# Excerpts From New Scientology Tell-All Book: Travolta & Cruise **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822 "2013-01-11T03:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/1 "2013-01-11T03:24:58Z")
Want a fun read? Here are two Hollywood Reporter excerpts from a new Scientology tell-all book that gives some of the back stories on Travolta and Cruise. Just in case you aren’t sure if Scientology is a weird-ass, dangerous cult, these two snippets ought to put a rest to your doubts: [Here is the link to the story of John Travolta](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-scientology-trapped-john-travolta-409685) and Scientology. [Here is the Tom Cruise link](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-scientology-seduced-tom-cruise-409686) to the Scientology book exerpt. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/2 "2013-01-11T11:47:37Z")
I read the Cruise link. It really is amazing to me that an absurd “religion” could have ever gained traction like it has. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/3 "2013-01-11T13:07:34Z")
I’ll have to get this. In previous years, Scientology would have blocked something like this with lawsuits and threats of other actions. That’s how they effectively shut down Paulette Cooper’s book _The Scandal of Scientology_, and Russell Miller’s \* The Bare-Faced Messiah\*, which disappeared almost immediately after it hit the bookstands. I have copies of both, but for years it was virtually impossible to get them (They’re on [http://www.xenu.net/](http://www.xenu.net/) ) Maybe the fact that this book is coming out unhindered is a sign of the waning of the CoS power. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/4 "2013-01-11T13:53:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Maybe the fact that this book is coming out unhindered is a sign of the waning of the CoS power. Or, maybe it is a sign that they are ever more confident in their power. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/5 "2013-01-11T15:43:01Z")
Despite the source of the articles and the fact that they’re about actors, this is more about Scientology than the arts. Moved CS --\> MPSIMS; depending on how it goes, it may be moved again to GD. Keep it civil, folks. **twickster** , CS and MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/6 "2013-01-11T16:08:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’ll have to get this. In previous years, Scientology would have blocked something like this with lawsuits and threats of other actions. That’s how they effectively shut down Paulette Cooper’s book _The Scandal of Scientology_, and Russell Miller’s \* The Bare-Faced Messiah\*, which disappeared almost immediately after it hit the bookstands. I have copies of both, but for years it was virtually impossible to get them (They’re on [http://www.xenu.net/](http://www.xenu.net/) ) > Maybe the fact that this book is coming out unhindered is a sign of the waning of the CoS power. Or, perhaps, have they just stopped fighting? Stories about the loopiness of $cientology are so ubiquitous now that they may feel blocking one more book is just not worth the effort. Honestly, how much more bad publicity can the LRH crowd get? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/7 "2013-01-11T16:19:19Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Honestly, how much more bad publicity can the LRH crowd get? Well, it would really hurt them in the public if it was revealed tha _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/8 "2013-01-11T16:53:50Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I read the Cruise link. It really is amazing to me that an absurd “religion” could have ever gained traction like it has. Does it call for ritual body modification? Smearing ashes on your face? Sweeping the ground in front of you with a broom as you walk? Passing your hand through flames? Wearing special underwear? How about special hats? Does its leader wear a giant stylized vulva on his head? My point is not that Scientology is not absurd–it most assuredly is. But is it really that much more absurd than religions that are widely accepted as “normal”? (Now, if you want to call it a more outrageous scam, I don’t think I could argue with you, though some of the others have a huge edge in the long-con competition.) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/9 "2013-01-11T18:06:19Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Does it call for ritual body modification? Smearing ashes on your face? Sweeping the ground in front of you with a broom as you walk? Passing your hand through flames? Wearing special underwear? How about special hats? Does its leader wear a giant stylized vulva on his head? > > My point is not that Scientology is not absurd–it most assuredly is. But is it really that much more absurd than religions that are widely accepted as “normal”? (Now, if you want to call it a more outrageous scam, I don’t think I could argue with you, though some of the others have a huge edge in the long-con competition.) It’s not the weirdness of Scientology – it’s their nasty vindictive and litigious streak. It goes WAY beyond mere defvense of their institution into downright attack. They framed Paulette Cooper (author of _The Scandal of Scientology_) by getting her fingerprints on paper upon which they later wrote a bomb threat and forged her signature and simultaneously launched a campaign of harassment and threats that was intended to unhinge her. This was lovingly spelled out in detail in papers that the FBI seized on a raid of Scientology headquarters. > **[Paulette Cooper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulette_Cooper)** > > Paulette Cooper (born July 26, 1942) is an American author and journalist whose writing against the Church of Scientology resulted in harassment from Scientologists. An early critic of the church, she published The Scandal of Scientology in 1971. She endured many years of attacks from church leadership and their agents, including lawsuits, smear campaigns, overt and covert surveillance, outright threats, and even a criminal