Is "Phenomenon" Scientology propaganda?

[Fake Messiah]

I remember this rather disappointing and rather boring movie from the 90s with John Travolta called "Phenomenon". It's about a regular guy from rural America who gets in touch with alien force and becomes very smart, but then nothing really happens and he dies. And like I said, the movie was very disappointing because when the first part of the movie was unfolding I was rather excited to see where it would go, but it went nowhere.

But lately I see on internet that lots of people consider it Scientology propaganda (like reviews on IMDb) because Travolta's character at one point says "Everything has become clear now" and because apparently Scientologists love that word "clear" the whole movie is their propaganda.

But to me it seems it's all just Christian paranoia.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I remember this rather disappointing and rather boring movie from the 90s with John Travolta called "Phenomenon". It's about a regular guy from rural America who gets in touch with alien force and becomes very smart, but then nothing really happens and he dies. And like I said, the movie was very disappointing because when the first part of the movie was unfolding I was rather excited to see where it would go, but it went nowhere.

But lately I see on internet that lots of people consider it Scientology propaganda (like reviews  on IMDb) because Travolta's character at one point says "Everything has become clear now" and because apparently Scientologists love that word "clear" the whole movie is their propaganda.

But to me it seems it's all just Christian paranoia.

If these people didn’t know Travolta was a Scientologist, would they think the film was propaganda?

It seems that the use of the word ‘clear’ is a pretty thin thread to hang this on.

Boru

[LastPoet]

Scientology, the religion for the rich. Someone had to came up with that idea eventually. Still bonkers. If there are space dwelling species out there, they should be laughing (assuming sense of humour),out there for these monkeys that we collectively are, because we can't even get our own planet in order. Exempli gratia: toilet paper to fight a pneumonic.

[The Grand Nudger]

Travolta didn't write the movie.

[Fake Messiah]

Here's another accusation and this time by a catholic priest. And as it is typical of catholic priests criticizing some movie, he has not seen it himself, he doesn't know the name of the movie, nor can he accurately describe it, and he falsely claims how Travolta is constantly repeating that, by now, satanic word "clear"

He starts talking about the movie after 8:39 mark




So he probably just heard some rumors about it in Christian circles which was enough for him to be an expert in it, at least for other Catholics.

[Rev. Rye]

Haven’t seen the movie (and since it’s not on Netflix and is only available on Hulu with a Showtime add-on, which I don’t have, I’m guessing a month minimum before I can actually see for myself).

I did, however, look it up, primarily on Tvtropes, and one point that stuck with me. One of the tropes listed is Rousseau Was Right. The commentary: 

The vast majority of people who oppose George are scared, or only following orders. The former seem to come around by the end, and at least one of the latter subtly helps him by redirecting the search for him after he's escaped.

The thing I find difficult to reconcile with the Scientology Propaganda angle is that, unlike the film, the Co$ works under the assumption that anyone who criticizes their Organisation is acting on bad faith. A few years before the film’s creation, David Miscaviage said, on national television: “We do not find critics of Scientology who do not have criminal pasts,”

This has been the default line for the Co$ since L. Ron Hubbard was still active:

Now get this as a technical fact, not a hopeful idea. Every time we have investigated the background of a critic of Scientology we have found crimes for which that person or group could be imprisoned under existing law. We do not find critics of Scientology who do not have criminal pasts. Over and over we prove this.

Another thing to point out: apparently, the source of Travolta’s character’s power turns out to be a malignant brain tumor. While I might consider this a valid metaphor for what being involved with the Co$ For an extended period of time does to a person, there’s no way in Hell a piece of pro-Scientology propaganda would claim that.

Also, around this time, Travolta was pushing for an actual Scientology propaganda film: Battlefield Earth.

[Ranjr]

The priest is clearly an R6 implant.

[brewer]

I converted after the first viewing. It was clearly very good propaganda. 

And I wasn't doing anything for the next billion years anyway.

[no one]

Is that you, Tom Cruise?