Tom Cruise at his wedding with son Connor and Scientology head David Miscavige
I’ve been reading about Scientology for years, and following websites like Xenu.net, RickRoss and more recently anonymous. A lot of Internet-savvy people know about how dangerous and destructive a cult Scientology is, but there are so many more well informed people who just consider it another weird religion. For instance my dad reads the entire newspaper cover-to-cover every day (and he’s also online but not all day like I am), but when I tried to talk to him about Scientology he used the old “all religions have strange beliefs” argument, which is true they do. (I hope I convinced him otherwise.) It’s not what Scientologists believe or how they go about practicing their beliefs, it’s the fact that they trap members, drain their life savings, and cut them off from friends and family in a very methodical and scary way. Scientology’s power structure and the way that followers are abused, exploited and trapped in servitude are what makes it a cult, not whatever belief system they may have. If you’d like to know more about cults vs. legitimate religions, the FAQ on cult expert Rick Ross’ site has a good explanation. Also here’s a link to some characteristics of cults and thought reform/brain washing. The part about halfway down, on “Marks of a Destructive Cult,” describes Scientology to a T.
As the Tom and Katie divorce news spread, outlets started looking at Scientology and asking defectors about their experiences in the cult. We heard some very scary stories of families getting split up, children forced to work long hours, people disappearing suspiciously, and people being sent away to Scientology prison camps. Some outlets, like People Magazine, ran ridiculous whitewashed stories comparing Scientology to Catholicism, which definitely has its own issues but that’s not the point. Most took a more skeptical view of the cult and did run some of the very sensational but true stories about what goes on in The Cos. Kudos to Radar Online in particular for their ongoing coverage of this story.
Anyway it looks like all the focus on Scientology may have encouraged Tom to settle with Katie earlier rather than drag it out. In their joint statement just prior to reaching a settlement they made the announcement that they were “committed to Suri’s best interests” but more than that, they were committed “to each of our respective beliefs.” The divorce settlement was actually predicted by high-ranking defector Marty Rathbun, a former auditor of Tom Cruise’s who runs a blog detailing all the latest happenings with his old cult. Rathbun reveals how Scientology head David Miscaviage has a very predictable code of conduct for dealing with issues in the church, and claims that Cruise’s moves so far have been textbook. Miscavige is a close friend of Cruise’s, was best man at his wedding, and even went with Cruise and Holmes on their honeymoon, I shit you not.
Here’s Rathbun’s predictions, and these were written on Sunday well before the settlement announcement. He called it.
Posted on July 8, 2012 by martyrathbun09 | 257 Comments
The following is my opinion along with the facts I base it on.The Cruise camp’s only three utterances since the divorce filing of Holmes were:
1) First, reports that Tom Cruise was ‘suprised’ by the filing and was ‘saddened.’
2) Next came a ‘source’ from Cruise’s camp expressing dismay that people would think Scientology had anything to do with the matter since Katie had nothing but wonderful things to say about Scientology.
3) Cruise’s attorney Bert Fields taking the incredibly childish swipe at Katie for allegedly orchastrating the international media storm of the past week.
2 and 3 above give strong indication that Tom Cruise is still listening to his best man, Scientology Inc. cult leader David Miscavige. They both sound like vintage Miscavige.
As to the claim that they are so suprised because Katie only expressed ‘love’ for Scientology, that is right out of Miscavige’s well-worn strategy to use pressured, documented, positive utterances (called success stories) against former members in the following wise. Success stories are required after every Scientology Inc service (counseling or study courses) in which the individual puts in writing how the counselling or course changed his or her life for the better. Those succcess stories are the first thing that are mustered and organized for defense when a former member sues or speaks ill of Scientology Inc. to the media. Miscavige has Scientology Inc lawyers and hacks wave about previous success stories and claim that Scientology Inc. is shocked the person who wrote such stories has ‘suddenly’ had a change of heart. Along with that comes their baseless, shrill charges that the person must have been ‘deprogrammed’ by ‘enemies’ with horrid, anti-religious motives.
As to #3, Miscavige and Scientology Inc can’t help but play the victim with queer media conspiracy theories. Has Katie Holmes made a single utterances publicly about the divorce in the past week? No. Yet, the august, venerable Bert Fields snidely claims as a fact that Katie has been working the media against poor Tom.
Based on Miscavige’s white-collar-criminal/abusive-wealthy-corporation way of going about business of late, here is how I see Miscavige/Cruise dealing with this unprecedented public relations flap.
Well before the first court appearance, or next filing in the case, that could set off further media storms, aggressively and intensively negotiate the case to settlement.
Likely terms Miscavige/Cruise will obtain at an astronomical price (Miscavige may even need to dip into Scientology Inc’s war chest to help pay the price):
a) Katie signs a document that indicates there is to be joint/equal custody of the daughter of Tom and Katie. However, there will be a side agreement (that will sit locked up in their lawyer’s safes) that gives Katie sole custody, control over education, and some visitation rights to Tom.
b) Katie signs a document that indicates that Scientology was never an issue nor consideration in the filing for divorce.
Miscavige and Scientology Inc hacks then make the media and their sources wrong for having allegedly jumped the gun to insinuate Scientology into the matter in order to bludgeon Scientology Inc, Miscavige and Cruise.
Miscavige, at bottom, loves the victim card and when his back is against the wall he always plays it, and plays it well. He has, and will, pay untold sums of money to orchestrate the apparancy that he and Scientology Inc. were the victims.
The scenario I predict (buy silence at any price) is precisely what he did earlier this year when former member Debbie Cook testified that Miscavige ordered her to be tortured by associates (see post, Debbie Cook Tells The Hole Truth). He has been doing it for thirty years. The price to accomplish it keeps getting higher. While the price will likely be in a whole new strata when it comes to Katie Holmes, Cruise and Miscavige have plenty of cheese in their Scientology Inc. war chest to pull it off.
In the brave new world of Miscavige/Cruise’s Scientology Inc., image is the only thing.
[From Marty Rathbun’s Blog]
That’s really interesting how they get positive testimonials from people to use against them later. Rathburn also points us to this story from Miscavige’s former longterm personal secretary, who describes how she was systematically cut off from her husband, and was imprisoned in a Scientology work camp when she refused to divorce him. As more stories like this come out, it’s got to be a PR nightmare for this cult. How can they ever spin this other than attacking the people who are coming out publicly? That’s getting old.
The Village Voice has a breakdown of Rathbun’s points along with some of their own findings on this case. They note that the next step will be shaming the media for even daring to question Scientology’s role in the divorce. I bet they’re right. Look at how People Magazine covered this story, it sounds just like the playbook Rathbun mentions.
So did Katie get a nice hefty settlement and primary custody of Suri in exchange for helping this story fade from the gossip world? I bet she did. I also bet she’s never going to talk about Scientology publicly, as some outlets claim was stipulated in the divorce, and in no way do I blame her. She has a daughter to think about, and the very real possibility that her own daughter may be turned against her. Cruise already did it to Nicole Kidman with their two older kids. The damage to this cult has already been done, though, and there’s no stopping the flood of information that’s coming out about Scientology.
Katie is shown on 7-6 and 7-8-12. Credit: WENN.com and Fame
They should!! About time. Religion my arse, crazy co$.
Those creepers need to be stopped and the IRS needs to stop patting them on the head and start auditing them, monetary style.
This!^^^
Happy dancing! Fall like a cult of cards, douchebags.
You guys got your own special insider’s view with the crazy branch of my family and it all meshes with everything everyone who has blown the cult has said.
EYES WIDE OPEN here!!!
For the love of God, I pray this is the beginning of the end.
And Tiff — sending you prayers that you get your family back safe and sound. I lost one to the Moonies. I feel for you, girl!
I feel for you too, Veruca. It really sucks. As you can see below, I am naming names. I just want them out, maybe it will push them.
Wacky.
I’m under the impression that the IRS did try and get heavy with the CoS and suddenly and inexplicably it went ‘away’. There was some speculation that they “pressured” (in their usual way?) someone who had the authority to reverse the course.
This article explains it all. Fascinating and scary.
Scientology’s Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
come on — this isn’t about reglion.
just money, power, and control.
wait until “mcdonald’s” realizes they can save *billions* every year by becoming a “church”.
you want fries with that sham-burger?
yeah, no other religion is about money, power and control! there are plenty of reasons COS is disgusting. if these 3 are your top reasons, then they should all go.
Oof, that first photo is creepy. Looks like Tom is perched on a throne with his little heir apparent on one side and satan on the other.
I really don’t know much about the COS.. but when I saw that picture I thought of that too or more to the point the movie Damian..
+1 you stole my thoughts with Damian
This book explains it all.
http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Scientology-Americas-Secretive-Religion/dp/0618883029
Now Janet Reitman offers the first full journalistic history of the Church of Scientology, in an evenhanded account that at last establishes the astonishing truth about the controversial religion. She traces Scientology’s development from the birth of Dianetics to today, following its metamorphosis from a pseudoscientific self-help group to a worldwide spiritual corporation with profound control over its followers and even ex-followers.
When I saw that photo, I thought about him dancing around in a g-string, needy and narcissistic. Seeing him there on that neo-sun-king chair made his personality click. It wasn’t enough that he have his work and fans, he had to have the head of a “church” bow to him. I don’ think it’s gratitude for him. He looks gleeful. Smug. The prince sitting on his thrown.
haha! 😀
It looks like it could be from the movie Devil’s Advocate with Cruise being the chosen one….
Tom had to be seated because the other two are much taller then him…and his kid was only 10!
Actually, no. Miscavige is a runt, just like Tom.
You’re joking I know, since wee little Misgavige is a full head shorter than Rumplestilskin in lifts.
@ Sullivan:
That picture gives me the chills too.
Good on celebitchy for the coverage – this makes a difference 🙂
yes 🙂
Great job, CB — to CB and all fellow fans — who do we think the Cult will choose to be the next Cruise Wife/Girlfriend? For sure to save face he is going to be appearing with some poor victim soon!
Many on here have said it could be Julianne Hough. Of course he would have to woo her away from another very short, workaholic, man and somewhat powerful in his own right. But she fits the bill desperate for stardom and comes from her own religious cult so we know she likely has a weak mind.
Thanks for the excellent coverage CB! I also have a years-long obsession with cults and scientology. This latest go-round, I made a critical distinction in my thinking..”Scientology” is not a cult…”The Church of Scientology” is. Many people who have left the CoS, still seem to be practicing scientologists who still believe that the practices/principles have merit, but they left the brainwashing/money/disconnection policies and all the other crazy behind. The Church of Scientology, run by Miscavaige is the cult that bears all of the destructive/deceptive hallmarks listed by CB.
I think if CB and other outlets started to make the distinction between Co$ and Independent Scientologists, it would go further in helping people understand that the CoS is a cult. Also, since many of the internet trolls arguments are based on “religious freedom”, their arguments don’t hold up for people like CB’s dad if you are calling out CoS specifically and not all scientology believers.
Side note for the truly obsessed, one of the more fascinating videos i came across this week, was this 2-hour interview with actor Jason Beghe. His emotion/anger/confusion is still really palpable even as he talks plainly about how crazy it all was. He describes Co$ the best “It’s a con” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHb0BZyF5Ok
What I want to know is how is this even classified as a religion, with or without Misgavige. L Ron was a science fiction writer who dreamed up a scam, and it’s in black and white evidence. They don’t worship anything and don’t believe in a higher power. They don’t pray or believe in energy/good/bad.
