# Tom Cruise, you are an ass. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 19, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000 "2003-06-19T19:52:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/1 "2003-06-19T19:52:50Z")
[Here](http://www.msnbc.com/news/921505.asp?0cv=CB20&cp1=1) > [@](#): > > June 19 — The Church of Scientology’s Top Gun has been lobbying the White House. Tom Cruise has been meeting with officials from the Department of Education and lawmakers at the White House, reports the Washington Post, and a source says he believes that Cruise is hoping to get government funding for the church. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/2 "2003-06-19T20:08:52Z")
Well, I’m pretty much gonna purposely paint with as wide a brush as possible and say that, yeah, Scientologists, as a group, are pretty much asses. IMO, they’re on par with pyschics, science quackerists (it’s a beautiful word, admit it) and other swindling ilk. Tom Cruise is just a rich ass, that’s all. Here’s hoping that enough lawmakers despise Scientology more than they love Tom’s money and fame. ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/3 "2003-06-19T20:12:10Z")
Our fundamentals? Well umm, you see theres this one comet… what was it again… OH YEA hale bop! So you see, when this comet flys by us, there is an alien in a spaceship in the tail of it you see. Cuz’ they are going to take us to like, this paradise place on mars or some shit, ya know I don’t have the details lemme get back to you. (the above is only a dramatization) ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/4 "2003-06-19T20:13:11Z")
By the way: > [@](#): > > TOM IS A big believer in the teaching tools of Scientology and has spoken in the past about how it cured his dyslexia,” says alternative religion expert Rick Ross. Just out of curiosity, can dyslexia be cured? I mean, sure, those with dyslexia can conquer it, but is it curable? ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/5 "2003-06-19T20:24:59Z")
Now, I have no love for Tom Cruise, and even less for Scientology, but didn’t the Bush administration _invite_ this sort of thing by instituting “faith-based initiatives”? ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/6 "2003-06-19T20:26:36Z")
I don’t think you can claim all Scientologists are all “asses.” I disagree with pretty much all that Scientology teaches, but that doesn’t mean you can stereotype them. On the other hand, the government shouldn’t be funding any religion, so here’s hoping Tom’s quest ends in failure. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/7 "2003-06-19T20:31:30Z")
“Dyslexics of the world untie!” * * * I’ll see your bamboozle and raise you a gizmatchie! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/8 "2003-06-19T20:33:31Z")
I’ll bet the Scientologist leadership threatened to let a few cats out of a few bags unless Tom played ball . . . ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/9 "2003-06-19T20:48:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carrot \* > Now, I have no love for Tom Cruise, and even less for Scientology, but didn’t the Bush administration _invite_ this sort of thing by instituting “faith-based initiatives”? **carrot** is the smartest vegetable in the garden. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/10 "2003-06-19T20:53:29Z")
Cruise belongs to the new generation of actors. Unlike so many of the truly class acts that preceded him, whose attitude was, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Cruise and his modern cohorts all have the attitude of, “You’re lucky I even showed up.” That he is a scientologist completes the scenario. He and John Revolta need to go dry hump each other. ---
**Author:** ![tarnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tarnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarnik)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/11 "2003-06-19T21:54:47Z")
Oh, man…the Church of Scientology. Time fore me to make my first post in the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/12 "2003-06-19T21:59:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carrot \* > \*\*Now, I have no love for Tom Cruise, and even less for Scientology, but didn’t the Bush administration _invite_ this sort of thing by instituting “faith-based initiatives”? \*\* **_DING_ _DING_ _DING_ _DING_** We have a winner! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/13 "2003-06-19T22:17:23Z")
Yep. Law of unintended consequences. It’s what happens when “our God is the only God” turns into a blindfold instead of just a philosophical framework. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/14 "2003-06-19T22:24:18Z")
I saw this “news item” earlier today, on MSN. I thought of Pitting it, but I’m glad to see that **Shirley** ’s beat me to it. That said, I pretty much agree with **carrot** ’s assessment of it. Everyone who backed the “faith-based” initiative was pretty much asking for this. The real question is, by what criteria will Tom’s request get turned down? This could be interesting, at least… ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/15 "2003-06-19T22:42:42Z")
