Tom Cruise Goes All Xenu Upside Matt Lauer's Head

No post that I've seen here or anywhere else on Macrumors.com argues against an individual's right to the free practice of their religion. I'm certainly not going to judge people based on their religious beliefs.

That said, here is a link that may be of interest with respect to the CoS.
 
There is another live link about Scientology that I made my views fairly apparent about that is in the political section and probably more suitable to this kind of discussion. I know about Scientology, and have for some time now. I read about it in High School when Time did a cover story on it. At the same time though, it falls within the bounds of a recognized religion. I can't possibly see how anyone could think that I am arguing for it. However, in fairness, it falls within the bounds of what it takes to be a recognized religion. And to be fair, I treat it with the same regard that I treat all religions. As long as people are voluntarily apart of it, there is little I can or will do about it. That is the same position I take concerning all religions. The other common position I take is that I do not want it to become an influence in my life through government. Which is probably a position taken by those who are both secular and non secular. Which, is why, I am an advocate of the separation of all churchs and state. Let state be the mediator between all of peoples beliefs or non beliefs, because even people of a faith are going to be unhappy under the requirements of a belief system that they do not subscribe to. Even more so than a system that meets some but not all of the beliefs they wish to live under. There is no guarantee that the belief system you want is going to win out amongst all the others if it were given the opportunity to influence government entirely and so the most equitable solution is one that is impartial while at least trying to meet the needs of all based on what works best.
 
mac-er said:
I meant he is nuts because of how arrogant he is about his beliefs in anything.
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A part of the problem is Toms unwillingness to believe that what anyone else may believe has any merit. That makes him a zealot. I may not believe in religion as a whole, but at least I can respect that others are entitled to believe in what they want to believe in. Tom Cruise (worlds most famous actor or otherwise) can no more prove to me that scientology exists than I can prove to him that it doesn't exist. No matter what I think, as long as it does not impinge upon me, I am at least ok with him believing in Scientology.

Now when he wants to tell everyone else they are wrong for not believing what he does, I am a little offended. And more likely to point out the more ridiculous aspects of the system he has chosen to put his faith in. It was created by a science fiction writer after all, but if he wants to believe in that and honor is personally, than more power to him. I will keep my thoughts private, unless he makes it a public matter. In which case, I will state that I think he is a kook. But only after he makes a case of it in the media. Same with any other religious leader who wants to control what I choose to believe or no believe in.
 
Xtremehkr said:
However you wish to frame Mormonism, it has become a distinct and influential part of christianity as a whole. Not only does it have a solid hold here the in US, it has become an internationally recognized sect in many countries. So has Scientology.
Xtremehkr said:
i don't know i haven't met a mormon uside of this forum yet (on the other side i got to know at least 1 protestant and a girl i school was a member of jehovas witnesses i think)
i simply don't think it has become very influential outside of the US

Xtremehkr said:
I don't know where you are coming from personally, but Scientology is established, recognized, and influential as a religion.
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i'm pretty sure that without the celebrities they would be looked upon as"just another money making cult" in the US as well
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takao said:
i'm pretty sure that without the celebrities they would be looked upon as"just another money making cult" in the US as well
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I agree. You can't charge a $300 yearly subscription to something and call it a religion.

Religions are supposed to help people, and those who promote religions are supposed to assist people as easily as possible.

Would Tom Cruise like to tell me exactly how charging for what he calls a 'religion' is helping anybody except those who get the money?

Tom Cruise is a nut who doesn't know one bit about psychiatry or anything else he pretends to. If he knew half as much about the history of Scientology as he proclaims to know about that of psychiatry, he'd not only steer clear from scientology, but would have avoided making himself look ridiculously ignorant.

Ironic, I think.
 
Josh said:
Would Tom Cruise like to tell me exactly how charging for what he calls a 'religion' is helping anybody except those who get the money?
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It goes to fund (at least in part) their recruitment^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H drug treatment centers.

