# Why are so many (US) celebrities Scientologists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306 "2008-07-04T16:51:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/21 "2008-07-05T01:37:55Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] To be fair, the Church had a 1600-year head start. [/QUOTE] The RCC causes far more harm today than the Scientologists do. So I’d bet you a thousand bucks in 1600 years they’ll be even further ahead. Unfortunately, neither of us will be around then to collect. Unless of course you accept my new religion, Rickism, which is the TRUE path to eternal life. To learn more, send your check to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/22 "2008-07-05T01:59:22Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] The RCC causes far more harm today than the Scientologists do. So I’d bet you a thousand bucks in 1600 years they’ll be even further ahead. Unfortunately, neither of us will be around then to collect. Unless of course you accept my new religion, Rickism, which is the TRUE path to eternal life. To learn more, send your check to me. [/QUOTE] I’ll deposit a penny in a 0.72%-interest account, compounded annually. Your church can collect $1000 in 3608. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/23 "2008-07-05T02:52:13Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] The only Scientologists I feel sorry for are the ones born into it. They don’t stand a chance, brainwashed from day one. [/QUOTE] I once had a 2nd-generation Scientologist coworker. When he talked about it, his eyes sort of glazed over, as if his brain were shutting off. When his ideas were challenged, he was incapable of defending them, merely repeating lines he had memorized. Nobody felt sorry for him. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/24 "2008-07-05T04:52:49Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] I once had a 2nd-generation Scientologist coworker. When he talked about it, his eyes sort of glazed over, as if his brain were shutting off. When his ideas were challenged, he was incapable of defending them, merely repeating lines he had memorized. [/QUOTE] See, now, this is where religious cults fail: they constantly repeat the same old story and cannot adjust it for the (possible) new recruit. I had so much fun with the Scientologists in downtown Toronto when they told me what I needed to find out about myself, but couldn’t answer my other questions because they weren’t in the script. Hey Scientology: Prepare your street recruiters better so they don’t say “duh” when faced with a question you may not like. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/25 "2008-07-05T05:56:02Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] He did leave once, saying he was unhappy with them. He went back and no one knows (for sure) why. [/QUOTE] Oh, hey, I’ve got some crazy nutball theory to espouse on this topic that’s just perfect for the internet. Here it is: people act in what they feel is their own best interest. Scientology obviously isn’t for you, but as a former Scientologist, Travolta seems to know what they offer in terms of social support, a means of explaining the meaning of life, etc. like any other religion, and as it turns out, he’d rather continue to participate than not. And, acting on this knowledge and self interest, he went back. Yeah, it’s crazy, and I’ve yet to come up with a list of highly biased bird-brained conspiratorial websites to back that up, but it will have to do for now. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/26 "2008-07-05T15:10:34Z")
[QUOTE=threemae] Here it is: people act in what they feel is their own best interest. [/QUOTE] I have no doubts that he returned because he felt it was in his own best interest. [QUOTE=threemae] Travolta seems to know what they offer in terms of social support, [/QUOTE] Yeah, kissing his butt at the Celebrity Center. [QUOTE=threemae] Ta means of explaining the meaning of life, [/QUOTE] And what, pray tell, is Scientology’s explanation of the meaning of life? [QUOTE=threemae] like any other religion, and as it turns out, he’d rather continue to participate than not. And, acting on this knowledge and self interest, he went back. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah, I know. [QUOTE=threemae] Yeah, it’s crazy, and I’ve yet to come up with a list of **highly biased bird-brained conspiratorial websites** to back that up, but it will have to do for now. [/QUOTE] My god you’re transparent. I assume all the anti-Scientology websites were put up by child molesters, drug addicts, criminals, psychopaths, crazy people and religious bigots, right? Those Ex-Scientology Kids have you guys pegged. They should know. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/27 "2008-07-05T17:19:49Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Well, neither does being an anonymous poster on an Internet message board, but I don’t see a lot of Scientologists around here. The question has been answered, more or less factually; it’s because Scientology has deliberately targeted celebrities for recruitment. If they had speciically targeted machinists or nurses or schoolteachers, they would be disproportionately repreented among those groups. [/QUOTE] Oh, sorry. Let me rephrase that. You need to be a complete freaking idiot _and_ you need to be targeted. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/28 "2008-07-05T23:09:29Z")
I’m annoyed and appealed that the CoS is advertising on my favorite TV show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Of course they’re not advertising their religious front, the CoS, but their quack “self-help” front Dianetics. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/29 "2008-07-07T03:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=gaffa] I’m annoyed and appealed that the CoS is advertising on my favorite TV show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Of course they’re not advertising their religious front, the CoS, but their quack “self-help” front Dianetics. [/QUOTE] That raises another question: if the CoS has so much money, why does their advertising look like something out of an '80s motivational/training video? ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/30 "2008-07-07T03:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=Jeep’s Phoenix] That raises another question: if the CoS has so much money, why does their advertising look like something out of an '80s motivational/training video? [/QUOTE] The Church of Scientology didn’t get rich by writing a lot of checks. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/31 "2008-07-07T03:43:45Z")
[QUOTE=Jeep’s Phoenix] That raises another question: if the CoS has so much money, why does their advertising look like something out of an '80s motivational/training video? [/QUOTE] They have to follow Hubbard’s outdated and bizarre ideas about marketing. He thought some images are inherently compelling because of his bent ideas about human history. For instance, Scientology constantly features images of volcanoes…and this image is supposed to resonate with your mind and body Thetans, which are the residue of frozen aliens who were dropped into volcanoes and blown to bits with hydrogen bombs… In short, their advertising is designed and written by people who believe the nonsense described in the previous paragraph. They’re not getting the cream of the crop here. ---