All that’s left after you remove Misgavige and his abduction and terrorist activities from the scenario is a bunch of people taught only to not react to anything and not own your own human transgressions instead of being forgiven of them/learning from your own mistakes – “you” didn’t do all that awful stuff – some alien soul inside you did it all (ergo, you won’t learn from your own mistakes, instead blaming them on some E.T.). They try to say you will suffer no shame, but obviously some will stay with any normal human. Not reacting simply makes you a robot.
I see no “religious” anything here.
Now, we know the only reason they call it a church is so they can scam tax-free status. So, tossing that into the pile of nonesuch, there’s nothing left in the way of “belief”, “church” or “religion”.
I could go on and on, but in short, I refuse to allow their scamming methods to not have to pay taxes to put them in any sort of category of religion. It’s just not there.
The problem with that thinking is that Scientologists follow the teachings of L Ron Hubbard. Who is on record, several years before dreaming up Scientology, as saying at a conference, “The only way to make real money is to found your own religion.”
Sorry, but it was meant as a scam from day 1. The guy worked out how to scam money and labour from vulnerable people. The premise is not to think, and not to question, just to hand over lots of money and your ability to leave. That’s not a religion, as it’s known in the 21st century in the 1st world. Whether you believe in it or not, nobody can effectively argue that Jesus decided to create his belief system as a means of making himself stinking rich. The mere fact defenders cite Catholicism is a red flag, because Catholics don’t have to pay to pray; Catholics don’t have to hate and sever contact with apostates, even (especially) spouses; Catholics don’t get stalked if they leave, and nor do they stalk critics.
Hubbard’s Scientology just isn’t a religion. It’s a very successful scam. If you think it’s a religion, there are an awful lot of guys on the internet who really, really need your help in removing $millions from Nigeria….
I think their zombie programming has helped people to concentrate on one thing; ergo, they say their “study methods” for schooling help people pass tests etc.
But if that’s all they got, they’re just a very, very, very expen$ive study coach, who sneaks in crazy shit that your brainwashed self is supposed to swallow hook, line and sinker.
Thanks I’ll just use a tutor if I have trouble concentrating on my school studies.
Have you seen the study tech? It’s total tripe like the rest of LRH’s claims- all totally unsubstantiated rubbish that has never stood up to scientific investigation.
The ‘beneficial’ stuff is what any child would already know, like go look up every word you don’t understand in the dictionary and practice using it. (Ironic considering how many words LRH misused). Or if you haven’t grasped one step, you can’t move on to the next. (LRH probably learnt that from failing maths). The ‘absence of mass’ thing is basically that if you don’t understand something, make a clay model of it and stick labels to it. Imagine not being able to write a sentence about something, but instead just making a clay alien everyday… or molding a big turd shaped blob and putting a label on it saying, “The United States Constitution.”
Tommygirl has been trying to get that stuff into every school but it has no documented benefit. Instead, it’s full of indoctrination tactics to capture young, impressionable minds for good, like the nazi youth. It’s sinister and just as insidious as the rest of scientology.
yes! bravo to celebitchy!
Agree! Knew CO$ was labeled as ‘different’ but didn’t give it much thought. One of those if they want to believe this sci-fi religion, let them, its America. Since I’m now a huge fan of CB, I began reading about COS. Never really cared before and now I’m obsessed with researching it. Thanks CB because you have helped in revealing this cult and their craziness.
Please, please tell all your friends and coworkers and refer them to articles on this site, many of which have invaluable comments sections with links.
We will overcome.
I have gg. Told several of my friends to visit CB. One of them knew absolutely nothing about COS until she visited the site. Why I think CB is doing a great job. Also, the posters are just as informative.
Gosh all I can think of is a little tinpot dinghy, full of holes, and Miscavige racing from one hole to the next with a box of Bandaids, trying to stop the leaks.
You are sinking Miscavige, you evil, terrorising psychopath.
“Likely terms Miscavige/Cruise will obtain at an astronomical price (Miscavige may even need to dip into Scientology Inc’s war chest to help pay the price):”
Running around with blood money bandaids, would seem. Katie & People have obviously been PAID. Katie’s lawyers and family. Harvey can be bought cheaper I image. Then there’s E!, Extra, Access- news for the un-interweb set. But, how do they stop CNN, Fox (who I think I’ve never agreed with) not to mention the dozen of not hundreds of celeb gossip blogs… ??
A Herculean task I image. Miscavage was already a loon. I am actually terrified for those closest to this little Adolf Napoleon. His stress levels must be off the charts which cannot possibly bode well for those within punching distance.
Fox News will not be stopped from saying whatever the heck it wants. They have now pissed off Rupert Murdoch, who is a psychotic, ego-maniacal, proud, power-hungry, ruthless CEO… which are usually all bad things, but in this situation, it will come in handy quite nicely. Plus, their Christian Right viewer base will adore a story about a subversive, bogus “religion.”
Yeah, Fox News isn’t gonna pull any punches. Might be uncomfortable around the office for Greta Van Sustren.
I don’t know about Fox, but CNN has done next to nothing on this issue. I have been watching Anderson Cooper’s reporting and a few others here and there over the weekend and they are being very soft about it all. Not once have I heard Miscavige’s name mentioned or his missing wife or that tommy davis is missing. None of those names have come up or any in depth coverage of the allegations of abuse, torture, death, forced abortions, forced divorces, child labor and family separation. They have had a few escapees talking and that is about it. The escappess are very compelling but they have the power to blow this wide open and do in depth coverage and they aren’t. Piers Morgan had some professor on last night who might as well have been a politican she was such a coward and wouldn’t call it a cult.
@Katija – it will be interesting to see how Greta Van Susteren handles her employers (FOX) attacking CO$
Agreed with both comments.
Thing is, most people are scared of Scientology, and with good reason. They’re rich, powerful, totally amoral and without any scruples at all. Rupert Murdoch does, I think, have some scruples. Not as many as might be desired, but more than Miscavage. And he’s rich and powerful and protected enough to go after them, which is just amazing – I can’t blame some poor professor of religion for being too scared to. And Murdoch is also close enough to Nicole Kidman (she’s godmother to one of his small children) to have motive to do it. I so, so hope he does.
CNN = Time Warner = Rock of Ages
They have missed out on a huge story so they can continue promoting a film favourably that is tanking.
@ Sarahtonin
It is kind of a Penn State approach to trouble. And like Penn, there are real victims and real lives being destroyed.
@Mich, I don’t know much about the Sandusky scandal. I’m not in U.S. so it isn’t big news here. But I know the very basics – child abuse that many knew about and did nothing to stop, right?
So yeah, it is the same thing. Time Warner (ie CNN, People magazine etc) would have to know what Co$ was really about, but that they choose to play dumb and save themselves from a financial loss at the expense of someone’s well-being is unconscionable.
This quote has been popping into my head a lot in the last week or so while reading more about co$ and I think it is most fitting …
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
JAIL the nasty little 4ucker!!!!
And THIS, for the sake of those whose sense of free agency (and actual free agency) has been taken away by their ‘church’, makes me very, very, very, very happy!!
I for one will be doing everything I can to back renewed investigations into CO$ in the US. Other countries haven’t been so brow beaten or fooled.
I think everyone thinks of it as a cult, because it is. I also think people think much less of Tom now because they realize just how crazy he is to be involved. Like I always say…just because your a celebrity doesn’t mean your smart.
Plus I might’ve given the benefit of the doubt to the Cos celebrities in the past thinking that maybe they weren’t aware of the abuses that were going on to the “regular people”, but with so much out there in the open, and so many people challenging Cos and their beliefs…they know what’s going on and they choose to simply ignore it. Celebrities like TC get all kinds of free stuff at the expense of these poor people…ie: TC getting his motorcycle tricked out and his airplane hanger redone as well as other stuff like that.
I just don’t get it. I don’t know how anyone could actually believe the stuff they believe, especially since they know it was just written by some Sci-Fi writer not that long ago!
Imo, something is just not right in the heads of people who choose to belong to such an organization. The celebrities at least get treated with perks and special services but what does the average person get out of it?
Wake up sheeple! You are being taken advantage of, robbed of your savings and having your civil rights violated, and I don’t even want to think about the children and what they have to go through if their parents are in this cult!
I guess celebrities only care about the perks and not the “little people”. I personally could not be part of a group that abuses people the way they do. It’s not something I could ever ignore. That being said I could never believe so strongly about such a ridiculous Xenu theory as Scientology. Obviously these people have a screw loose. It’s not like TC is sane or anything….
You’re right – it does seem so hard to believe looking at all the information we have in its totality that anyone could fall for the COS lies. But, as with most cults, they are very clever. Just like that analogy, how do boil a frog? You start with putting them in a pot with tepid water, and then incrementally raise the temperature. Most anyone – even really smart people – can be pulled in. This is complete and utter mind control begun by a very smart sociopath, L. Ron Hubbard. Once you’re in, you are monitored (no joke) and disciplined for looking at or listening to anyone critical of the cult. They are warned that they will go crazy if they look at the internet and they are systematically cut off from anyone in their lives who questions them. This is the scariest cult I’ve seen in years and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why they aren’t being investigated.
Love to see an interview with Kirste Alley. Girl has always had a few screws lose and barely has any filter what so ever.
I wonder what would come out of her mouth if she sat down with say, Anderson Cooper to promote her co$ weight loss aid and he actually asked her about things like The Hole, slave labor, free payments, punishments, ect.
..
I find it more than strange that NO CELEBRITY ever openly talkes about this religion they are so vested in. If you ask anyone. Anyone. About something they really believe in; you usually can’t shut them up. But, ask these celebs about their religion (something everyone loves to talk about) and mums the word. Strange!
Yes, we are judging their actions on the outside looking in.
You have to remember the situation they are in. When Cruise, Travolta, et al, got involved in Scientology, there wasn’t all the information out there that there is now.
They don’t tell recruits all this up front. They parcel it out over years and many levels of auditing.
It is mind control. These aren’t “stupid people” that fall for it, these are people who were looking for something more and fell into the wrong hands.
We like to think that we would be impervious to something like this and that is just not true. All of us absorb the attitudes and beliefs of those around us. Our beliefs and opinions are influenced by what we are continually seeing and hearing.
If they exposed the OT8 info, or even Hubbard’s general ramblings, right off the bat, most of these people would have said, “This crap is crazy!” and never gotten involved in it.
But they don’t.
It’s little by little by little over long periods of time. By the time they get to that point, they have been so indoctrinated they can’t tell right from wrong.
If you read the Fishman document, at one level they actually do try to wipe out all promptings of the person’s conscience.
It is so mentally devastating that there are numerous reports of people having mental breakdowns in the auditing process. I’ve read reports that say that both Cruise and Travolta flipped out in their OTIII training.
When you look at the responses of people who have been in abusive relationships or who suffer from PTSD, that is the way you have to look at it.
funny, the only CO$ celeb I’ve seen react to specific questions about CO$ beliefs without going batcrap ballistic was Juliette Lewis which is pretty ironic considering she is way wacky.
With any luck they’ll be investigations started by the justice dept quite soon if all these negative testimonials keep coming out. They can’t keep ignoring them, can they?
Either way, the Co$ image is in the crapper. Hopefully it will stripped of church status soon and referred to as a cult worldwide.
But there have been investigations, many of them, all along. Most recently by the FBI regarding human trafficking and slave labor (think of all of the free labor Tom got on his many vehicles, his plane hanger and, if I’m not mistaken, his house).
