Does Scientology deserve more scrutiny than other religions?

[abaris]

John Travolta claims his Scientology beliefs helped him a lot with getting through some very difficult stuff involving his son. If it's therapeutic for some people, let them have it I suppose.

His son died, far as I know. In a pretty tragic way. Yeah, everyone's free to choose their poison. Ajnd poison it is. Less so for the likes of Travolta or Cruise, since they have the funds to keep them going and probably pretty privileged in the cult. But John or Jane Doe aren't as lucky. In for a penny, in for a pound in the most literal sense of the word.

[ukatheist]

I wonder if its some sort of pyramid scheme, if there is anything rich people like, its being richer.

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[Alex K]

John Travolta claims his Scientology beliefs helped him a lot with getting through some very difficult stuff involving his son. If it's therapeutic for some people, let them have it I suppose.

His son died, far as I know. In a pretty tragic way. Yeah, everyone's free to choose their poison. Ajnd poison it is. Less so for the likes of Travolta or Cruise, since they have the funds to keep them going and probably pretty privileged in the cult. But John or Jane Doe aren't as lucky. In for a penny, in for a pound in the most literal sense of the word.

Scratch the probably... According to Going Clear, Cruise got such services from them as getting organized a girlfriend on short notice...

[abaris]

Scratch the probably... According to Going Clear, Cruise got such services from them as getting organized a girlfriend on short notice...

I know that. But I always keep asking myself if these services aren't actually surveillance. I'm pretty sure these bodyguards and staff - partly from Scientology - are there to protect and to keep him in line simultanously.

[Rev. Rye]

Scratch the probably... According to Going Clear, Cruise got such services from them as getting organized a girlfriend on short notice...

I know that. But I always keep asking myself if these services aren't actually surveillance. I'm pretty sure these bodyguards and staff - partly from Scientology - are there to protect and to keep him in line simultanously.

No, that's what the auditing sessions are for. From what I've heard, John Travolta's big reason for still staying in the church after all these years is that they threatened to release some potentially damaging information from his auditing files if he ever leaves, most likely due to closeted homosexuality/bisexuality.

[abaris]

No, that's what the auditing sessions are for. From what I've heard, John Travolta's big reason for still staying in the church after all these years is that they threatened to release some potentially damaging information from his auditing files if he ever leaves, most likely due to closeted homosexuality/bisexuality.

Sounds like a non issue to me. Rock Hudson had a point in keeping it quiet, given the time he lived and acted in, but Travolta shouldn't have a problem with something like that. I mean there are quite a number of openly gay stars having no issues with their careers these days.

[Jackalope]

I know that. But I always keep asking myself if these services aren't actually surveillance. I'm pretty sure these bodyguards and staff - partly from Scientology - are there to protect and to keep him in line simultanously.

No, that's what the auditing sessions are for. From what I've heard, John Travolta's big reason for still staying in the church after all these years is that they threatened to release some potentially damaging information from his auditing files if he ever leaves, most likely due to closeted homosexuality/bisexuality.

I could see that being the case, but c'mon it's 2016 not 1986. Most people just don't care about it that much any more.

I'm not a big fan of either Travolta or Cruise, but I'd relish either one of them making a public show of leaving that sick cult.

[abaris]

I'm not a big fan of either Travolta or Cruise, but I'd relish either one of them making a public show of leaving that sick cult.

I'm more of a fan of Travolta who gave some pretty good characters in the past than I am of "only got two facial expressions" Cruise. Never will understand what Kubrick saw in him to cast him for his last movie.

If Travolta came out and at the same time left scientology, the audience would cheer him. This is no longer the 50ies or 60ies. Even Hudson earned sympathy in the mid 80ies when he came out to talk about Aids.

[Rev. Rye]

I'm not a big fan of either Travolta or Cruise, but I'd relish either one of them making a public show of leaving that sick cult.

I'm more of a fan of Travolta who gave some pretty good characters in the past than I am of "only got two facial expressions" Cruise. Never will understand what Kubrick saw in him to cast him for his last movie.

If Travolta came out and at the same time left scientology, the audience would cheer him. This is no longer the 50ies or 60ies. Even Hudson earned sympathy in the mid 80ies when he came out to talk about Aids.

Well, someone's clearly never seen Collateral. Also, it should be noted that there is apparently still enough prejudice within the Hollywood system that many gay stars are still expected to stay in the closet if they want to stay in the A-list.

[Alex K]

No, that's what the auditing sessions are for. From what I've heard, John Travolta's big reason for still staying in the church after all these years is that they threatened to release some potentially damaging information from his auditing files if he ever leaves, most likely due to closeted homosexuality/bisexuality.

I could see that being the case, but c'mon it's 2016 not 1986. Most people just don't care about it that much any more.

I'm not a big fan of either Travolta or Cruise, but I'd relish either one of them making a public show of leaving that sick cult.

I don't see it happening with Cruise. We've all seen the video where he's pontoficating about the KSW doctrine and laughing like a maniac about the thought of having a world without SPs.