Scientology Exposed--Again!

Scientology Exposed--Again!

When W magazine interviewed Katie Holmes back in 2005 though the 26 year old didn’t jump on a couch, she was close to giddy over both her famous new beau, Tom Cruise, and her controversial new “religion,” Scientology.




US magazine has referred to that interview as “infamous [and] creepy” and posted before-and-after photos of the actress which it described as “Katie’s shocking transformation during her marriage to Tom.”



Personally, I don’t regard the pictures as “shocking” at all, other than reflecting seven years of gentle maturation.



However, what was creepily shocking was the fact Ms. Holmes was accompanied to the 2005 W sit-down by a “Scientologist chaperone” with long-standing ties to Scientology, Jessica Rodriquez. Ms. Rodirquez was not only present throughout the interview but at times audibly told the star what to say, such as prompting her to effuse about Cruise,”You adore him.”



Holmes was also allowed to say, “You know, it’s really exciting. I just started auditing [Scientology] . . . and I’m taking some courses, and I really like it. I feel it’s really helping. What I like about it is that, you know, I was raised Catholic, and you can be a Catholic and a Scientologist, Jewish and a Scientologist.”



And maybe a Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and Muslim as well?



That odd interview and Holmes’ confusion as to what religion actually involves are testimony to the success of the “auditing process,” the lofty, esoteric goal of which, according to Scientology’s website, is ”to restore beingness and ability. . . accomplished by: (1) helping individuals rid themselves of any spiritual disabilities; (2) increasing spiritual abilities.”



Auditing also serves to elicit every possible dirty and clean little secret from the audited victim, secrets, it has been alleged, that have often been used to attack apostates.



All in all, there is sufficient evidence that Scientology is much more a twisted, sinister cult than a bonafide religion. It evokes comparisons to the Stepford Wives, visions of Jim Jones’ Kool-Aid, and the terror of Orwell’s Big Brother rather than to religion.



Another woman, Kerry Hiatt, far less famous than Katie Holmes yet clearly more intelligent, recently substantiated that conclusion. . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=26633.)

Politics, Religion, and Pseudo-Religious Politics

Politics, Religion, and Pseudo-Religious Politics

Along with politics, we speak and write about religion at our peril even though American politics and America’s religions are often inextricably intertwined, and they happen to be two of the most interesting subjects to argue about.




Constitutionally a secular nation, the United States nevertheless was founded on indisputable Judeo-Christian principles, principles rapidly eroding under the current administration.



Religion has been in the news a great deal during this general election year and not only in relation to Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith which has spawned vile, illiberal passions and attacks not seen since Roman Catholic Jack Kennedy ran for the presidency more than half a century ago.



For what they’re worth, celebrity religious conflicts have also been in the news recently.



Acting as if movie star divorces were unusual events, celeb-crazed media types have been all exercised over Katie Holmes startling announcement that she is dumping her hubby of 5 1/2 years, Tom Cruise, and taking their six year old daughter Suri with her.



Of course, there’s more to that story than just another Hollywood split.



Some mean-spirited people have hinted that Katie is divorcing Tommy because, as long rumored, the actor is a closet homosexual, a sexual aberration the actress should have noticed long before now–and before Suri.



Many others are pointing to Cruise’s membership in the quasi-religious, ultra-mysterious Church of Scientology and his Scientologist indoctination of Suri as the cause.



Like the late comedian Jimmy Durante used to say, ”Everyone wants to get into the act!” especially when the act involves religion.



Even eighty-five year old media mogul Rupert Murdoch weighed in on the breakup–on Twitter no less!



The multi-billionaire tweeted, “Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people” and Britain’s The Telegraph reported that Ms. Holmes is fearful of Scientologist spies stalking her since her announcement that she is divorcing her couch-jumping hubby. (http://tinyurl.com/72o73sn)



It all makes for great publicity, Hollywood’s life blood.



Publicity is also the life blood of politicians, some of whom resort to extremes when they’re running scared.



Desperate for campaign money to defeat Governor Romney, President Barack Obama has been running very scared and has set records for fund raisers and for shameless pleas for donor cash.



Apparently, that abject begging–plus acting like a carnival shill by selling overpriced mugs and tee shirts and $3. chances to dine with the First Couple at “his” White House–aren’t coming close to filling Obama’s campaign coffers so he has once again dispatched his lovely bride on the funding trail.



No slouch when it comes to begging or spouting off, the FLOTUS is evidently as desperate as the POTUS as she envisions life without extravagant vacations and being treated like an empress.


(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=26204.)