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/03/scientology_fbi_investigation_over.php
The investigations all seem to die, however, and it totally p*sses me off. The IRS fought them for decades and then just gave up. Last year, Anonymous got 6,000 signatures on a petition to the White House. I bet if they ran it again, they would get six million. I’ve already sent them an email and I encourage anyone else who cares to do so as well. I’ve also emailed Tony Ortega from the Village Voice asking him to let us know what we can do to support inquiries (no word back yet). Public pressure is needed.
edited to add: Oh! And Gawker/Jezibel. The former officially became a ‘thing’ by running the TC “CO$ is great…We are the only ones who can help at car accident scenes” video. I have been very surprised by their lack of coverage of this. I’m emailing them too. Nick Denton – where is your spine? Reporting on this is what made you happen.
once you find out, can you post?? i’d like to help too (coming out of lurking to say this
Absolutely! Assuming CB gives us a platform. This story may end up dying…which, again, will tick me off (but NEVER with CB – my only daily escape from reality!).
p.s. @ study-er
Welcome from lurking into the light:-) Keep commenting! Lots of fun here!
Didn’t Gawker and all its related sites have a huge personnel upheaval? I seems like all the writers whose work I love and who kept me coming back are gone and the sites have really siffered as a result.
That TC video on scientology has to be the clincher on whether tom cruise is sane or not. Wouldn’t anyone stop to help someone in a car accident? How did they manage to convince these stupid people that only they can help people? They’re obviously a sick bunch. Yes, why do all these investigations fade away? payoffs probably..
@ Mich…
PLEASE do let me know how to help, as well. I have never known anyone who has been snared by CO$, but I have been truly horrified by all that I’ve learned during the TomKat divorce. Plus, I SO loathe Cruise.
I have an AWFUL lot of time on my hands now that the step kid is soon back to uni…would love to be of some assistance. My fear is that now that Suri’s future has been decided, the spotlight will veer away from Scientology. Let me know how I can send you my email. If i posted it here, the CO$ freaks would jump on it like a duck on a Junebug, lol.
Anonymous have upcoming protests in Washington (Jul 21) and Chicago (Aug 4)against Scientology. Too bad I don’t live around those areas as I’d definitely participate.
Can’t wait for Suri’s tell-all someday.
I think the tell-all will be when she’s a teenage basket case that goes off the rails. Damage is already done, she’s older than 3.
I hope we’re coming up to the tipping point, yes – when the public attention reaches a landslide level where it can no longer be stopped or distracted.
While on the outside the media attention and public interest has been hugely boosted by the divorce news, on the inside interesting things are happening too.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/07/scientology_heber_jentzsch_karen_de_la_carriere_email.php
It may not read like it to people who are not very familiar with the issues, but the email from Karen de la Carriere is a HUGE bomb that was just dropped on the inside, encouraging Co$ members to think critically about their organisation in a language they understand, from a person they can relate to. This may have more effect on the cult than all the protests and critical articles outsiders organise together. And the response so far is encouraging.
She apparently got a huge and loving response to her email. Not the same as having her son alive and well but hopefully putting her on a path towards healing.
The fact that they wouldn’t even let her see her son’s body one last time shows you what kind of people they are: hateful, greedy, heartless, and evil. I’m also not going to ever support People mag again by buying them. It’s one thing to be a celeb ass kisser, another to support a group that commits/supports civil rights violations.
People is nothing but a Hollywood propaganda rag. Publicists pay People to manipulate stories about their celeb clients. If you have the money, People will do your bidding. That’s why they have been soft on Tom Cruise and Scientology.
People is always a week behind on the news, thanks to the competition of more earnest internet bloggers, and their stories are always very soft and superficial. I never bother with their website anymore, and I only buy the rag when I’m stuck at an airport and there’s nothing else to read.
I don’t see how they get any walk-ins anymore and they certainly won’t now. I suspect that their numbers come from generational members (and probably why in the personality test they check if you plan to have heaps of kids ;)).
I reckon celebs pretty much fund the whole thing, (eg James Packer was reported to have donated $4bil wtf?), and the seaorg keep it running as cheap as possible.
I was thrilled to learn that the global numbers were less than 100K and dwindling every year. Australia has only 2K or so. Even USA has 20K or something, which is 0.0001% of the population for both countries. Statistically, that’s f-ckall. Perhaps with so few people affected it’s just not a priority for the govt?
I think they will always have a small trickle of new members – people who feel lost and end up being drawn in before they realise it’s scientology (they’re good at hiding that!) and then don’t see any of the bad things and stay. But the vast majority of ‘new members’ actually only buy a book or do one or two courses and then drift away.
One of the insideous ways they draw people in is via things like Narconon, where you don’t know it’s scientology until they have you indoctrinated. Very nasty. Interesting things happening in Canada in that regard though, and maybe the rest of the world will take note.
People Mag seems very pro-CO$
they only are pro-Cruise
and pro-RP
They would whitewash Hitler if he gave them exclusives. They don’t care who they are protecting and selling as long as it brings them money.
Co$ works with the same methods the STASI, the East German secret service, did and their members were all former Nazis, they spied on their own people so much they had a spy in every street and even trained children from little to spy on their families and later on their co-workers. The same with Scientology.
Creepy but oh so true. The editor was on some morning show and he was, “This has nothing to do with COS (the cult), it was because Katie was unhappy in the marriage.”
That is a 180 from last week already. Last week was all about Katie and her fear and loathing of the cult, then it became “poor, pitiful, blindsided Tommy”, now it is generous Tommy giving in because he loves Suri and is working to take his mind off his pain. People needs readers and will sink as low as they can to get them. All of their sexiest this, most beautiful that is given to whoever gives an interview and has a project to promote.
People is owned by Time Warner and I am sure the higher ups at Warner Brothers (tommy’s studio) told them to stop bashing their cash cow, he has movies coming out.
Jess, People mag is not a reliable source for the real story on anybody or anything. They always just report the fairy tale version offered by whoever’s PR folks. $$$$$ buys the story anyway they want it told.
Government agencies are fully aware of what is going on with the CO$ but the cult throws so much money at the investigations, the government eventually has to back away because the money and the human resources need to be spent investigating things like home grown terrorism.
The way to get to the CO$ is exactly what is happening right now. Exposure and abundant communication to help prevent new victims and possibly give existing victims the courage to de-cult and know they will be supported by the community at large.
Oh and that first picture of Tommygirl should be right next to the definition of Narcissism on Wikipedia.
Different Jess here (I think – although this was exactly what I was going to say!) I totally agree. Shame on People for whitewashing the horrible things Co$ does. And good for you, Celebitchy, for staying strong. Keep up the good work!
People mag is Time Warner. They did Rock of Ages, right? So it’s all good publicity for now while the movie is still in theatres.
Btw CNN is Time Warner too, so it explains why they aren’t using the c word to describe Co$ …. or the other c word to describe Miscavige. 😉
TMZ IS ALSO OWNED BY TIME WARNER..
You guys have been amazing with your coverage of this and your ongoing coverage and exposure of Scientology. I know it’s felt scary at times. You should be proud. It’s a really worthwhile thing to do.
Agreed. It’s the gossip websites which show what the public think, not the media. Funny how its the media following.
Tom is totally brainwashed. No turning back for him. I doubt he will stop pressing Suri and anyone who spends time with him to join COS. This alone is a reason to prevent him from solo visitation with his daughter but how the h*ll they will prevent him from it, I do not know. I wish Katie all the best with her efforts.
I totally agree with this. Tom is completely absorbed in it. Even if he WASN’T brainwashed, just THINK of all the information they have on him. They could do nasty things, but even just leaking all of that info would completely destroy his career. His crazyness and COS devotion have already destroyed his image for the most part.
I read all of those article links in the comments. FASCINATING.
I think Katie got what she wanted protection for Suri against COS. She has done a lot of damage to COS in 2 short weeks. She never has to say anything in public for the media to be on her side. Scientology is now seen as dangerous by all of us.
i also dont understand why people are so focused on the xenu story. yes its ridiculous but its really not about that story. is it more believeable that a guy walks over water or that you are reborn as an animal?
its about what they do, not the “founding story” of their religion.
if you only focus on that the mormons have the funniest and the one with the most plot holes.
The Xenu story has come up in less than 0.001% of the comments. Where is your comment coming from?
OSA headquarters probably.
Definitely OSA, check out the grammar, punctuation and capitals.
Dead giveaways.
Hey Daniel Gardener, get the hell out while the getting is good!
“I am not afraid of the troll,” said Big Billy Goat Gruff, tossing his bold head with the huge round horns. He stamped the ground – once, twice, thrice – with his big hooves. “Let him try to eat me! We shall see who wins the fight!”
Julie, we barely mention your beliefs here. We mainly discuss the outrage we all share for the people who have been abused by DM and his church. We are saddened by families being split up and people being abused and imprisoned against their will.
Many of us are parents and would be devastated if we could no longer see our children. Imagine not being allowed to say goodbye to your dead son like Karen de la Carriere? We feel for the people who are trapped and want to help them.
Whether or not someone believes in Jesus or Xenu or the spaghetti monster isn’t relevant. Everyone should be free to worship as they see fit, not coerced to follow orders of a corrupt man like Miscavige.
I don’t know if Julie is a CO$ troll or not, but as an atheist I totally agree with her.
It must be difficult to see how some people equate all religions with this cult, when you are brainwashed yourself. How do you think any religion started? People just suddenly believed? Or they were coerced, pressured and scared into believing? Maybe in a thousand years CO$ will be treated like all other religions.
Personally, I think all religions are rubbish. But I was raised Anglican and when I didn’t want to be part of it anymore I stopped showing up. I never got one phone call asking me to come back. Let alone having my family held for ransom. That’s the difference here. It’s not about faith, it’s about abuse.
As for Co$ going legit, this is the thing we are fighting. We’re at the tipping point now. Most cults fizzle out when the leader dies, but Co$ has managed to survive past that big hurdle, mainly I think because of celebs legitimising it. If it is not stopped it could be around in 2000 years, when all L Ron’s documents proving he was a crazy, drugf-cuked scam artist are gone. That’s why we have to pass this knowledge on until no one believes it anymore, because the difference b/w scientology and Christianity is that we have the proof it’s all fallacy.
I’m not wishing death (please don’t ban me!) but I’m just a little surprised someone hasn’t tried something on Miscavige. The level of destruction he appears to relish delivering on former members lives…. I mean, the amount of despair and desperation would drive any one over the edge no? He must have some stellar security.
Apparently he travels in an armor-plated limo that is similar to the one the President uses.
It was probably specially pimped-out by some unfortunate brainwashed cult members.
Most of the people who are in that deep have been so intensely brainwashed that they would swear up and down that they are voluntarily in ‘the hole’ – the double-wide trailer prision where lots of them are locked up to sleep on the floor and endure all sorts of abuse.
That has happened. Concerned family members have asked law enforcement to look into the disappearance of their loved one. Law enforcement goes to Co$. Co$ produces said person, who will swear to the cops that he or she is there of their own free will and could leave at any time. Cops go away, because there is nothing they can do. Person is shoved back into the prison.
In any normal organisation it never would have come to this point. It’s the level of mind control that makes Scientology so toxic, that allowed Miscavige to dismantle all the checks and balances (there used to be some) and rule like he does.
Yes, I don’t want to violate the wishing death rule either… commenting on Celebitchy is my favorite dead time around the office sippin’ Starbucks past time. So I won’t wish death on David Miscavage.
But if I was one of the family members of Lisa McPherson or any of the people on whyaretheydead.net …. I’d have no qualms about doing any “wishing.”