frame-up. Church founder and leader L. Ron Hubbard was reportedly obses... They also broke into FBI offices (“Operation Snow White”) to steal documents, and performed many other wonderful stunts that you won’t find other wacky cults indulging in. > **[Scientology controversies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies#Criminal_behavior)** > > Since its inception in 1954, the Church of Scientology has been involved in a number of controversies, including its stance on psychiatry, Scientology's legitimacy as a religion, the Church's aggressive attitude in dealing with its perceived enemies and critics, allegations of mistreatment of members, and predatory financial practices; for example, the high cost of religious training:191 and perceived exploitative practices. When mainstream media outlets have reported alleged abuse The church... > **[Operation Snow White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White)** > > Operation Snow White was a criminal conspiracy by the Church of Scientology during the 1970s to purge unfavorable records about Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. This project included a series of infiltrations into and thefts from 136 government agencies, foreign embassies and consulates, as well as private organizations critical of Scientology, carried out by Church members in more than 30 countries. It was one of the largest infiltrations of the United States government in history... ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/10 "2013-01-11T19:06:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s not the weirdness of Scientology – it’s their nasty vindictive and litigious streak. It goes WAY beyond mere defvense of their institution into downright attack. Oh, absolutely. In fact, they’re such a clichéd Villainous Organization[sup]TM[/sup] that I’m mildly surprised that their headquarters aren’t in a volcano. I’m just pointing out that absurdity, in and of itself, does not appear to be a serious impediment to the success of a religion (or quasi-religion). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/11 "2013-01-11T19:16:04Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Oh, absolutely. In fact, they’re such a clichéd Villainous Organization[sup]TM[/sup] that I’m mildly surprised that their headquarters aren’t in a volcano. I’m just pointing out that absurdity, in and of itself, does not appear to be a serious impediment to the success of a religion (or quasi-religion). Maybe that’s why they have that volcano on the cover of their book, and the “explanation” L. Ron gave about it being a characteristic Track image is just window-dressing. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/12 "2013-01-11T19:27:14Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Or, perhaps, have they just stopped fighting? Stories about the loopiness of $cientology are so ubiquitous now that they may feel blocking one more book is just not worth the effort. Honestly, how much more bad publicity can the LRH crowd get? It won’t be [published in Canada](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/new-scientology-expos-wont-be-published-in-canada/article7147307/). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/13 "2013-01-11T23:47:05Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Does it call for ritual body modification? Smearing ashes on your face? Sweeping the ground in front of you with a broom as you walk? Passing your hand through flames? Wearing special underwear? How about special hats? Does its leader wear a giant stylized vulva on his head? > > My point is not that Scientology is not absurd–it most assuredly is. But is it really that much more absurd than religions that are widely accepted as “normal”? (Now, if you want to call it a more outrageous scam, I don’t think I could argue with you, though some of the others have a huge edge in the long-con competition.) I’ll repeat a point I’ve made about Scientology vs. other religions before If you didn’t know anything about Judaism, and wanted to know what it was about, any rabbi could and would gladly tell you the basics in 10 minutes, for free. At that point, you could decide that this was intriguing and worthy of further study or dismiss it as crap and forget about it. Similarly, any priest would happily tell you the basics of Catholicism for free in 10 minutes; he’d then steer you to the complete church Catechism, which would answer ANY question you could possibly have on Church doctrine (and which you could read for free at your local library). You could easily find out what almost ANY mainstream religion is all about with a minimal investment of time, and without shelling out any money. Can you do that with Scientology? Can I go to a Scientology office and find out what it’s all about for free, in 10 minutes? That makes all the difference in the world, in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/14 "2013-01-12T00:01:37Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > You could easily find out what almost ANY mainstream religion is all about with a minimal investment of time, and without shelling out any money. Can you do that with Scientology? Can I go to a Scientology office and find out what it’s all about for free, in 10 minutes? Market research has advanced a great deal since Judaism and Catholicism developed their PR strategies. If you can get people started, they seem willing, and even anxious, for that continued sequence of new things to pursue. Scientology, Pokemon; it’s hard to argue with success. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/15 "2013-01-12T00:06:30Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > You could easily find out what almost ANY mainstream religion is all about with a minimal investment of time, and without shelling out any money. Can you do that with Scientology? Can I go to a Scientology office and find out what it’s all about for free, in 10 minutes? That’s secretiveness, not absurdity. What does it have to do with the post you quoted? Look, folks, I’m not defending Scientology. Far from it. I’ve already called it evil, absurd, and a scam in this thread, for pity’s sake. I was addressing a single point by **sparky!