Scientology

Sunny

Sunny

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I'm starting this as a new thread, as I don't want to "hijack" the one about the sexual orientation of actors.

I know a lot of people don't like Tom Cruise because of his Scientology, but I've never understood why. Not knowing anything at all about that religion (if that's what it is), I've always been puzzled about why it is so disliked.

Can someone enlighten me?
 

I read Leah Remini's book just recently. She was a member and wrote a book called "Troublemaker".

https://www.glamour.com/story/leah-remini-troublemaker-book-revelations...here's some of what's in this article...

And the truth bombs continue: Leah Remini, who spent more than 30 years as a Scientologist, is now blowing the lid on her former religion and its crazy practices and policies. First came a revealing 20/20 interview that delved into Remini's personal experiences with the religion; then, a follow-up with Good Morning America shed light on why Katie Holmes also left Scientology. But now comes the mother of Remini's revelations: Her tell-all memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, is out today—and in it, Remini touches on everything from the religion's cultlike methods to Tom Cruise's bizarre behavior to his famous ex-wives, Katie Holmes and Nicole Kidman. We've handpicked 10 of the most shocking passages from the book; read on for the crazy details below:
She was physically abused as a teenager in the Sea Org. "He [Sea Org leader Mike Curley] cut the engine and started screaming at me. 'Never do you sit in a public place. You are Sea Org members. Don't you know that the pool at that hotel is for paying guests only, not for you to be enjoying? Do you understand me?' he yelled. 'Mm-hmm,' I said. 'It's 'yes sir!''... Mike kept trying to get me to say 'yes sir.' But I couldn't do it. Then he picked me up and before I even realized what was happening, he threw me overboard. The shock of the moment and the freezing water took my breath away, and for an instant I thought I was going to drown."


The book to me was a little boring but it paints an ugly picture of Scientology but who knows how truthful she is?
 

In my opinion,Scientology isn't a religion ,but a 'brain washing cult'.Tom Cruise isn't the only well know celebrity who thinks Scientology is the greatest thing since' sliced bread.' John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston,Kristie Alley swear by the teachings,spend thousands of dollars buying books&taking courses. Leah Remini who was brought up in this cult by her parents left the 'church after 30 yrs in 2013. She now hosts a show on A&E " Leah Remini;Scientolgy;The Aftermath"Tues nights at 8pm} where she interviews former members who left . In some cases,former members are no longer able to communicate with family who believe they betrayed them. The church officals go after these former members,harrassing them,making their lives miserable.
If you want to know more ,read Lawrence Wright's excellent book,"Going Clear,Scientology and Hollywood". After reading the book,my opinion has not changed Scientolgy was founded by a 'wacko'.L. Ron Hubbard Sue
 
Hubbard founded Sea Org and they had a floating temple called Freewinds.

church-of-scientology-freewinds-ship-exterior02_0.jpg


Many years ago I tried to read Dianetics and it was all too deep for me.

I don't really know anything about Scientology other than the sensationalized accounts that appear in the media.
 
Thanks for the pic Bea. I doubt Dianetics was over your head because its all mumbo jumbo. LOL, I don't think anyone made much sense of it.

(maybe Diane was the name of his first girlfriend, lol)
 
Only a religion in the sense that it has the 501(c) non-profit tax status. A high school friend was lured into it, he was a hard worker, they drained all his income.

They are scary people, at least back in the '70s. I would rather have the ФСБ after me, rather than those "church" people.

**Edit** if acquiring as much money and material assets as possible from other people is considered a religion, then yes, they are a religion.
 
My son in law's brother in law's mother is a member of Scientology and she's very strange. I only met her once at a bridal shower or baby shower at my daughter's house but Ive heard stories about her and she didn't raise her son, he lived with his dad.

Shes in Southern California.
 
Back around 1980 I picked up a used paperback copy of Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard at a thrift store. Might have been Goodwill or Salvation Army. I paid maybe a quarter for it. Or maybe it was fifteen cents, I'm not sure. I read some of it. Maybe 50 - 75 pages of it. I can't remember much about it except that I concluded that the Dude who wrote it was batshit crazy. That's the extent of my exposure to Scientology.
 
Scientology was "invented" by SiFi writer L. Ron Hubbard. How anyone can buy into it is beyond me. However my beef with T. Cruise has to do with the arrogant interview with Matt Lauer years ago in which he tore into anyone who used prescribed medications when all they need is Scientology. He singled out Brooke Shields for her use of anti-depressant meds for postpartum depression. Travolta does not preach his "religion" so I give him a pass. BTW I should not have put my Cruise post in the sexual orientation thread as some apparently thought I meant Cruise was gay. He is not to my knowledge.
 
Any guy with a string of ex-wife's like the following is NOT gay:

Spouse(s)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise

It's just a good thing that Cruise has a net worth is estimated at $480 million. ;) ;) ;)



We were just talking about dyslexia:

Cruise is an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology and its associated social programs, and credits it with helping him overcome dyslexia.
Click to expand...
 
I saw what the Scientology organization did to Clearwater, Florida. They literally "own" the downtown area now and drove a lot of businesses and residents out. They started out by buying properties through different names, I think they call that "shell corporations", and was able to buy quite a lot before anybody knew what was going on.

Of course, Walt Disney did the same in Central Florida for Disney World (land was purchased by more than 100 different companies that were shell companies for the Disney Corporation). Some people consider them almost a cult, too....lol.
 
jujube said:
I saw what the Scientology organization did to Clearwater, Florida. They literally "own" the downtown area now and drove a lot of businesses and residents out. They started out by buying properties through different names, I think they call that "shell corporations", and was able to buy quite a lot before anybody knew what was going on.
Click to expand...

Clearwater is my home town, but I did not realize that. All I knew was that they had taken over the Fort Harrison Hotel, but that happened after I moved away in 1967.
 
I've led a very sheltered life :rolleyes: and to be honest I'd never heard of Scientology till I started watching the Leah Remini series occasionally.

What gets me is that whether it be Scientology, Heaven's Gate, the Peoples Temple or some other cult.....I just can't figure out how some people can be so damn gullible and easily manipulated.
 
IKE said:
I've led a very sheltered life :rolleyes: and to be honest I'd never heard of Scientology till I started watching the Leah Remini series occasionally.

What gets me is that whether it be Scientology, Heaven's Gate, the Peoples Temple or some other cult.....I just can't figure out how some people can be so damn gullible and easily manipulated.
Click to expand...

That's the approach many people take- unless it's happened to them.
 
The foundations for Scientology were laid as a result of a Bar Bet between L.Ron Hubbard, and Robert Heinlein. Hubbard bet Heinlein that he could start a "religion" and get wealthy in the process. Apparently, Hubbard knew that there is no shortage of gullible people.
 
...just people "in need" of...spiritual fulfillment, or perhaps some kind of 'enlightening' experience that working long hours and drinking oneself to sleep every night....does not provide.
 
From what I've read about it, it falls more into the cult status than religion. Hubbard's teachings are really way off the wall, in my opinion. As for Tom Cruse, I've never cared for his acting. His faith has nothing to do with it.
 
I think Scientology is a bunch of hooey, and it does not appear to me to be a "religion" at al. I don't care what Tom Cruise believes, but I do care that he seems to feel it is OK to attack and ridicule those who need medical help to deal with things like postpartum depression, etc.

I also strongly believe that Scientology should not be entitled to tax exempt status. I don't know what definition the government uses for a religion, but I doubt Scientology really fits it.
 

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