He is a monster. A cold, calculating monster. Sometimes I can’t believe that all of this is real. It sounds like the plot of a really great science fiction novel. (And yes, I get the irony in that statement, considering the origins.)
I really wish the FBI or National Guard would man up and do a raid. It’s way past the appropriate time, and the evidence is numerous and mounting. The idea that there are children locked in a pseudo “boarding school” forced to do eighteen-hours of hard labor in the United States and the government isn’t doing anything about it… breaks my heart.
Interesting article from February 2012 about Paul Haggis (director “Crash”, screenplay writer “Million Dollar Baby”) leaving Scientology in the New Yorker; “The Apostate” by Lawrence Wright.
Although I didn’t find Haggis’ personal story so interesting, the fact checking process that the New Yorker had to go through with Co$ spokesperson Tommy Wright and Co$ attorneys as described was incredible.
Most significantly, the basis for “Dianetics” was LRH’s account of self-healing of his many wounds after WW-II through the dianetics process. But, his military record released to the New Yorker by the D of D indicate no wounds, no valor, no medals (another claim by LRH). Co$ has different military records substantiating LRH’s claims. Hmmmmmm…
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=all
Yup lies, all lies.
His entire biography is one long string of fantastical lies. Scientologists believe these things and questioning them leads to harsh (and expensive!) ‘sec checks’.
If any of these allegations have a shred of truth then the FBI should get involved. Imprisoning and torturing people? Working children? Draining people’s savings? What’s next?? I don’t understand why they haven’t been investigated by authorities.
Ginger, you stand amongst a sea of people smacking their foreheads at the injustice that has been allowed to happen for DECADES. It’s beyond insane.
Somebody please indict Misgavige and cut him off of communication with the cult that supports his criminal activity. People tried to nail Hitler; howcome nobody’s put a bomb underneath HIS table? And ironically, Rumplestilskin was in the movie that portrayed it all.
Mich, it also pisses me off that the investigations seem to just go nowhere. How is that possible when there is clearly so much evidence of abuse? I hope it doesn’t fade quickly from the public eye. People need to see that Cos is a cult. I think some have a hard time accepting that because they think of cults as isolating people in some out of the way place (like Jim Jones did) and because Tom Cruise and other celebrities seem free to go anywhere they think it can’t really be a cult, but celebrities clearly get special treatment in Cos.
I read on Radar (strange, now when I check I can’t find it but it was there yesteday) that the settlement stipulated that Suri would be accompanied by Katie’s bodyguards and security team whenever she was visiting Tom and only hers because Tom’s were all Scientologists and Suri was to have no contact with any Cos members or Cos teachings in any way. His visits were to be strictly monitered.
I searched and found a site, Hollywood Life, that quotes what Radar had up: http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/07/09/suri-cruise-will-not-be-exposed-to-any-scientology-practices-as-part-of-settlement/
“Tom only has Scientologists that work for him and Katie insisted that her staff will always be with their daughter. Under terms of the settlement, Suri isn’t permitted to be exposed to anything Scientology related and this includes going to any Scientology churches, parties, etc. Katie made sure that this was ironclad in the agreement,” a source close to the situation tells Radar Online.
Tom, 50, has also reportedly also been given strict guidelines regarding visitation with Suri, 6. “Katie insisted that Suri’s nanny and bodyguards always accompany her when she visits Tom. Katie did this for several reasons. This will ensure a smooth and easy transition for Suri when she is with Tom,” the source continues.”
I hope that’s true. She must really have some big dirt on TC and Cos because otherwise I find it hard to believe TC would accept these conditions. He likes being the one giving orders and it’s hard to believe that he won’t try to win Suri over to the Cos. Katie will have to be very very vigilant about those conditions.
Oh, just realized that CB already did a story on these supposed stipulations in the divorce settlement. Sorry. I missed that story because I usually am only on the computer in the morning and read backwards (top of the page stories first and this one was lower down).
Interesting that lawyers are trying to say that the details Radar gave are inaccurate, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s just spin put out there to make TC look better. I notice Katie hasn’t signed any official statement saying Cos is not part of the reason she left…at least not yet.
What’s interesting to me about that is… if a mother made a request like, “my daughter cannot accompany her father to any of his Catholic events, services, etc.”… it would be deemed unconstitutional and a gross violation of the father’s rights and tossed. HENCE… Katie must have submitted something that served as evidence that Scientology is damaging to Suri’s psyche.
Miscavige went on honeymoon with them?! WTF?!
Well done CB for showcasing this appalling, controlling faux-religion as the cult it actually is.
miriam says:
July 10, 2012 at 11:05 am
Miscavige went on honeymoon with them?! WTF?!
——————–
Katie should’ve known then something was seriously wrong with TC
CB, so glad you are covering this and keeping the topic relevent and out there! Love this site!!
Maybe that’s what Katie has on Tom, and why he agreed to a settlement so quickly – perhaps their relationship (TC & DM) is much more intimate and personal than just a friendship? The article did mention that DM was willing to dip into the Co$ warchest to pay whatever was necessary…
David always comes first before Katie, even on the wedding night. 😉
That first photo for me hats always been very telling and somehow very sci-fi bone chilling, as if they are grooming Conner for the Throne eventually. Sad.
The Media may be seeing The Co$ for the Cult they are..I just wish the US Govt would! At least my mom’s side of the family obviously didn’t want a repeat of history they shut this Nazi like Cult out! Was watching a show the other night (can’t remember if it was CNN or HLN as I kept flipping back & forth)..BUT the People Magazine Staff person they had on air was not even trying to hide his fondness for Cruise and how wonderful he was (gag me)! Which brings me to a question… People mag keep has so much “love” for Tom and a blind eye to the Cult (while most have a mixed feeling or see the Cult & Cruise for the crazies they are). Does anyone know if People Mag has Co$ ties??
Z
If they have infiltrated Government agencies and law enforcement(especially in LA and LA County I believe) you can bet that power stretches into all forms of the media.
I would love if Rupert Murdoch put his money where his mouth is and went after them big time.
Glad I don’t buy that Mag anymore… Guess lack or I would have caught that question. Just wish the US & Eng would wise up to this cult. Sad in the 21st Century something like this can go on!
Anne de Vries says:
July 10, 2012 at 10:36 am
I hope we’re coming up to the tipping point, yes – when the public attention reaches a landslide level where it can no longer be stopped or distracted.
—————-
One can only hope!! It’s outrageous that this cult is allowed to keep operating and getting tax exempt status on top of it all!
CoS = Cult of Scientology. I am all for that name change.
In Germany we officially call it the “Scientology-Sekte” (Scientology cult). It’s very strange to me that the general U.S. public still uses the misnomer “Church” for that company.
U.S. media have to adopt the “cult” expression to describe them in a more accurate name. It’s time.
i love germany!!! they didn’t give scientology the religion status they wanted =) grüsse!
Grüße zurück, Lizi! 🙂 Yeah, in Germany clubs can’t just come along an claim religious status. “Religion” has a strict definition in Germany – and Scientology is far from it.
Just found out we’re probably moving to Germany. Soon! So excited yet in an absolute panic! The only German I speak is “Ein Prosit”
Prost, Lem! Just today I was sitting in a sunny German Biergarten. You will have a great time here. Germany is so liberal and laissez-faire, much more than people think. You will like it. 🙂
And the only German I can speak is Gesundheidt, lol!
I love traveling in Germany, it’s a beautiful country.
Green_Eyes says:
People mag keep has so much “love” for Tom and a blind eye to the Cult (while most have a mixed feeling or see the Cult & Cruise for the crazies they are). Does anyone know if People Mag has Co$ ties??
————-
I suspect they just don’t want to upset celebrities they might want to get interviews from in the future. TC is a big star and they like to keep on the good side of such. That’s my opinion on why they are covering it the way they are.
The “Throne” photo looks like a mix of “Omen” and “Rosemary’s Baby”.. CREEPY! And I have NO doubt that Tommy is really David’s boyfriend. Katie went on that honeymoon as a prop.
I’m sick of seeing Robo every day already …
The way that I view this religion/cult compared to other religions is that it is newer and the practices that used to be “administered” by other religions (ie – Catholicism, etc.) are being played out in a modern time.
What Scientology is doing is no different than what every other religion has done EXCEPT it is doing it in 2012 and with a lot of scrutiny. Religions were wrathful, dictatorial, draconian and people lived in fear of them. A lot changed post-Renaissance and enlightenment, but we can’t forget that this “mellow” view of religion that we have is quite new.
I’m glad that a spot light is on this cult and it’s practices. That picture of Cruise on the throne sums it up for me. He’s power hungry. What is missing in his childhood, what defect does he have as a person that requires that he have “King like” power as it is being represented in that picture?
THIS! Thank you so much for saying this. It took me a while to come around to the “Scientology is a cult” thing, mainly because I’m not religious and much like C/B’s dad, I saw so many paralells between Scientology and other religions. I also think that as an atheist, I try not to discriminate against ANY religion-I view them all the same. But after reading extensively about CO$ it’s hard to find any modern-day religious equivalent to the manipulations and atrocities affected upon this “church’s” believers. And yes, it is AMAZINGLY scary that they can not only get away with it, but somehow convert millions of people.
@ (sweet) Kitten
They haven’t converted millions. Best guesses at the true number of adherents is 25,000 globally and possibly less. In Australia, for example, three times more people identify as ‘Jedi Knight’ than ‘Scientologist’.
If we were to compare the monetary power and strength of will of these two groups however, CO$ would definitely come out on top.
The ‘problem’ is that the CO$ faithful live in an unlawful hell. If that wasn’t the case I would say ‘live and let live’.
Well the number is irrelevant to me-three members of CO$ is already too many.
@Turtle Dove/Kitten – That was exactly my point in one of the first posts when this news broke out. Anyway, that’s not the point. Since I’m in grad school, I get to discuss these issues with some of my Professors. I admire their opinions because of the objectivity they maintain. Some of the points raised were – why there is so much hate for Sci on internet and not in the mainstream media or at least why people on internet have kept up with their hate whereas the mainstream media brings it up in the event of high profile cases such as this divorce. If you check the Anonymous website and why we protest Sci, it says, “Anonymous originally chose Scientology as a campaign target because of the events surrounding the now infamous Tom Cruise Scientology video. While the video itself was not enough to spark interest, the untamed aggression of the Church of Scientology to remove it did.”
For the internet population, Sci undermines or attacks the core of what constitutes the internet culture i.e. freedom, freedom to express any kind of opinion. This is at the core of the massive internet protest against Sci because CO$ uses its power to intimidate and subvert the freedom of opinion on internet. The CO$ bullied websites to remove the 2008 TC video. Second, combine this with our celebrity culture, especially with someone like Tom Cruise and it is a recipe for disaster. The question is why Tom Cruise? What is it about him that galvanizes opinions? That he is a Scientologist, of course but also because of his advocacy of Scientology. The key here is not just advocacy but how he does it. Cruise’s intensity, almost militant like disposition (ex: his interview with Matt.L) when talking of an already unpopular belief is at the root of the intense hate he attracts. For example, in his interview with Matt.L., although he had a point about abusing prescription drugs, he did not consider Matt’s point that there are people who have benefitted from medication. If you go back and see some of the articles about this interview, you will see words like ‘zealot’ ‘egoistic’ etc to describe Tom’s disposition. That’s what pissed off audiences. It may have been different if he was democratic and easy going like Clooney even when discussing serious issues. You know, the Taliban is more dangerous than Scientology. The sheer strength of Tom’s belief in Sci, which may very well be personal for him, is what rubs people against him.
