Why Celebrities Love Scientology
Editors Note: Perhaps it’s my insalubrious fascination with idiocy absent clinical reasons—that is why people who otherwise do very well indeed in the world memorizing lines, and even learning how to fly a plane expertly (John Travolta) choose to become enmeshed in some stupid, transparently exploitative and cultish scam like Scientology (well, again, Scientology is merely a newer scam; all religions are a scam). Still, bizarre as some religions can be, surely Scientology takes the prize not only for sheer weirdness, but for its recent, barely cold origins in the stratagems of a cynical tax fraudster. In this piece, Gabrielle Dunn offers a nice intro to a subject that—being anchored in the absurd complexities of some very self-absorbed, screwed up minds—is perhaps beyond rational reach. The question remains: how can so many actors project sensitivity and intelligence without possessing such qualities?—PG
Over the weekend, notorious Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard celebrated what would have been his 100th birthday. The former science-fiction writer (born March 13, 1911) founded the religion Scientology in 1952 as a successor to his self-help series, ‘Dianetics.’
Since then, Scientology has gone mainstream with the aid of big-name celebrity believers like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. But while Scientology’s association with movie stars has gained it publicity, it’s also revealed outlandish, dangerous and cult-ish aspects that leave many wondering how famous actors and actresses could still choose to be involved with the church. Continue reading »
