Scientology // Current TV

Will Smith: The Fresh Prince of Scientology?

The Huffington Post reports that Will Smith "has joined the ranks of Hollywood power players actively recruiting for the Church of Scientology." Apparently the actor gave crew members who worked with him on his recent project "Hancock" (a comedy which is scheduled for release in July 2008) a gift card for a Scientology personality test. The wrap gift was particularly bizarre given that these initial tests, which serve as a recruiting mechanism for the church, are free anyway.

Smith, who is a close pal of Scientologist Tom Cruise (whom biographer Andrew Morton claims is effectively the church's second in command), has not admitted that he's a member of the church, but did make some complimentary remarks about the religion in an interview with Mens' Vogue last November. "In all of the experiences I've had with Tom and Scientology, like 98 percent of the principles are identical to the principles of the Bible," Smith told writer Hudson Morgan. "The Bible talks about your spirit being immortal, that you were created for existence beyond your physical body. Well, that's no different from Scientology! I don't think that because the word someone uses for spirit is thetan that the definition becomes any different." Yeah, right Will.

Scientology?s policy of targeting stars dates back to the mid fifties (see previous story). To help them achieve their celebrity stalking goals they opened a Celebrity Center in Hollywood on Franklin Avenue. The grand Norman revival style building was originally built as a long-term residential hotel for actors, and once served as home to the likes of Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was bought by the church in 1973 for $1 million. New Yorker reporter Dana Goodyear recently ventured inside the Church's Celebrity Center. In Goodyear's fascinating feature, Hilary Royce, Scientology's community liaison, explains, "The celebrity is a special public...We've got to help them."

We can only conclude that fawning over celebrities with a special Celebrity Center is one of the other 2% of ideals that Smith doesn't consider ?identical to the principles of the Bible,? since we're pretty sure Jesus didn't have a special VIP section at the Sermon on the Mount. But hey, we weren't there, so we could be wrong, perhaps J.C. wasn?t all that egalitarian after all.

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http://www.myspeace.com/thedailymantraThe Huffington Post reports that Will Smith "has joined the ranks of Hollywood... more

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Chateau Scientology - Inside the Church's Celebrity Centre

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Germany moves to ban Scientology

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Germany Prepares to Ban Scientology

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The Most Telling Photo of TomKat Ever

There are no words, only laughter.

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Threats Send Tom Cruise Unauthorized Author Andrew Morton Into Hiding

by Nicole
Tabloid reporter turned biographer-to-the-stars Andrew Morton has been forced to sell his London home and go underground after writing an exposé on the increasingly controversial actor and Scientologist poster boy Tom Cruise.

I have received threats from the Scientologists and things have become pretty heavy to the extent that its almost more than my lawyers can handle, said Morton to Daily Express writer Adam Helliker. Ive sold my flat and Im not telling anyone where Im moving to. I intend to disappear for a while.

Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography is due out on Jan 15th 2008 and promises never-seen photos and never-heard revelations. The author, who has written biographies on Princess Diana, Madonna, Monica Lewinsky and Posh & Becks, has spent two years investigating Cruises background, talking to former teachers, girlfriends, friends and Scientology insiders, asking questions about the particularly sensitive issues of Cruises faith and sexuality.

Cruise, his wife Katie Holmes, and their fellow Scientologist cohorts are said to be extremely upset about the 352-page book. Their campaign to stop its publication apparently started even before Morton had put pen to paper, with the author, who Princess Diana personally chose to reveal her inner most secrets to, receiving warnings that the actors family and friends had been instructed not to cooperate. According to The Express, while Morton was doing some preliminary investigative work in Toronto, where Cruise filmed Cocktail, he was overheard grumbling that compared to Cruise reporting on the Royal Family was a walk in Hyde Park.

The Church of Scientology has a long history of media harassment, with an FBI raid on its headquarters in 1977 exposing one such campaign, known as Operation Freakout, which was directed against author Paulette Cooper whod written a book critical of the church (see earlier story). In Mortons case, tales of covert machinations will only add to the intrigue and mystique of his book. Morton, who is no stranger to the rules of press and publicity, will understand better than anyone that stories of such heavy-handed tactics provide fodder for discussion, allowing outlets such as ours to devote even more column space to the book long before and long after its release. Salman Rushdie; need we say more?

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http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraby Nicole Tabloid reporter turned biographer-to-the-stars Andrew Morton has been... more

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Scientology and Tom Cruise

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Scientology Moves to Manchester

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Hive Mind: Seinfeld, Celebrities and Scientology

Hive Mind: Seinfeld, Celebrities and Scientology
by Robin

In an interview with Parade magazine, comedian Jerry Seinfeld talked about, among many other things, the benefits of his youthful flirtation with Scientology. I last really studied, oh, its almost 30 years ago. Believe it or not...its extremely intellectual and clinical in its approach to problem solving, which really appealed to me. I actually got to it from my auto mechanics teacher in high school, who was into it, and he was telling me about it. In my early years of stand-up, it was very helpful. I took a couple of courses. One of them was in communication, and I learned some things about communication that really got my act going.

Unlike Scientologys high profile members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, Seinfeld had but a brief interlude with the controversial church. And despite a small jab in the episode of Seinfeld spent lost in the parking garage, he doesnt seem to have had any hard feelings either, unlike the guys at South Park, who vented in their controversial episode, Trapped in the Closet. What may be more revealing however is the perhaps unconscious connection Seinfeld made when talking about the church during an interview to promote the new animated film Bee Movie (in theaters Nov 2). Could it have been the hive minded similarities?

In her book, The Scandal of Scientology, author Paulette Cooper reveals how the cult-like religion founded by sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard, targeted celebrities. Their celebrity chasing goes back to around 1955 when Hubbard invited his followers to write and tell him which celebrity they wanted, writes Cooper in a chapter entitled Children and Celebrities. According to the book, the list of celebs Hubbard hoped to attract included numerous comedians such as Ed Sullivan, Ernest Hemingway, Danny Kaye, Liberace, James Stewart, Bob Hope, Walt Disney, Milton Berle and Groucho Marx. The church opened a Celebrity Center in 1969 to cater to the needs of their A-list disciples.

Much of the criticism leveled at the church lies in the numerous reports of difficulties members experience when trying to leave the fold. Even worse than what happens to an outsider who tries to attack Scientology is what happens to a Scientologist who turns against or displeases the group, says Paulette in a chapter entitled, The Suppressives. Fortunately for Seinfeld, he doesnt seem to have had any problems severing ties with Scientology; Cooper was not so fortunate. After publishing her book in 1971, the author, who was born in the Auschwitz concentration camp, was the subject of an organized campaign of harassment and litigation which was codenamed Operation Freakout and was exposed by the FBI after a raid on Scientology offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. in 1977.

Though out of print now, Paulettes book is highly collectible, with second hand copies selling for up to $115 on Amazon.com. The full text is also available on the internet.

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http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraHive Mind: Seinfeld, Celebrities and Scientology by Robin In an interview with... more