All this however does not negate the dark sides of CO$ – brainwashing, mind control, financially and emotionally abusing people etc. It does not support/justify/rationalize Tom’s behavior either. It was just a riveting conversation trying to make sense of some other aspects of this Sci + Cruise vitriol. Just thought I would share it.
@ Mira
You are right. The Taliban is more dangerous than CO$ – but a war is already being waged against them. And with real guns and US government funding.
For whatever its worth, what irritates (understatement) me about Cruise is his arrogant hypocrisy.
@Mich – I get what you are saying about TC’s hypocrisy. You are however seeing it from the other side and accordingly accuse him of hypocrisy. For him though, it may be very different. He may have finally let go his past/abusive childhood because of CO$. For example, if I find spiritual healing in one of the mainstream religions, I’ll always ignore/doubt what the media is saying about it. In fact my go-to reaction will mostly be defensive. Again, I’m NOT supporting Cruise in any way. All of this came out of a conversation with my Prof and colleagues in trying to understand the internet vitriol against Tom/CO$.
You know another interesting trend on internet – low tolerance. Anonymous started it’s fight against Sci because CO$ subverted the core principle of internet. However, now it’s happening both ways. Anything anti the majority belief is considered as troll. I’m not talking about CO$ here. We looked into the IMDB discussion boards for some examples. One of it said ‘DDL is overrated as an actor.’ He/she was called out as troll by the rest. It’s an interesting observation.
What, you mean the mind control/brainwashing, the hard selling, the instilling fear to speak your mind, the forcing people to report on each other, the coercing them into spending more than they can, the numerous suspicious deaths and ‘suicides’, the harassment, the intimidation, the large scale infiltration of government, the forcing women to have abortions, the forcibly seperating families, the lies to the outside world and to the own followers and the fact that they are hiding their real beliefs until you have invested 200 000$ or more?
Yeah, just like any other religion.
Plus, you know, HUBBARD SAID SO. Hubbard said it was not a religion, and it only became one later, when that was the only possible way to hide from fraud allegations.
“Scientology has opened the gates to a better World. It is not a psycho-therapy nor a religion.
(The Creation of Human Ability, L. Ron Hubbard, 1953)
“Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors.”
(Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter (HCOPL) 29 Oct. 1962, “Religion” )
More quotes:
http://www.ezlink.com/~perry/CoS/Theology/barwell2.htm
This is exactly why I didn’t want to say anything and I’m happy C/B and Turtle Dove said it first.
I’m not going to provide a counter example to every item you listed because I don’t have the time or frankly, the motivation.
But yeah-cutting people off from their family, ministers exlpoiting followers’ beliefs for money, govermnent manipulation (which is far FAR more concerning to me than CO$ nonsense which doesn’t directly affect my life) and going further back in history-GENOCIDE alone wiped out more people based on religion than any CO$ member.
Just google the Mongol conquests of the 13th century.
Here’s a good example of modern-day religious corruption:
http://www.sudantribune.com/Civil-society-body-backs-Kiir-s,42815
Again-my point was that no religion is better/worse than any other to me. But the CO$ falls under the cult category.
Turtle Dove,
You’re largely correct about that. The fact is–and most scholars of religion will tell you this–the only significant difference between say, CO$ or the LDS church (Mormons) and Christianity or Hinduism is that the former religions popped up recently enough that we as a culture have been through the scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, and the emergence of modern understandings of history.
All religions at their earliest origins begin as cults. In fact, the word cult comes from the Latin word “cultus” which derives from the idea of cultivating or cyclically repeating something (liek sowing and harvesting). It came to mean “religious ritual” in Imperial Rome, and later came to mean what we think of today when we say cult–i.e. a narrow, weird, often violent and secretive religious faith that lies outside the mainstream.
That is, in fact, how every major mainstream religion began as far as anyone can tell–some of the older ones–Hinduism, for instance, are shrouded in pre-history. Nevertheless, by studying early scriptures and ritual “how-to” manuals, along with material culture (things archaeologists dig up) we can still gain a decent picture of the origins of even the most ancient religions. And the origins are usually pretty wacky and strange, and often violent.
Thank you Turtle Dove and OKitt! 100% agree. As I said above this may all be forgotten in a thousand years and CO$ will be a completely normal and accepted religion.
It astounds me when people can’t imagine that their religion was probably started in exactly the same way.
I will never forget when Tom jumped on the couch. It made me google $cientology and I found xenu.net. I spent the whole rest of the day reading about what went on in that cult. My mouth was open the entire time. I had NO IDEA something this horrible could happen in this day and age.
I got so worked up I and one other person went out and protested with signs outside our local org. (this was before all the protests started with Anonymous) We were out there for less than 5 minutes and some woman was out there just standing there, not saying anything, taking our picture. I have a picture of her taking my picture. What true religion does that? What a bunch of creeps. I felt bad for her and for the guy that came out to talk to us and “handle” us. They were completely sucked into it. I would love to punch the terror midget (aka David Miscavige) right in the throat for ruining so many lives and breaking up so many families.
OMG this story freaked me out so bad. I literally just shivered.
^^this. Completely creepy. The craziest and most horrifying part of Co$ is that if you do protest, for whatever reason, or even show skepticism, they will videotape you, photograph you, follow you, everything so that they can harass you. I watched the BBC’s Panorama follow-up on it and one of the higher ups who left Co$ by the time of the second show, Mike Rinder, readily admitted that he personally followed the journalist and knew exactly where he was and wasn’t at all times. It’s the paranoia and complete lack of morality that gets me with all the stories I’ve read in regards to what the “church” does to people who’ve left.
Excellent article! Thanks for drawing attention to the issue of people saying Scientology is no weirder than any other religion. As you say, there are marked differences. I categorically do not like the Catholic Church, but as an example, Catholicism might require its believers to adhere to some pretty weird views, but it does not directly dictate whom you should marry, what career you should have and how much money you should give to the church. It doesn’t actively pursue and oppress those who leave the church, and the basic tenets of their religion are not a secret.
Not entirely true. I married a Catholic, and his parents and their Priest really pressured us to do certain things. Where to live, to have children quickly etc. I now think it happened this way because of the controlling nature of this particular Priest, who easily brainwashed my very devout and naive inlaws. Have not been into a Catholic church since my wedding, and I never will. If the Priest is a wing nut, those little country churches become the same as a cult.
Depends on the parish and the priest. I’ve been to mass in several parishes and some priests are much more intrusive in members’ lives than other priests are. Most priests know how to butt out and mind their own business unless called on to intervene in a crisis.
@snow – I married a non-Catholic and yes they asked him to convert because we had agreed in pre-cana classes to raise any kids as Catholics, he said no and that was that. Certainly nobody ever told us, or even suggested, how to raise said kids or where to live at all. I went to 12 years of Catholic school and we’ve sent my 3 sons all through 12 years of Catholic school without any pressure on any member of our family. I think you and your in-laws must have hit on a real zealot.
Same here. Went to Catholic kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school, and then a Catholic college. Not once did I ever experience anything even remotely similar to what the Co$ does. I didn’t do the Confession thing and never went to church either, and the nuns/priests/administrators were pissed at me, but they didn’t actually do anything about it or punish me in any way. They all just thought my family were weirdo heathens. 🙂
wow that first pic. Tom looks happy and “normal”. Miscavage and Connor look like satan’s spawn with those creepy stares. THe pic makes Tommygirl look like an innocent victim in all of this cult business.
I was hoping that Katie would take Co$ down too. Oh well, both sides won. Katie was the smart protective mom that just kept daughters well being 1st no matter what. I hope the ND has a time limit…but I bet Miscavage wouldn’t have it. this is all just so so crazy.
Now that those kids are older, Nicole could try and have a relationship with them, but I wonder if she wants it? They might be as insane as their father at this point and she may not want them around her two young children. If I were in that situation and knew those two kids were deep into CO$, I would not let them ever be around my other young kids.
I hope the ND has a time limit…but I bet Miscavage wouldn’t have it.
————–
Not likely. This is the cult that makes people sign up for a billion years or something!
You know, thanks to the always awesome CB, so many folks here have been encouraged to dig deeper and find out more information about the cult.
If even a few of us pass on that knowledge to people we know and they in turn pass on that information to others, then the word gets out and awareness is increased.
That HAS to be a good thing.
I have looked for the footage and can’t find the link. But on Sunday night… Dateline spent a good 25 minutes on a report about the Cult and the divorce.
I had not seen anyone post about it yet. And I guess it is cause the Cult went a little crazy over it. haha!
http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/06/12605041-july-8-transgender-childhood-tomkat-and-the-church-of-scientology?lite
“Also on Dateline, it’s the Hollywood story everyone’s been talking about: the breakup of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. According to insiders, there was a third player in this marriage – the Church of Scientology. Dateline takes you behind the scenes to find out what happened to “TomKat.”
Then I saw this statement added to the Dateline site:
http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/08/12629501-statement-from-the-church-of-scientology-to-dateline-nbc?lite
“The following is a statement from the Church of Scientology to Dateline NBC:
July 6, 2012
I am sorry to see that a respectable broadcast station such as NBC is accommodating excommunicated self-promoters who are sadly exploiting a private family matter for their own publicity and financial gain….”
You must go read all of it.
That Cult is p*ssed.
Bless their little hearts. They have no appreciation for the truth getting out there. Do they. 🙂
I did watch the show. And it had Jason Lee’s ex wife on it.
Along with a handful of well spoken former members.
And everyone interview, was very well spoken and did not come off as crazy.
I am puzzled why Dateline does not have up the complete episode from Sunday, online to view.
How odd.
Let us know if you find it. I just did a search with no joy either. Sounds interesting though. They ran another story recently that they had been to afraid to air until now about DM’s secretary who escaped so I don’t think the video has been removed under duress. This story is interesting though. I’ve read all the background info and now I’m fascinated with personal stories so have been searching for them all over the net.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=8730448
Hautie, is this it?
Dateline on TomKat Divorce and How Scientology Found Tom Cruise a Wife, 7/08/2012
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS8HQ1w7VJY
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odGrGH-fy8k
It’s funny that no matter how much People try to present TC and Co in a more positive light, the comments are still overwhelming negative. And likely most positive ones are CO$ plants.
Just goes to show that no level of PR can counteract plain fact.
At least on CB, there will be no silk purses made out of sow’s ears.
Scientology seems really scary from what I’ve read in the last few days. I don’t understand how or why they get away with their abuses. Shouldn’t a law enforcement agency be looking into where that guy David Miscavage’s wife is right now? It’s so strange and frankly I hope thanjavur ramps up the coverage.
Off topic sorta but this makes me think of Kirstie Alley..where are her kids? Did she not adopt a few? And what about Parker Stevenson, does he see the kids since he isnt COS? Anyone know. Seems her kids are not in the media or maybe I missed it.
From what I’ve heard she raised them in Scientology. I saw an article from 2010 where her 17 year old son was engaged and she was thrilled about it. Don’t know if he ever went through with the wedding but it reminded me of Tom Cruise and his daughter Bella who is quite young and engaged and how Tom is anxious for her to get married and even offered to plan/pay for the wedding. Clearly they have no problem marrying their kids off young. I know in Bella’s case, her fiance is a Scientologist and his family are members of the cult.
Suzy, it’s interesting that you note how Scientologists let the younger ones marry young. My parents had family friends (this was about 18 years ago) who became Scientologists. At the time I knew little of the religion, as I was a young child – these family friends also had kids around my age, and the kids were always talking about how they went to “church” on Friday evenings. Anyway, not long after they joined Scientology full force, they moved and seemed to cut my family out of their lives, despite how close we had all been. Now I understand why.
