It's often been said that Christianity should not be the only target of secularists who want a society that operates as a rational process. It is said, and yet the topic nearly always goes right back to Christianity. There is a very good reason for this; at least for those of us in the free-thinking community of the USA. They certainly do represent the biggest group of irrational thinkers in our country.
Scientology is positively a fringe religion and a free-thinker feels almost like he's beating up an annoying kid when targeting them - if it were not for the fact that there are a number of well-known celebrities who have been indoctrinated and, worse, working hard to suck others into their strange world. If you don't think it's a world nearly as bizarre as the one lived in by the death-cult we call Christianity then just watch this video of Tom Cruise.
As a tease, here are a few of the things you will hear and see:
"I'm there to help... We're there to help"...
"You're either on board or you're not on board"...
"WE are the authorities on...getting people off drugs...on the mind...on improving conditions...rehabilitate the criminals...bring peace and unite the cultures"...
He self-importantly whispers nearly the entire conversation in a reverential way about his warped philosophy and occasionally breaks out in manic laughter (particularly right at the end... spooky). "It' OUR responsibility to educate... to create the new reality".
Whispers - "I know... I know..."
Nail me to a cross.
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Update 1/20: Exterminator pointed out that the video was yanked by You Tube. They are famous for doing this on "controversial" videos. So I kind of expected it. Nevertheless, as soon as one thing comes down, another goes up and I have re-embedded a video that's a little longer. If you want to just see the interview part, slide forward about half-way through. Please let me know when they censor this one!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Jesus Christ isn't the only problem. There's also Tom Cruise.
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26 comments:
I couldn't quite finish it. He's all over the place talking nonsense. He's bonkers.
He's a creepy dude. But if you are just going to watch a little bit, you should scroll forward and watch the last minute. When he starts laughing there, I can almost guarantee chills running down your spine.
That's where I stopped. It was creepy.
Ok, maybe I'm missing some hidden component here. I just see a guy who's passionate and excited and wants to do good. Ultimately what he believes in is weird, but what is he doing that is harmful because of his beliefs?
Eno, you're right, there's nothing wrong with someone being enthusiastic and wanting to do good.
I just found most of his speech nonsensical. He was enthusiastic about what exactly? He was talking about changing the world, but how? If he's doing charitable work or helping people in general, then great! But if he's just spouting dogma and that's supposed to change people and the world, then he's deluded and he has no reason to be proud of his actions.
Way back in college, I had my little run-in with a Scientology recruiter. At first it seemed all interesting and cool (hey, I was 17, give me a break). But the more I talked to this girl, the more insistent and weirder she became until I just backed away from the whole thing.
Here we have another completely lunatic "religion" that was created before our very eyes - and by a science fiction writer who wanted to bag some big bucks. How anyone could imagine the nonsense they teach is inspired is beyond me.
I guess if they indoctrinate people and brainwash them into accepting the premises before the person does any investigation, it's hard for the person to break away. And I've read and heard that they really pressure people not to leave.
Eno - I could just as easily post a video of a starry-eyed Christian who is speaking of nothing but living like Christ and loving our neighbors. I would think they are equally irrational and living in a world that is unrepresentative of my ideal reason.
That's precisely what my problem with Cruise is. And, I think that meek "I'm just here to help", nearly always leads to darker things down the road.
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Tom Cruise and scientology is harmful because they advocate against psychology and psychiatry in favor of their "programs." Whatever you believe about the state of America in regards to medicating our problems away, there is the unfortunate fact that there are people out there with serious mental illness who would otherwise live a life of pain and confusion until their ultimate death by suicide. We may not know much about the human brain or why the medicines work the way they do, but they do (mostly) work. Scientology is against this.
All I need to know about the evils of scientology is this: When my friends (all actors) in L.A. got involved in Scientology, they would tell me, "It's not really a religion, it's just ideas on how to live a little better. Don't worry about me, I'm not stupid." This would usually be the last time I heard from them. If that doesn't scream cult, I don't know what does.
I liked him a lot in Rain Man.
LOL @ Ex!
That was probably the last time I liked him, too. He was perfectly cast for that role: an arrogant and ignorant empty suit. Of course, it being a Hollywood movie, they had to have a little departure from reality at the end, where his character does seem to gain at least a little insight. Art doesn't always imitate life, or however that cliché goes.
sacred said: Here we have another completely lunatic "religion" that was created before our very eyes - and by a science fiction writer who wanted to bag some big bucks.
I agree. Replace "science fiction writer" with "treasure-hunting farmer," and the parallels to Mormonism are inescapable.
I can understand a millennium or two of tradition fooling people, but I just can't understand how recent cults grow to full-fledged religions when the unambiguous history is right there.
