Most religions are around to create money; they're businesses. However, very few are as insane as Scientology when it comes to converting (outside of very extremist groups).
Katie Holmes got tired of Scientology?
- Thread starter Gil T.Azell
- Start date
I guess you're mistaking the religion itself with the religious communities you get into. I wouldn't want to be the poor guy who wants to leave your local american bible belt community in Whatsthisville, I guess that would be pretty nasty as well. Nor would I want to be someone who tries to get out of a fundamentalist Islamic community. Heck, even trying to get out of a hardcore Star Trek fan club might prove to be a hell of a ride.
No doubt about that, most of Scientologists seem to be extremists. You find them everywhere, though.
No doubt about that, most of Scientologists seem to be extremists. You find them everywhere, though.
Do you really need written proof to realize that all religions are based on grabbing money out of gullible and vulnerable people's pockets?
Looks like her contract is up.
About Travolta...it makes sense that the stories are coming out now (no pun intended) about him, if he actually wants to leave scientology. It doesn't matter whether the stories are true or not--if he were staying with scientology, there is no way such stories would get airplay. He's been quieter in his "belief," hasn't he? As compared to Cruise over the years. Though Travolta had named his son Jett, after the character from the completely horrible series supposedly written by Hubbard, Jettero.
Doesn't scientology have its members "confess" to all sorts of private things which are the perfect fodder for blackmail?
More power to Travolta if this is all true. He's gay? So? As long as things were consensual and he wasn't being a public hypocrite, who cares? Maybe he's bi. Maybe he's gay but actually loves his wife and she agrees with the whole setup. It's their life.
As for Cruise...I haven't liked him since "Taps."
Doesn't scientology have its members "confess" to all sorts of private things which are the perfect fodder for blackmail?
More power to Travolta if this is all true. He's gay? So? As long as things were consensual and he wasn't being a public hypocrite, who cares? Maybe he's bi. Maybe he's gay but actually loves his wife and she agrees with the whole setup. It's their life.
As for Cruise...I haven't liked him since "Taps."
From what I understand, the "religion" of Scientology and the community one gets into is pretty much one and the same, because you're not so much buying into a "religion", but instead a community of high-rollers. Apparently it's very expensive to join, which is why you'll mostly see hollywood actors with their ties to them. There was a list I had seen online which included current and past members and most of them were actors at who were members at one point in time. Everything about it sounds hunkydory to the person being pitched to join, that it must be the perfect "religion", and then they find out how difficult it is to leave. Sure, some other religions are hard to leave too, but none of them to this extent. From what I saw in the documentary from some who spoke out about their experiences, they can be rather dirty about it, using unscrupulous methods such as scare tactics to get them to stay.
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In other divorce news, giant tortoises Bibi and Poldi are getting a divorce after 115 years together. Bibi got fed up with Poldi and couldn't stand him anymore. She bit a hunk out of his shell and started attacking him. Fortunately the are still in their middle ages and can try the dating scene again, though it's probably changed since 1897, when they met. None of the zoo keepers expected it, unlike the Tom and Katie split.
^I understand that Poldi was slow and resistant to change.
Weren't Tom and Nicole's son and daughter old enough to choose where they wanted to live? Cruise is a nut job, but he didn't really "steal" them from Nicole. From what I understood, the Scientology really clashed with Nicole's Catholic upbringing. Connor and Isabella pretty much are into the scientology business and Nicole didn't want a protracted custody battle. Must have hurt pretty bad, but she took the high road. It's heartening that she was able to have two daughters of her own with Keith Urban even though she's over 40. The second was via a gestational surrogate, but it was her egg. She's very lucky--Cruise dumping her was the best thing that could have happened to her and she has her own children with a better husband. I'm thinking Katie doesn't want to be in the position of Suri "choosing" Tom and the religion over her, thus the filing in New York and the request for full custody now while her daughter is still only 6 years old. Tom's older kids lived with them, so she saw the conflict firsthand.
Yeah you have to write confessions as part of the process to "clear" yourself, every single thing you ever did. Then they have it forever.
So, is Travolta really gay like all the allegations are saying? I've been busy at work and only heard about it briefly. Haven't he and Kelly Preston been married an awfully long time for it to be a cover marriage via Scientology?