Anyway, my point I’m trying to make here is (sorry for the long tangent) – they let their oldest daughter get married at 16!!! SIXTEEN!!! I was the same age at the time, and even I thought, wtf??? She ended up getting divorced a few years later and from what I’ve heard, she doesn’t seem to practise Scientology anymore, thankfully.
I seriously think they let them marry so young as a way to control them better. It’s horrible!
According to Janet Reitman’s book, the kids get married young because they are not allowed to have sex outside of “wedlock”.
Besides the “sex before marriage is a sin” bs in Scientology…
In the Sea Org, you live in a shared and crowded dorm until you marry, at which point you only have to share a room with your spouse. That is one reason for the young marriages.
Another is that girls in the Sea Org, who were pressured to sign up as young teenagers or earlier or given to the Sea Org by their parents as children, are rewarded to male members of the cult.
Then if the girl’s husband masturbates, she is screamed at and shamed for supposedly not satisfying him. Masturbation is considered an incredibly heinous sin in Scientology, and the cult is also deeply misogynistic.
CB, Really appreciate the great coverage on CO$. The more the truth comes about this dangerous cult the better. They are not ABOVE the law.
Have you seen the trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson movie The Master yet? The news on COS won’t stop with this movie loosely based on its founder, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EpFzJXQMgCE
I just love to think about this interaction happening…
CoS Spokesdudes: You better not do this film that defames us! Do you know who we are? We will use our shadowy influence to DESTROY YOUR CAREER!!!!
Phillip Seymour Hoffman: I’m Phillip Seymour EFFING Hoffman. I’m a goddamn legend. Come at me, bro.
I think any scary shadowy power they once had is fading. If they really still had power over their enemies, I doubt “Book of Mormon” would have been the biggest Broadway smash since “Rent.”
Their stronghold has dissipated. Which is fantastic.
PTA is a brave director for even attempting to direct the Master. I know people that read the script, saw an early version of it and it hints its CoS. Not a direct attack & its smart of PTA to not directly attack it. However, people & reviewers will quickly link its similarities. If you know a little about CoS you’ll see Hoffmans character is loosely based on L. Ron Hubbard. Centers around Phoenixs character, not Hoffmans. Hopefully, people support its box office numbers. Heck if anything people should go see it and give a big finger to CoS
If you read anything about L Ron Hubbard and Dyanetics and the start of Scientology as a tax exempt you see the crazy. Big crazy
And Mormons, Catholics, fact is all religions come from the same whacked out place.
Scientology is only the most resent and easily debunked
My dad once took Dianetics out of the library to see what it was all about. He couldn’t even get past the first few pages because of the crazy. I really wonder what type of person falls for this stuff.
Oh my word, that David character standing on the right of Tom has the face of pure evil.
This is going to sound insane, but years ago I read the Christian book series called Left Behind. To make a long story short, an evil world leader (dubbed the Antichrist) appeared and I swear, Miscavage’s face is exactly what I imagined when the book was describing what the evil leader looked like. And I had never even heard of Miscavage then.
*shivers* O_O;
I seem to recall reading somewhere that the IRS had revoked Co$’s tax-exempt status, and they went after the IRS with mountains of litigation until the agency decided it was just too big a waste of taxpayer money. (I’ll have to Google later to see if I can find it again.) There have also been allegations that Co$ infiltrated the IRS and brought internal pressure to bear. Neither of these would surprise me, and I’m sure it’s a bit of both.
I really wish the IRS would suspend their tax-exempt status and have DoJ/FBI show up with warrants demanding to see inside. Just show up – no time to hide the child slaves they have. I personally would not mind the IRS spending money to litigate these jerks out of existence. After everything I’ve learned, I’d consider it good spending to protect our citizens.
Oh, they have a history of illegal and semi-legal activity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White
And about the 1993 tax deal:
http://factnet.org/node/614/
About halfway down the page under ‘How the secret deal was done: Scientology obtains tax-exempt status’ it’s explained how the IRS was coerced.
I’ve never seen any Judeo/Christian or any other recognized religion as a group get together to do some widespread internet bullying. I’ve loved this site for a long time and the fact you all are covering this story is really commendable.
Nope. The only religion I can think of that has any of the spooky traits of Scientology would be… and I don’t want to offend anyone… Jehovah’s Witnesses, because I know that they have a policy of “shunning” those who leave the church. HOWEVER, I also know that family members will quietly ignore this policy outside of the Kingdom Halls, and it’s not like any Witnesses are dragging those who want to leave into hotel rooms and starving them for days at a time to try to “fix” them. So, ultimately, a tad kooky, but mostly harmless.
(Actually, now that I think about it, I think Orthodox Jews have some “shunning” thing too… I’m not sure, I’d have to ask my dad. I’m… definitely happy to be Reform, is all I can say. 🙂 )
But yeah… there are no other “religions” that have practices as spooky as CoS. None that I can think of. A lot may have their “quirks,” but none as bizarre or evil.
As an Atheist, and I amazed that you would say, ” there are no other “religions” that have practices as spooky as CoS”
Um…lets ignore the Crusades and all of the other cruelties the Catholic Church committed centuries ago, and just focus on their repeated enabling and protecting of child molesters. Many “religions” do HORRIBLE thing in the name of their organization. I am not a fan of CoS, but they are hardly the only organization that has done horrible things under the guise of godliness.
Please stop bringing up the $#%#)*! Crusades. They were hundreds of years ago.
Many people in religions are still doing horrible things and getting away with it, yes. The Vatican has a lot to answer for. But Scientology is on an entirely different level. Because it’s a cult.
Yeah, it’s fine that you’re an Atheist – I’m Agnostic, so I feel you – but for the love of God, pun intended, leave the poor Catholics alone. I think as a Jew I am sensitive to religious prejudice, and I am so sick of hearing people rag on the damn Catholics. Some of the best people I know had a Catholic upbringing, with strict nuns and giving up meat for lent and the whole shebang. And they are legitimately some of the kindest, most levelheaded friends I’ve ever had, so the Catholic church must be doing something right.
While the mainstream denominations of the major religions gave up CO$ style intimidation & abuse long ago all of them have weird cult like sects that continue to do it. The Exclusive Brethren in Australia are a good example. They are most definitely Protestant Christians and they practice unbelievable misogyny, child abuse, shunning the whole kit and kaboodle.
However, why people bring up the crimes of other religious sects as a means to defend CO$ is strange, just because my neighbour beats his wife & kid doesn’t give me the right to do it and get away with because I say “look over there”. CO$ is abusive full stop. Many other sects are too and they should all be condemned.
Believing that doesn’t prevent me from acknowledging that there is an extra need for sunlight as far as CO$ is concerned because while no politician/govt dept/media is afraid to say the EB/Branch Davidians/Warren Jeff’s merry band etc are totally tonto not to mention criminal, the CO$ has managed over the years to cultivate a veneer of respectability. The first step for bringing a cult down is that people acknowledge it as such.
Catholicism and CoS are not even in the same ball park. I was raised Catholic and haven’t practiced the religion since I was in my teens. No one, not even family members, have so much as uttered a word of disapproval.
I don’t practice either, although I do believe in God, and my parents have made a few subtle comments hoping I’ll go back, but that’s the extent of it. Once I say I don’t want to be Catholic anymore, it’s dropped.
The only high-pressure tactics I’ve seen used are from Baptists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but even the Baptist I knew was far less pressuring than these CO$ people.
Yeah, I mentioned the Jehovah’s Witnesses too, because they have a “shunning” policy to those who leave. However, I think many of them will quietly continue contact outside of the Kingdom Halls. It’s not as eerie as Scientology’s policy.
I’m not a practicing Catholic either. Most of my family & friends are practicing Catholics, and they still love me regardless!
So do you think Crusie sold his soul and got involved with Scientology to become a star or do you think they campaigned hard and he really had the wool over his eyes when he got involved? I tend to think he was just fame hungry from the jump and mentally messed from his family history.
Thanks so much, Celebitchy, for linking to some of those sites that go into more detail about the specifics of a cult, the differences between cult and religion, typical characteristics of a cult, etc.
My cold, hard, cyncial religion professor heart is happy:) It’s pretty good info, and I hope it helps people understand that yes, all religions have bizarre elements and can be manipulative and corrupt, but that cults specifically tend toward violence and have traits that make them more dangerous and unpredictable than mainstream religions.
Also, it’s worth noting that ALL religions more or less begin as cults. The one that survive usually find ways to become mainstream and to institutionalize themselves in the larger society.
I know, I feel like we should all go hug our respective religious leaders, LMAO. I am so grateful for my progressive, relaxed synagogue, and my old Rabbi who actually said to me, “Fine, you’re an ‘agnostic…’ would you at least sit through a few services to make your mother happy?” 🙂
Did you guys read how Jerry Seinfeld dabbled in Scientology? And what’s more he was introduced to it by one of his teachers in like High School! Scary stuff right there, a teacher introducing an impressionable young student to a cult!
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/jerry-seinfeld-once-dabbled-in-scientology.html
Cruise’s adopted daughter Isabella looks A LOT like David Miscavige. Something very fishy is going on there.
Oh, Dear God. Come on.
Um, seriously. These people are f-Ing crazy. They coerce women into having abortions and if they choose to have their babies, they can separated from their husbands. Taking care of kids makes it hard to be a slave laborer. Maybe Miscavige knocked up some underling and gave the kid to Cruise as a prop. Nicole herself said there was a story to tell re Isabella’s adoption. Both Kirstie Alley and Cruise are most likely raising the kids of Co$.
I think it’s very naive to put ANTHING past these freaks, so don’t ‘oh, come on’ me.
Read the lyrics to a couple of songs on Lisa Marie-Presley’s new album. Wow, they are so directed at Scientology. She’s definitely out. Her mom is probably still in, so I doubt she will come out publicly talking about it out of respect for mom. So she used her songs as the outlet for her disgust with COS.
The Cult of Scientology (from now on I will never refer to them as a church) is a scary entity that scars people, imprisons their own members, and breaks up families. It is not about worship, it is about money and power, but only for the elite. Except for the very few, CoS is a money drain that leaves members broken and bankrupt. Miscavidge has the lifestyle of a corrupt dictator, built upon the broken lives of the members he considers peons. Staff members, including children, are slaves to this megalomaniac. This organization is evil and corrupt. The Hollywood elite who enjoy the ego rush by being in the cult “in circle” should be ashamed. And TC is the worst of a delusional lot. For anyone who has not read Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman, this is the time to read it. It reveals the money/power hungry obscenity masquerading as a church.
Wow. Is it me, or did Rathbun totally out Cruise on this one? His use of the word “queer” and “bottom” seem a little strange in the context of the post.
There is not amount of damage control scientology can do. Majority of people know and have always known its a wacky cult & we all know it is a huge reason Katie divorced Tom.
I’m just happy Katie is getting away from those wackjobs.
Excellent coverage of CoS. Appreciate the links and comprehensive discussion.
That first photo is freaky. And, he went with them on their honeymoon? What?…Ewww.
Totally agree. Ewwwwwww. Nicole must have lost her cookies when she first saw that picture.
I know I’m in the minority here but I actually feel quite sorry for Tom. I’ve always loved him as an actor and I feel that underneath it all he probably is a nice guy but he has been sucked into this cult. There was obviously some weakness or insecurity in him that COS targeted and exploited to their advantage.