** about the absurdity of a religion keeping it from gaining traction by listing–in a would-be humorous manner–some of the oddities of mainstream (and not-so-mainstream, but mostly accepted) religions that have not kept them from gaining and retaining adherents. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/16 "2013-01-12T02:07:26Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I’ll repeat a point I’ve made about Scientology vs. other religions before > > If you didn’t know anything about Judaism, and wanted to know what it was about, any rabbi could and would gladly tell you the basics in 10 minutes, for free. At that point, you could decide that this was intriguing and worthy of further study or dismiss it as crap and forget about it. > > Similarly, any priest would happily tell you the basics of Catholicism for free in 10 minutes; he’d then steer you to the complete church Catechism, which would answer ANY question you could possibly have on Church doctrine (and which you could read for free at your local library). > > You could easily find out what almost ANY mainstream religion is all about with a minimal investment of time, and without shelling out any money. Can you do that with Scientology? Can I go to a Scientology office and find out what it’s all about for free, in 10 minutes? > > That makes all the difference in the world, in my book. So are the druze not a real religion then? Not to mention how certain islamic sects have a concept whereby they can legitimately hide aspects of their religion. reality is all religions are evil. Now there are more or less evil religious organisations, but there is no doubt in my mind that the two most evil are the catholic church and what I will call the particular mostly wahhabist islamic hierarchy that is suppported by saudi arabia . Their evilness has little to do with their beliefs really. edit: there’s no reasonable way you could explain catholic beliefs as espoused by the mother church in ten minutes. they are not really even conceptually (never mind logically!) all that related with one another, and there is a whole bloody lot of them. I have to say if I had a problem with a psychaitrist I would call the scientologists. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/17 "2013-01-12T03:18:23Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > So are the druze not a real religion then? Not to mention how certain islamic sects have a concept whereby they can legitimately hide aspects of their religion. > > reality is all religions are evil. Now there are more or less evil religious organisations, but there is no doubt in my mind that the two most evil are the catholic church and what I will call the particular mostly wahhabist islamic hierarchy that is suppported by saudi arabia . Their evilness has little to do with their beliefs really. > > edit: there’s no reasonable way you could explain catholic beliefs as espoused by the mother church in ten minutes. they are not really even conceptually (never mind logically!) all that related with one another, and there is a whole bloody lot of them. > > I have to say if I had a problem with a psychaitrist I would call the scientologists. _ **Simple** _ Linctus - If I didn’t think you were an idiot I’d be offended. StG Catholic ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/18 "2013-01-12T03:22:56Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > I have to say if I had a problem with a psychaitrist I would call the scientologists. Um why? If I get some bad premarital sex I don’t call the Christians. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/19 "2013-01-12T03:44:20Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > reality is all religions are evil. Now there are more or less evil religious organisations, but there is no doubt in my mind that the two most evil are the catholic church and what I will call the particular mostly wahhabist islamic hierarchy that is suppported by saudi arabia . Their evilness has little to do with their beliefs really. You’re off-topic in this thread, which is about the release of a new book about Scientology. If you wish to make this sort of assertion, start a new thread in Great Debates. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822/20 "2013-01-12T04:39:12Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I’ll repeat a point I’ve made about Scientology vs. other religions before > > If you didn’t know anything about Judaism, and wanted to know what it was about, any rabbi could and would gladly tell you the basics in 10 minutes, for free. At that point, you could decide that this was intriguing and worthy of further study or dismiss it as crap and forget about it. > > Similarly, any priest would happily tell you the basics of Catholicism for free in 10 minutes; he’d then steer you to the complete church Catechism, which would answer ANY question you could possibly have on Church doctrine (and which you could read for free at your local library). > > You could easily find out what almost ANY mainstream religion is all about with a minimal investment of time, and without shelling out any money. Can you do that with Scientology? Can I go to a Scientology office and find out what it’s all about for free, in 10 minutes? > > That makes all the difference in the world, in my book. I believe the Scientology response is that a neophyte is not ready for the difficult high-level information yet. They have to go through the paces before they get there. Christianity has a similar concept–that “when I was a babe I drank milk, now I eat meat”–that a person’s understanding of the religion evolves over time. RE: payment for services, Scientologists would tell you that all religions charge for their services, and Scientologists use the up-front fee-for-services model much like buying tickets to attend Jewish services on high holy days. (I’m an atheist and not a Scientologist, by the way.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excerpts-from-new-scientology-tell-all-book-travolta-cruise/646822.md?page=2)