about the creation of the cruise cult. There is a story among sci-fi fans that the whole thing came about on a bet between RAH and LRH if an artificial religion could be created and take off. Apparently LRH won.

As for anything else about them. They are a very dangerous, strange and wierd cult.

[AFPheonix]

What little I know of it sounds like The Quest For More Money, moreso than other organized religions. It smells awfully funny to me.

[Rapscallion]

Um, we're talking about Scientology, a religion brought to everyone's attention by a noted Science Fiction author.

Can anyone see what his followers missed?

Rapscallion

[Dreamstalker]

Everything You (N)ever wanted to Know

Every so often, I think it's A&E who runs an expose program...very interesting.

[MadMike]

Um, we're talking about Scientology, a religion brought to everyone's attention by a noted Science Fiction author.

I remember them spoofing it on South Park (Tom Cruise will not come out of the closet!), which led Isaac Hayes to quit, which in turn led to a very mechanical-sounding Chef, right before they killed him off.

[Myra]

Yeah a sci-fi author by the name of L. Ron Hubbard had a theory. That one could become richer than the rich by founding his own religion. So he did. And by golly, he made a boatload of money before he died. Somehow, this "religion" is still going strong, with none of it's "followers" getting the joke. They thought this dude was serious, apparently.

But yeah. Tom Cruise is insane, and his "religion" is a cult. The requirement of money and other details fits the requirements to be considered a cult. Only thing they're missing is the kool-aid.

[ArenaBoy]

I remember them spoofing it on South Park (Tom Cruise will not come out of the closet!), which led Isaac Hayes to quit.

The reason being is that he himself is a follower of that cult. He left because he felt offended but there are some that are claiming that it was CoS spokespeople who said it and not him. There was an interview where he was aked how he felt about it to which he replied.

Matt and Trey, they lampoon everything. If you take that shit seriously, I'll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge for $2

Quite a few Hollywood celebrities are CoSers themselves. Elvis' daughter being one of them along with Chick Corea (Jazz artist), John Travolta, Beck (Musician), and Katie herself.

Only thing they're missing is the kool-aid.

They have ways that kill their members in a more disturbing and psychotic way. They make sure that once you are in, you can't get out. They have a practice where if you start to dissent, they lock you up in a room and cut you off from the outside world for a while. People have died from this.

LRH also said "I think that the best way to make money is to start your own religion."

Their beliefs are if anything a little shoddy. Anti-psych is one of them. The irony of this is that LRH was found dead and had psych drugs in his system.

[EmiOfBrie]

CULT OF SCIENTOLOGY
(to the tune of "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour)
Lyrics ©2007 Emi M. Briet


Look in this book, what do you see
The Cult of Scientology
I hear your questions, I know your dreams
We've got everything that you could need
The Cult of Scientology
Like John Travolta, and his wife Kelly
We're the Cult of Scientology, The Cult of Scientology, The Cult of Scientology

We defy Nobel Prize
Cause when Xenu speaks, our brain cells die
Spend some cash and follow me
We can set the Thetans free

We'll sell you life, as you can see
We're the actors from film and TV
We're the Cult of Scientology
And we'll sue you, if you mock me
With Thetans one body makes three!
In the Cult of Scientology
Like Tommy Cruise, and Lisa Marie
We're the Cult of Scientology, The Cult of Scientology, The Cult of Scientology

Keep our eyes, on the prize
Only with your help, can Xenu die
Spend some cash and follow me
We can set the Thetans free

We need your fortune
You'll gain your fame
We'll give you power in L Ron's name!
Speak for the Thetans you need to free
We're. The. Cult. of. Sci. En. Tol. Ogy!
We're the cult of
We're the cult of
We're the cult of
We're the cult of
We're the cult of
We're the cult of
We're the cult of Scientology

[Boozy]

South Park is one of the smartest and most offensive shows on TV. But the thing is, they're EQUAL OPPORTUNITY offenders. They don't care what race or creed you are, they'll call your group idiots regardless.
Politically, it IS pretty liberal...but even then, they did a great episode on hybrid cars and the "smug" attitude of those who drive them.

Back on topic:
The beliefs of Scientologists are incredibly outlandish, but then, so are the beliefs of Christians and Muslims and Jews. The problem is really how they treat their members - once you're in, you're never getting out, and you're going to have to give them a hell of a lot of your money. That's cult practice.

[SongsOfDragons]

Scientology? What a load of crap. There's a bunch of them down at Winchester Market, trying to get people to take 'free stress tests'. This is a university city, with lots of POOR STUDENTS...

...who'd rather use the money to LIVE...

...and who'd rather pull pranks on the sorry twits.

We were talking of linking arms and skipping down Market Street, right in front of them, singing 'We Love You Xeeeenu, and if it's quite all right We Love You Xeeeeenu!!' at the tops of our voices.
Now these money-grabbing anti-medical scum think you have to be a certain level to even hear Xenu's name or else you catch pneumonia, so we reckon we'll get quite a good response.

I have respect for all religions...except this one.

[Dreamstalker]

Ugh...yeah, there's a scientology church downtown. I don't really go down that part of Mass Ave anymore so I don't get harassed as much as I used to, but every so often I'll see them trying to reel people in for a free "scientology is good" film/stress test. Once I even saw little kids handing out fliers for them (in near-blizzard 15 degree weather I might add)

I think one of the sites linked to in the link I posted has a full copy of the stress/personality test and the "right" answers.

[ArenaBoy]

WARNING: THERE ARE GRAPHIC PICTURES IN THIS LINK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

http://www.whyaretheydead.net/

I forgot to mention that I know a guy who almost joined Scientology and he said he backed out as he didn't like the negative energy he got from them. More reasons as to why I hate this group.

[CancelMyService]

The ironic thing is by all accounts this was LRH's attempt to set up his own religion as stated, but he seemed to have undiagnosed mental problems (which is where Scientology's hate of psychatrists comes from) that got worse as he grew older, and by the end of his life he was pretty much completely batshit insane to the point where he'd make Tom Cruise look pretty vanilla.

The "Church" thrives on completely cutting off members from all non Scientology influences, told that everyone else is out to destroy them. If your raised in a CoS family and decide to leave, you're most likely to never see your family again since they will fear reprisals if they keep in contact with you.

What bothers me is they prey on people with addiction (with their Narcon program) and learning disabilites (how Tommy Boy became a member, they cured his dyslexia don'tcha know?) , then have them reeled in to their "auditing" BS by saying it's a requirement of treatment.