There was an interesting article in the newspaper here in Ireland about when he was filming Far and Away here with Nicole Kidman. They interviewed the local barman of the town where they were filming and he had nothing but nice words to say about Tom. He said that he was in there nearly every night playing pool with the locals and was warm and friendly. This was, I believe, at a time when he was not involved with COS. The barman also said that he seemed infatuated with Nicole. It just makes me sad to think about what he has become.
Saying that, I’m team Suri and it’s clearly better for her not to be around Tom while he’s involved with this shady organisation.
Actually, his first wife, Mimi Rogers, introduced him to Co$. He was probably still fairly new to it at the time and hadn’t reached the crazy level yet.
I honestly think Tom has a low IQ and can be easily persuaded. I don’t mean it in an insulting for the sake of insulting “you’re stupid!” kind of way… I just think he’s pretty dim.
Tom is the sort of person who is going to latch on to anything that can help him make sense of a world that is difficult for him to otherwise grasp. He never finished high school, he had difficulty reading*, he was never worth more than his good looks… he was looking for something to cling to and give his life meaning. If he had been twenty years younger, it could have been Kabbalah or The Secret. He just needed something to guide him, because he didn’t have the mental capacity to otherwise guide himself.
That’s my take on him.
*No offense to any dyslexics. I had dyslexic students during my time as a TA and understand how much of a struggle it can be.
I know that one of Tom’s sisters is in the cult, but what about the other two, and his mom?
Are they SPs if they aren’t involved with COS?
I doubt it, aren’t they pretty willing to bend any rule if it means a high profile celebrity will keep being a Scientologist? I mean, rules that anyone else in the cult would be thrown in one of their prison camps or whatever for.
I’m pretty sure that at least two of his sisters and his mom are all involved in the cult. Didn’t his mom and one of his sister’s and her kids live with them for a while?
If not in the cult, you are called a wog.
Only people who have blown, spoken out about the church, helped a family member escape, talk to and associate with another SP, you are then declared SP.
Thank you for not being afraid to say that it’s a cult…because it is.
Here is what I think happened:
1. I am totally buying the notion that Tom is sterile and Suri is not biologically his. I do not necessarily think Suri is Chris Klein or Josh Hartnett’s, but was the product of artificial insemination or IVF with a random donor. This doesn’t matter for custody purposes, but for Tom, the “big,” masculine action hero, he can’t have it coming out that he shoots blanks. Also, it makes too much sense with all the smoke around the divorce from Nicole, Tom “blind-siding her” right after/during the miscarriage, the Ewan McGregor rumors, etc. Anyway, I think Suri’s paternity was Katie’s trump card and she leveraged it to the hilt.
2. I think Scientology was a component in that COS didn’t want its dirty laundry aired and clearly public opinion was and hasn’t been on their side for some time. Plus, with Travolta’s shenanigans, COS can’t afford another high profile mess.
Then why did Nicole say in an article last year she miscarried twice with Tom and that it was a miracle that she finally after trying i’m assuming with fertility help got pregnant and didn’t
lose it with Keith. She couldn’t carry a second one and used a surrogate. Nicole had to reason to throw that out there in her interview about having a baby and all the problems she had trying to have oneZ
Let me add to the speculation. I don’t think Tom is sterile but he’ll not clarify it for a reason. I think Nic had problems conceiving and they adopted Connor and Belle. Maybe Nic went against Tom’s Sci belief and got help from a specialist to have a bio child. That’s when she was pregnant, shortly before their divorce. Tom went batshit that she took medical help, which is against his/Sci beliefs. So he decided to divorce her and she miscarried because of stress. Therefore Tom will never clarify the rumor of him being sterile.
I read in a Australian magazine that all three of Tom Cruises wives have been 33 at the time of their divorce and each divorce has been 11 years apart, meaning their is an 11 year age gap between Mimi and Nic and Nic and Katie.
Probably just a strange coincidence but weird all the same!
Maybe some men just like a pattern, lol! All of my ex-husband’s wives are/were three years younger than the previous, and our birthdays are all around the same day of the month.
OT: Yet multiple marriages and divorces doesn’t hurt the sanctity of marriage, but letting gays and lesbians marry each other does?!
^^^^^^^THIS! I can’t even attempt to try with that rationale.
One thing that cracks me up is that the spokesperson Karin Pouw keeps calling people like Marty Rathbun “apostates.”
Who says that?
It makes me think of Dragon Age. And probably at least 20 times the number of people played the Dragon Age games as are in Scientology.
It also makes me think of the Catholic Church in the 14th century. You do not want people to be comparing your organization to the Catholic Church in the 14th century! I’m sure Miscavige would love to be able to torture and burn anyone who disagrees with him though.
The only other group I know of that uses the term currently is fundamentalist Mormons. A great group to draw similarities with if you want to look normal and legit, right? The pedophile polygamists who think it’s totally cool to take 12 year old girls they’re related to as wives.
There are very specific characteristics in identifying a cult. And Scientology definately is a cult. A cult is based on; 1. A cult will keep it’s central or core ideaology secret from the general members. This secret may only be attained by certain individuals – whether they pay to obtain that information or have status, etc. Religion should have its doctorine available upfront and accessable at any point by any person – there is no secret core or central idea that members must strive to reach. 2. A cult requires that individuals pay to obtain information and “grow”. 3. A cult separates the individual from others that are not part of the organization. 4. A cult tries to keep its new followers in a parent child relationship. 5. A cult will use emotional and physical retraints as a means of control.
Huff-Post just posted a video today and for the last few days has posted few stories. Longtime visitor of Huff-Post and its rare to see stories about COS. So how long is gonna take before the government actually looks into their tax exempt status? If newspapers and now major news outlets begin doing more coverage, they will need to face it sooner or later. They can’t be declared a true cult until they are removed from a tax-empty status. Really am beginning to believe they do have plants in the IRS that gave them the status. Its time to remove it and for investigations to begin. So many stories of forced labor, kidnappings, taking money from bank accounts, etc….it should be a FED investigation at this point.
I really hope that one day (hopefully very soon) the majority of the public will wise up and recognize Scientology for the dangerous cult that it is.
I was talking to my husband about it last night and my theory is that the Co$ recruits and does their best to keep their celebrity members because they probably think that when the regular Joe’s and Jane’s see celebs are a part of it, they’ll think “Well, Tom Cruise/John Travolta/Kirstie Alley are members so it must be on the up and up” and they’ll chalk all the horror stories up to either exaggerations or lies. It’s terrifying.
I believe every single horror story I hear that involves the Co$ but as far as the celeb members knowing about them, I’m not sure if they don’t know about them, know but don’t believe, or know and just don’t give a damn because the Co$ pampers them so much. As awful as it is, I believe the celebs know about how the regular members are treated and just don’t care. I”m going to generalize and say that I believe that most of the celeb Co$ members are probably snobs that don’t care about anyone or anything but themselves and couldn’t care less about serious human rights violations going on in their precious “church” because the Co$ spoils them rotten. One only has to read about the slave labor employed in creating Tom Cruise’s motorcycle and I believe a bus? I also remember another story about how when Tom Cruise goes to a specific Co$ compound, the regular members are locked up and not allowed outside until he leaves so Tom Cruise has the illusion that the place is just a camp for members and not in fact a prison (which is really what it is as members at this particular place are held against their will and forced to work for next to nothing).
I hate the Co$ with a burning passion. It’s not a religion, it’s a cult, and if I see one more article comparing it to Catholicism I’ll scream. I’m Catholic, and the Co$ is NOTHING like Catholicism. I’m aware that the Catholic church has it’s problems and I’m beyond pissed off about all of the molesting priests. But Catholicism, and other legit religions, don’t hold people against their will, they don’t bleed members of all their money (I’ve been going to mass since I was a small child and I’ve never once been told if I don’t give money I can’t be Catholic), legit religions don’t force members to cut off all contact with their friends and family who aren’t members, and so on and so forth.
F*ck Scientology, f*ck all of the celeb members who give regular people the illusion it’s a safe and legit religion and f*ck everyone in that cult who enables it to continue treating people the way it does.
“F*ck Scientology, f*ck all of the celeb members who give regular people the illusion it’s a safe and legit religion and f*ck everyone in that cult who enables it to continue treating people the way it does.” … Ha! This would make a great T-shirt
Gosh Tansey I LOVE your passion! And I feel exactly the same.
How the –ck is this cult still allowed to operate in 2012 FFS? The US Government should be ashamed for allowing this to continue. Because of COURSE THEY KNOW ABOUT IT!
*shaking my head*
Don’t ya just love it??
Latest article from Tony Ortega at Village Voice:-
‘Tom Cruise Gets Visitation Rights? Why Don’t We, Ask Ex-Scientologists Cut Off From Family Members’
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/07/scientology_tom_cruise_visitation_rights.php
Ok ok, off topic but does anyone believe the rumors about Conner actually being Tom’s bio son conceived w/a member of the church? Connor does look like Tom to me…
I have thought conner looks just like tom too. In some photos there is no doubt in my mind but then other times I am not so sure. One thing is 100% clear to me though is he has definitely been molded in his father’s image and likeness and you can see that in his expression and stance. I definitely believe those kids were either adopted or “taken” from members in the cult. I remember Nicole saying that one day Bella’s story would be told or something like that and that was fishy to me. And the more I hear about forced abortions and all that from ex sea org members it isn’t hard to think this could have happened.
I remember at the time of the “adoptions” that is got leaked that the kids were from “poor” Scientologists who were greatful their kids would have such a great life. I believe some said they got paid 40,000 dollars. It was very murky and it was made pretty clear they would never have anything to do with their natural families. I think it was Bella’s family that had 5 kids already and one more was too much for them. That is how the story got spun. Basically they got bought and knowing what we know now about CofS chances are they never saw the money. In time you can get attributes and even look a little like your adopted family. I was adopted and was always told how much I looked like my mom. Connor seem deep into CofS I’m not so sure about Isabella she has moved out of home and living in a not so great area. Connor is flying everywhere with his dad and living the life. I wonder if they ever wanted to meet their natural parents? As we know there is one rule for the rich CofS members and another for the working class. It reminded me of a beehive where you have the queen, the soldiers and then the worker bees doing everything for the hive but get stepped on in return. I think this has his CofS hard and I hope it keeps hitting CofS things need to be looked at and if kids are being abused then they need to get protection even if they don’t know it.
Tom looks so creepy in that first pick …
The blatant hypocracy of this organization disgusts me. How obvious does it have to be that if you are rich and famous, the rules get bent wayyyyy out of shape for your benefit.
Tom Cruise: Isn’t it about time you did some time in the hole cleaning toilets??? You’ve been cavorting with lots of SP’s in your career and personal life, but never suffered a minute of punishment for it. Can you imagine never being allowed to contact your friends, spouse, parents, children because of your cult’s insane rules on SP’s? Do you realize you’ve gotten off soooo easy because of your star status and have actually utilized many unpaid, overworked “slaves” to Sea Org to make your fabulously rich and spoiled lifestyle even better???
Tom Cruise, if you or your Co$ trolls are reading this, it’s time you owned up to being a complete and utter hypocrite who has used the cover of Co$ and your star power to your own selfish benefit.
Shame on you. You’re an evil excuse of a human being for condoning this kind of heart-breaking punishment of innocent, gullible people whose only mistake was a naïve belief in creating a better life with Co$.
Mark my words Tom, your sins will come back to haunt you tenfold.
@ Jaded:
WOW! Co sign 100% Let HIM know what it feels like to disconnect! Like he forced Nicole’s kids to disconnect from her cause the church labeled her a S.P.
Betcha the same rules won’t apply to him.
