NYT: Tom Cruise Mixing Business and Church (Scientology debate)

[DeepModem Mom]

Tom Cruise Mixing Business and Church
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: March 22, 2005


....Increasingly public about his long association with Scientology, Mr. Cruise a few weeks ago invited film executives involved in distributing his summer movie, "The War of the Worlds," on a four-hour tour of three different Scientology facilities in Los Angeles. About 20 managers from United International Pictures, which is distributing the Steven Spielberg-directed film abroad for Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks SKG, took him up on the offer in late January. That required some of the executives to extend their stay for a day, according to several who took part.

Andrew Cripps, president of United International Pictures, said the tour was useful because the news media often asks about Mr. Cruise's religious beliefs. "Genuinely, there is an interest level among our managers who have to field questions, to understand and learn more about it," he said. Mr. Cripps said no one was forced to attend, though at least one executive who took the tour - who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared repercussions at work - said the visit was regarded by some as an unwelcome business obligation.

The encounter came after Mr. Cruise had sponsored a "Scientology tent," offering what his spokeswoman, Lee Anne De Vette, called "assists" - a kind of massage administered by volunteer ministers - along with religious literature, on the "War of the Worlds" set. Also, the star had recently sent out a holiday greeting that included Scientological precepts on a plastic plaque. Notwithstanding Mel Gibson's very public declaration of faith with his "Passion of the Christ," Hollywood insiders typically shy away from open discussion of their religious beliefs. But Ms. De Vette, who is Mr. Cruise's sister, said he had been inviting colleagues to learn more about his religion in order to combat what he viewed as prejudice against a group that some critics have branded an exploitative cult.

Scientology has not been recognized as a religion in many European nations and remains under federal surveillance in Germany, where it is regarded as a dangerous sect. Adherents say Scientology is a method of counseling and courses that helps individuals break free from negative emotions and lead more rewarding lives....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/movies/22tomx.html

[Chovexani]

1. Obligatory Operation Clambake Link

Everything you need to know about Scientology.

I really like Tom Cruise, but damn if he doesn't make it hard to do so sometimes.

[htuttle]

2. Xenu saves!

At least that's what my Body Thetans have been telling me lately.

[Chovexani]

3. Hee!

My boyfriend and I were on our way to a friend's house a few weeks ago and it was Clam City at the 42nd St. subway stations. They were all over the place...in the Times Square one and in Grand Central. There were about 5 billion copies of Dianetics (some in languages I didn't even know existed), and they were advertising "Free Stress Tests". So the BF decides he's going to "test their stress levels" by doing that flapping his jaw thing (you know, the thing that's supposed to induce genetic trauma because we're all evolved from clams).

Then I told him it wasn't polite to feed the Clams...:evilgrin:

[htuttle]

4. Every time a celebrity Scientologist pops up hawking Scientology

I can't help but remember, "They believe they're haunted by Space Ghosts."

It makes it somewhat difficult to take anything else they say seriously.

Just think about that for a moment: "Tom Cruise thinks we're all haunted by Space Ghosts."

Bwahahahahaha! :D

[Chovexani]

5. Eeeeeek!

:D

[KittyWampus]

6. Any Group That Demands Blind Faith & Unquestioning Allegiance Is

suspect.

Unfortunately, Scientology gets a FEW principles correct but disregards, twists and subverts many others.

[Redstone]

9. What principles do they get correct?

I'm just curious; any religion based on "aliens in volcanoes" does'nt sound to me like they examine anything very rigorously.

Brilliant marketers, though; they continue to get people to pay THOUSANDS to find out about those aliens in the volcanoes!

Redstone

[earth mom]

7. As long as the Scientologists are happy....

I'm a spiritual person but don't believe in the bible. I'm not against any religion, Christian or otherwise...to each his own. But increasingly, I find myself totally turned off by evangelical Christian religions and have found these type of Christians to be more cult like-not to mention blantantly hypocritical and lacking in ethics-than anyone I've seen who follows scientology.

That being said, while I personally do not know any scientoligists, the ones I know of-Cruise, Travolta, Alley, Seinfeld-strike me as really good people who radiate happiness and good will. I find their attitudes, actions and behavior far superior to evangelicals. How can scientology be wrong if it's not hurting anyone else and the followers are-oh my gawd-happy and are not trying to squash anyone or judge anyone else? :shrug:

my .02.

[Merrick]

11. As long as the big name celebrities are happy...

Being pampered at the top of the food chain with the rest of the executives while everyone else who isnt an international movie star who gets suckered in sweats behind the scenes, toiling for their comfort with their life savings getting swindled as their reward.

The happy celebrities are hardly representative here - they get the VIP treatment while everyone else gets the shaft.

[Enraged_Ape]

8. As long as he doesn't try to make "Battlefield Earth 2"

I'd say it's caveat emptor for the people that he drags to these sales pitches.

[megatherium]

10. Many years ago, a friend of mine was deprogrammed

from Scientology. His parents paid $8,000 (in 1979 or so) to have a well-known deprogrammer perform this service, which involved holding my friend for a couple of days in a location where the deprogrammer would be able to inform him of the (alleged) truth about the (alleged) cult. Since my friend was heavily involved in Scientology but was already having doubts, the deprogramming was successful as he left Scientology. Deprogramming entailed considerable legal risks for the parents and the deprogrammer: if the subject rejects the deprogramming, he or she may be able to sue for being held against their will.

I don't hear too much about deprogramming these days. I have the impression that professional deprogrammers or organizations involved in deprogramming have been forced by their legal exposure to cease these activities.