**Author:** ![ntcrawler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@ntcrawler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntcrawler)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/32 "2008-07-14T12:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I heard a story that John Travolta cannot leave $cientology, because of his self-confessed homosexuality. In his auditing sessions, his handlers got a complete run down about John’s sexual history. Were he to try to leave, all of this would be made public. If true, $cientology is not that friendly a group! [/QUOTE] But if you know this and somehow managed to find out, then chances are other people did too. If so, then it’s not really a secret anymore, so how much of a bigger threat on his public image would it already me? ---
**Author:** ![ntcrawler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@ntcrawler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntcrawler)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/33 "2008-07-14T12:22:35Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] Either they’re Scientologists, the thing was sponsored by Scientology and they were sucked in by the PR machine, they were threatened, or they’re the laziest “explorers” ever, because even the most casual delve on the web will reveal that Scientology, while certainly having nutty and laughable beliefs, is also a cult that’s ruthless and dangerous, especially to their own members (look up [Lisa McPherson](http://www.lisamcpherson.org/) , something these guys obviously didn’t do). The organization [lies](http://www.scientology-lies.com/liesindex.html), [cheats](http://www.torymagoo.org/dearan2.htm), [steals](http://www.lermanet.com/sources.htm) and [kills](http://www.scientology-kills.org/dead/dead.htm). [/quote] Well said. Any cursory research would also reveal that all of the other world’s religions are open and welcoming about what their faith is about and what they teach. Scientology is extremely secretive about the nature of their faith and what it takes to be a scientologist, and forces all prospective members to sign agreements committing their members to secrecy, subject to legal action. The same approach has been taken to any and all attempts to release their printed material out in the open. No other religion that I can think of does this, so it has to make you wonder. I am curious, did the tv show mentioned here attempt to address this issue? ---
**Author:** ![ntcrawler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@ntcrawler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntcrawler)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/34 "2008-07-14T12:29:18Z")
[QUOTE=gaffa] They have to follow Hubbard’s outdated and bizarre ideas about marketing. He thought some images are inherently compelling because of his bent ideas about human history. For instance, Scientology constantly features images of volcanoes…and this image is supposed to resonate with your mind and body Thetans, which are the residue of frozen aliens who were dropped into volcanoes and blown to bits with hydrogen bombs… In short, their advertising is designed and written by people who believe the nonsense described in the previous paragraph. They’re not getting the cream of the crop here. [/QUOTE] Why aren’t there any splinter groups by now? Every great cult, political party, etc always ends up with a share of radicals who run off because they want to do things their “own” way. ---
**Author:** ![Erasmus\_Darwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Erasmus\_Darwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erasmus_Darwin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/35 "2008-07-14T13:32:12Z")
[QUOTE=ntcrawler] Why aren’t there any splinter groups by now? Every great cult, political party, etc always ends up with a share of radicals who run off because they want to do things their “own” way. [/QUOTE] There are splinter groups: [Free Zone (Scientology) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Zone_%28Scientology%29) ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/36 "2008-07-14T19:30:06Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] See, now, this is where religious cults fail: they constantly repeat the same old story and cannot adjust it for the (possible) new recruit. I had so much fun with the Scientologists in downtown Toronto when they told me what I needed to find out about myself, but couldn’t answer my other questions because they weren’t in the script. Hey Scientology: Prepare your street recruiters better so they don’t say “duh” when faced with a question you may not like. [/QUOTE] But sooner or later that’s true of any religion. They all come down to received wisdom and faith. In short, “because that’s the way it is” or “because that’s what I believe” The more sophisticated religious folks, such as the long-time religious members of this board, would be the first to admit that. The Scientologists, though, are more like the young-earthers, who still think it can be proven scientifically, and go through amazing mental gymnastics in their attempts. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/37 "2008-07-14T19:44:18Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I heard a story that John Travolta cannot leave $cientology, because of his self-confessed homosexuality. In his auditing sessions, his handlers got a complete run down about John’s sexual history. Were he to try to leave, all of this would be made public. If true, $cientology is not that friendly a group! [/QUOTE] Here’s another story about John Travolta. For a while I did some consulting for a resort company, and as a result came in contact with John Travolta’s people. He was to stay at the resort and his requirements included a series of suites to stay in. One he would share with his family, one would be just for him, and one would be a smaller, regular size hotel room. No strangeness so far, right? Well, the requirements for the small, regular size hotel room were that, all electronics in the room had to be disabled, all light emitting devices, from light bulbs to LEDs on coffee makers had to be removed or obscured, and all windows covered in completely opaque material. It was done, of course. And as far as I know his entire stay was comped. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/38 "2008-07-14T20:03:57Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Wow, Bart Simpson is a Scientologist. [/QUOTE] _Greta Van Susteren_??? I had no idea. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306/39 "2008-07-15T02:32:59Z")
Catherine Bell is a Scientologist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-us-celebrities-scientologists/455306.md?page=1)