Scientology is not a religion. It's just another corporation, a business, that fronts as a religion. Like the Catholic Church. The business model is 2000 years old: convince people that you have the answer, but don't let them figure out what the question is. Entertain them with nifty stories to preoccupy them, then ask them for their money. Make them feel like they are actually doing good, and that they are the only ones who can do good. Make them feel superior to all the other people who don't have the answer.
It's tried and true.
SI said:
Scientology is not a religion. It's just another corporation, a business, that fronts as a religion. Like the Catholic Church.
Yeah, but the pope wasn't in Rain Man.
brendan said:
Replace "science fiction writer" with "treasure-hunting farmer," and the parallels to Mormonism are inescapable.
And replace "treasure-hunting farmer" with "opportunistic tribal chieftain" and you've got the roots of religion.
@ Slut - I certainly wouldn't make any judgements about you almost getting tricked into that crap when you were 17. Back in the 70's and 80's, scientologists used to prowl Hollywood Blvd in search of the many "lost" teens who hung out there. They did that, because the kids were easy pickings. These are kids who were barely surviving (think the wide-eyed hopeful who leaves Nebraska to come here and become an actor - RIGHT). Some of these may have been like the friends Bullet mentions in his comment.
@ Bullet - yep. There are a lot of stories like that our here. And that IS exactly what happens in cults. I fully agree with you about medical science and medications. SURE there are problems. But the OVERALL effect is a positive one. There was once no hope for some people and now there is at least a chance. The only problem comes in over-prescribing. Not everyone needs it. But that's NOT the argument that scientologists make.
@ Brendan and SI - I think the Mormonism comparison has validity, but I also think SI is correct that it's more of a corporation. But that just goes to the heart of our argument that you can act "religiously" (non-rationally) about things other than traditional religions. I'm thinking "communism".
What you've all said is true, and I agree that this is scary. But it is also true that, in many ways, this is the funniest fucking thing I've ever seen in my life.
Guy's crazier than a shit house rat.
LOL Lifey!! I usually take stuff this way too. Thanks for bringing me back down a notch.
I had to actually go find a site that had a reference guide to Scientology lingo, so I could even make an attempt to understand what the hell he was saying.
I still don't get IT, and I am thankful that I don't.
Scientology is beyond screwed up. It's dangerously screwed up.
Ex - I liked him in Rainman, too. At least I could understand what he was saying.
Babs, he's starting to sound more like the Dustin Hoffman character.
By the way (looking at your avatar) - are you sure it isn't the RIGHT side of your face that you are shredding?
I remember about 15 years or so ago when it was Dianetics (remember the volcano?) I finally got a copy (used book store next door to where I worked). At the time I thought it was one of those self help books, like a positive thinking, motivational thing. I remember getting about 10 pages in and realizing it was just another stealth religion (there was some allusion to higher power or something) so I chucked it. It's quite funny now to see all that's come out about it, with perhaps the best being South Park's explanation which was so faithfully true that they had to keep flashing on the screen that this is actually what they believe. LOL
I've heard from a guy in England who used to investigate them and publish his findings. He's told me some scary stories about men in dark suits following his family, lurking on his property, and of course threatening calls and letters to back off.
I think if you get yourself into too insular an environment and lose touch with reality you're vulnerable to shit like this. That's my take on Hollywood falling victim, not to mention they're all low self esteem, needy freaks with issues, which is always quite vulnerable to escapist, feel good bullshit like drugs, alcohol and religion.
Poor Tom Cruise. He has the face of a god, more money than most third world nations - and the intelligence of a fruit fly.
By the way (looking at your avatar) - are you sure it isn't the RIGHT side of your face that you are shredding?
How do you know I didn't flip the picture?
@ Philly - sounds like you know more about it than I do. I thought that the equivalency was Scientology/religion, Dianetics/holy book. Maybe they got so much bad press that they just dropped the name Dianetics, but I wasn't aware.
@ Chappy - you are hitting on the idea that was behind the post title - with Cruise as the god on earth of his "religion".
@ Babs - you got me there. It just shows though, that I don't think of you as being devious. Demented, but not devious.
That's OK, Babs. I like your avatar. It's classy.
I just realized the other day that that's actually you in your banner, doing a poor Virgin Mary imitation.
Wait, I take that back. It's a good imitation!
regarding YouTube yanking the video, it may have been because the CoS threatened them. From what I have been reading lately the CoS, threaten and sue anyone who says anything against them, or makes them look bad.
Here in Australia, CoS put pressure on the publishers to not release Tom's biography,as reported here
Yup, that's inline with what I heard about them in the UK. Quite a coup getting celebrities for CoS, because that gives them the financial means to do just about anything.
(Cue maniacal laugh)
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