Got to love it. Simony is a sacrament.
 
takao said:
Xtremehkr said:
However you wish to frame Mormonism, it has become a distinct and influential part of christianity as a whole. Not only does it have a solid hold here the in US, it has become an internationally recognized sect in many countries. So has Scientology.
Xtremehkr said:
i don't know i haven't met a mormon uside of this forum yet (on the other side i got to know at least 1 protestant and a girl i school was a member of jehovas witnesses i think)
i simply don't think it has become very influential outside of the US


i'm pretty sure that without the celebrities they would be looked upon as"just another money making cult" in the US as well
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i am an evangelical by definition, sharing my faith when i can, but many fellow evangelicals have made money, *big, big, stinking money, and politics their god and given christianity a terrible name

next time one thinks the worst about christianity, think of mother teresa instead of jimmy swaggart or carl rove's/orrin hatch's god squad gop spin gurus who have made christianity weird and corrupt in the public's eyes the way bin laden and the ayatollah have made islam look bad in the public's eyes
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jefhatfield said:
i am an evangelical by definition, sharing my faith when i can, but many fellow evangelicals have made money, *big, big, stinking money, and politics their god and given christianity a terrible name

next time one thinks the worst about christianity, think of mother teresa instead of jimmy swaggart or carl rove's/orrin hatch's god squad gop spin gurus who have made christianity weird and corrupt in the public's eyes the way bin laden and the ayatollah have made islam look bad in the public's eyes
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So why aren't more people standing up and calling foul? Sure, there's been a few churches and a few influential individuals but for the most part christians in America aren't doing anything at all to dissassociate themselves from the religious extremists. Can't they see that following blindly could, I repeat, could, lead to the extremism that has taken over the middle east?

I'm reading a great book right now, The Great Influenza by John M Barry and in the late 1800s "theological schools enjoyed endowments of $18 mil, while medical school endowments totaled $500,000." There were many factors at play but there can be no doubt that America's unhealthy obsession with religion was one of these. What is beyond doubt is that our medical ignorance led to the severity of the (mis-named) Spanish Influenza epidemic. Why do so many Americans willingly spend so much money to support religion? I'll never understand.

As a side note, the epidemic received its name because Spain at the time was the only country in the west that had total freedom of the press. The US and Europe willingly suspended that freedom for the cause of war. Millions of people around the world died because it was "unpatriotic" to report on medical epidemics. This war was led by a man, Wilson, who believed much like bushco believes, that he was given a mandate by god to conduct the war and his only mission in life was that war, the people of his country be damned.
 
Ugg said:
So why aren't more people standing up and calling foul? Sure, there's been a few churches and a few influential individuals but for the most part christians in America aren't doing anything at all to dissassociate themselves from the religious extremists. Can't they see that following blindly could, I repeat, could, lead to the extremism that has taken over the middle east?

I'm reading a great book right now, The Great Influenza by John M Barry and in the late 1800s "theological schools enjoyed endowments of $18 mil, while medical school endowments totaled $500,000." There were many factors at play but there can be no doubt that America's unhealthy obsession with religion was one of these. What is beyond doubt is that our medical ignorance led to the severity of the (mis-named) Spanish Influenza epidemic. Why do so many Americans willingly spend so much money to support religion? I'll never understand.

As a side note, the epidemic received its name because Spain at the time was the only country in the west that had total freedom of the press. The US and Europe willingly suspended that freedom for the cause of war. Millions of people around the world died because it was "unpatriotic" to report on medical epidemics. This war was led by a man, Wilson, who believed much like bushco believes, that he was given a mandate by god to conduct the war and his only mission in life was that war, the people of his country be damned.
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liberal, ultra liberal, moderate-liberal, and moderate christians are the silent majority...while many have no issue against a moderate republican like whitman, schwarztneggar, giuliani, or mccain (though he's a little bit more conservative), many christians certainly don't like bush

it's just a very vocal minority of ultra right wing republicans, who also happen to be christians, who blow their horn loudly...blowing one's horn loudly if you are outnumbered is the american way ;)

during the 60s, there were many moderates and moderate liberals who opposed the vietnam war (and there were some right wingers who didn't like the war, either), but the most far to the left (some who believed in resorting to vandalism and violence) got most of the news coverage

in america, moderates of all political affiliations are the majority but at the same time very quiet
 
jared_kipe said:
He looks like he's high or something. He can't sit still for a min.
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That's love, my friend.

Being in love is the best feeling in the world.

(That said, Cruise remains, imho, a whack-job.)
 
Apparently, there's a petition

From msnbc.com

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition to boycott “War of the Worlds” because they object to the “abhorrent behavior of Mr. Tom Cruise.” Notes the petition, which is addressed to director Steven Spielberg: “We will not be spending our good money to support the ridiculous and potentially dangerous antics of this raving narcissist.” Among the behavior singled out in the missive: “We do not want to hear Mr. Cruise’s uneducated and unsubstantiated opinions on medicine and psychiatry. His mean-spirited decision to use Brooke Shields as an example was unforgivable.”
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mac_2005 said:
That's love, my friend.

Being in love is the best feeling in the world.

(That said, Cruise remains, imho, a whack-job.)
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Love Affects people Differently, apparently love affects Tom Cruise much like Crack does most people.
 
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