I know of no other religion that has a SEPARATE SET OF RULES FOR CELEBRITIES!!!
Yeah, I’m not buying the whole “Tom doesn’t know what goes on with lower level Scientologists, he might not even know about the abuse.”
BS. It reminds me of Kathy Lee Gifford and her damn sweatshops in the nineties. STFU. You’re at the top. You know every damn thing about what’s going on.
@Jaded – I like your comment and everyone elses as well. I was thinking that if tiny tom wanted to leave the cult of Co$ the public would support him just like they have supported Katie. As long as he came out swinging and told all he knows and assisted with a federal investigation and if he has been involved in illegal activity he could probably get immunity. No matter what bs the cult said about him it wouldn’t matter. I don’t think the Co$ could smear him if he countered all their attacks with an open discussion to the public. And was very friendly with the media. He could be a hero. Okay, done with my fantasy.
So. I’m curious. Is anyone interested in email addresses of Cruise agents, studios and various media spinning the Cruise story?
I’m busy sending emails because the hypocrisy of this man grates on me to no end.
Like so many women on this site, I have fought for my children and the fact that he has no qualms about fronting for a ‘church’ that divides families is disgusting to me. Even more disgusting because he clearly plans to take a different path from what is forced on non-celeb church members.
I’d be happy to be involved in an email campaign about this. Now that his divorce is “settled” (read: Co$ has told him exactly what to do so that it doesn’t attract more negative publicity) I think they will try to maintain a more low-key profile. We shouldn’t let the momentum of this issue wane because it’s not necessarily about Tom and Katie, it’s about basic human rights. It’s a golden opportunity to further expose Co$ as the evil cult it is, and Miscavige as the evil overlord.
Post the links, Mich! 😀 *chanting do-it, do-it, DO-IT*
yes, yes, yes!
*Clears throat and adapts former pre-law major voice*
Nothing illegal about posting it if it’s a matter of public record, miss!
🙂
Sorry I’m late! I went to take Toddles to the park for a picnic lunch, but the county’s ON FIRE. The air quality was too bad. So, I took him to look at kittens to adopt from our vet instead.
I haven’t read all the comments yet, but I agree with some of those up-thread that the CO$ has likely infiltrated all manner of media, LEOs, and court systems. At least in the counties/states in which they reside.
I bet CO$ makes big, HUGE campaign donations. Anonymously, natch.
“Miscavige is a close friend of Cruise’s, was best man at his wedding, and even went with Cruise and Holmes on their honeymoon…”
Of course he did, Tom wanted to enjoy his wedding night and it wouldn’t be with Katie, lol!
That Village Voice article about the disconnections is a good one. Anyone who ever criticized Nicole Kidman for her lack of involvement in her older children’s lives should read that one. I really think she was cut off with no options.
Hi! I need to change my name– I think there is another Rachel too. Sorry if this is super crazy redundant– I am rushing and I haven’t read everything. I also want to echo that I have SO enjoyed and admired Celebitchy’s brave coverage. Also, I only lurked before Katie’s big move and I do think there is something magical and mobilizing about this whole thing. I hope there continue to be daily Katie and/or Co$ exposure posts irrespective of the presence or absence of official TomKat gossip so we can keep the momentum moving and keep chatting about this endlessly engrossing topic while gossiping and, obviously, saving the world from evil.
Wow! Leave it to a gossip blog to do some excellent reporting! Well done!! I hope the larger media outlets pick up this story and run with it for days and days.
Excellent post. It has long enraged me that the news media I’ve worked for wouldn’t touch CO$ stories, mostly under the *stated* objection of religious freedom.
Things are changing in the news media. This particular issue being one big refreshing change.
I hope this cult goes down. It won’t be soon enough for me.
@ anti-con: I also hope Rupert Murdoch is picking up on Celebitchy – this blog seems to have touched a nerve, more than many other “celebrity” blogs. I think with his connection to Nicole Kidman he’d have an insiders feel for what she went through with a great deal of quiet dignity and could help expose and eventually bring down this travesty of a “religion”.
me too! just had a thought, what if Murdoch/media was following the commentaries on this site, we CB posters are the elite of all the celeb gossip sites! we all write such thought provoking/funny/honest/insightful comments. We’re the best! Around!
I glance at other sites like Perez/Superficial, don’t even bother posting much less reading, all the commenters are trolls/obscene…even the Huffington Post blog, doesn’t get nearly as much commentary action as CB does.
GREAT JOB CB WRITERS!
Even though I don’t like the guy, the change came from Murdoch imo. He declared open slather on Co$, so now all news ltd reporters can say what they like, in print.
It’s given power in numbers to the mainstream media folk who were afraid to step up. Now they can join those who have been doing this for ages like anonymous, net bloggers, Ortega at VV etc.
P.S. For the record, Murdoch has had personal experience with Co$ when they tried to woo his son, Lachlan. He probably knows more about it than anyone here. He would learn nothing from the postings at CB.
I want the victims to be heard and acknowledged/retribution if necessary – it’s hard enough to be a victim, but imagine the horror/pain if you’re a victim who can’t even SPEAK of your injustices much less seek retribution…it’s sick!
I just don’t understand really, I know that ex CO$ fear stalking/killing/etc if they publicly voice their dissent w/ the church but how much different is this from a ex: rape victim/criminal witness?
-go to the police, state the crime, ask how to seek safety/hiding until trial? can’t they seek witness protection?
David looks like the X Files character, Donnie, the one who liked to cut the fingers and hair off dead women; I forget which episode. Telling, though.
You should look at sptimes.com . It’s the newspaper from St. Petersburg Florida. They have a whole series of expose articles on scientology.
‘Tom the victim’ press is coming out now. Damage Control or is he gearing up to blow?
Likely some of both. Control freaks like him (and CO$) don’t just let their possessions go.
And yes, wife and child(ren) count as possessions to control freaks.
Hey Bella, I don’t mean the ‘blindsided and saddened’ rubbish. The ‘victim of Co$’ stuff is coming out now.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/07/tom-cruise-kid-gloved-joining-scientology-exclusive
If they want to play this game, the main issue they have is: how do they let people know that TC, poster boy of strong able-minded and bodied men, got sucked in like the rest of the lemmings?
Oh no, sarah, I know what you meant. And I think it’s some of both: damage control AND he’s ready to blow.
And in answer to your question: they can’t. Not while retaining (what little) credibility they had.
How long have you had that inkling? I’ve been wondering since the beginning of this saga if he’s been wanting out too. I even wondered if the whole thing is his way out too by saying, ‘I’m leaving for my wife and little girl.’ But I keep ignoring it thinking, ‘Nah, no way. He’s too stupid to figure this stuff out, he’s stuck for life.’ (Whereas I picture Katie sitting alone for weeks at a time in her tower, clutching her pearls while she read the Village Voice and the penny finally dropped).
Anyway, as you said, they don’t give up their toys easily. He would have his own complex issues trying to escape. Can’t wait to see how this plays out!
OK, sarah, I didn’t know what you meant. I thought you meant “blow” as in “ready to blow his top.” Because I DEFINITELY think more is coming, in terms of his temper, this divorce, and Suri.
And in those terms, I think it’s both. He’s too deeply entrenched (OT VIII, anyone?) to “blow” as in leave.
Sorry, using the newspeak for the lurkers. 😉
Edit: At least OTVIII. Even though OTIX apparently doesn’t really exist, I’m sure DM worked out a good price to sell it to him anyway so I’ll say he’s OTIX just for lulz.
god…I feel like I’m back in graduate school as i write essay like responses to CB postings! Seriously! I don’t put as much thought into my work as i do CB!!!
WoW.
-Cruise chose BS cult over his own wife and daughter. ‘You can’t take it with you’ they say- when the dude is on his deathbed, a coffin literally outfitted w/ $100 dollar bills, what is going to be the most important thing when he reflects on his life? CO$? Or love, family, friends?
– CO$ comes a time where you just can’t keep up the momentum of ex-members coming out vs., BS tactics to cover up, play the victim, extort, etc., it’s CO$’s time to face the music and public scrutiny. Soon enough the # of ex victims is going to far outweigh Miscavige’s minions and the pendulum will swing the other way, CO$ will HAVE to confront their own monster cult
-Seriously, I reiterate, what is MORE IMPORTANT to you in life? Once you have a sh-tload of cash, like Cruise, where you can literally wipe your a– w/ $50 bills n’ think nothing of it, do you seriously crave more??? Fame, notoriety, idolism, is it really that IMPORTANT in life? Cruise appears to crave money n’ power (just like CO$) MORE than the emotional quality of his own life. THAT is truly poor.
I think the biggest thing is that it panders to his grandiose sense of self-importance. Co$ tells him he’s saving the world, for real!
So, giving up your family is a small sacrifice for the good you are doing for mankind. Think of all the adoration you will get when everyone comes to their senses and realises all the work you have done for humanity! His celebrity pales into insignificance! UNHCR? Pfft! This is forever!
Anyway, they get reincarnated and will be together again in the next life where they will forgive him and thank him for leaving them.
If only he wasn’t so delusional he’d realise he’s getting thanked for leaving them now!
(Now excuse me while I go have a bleach bath. I feel really dirty spouting that sh!t).
I remember reading that tiny tom wanted an entire field at one of the Co$ compounds covered in flowers or some nonesense like that so he could impress Katie. I think I remember reading about how they had to plant the flowers for him, or something like that. Don’t know if it is true but do all Co$ members get that privilege or just maniacal tom? Doesn’t seem fair to me. It seems some of these celebs get treated like kings or gods almost.
That happened during his time with Nicole.
Perhaps Tom could’ve won her back if he’d tried this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O6Ki39PIpA
GUYS – TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO READ THIS
sorry for caps, per the suggestion in the article i went to the anti-scientology website http://www.xenu.net ‘Operation CLambake’ there’s a TON of info but this education tidbit on how they brainwash folks just hit my heart hard, it explains HOW the brainwash (brainwash=ability for leaders to control people + their money/labor – all outside influences.)
follow this link and read the paragraph ‘The Harm It Does To a Person’
http://www.xenu.net/roland-intro.html
it just broke my heart, broke it. I always knew they brainwashed, but to hear how they do it and what it really causes people to do, just broke me.
“A mind is a terrible think to waste” – never had truer meaning, and this is the root of what CO$ does, it just turns your mind into garbage, and once that happens, how can you ever claim to be a human being? heartbreaking! think of it, you lose your humor, personality, intelligence, OPINIONS, imagination!
no wonder they despise psychologists/psychiatry, which is NOT BRAINWASHING! if anything, it HELPS you regain a sense of cognitive, clear thinking…
***** could go on and on…it broke my heart, some of us may be cash poor, maybe not in the greatest health, in a s**tty relationship, but THANK GOD for our sanity….*****
Guys I cant stop!
Penthouse 1983 interview with the son of L. Ron, L Ron Hubbard JR., recalls his childhood and life w/ CO$- READ IT!
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/penthouse-LRonHubbardJr-interview-1983.htm
I’m at the part where he’s watching his dad perform an ABORTION on his mom with a coat hanger……
God i’m gonna have nightmares!!
Scientology is such a scam. They’re registered as a religion, so they probably don’t pay any taxes, which would explain how these celebrities can afford 100 million dollar plus private jets and the like.
Anyway, Cruise and Miscavige look like ‘the’ couple.
I will never buy that Cruise and Holmes were legit. More like a wedding of convenience.The break up was way too smooth and contractual.
That being said, when old Rupert Murdoch recently insinuated that the Church of Scientology is evil I had to laugh hard. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.