People often have a fluid sexuality.
At some point the guy has written down something about past activities that he does not want made public. Scientology has that information.
The above can be said about anyone in Scientology btw.
At some point the guy has written down something about past activities that he does not want made public. Scientology has that information.
The above can be said about anyone in Scientology btw.
I find it rather odd that gay celebrities would be drawn to Scientology, in which homosexuality is a big no-no.
Robert Downey Jr., who sometimes comments as "Himmm...." at Crazy Days and Nights (a fun gossip blog), said that the stories about Travolta had been known a long time in Hollywood, by pretty much everybody.
Katie Holmes was raised Catholic and probably has some of the same issues with Scientology that Nicole did. Cruise was of course also Catholic and at one point wanted to be a priest. Perhaps he has some very anti-Catholic Scientology talking points that he inflicts on his wives, although his first wife (Mimi Rogers) was the one who got him into Scientology in the first place.
Katie Holmes was raised Catholic and probably has some of the same issues with Scientology that Nicole did. Cruise was of course also Catholic and at one point wanted to be a priest. Perhaps he has some very anti-Catholic Scientology talking points that he inflicts on his wives, although his first wife (Mimi Rogers) was the one who got him into Scientology in the first place.
So why are they so overwhelmingly attracted to it? I guess I'm not understanding the lure of this...cult or whatever it is. I've never really understood what Scientology is supposedly about.
Son of a gun. I never knew that. I guess I need to catch up with my celebrity gossip. Wasn't Travolta supposedly in love with the actress Diana Hyland when he was in his early 20s? She was much older than him and passed away from breast cancer. Perhaps he's bisexual like teacake suggests. Why such guilt and a need for secrecy? It's a bit sad, no?
I bet Scientology sets up famous people whose confessions make it easy. Maybe Travolta had a history of male prostitutes and so they planted someone they hired and got photos.
As to the appeal, from what I've seen they emphasize how intelligent you are, how perceptive etc..
As to the appeal, from what I've seen they emphasize how intelligent you are, how perceptive etc..
Yikes. That's sinister by half. 
As far as I can tell, by far the biggest difference between Scientology and other religions is that Scientology is the only one that doesn't want its theology and doctrines to be public knowledge. Say what you like about the craziness of Mormonism - and I'll say quite a lot - but at least they willingly and even cheerfully give people their whole and complete fairy tale up front.
The second-biggest difference is its insistence upon regular participation in expensive seminars and the like, but, while weird, that part's at least understandable and ration in the sense that startup religions have to innovate in order to compete against the Big Abrahamic Monotheisms.
From what little I've read about the organization as a society, the lower-level stuff seems to be decently sensible psychiatric support groups and therapy. Which is, no doubt, why the cult excoriates psychiatry with such vitriol - they correctly see it as one of their chief competitors.
The second-biggest difference is its insistence upon regular participation in expensive seminars and the like, but, while weird, that part's at least understandable and ration in the sense that startup religions have to innovate in order to compete against the Big Abrahamic Monotheisms.
Yeah, they provide low-esteem common folk with a support network, and flatter their celebrity recruits to addictive extents.
From what little I've read about the organization as a society, the lower-level stuff seems to be decently sensible psychiatric support groups and therapy. Which is, no doubt, why the cult excoriates psychiatry with such vitriol - they correctly see it as one of their chief competitors.
There are reportedly rites in the temples Gentiles do not have access too, largely described by Mormon defectors, not officially. Druzes and Yazidis and I think Alawis too have secret beliefs that are shielded from outsiders. So Scientologists are not wholly unique in that respect.
Many Hollywood-types, not just actors but directors etc, have "fragile egos." Some have low self-esteem, so compliments are not necessarily believed, or each new one is as the first one (they're individual, not additive). Some are narcissists, who prefer to hear nothing but compliments because it reinforces their own strong feelings about their self-worth.
And they're all very visible.
Yet...I'm still amazed that these people fall for scientology--something I am not willing to capitalize with any respect.
And they're all very visible.
Yet...I'm still amazed that these people fall for scientology--something I am not willing to capitalize with any respect.
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