Well, what would the money be going to? A Scientologist-operated soup kitchen? Back-to-work training for welfare mothers? A new heater for the church-run orpanage? I think these are the kind of “faith-based initiatives” the administration had in mind. And if they give that kind of money to Tom, I’m leery but I won’t argue. There had better be some pretty good monitoring going on to make sure the money goes where it’s intended. OTOH – a new worship center? Pamphlets? A big gold statue of L. Ron Hubbard? Bite me, Tom. (I’m sorry if the linked article includes these facts. It’s not coming up for me). ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/16 "2003-06-19T22:51:01Z")
When the “Faith-Based Initiative” thing was first getting a lot of press, someone posted that they hoped the Church of Satan would apply for funding, because it would really embarass Bush and highlight how bad an idea this was. Close enough, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/17 "2003-06-19T22:55:02Z")
Didn’t the US gov already deny Scientology tax-exempt status? I wonder that will have any bearing. In any case, I can’t wait to hear all the people who thought faith-based initiatives was such a great idea whining when their tax dollars start going to a cult that believes Christianity (like all religions) is an “implant” created specifically to keep humanity enslaved. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/18 "2003-06-19T22:57:55Z")
When the “Faith-Based Initiative” thing was first getting a lot of press, someone posted that they hoped the Church of Satan would apply for funding, because it would really embarass Bush and highlight how bad an idea this was. Close enough, eh? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/19 "2003-06-19T23:06:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sauron \* > **I don’t think you can claim all Scientologists are all “asses.” I disagree with pretty much all that Scientology teaches, but that doesn’t mean you can stereotype them. . . .** This kind of thing REALLY PISSES ME OFF. What a load of thoughtless crap, Sauron. It’s not stereotyping to say that “people who behave thusly” are “idots for behaving thusly.” Do you see? In some instances, painting with a broad brush is perfectly legitimate. It’s not stereotyping to criticize someone’s behavior, or their choices. It’s stereotyping to say “blacks are good basketball players” or “lesbians are man-haters”; it’s _not_ stereotyping to say “people who believe O’Reilly are morons” or “scientologists have been duped by a joke of a fake religion, and are therefore mostly asses.” Other deceptively non-stereotyping phrases: “Black people have ancestors from Africa.” “Gay men are attracted to other men.” “People with Down Syndrome haver lower than average IQs.” “The English drive on the wrong side of the road.” Do you get the distinction? If you group someone together _by a behavior_, and then criticize _that behavior_, you’re not stereotyping. I know all this to be true, because scientologists ARE asses, by definition. Any questions? ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000/20 "2003-06-19T23:11:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SkipMagic \* > \*\*Well, I’m pretty much gonna purposely paint with as wide a brush as possible and say that, yeah, Scientologists, as a group, are pretty much asses. IMO, they’re on par with pyschics, science quackerists (it’s a beautiful word, admit it) and other swindling ilk. > \*\* I’m going to paint with a slightly narrower brush and say that Scientologists, as a group, aren’t asses. They’re very gullible, and they’re victims of an insanely malicious and downright evil scam. The CoS won’t just take all their money (there’s literally no upper limit for how much money they’ll take for all the OT levels and different tests that need to be done), but they’ll try to prevent its members frm having contact with _anyone_ seen as a critic of the church (even if it’s a family member), they’ll deny their members proper healthcare or medicine, they’ll let the children in Sea Org schools work child labor and spy on each other (writing “knowledge reports” on each others’ activities) and I feel like I could go on typing this too long. They have had their own intelligence agency since the 50’s, which has been guilty of buggin vocal critics, burglary, infiltrating anti-cult organization (they actually _took over_ the Cult Awareness Network by suing the shit out of them with their crack team of lawyers, and then buying the whole thing in bankruptcy court.) Damn, I hate Scientology. I seriously have trouble conveying in words how EVIL Scientology is. It really bugs me how many people think that Scientology isn’t any worse than your average multi-level marketing scheme. (mandatory [http://www.xenu.net](http://www.xenu.net) link) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-cruise-you-are-an-ass/183000.md?page=2)