Cult News

Actor Nicole Kidman has apparently tossed off the “cult” baggage of her failed marriage to Tom Cruise, reports the Star-Ledger.

The New Jersey newspaper reported that her exploration of the controversial church has “quietly ended.”

It was rumored that Kidman’s ambivalence about Scientology may have contributed to problems in her marriage to Tom Cruise, who is a devoted Scientologist. And she did seem to distance herself from the “religion” in many previous interviews.

Kidman’s father is a psychiatrist; a profession often viewed with contempt by Scientologists, who frequently demonstrate against psychiatry. Her commitment to Catholicism may have caused conflict with some of Scientology’s teachings.

Scientology claims its “technology” enables adherents to perform better in life.

However, it seems that Kidman’s performances have improved since leaving the church. Her turn in the movie “The Hours” is now drawing Oscar buzz, while her former husband Cruise is not doing so well in his most recent films.

Many observers have commented how much happier and more animated Nicole Kidman seems to be since her divorce. Maybe this is the result of dumping Scientology, or perhaps just breaking it off with a Scientologist.

Scientology fought the IRS for many years in the United States before finally achieving tax-exempt status.

Now in New Zealand after almost half a century, the organization often called a “cult,” has been officially recognized as a “charity,” reports The New Zealand Herald.

However, Scientology has not done so well elsewhere in world.

In England it has been refused charitable status and in Switzerland it is seen as little more than a nuisance. Both France and Spain have prosecuted the organization criminally.

According to one Swiss report, “Scientology declares its seminar fees as donations…to legitimize tax exemption and justify the harsh business practices.”

And Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard once referred to the group’s methods as a “hard sell” approach. Sounds more like a “con” than a “church” doesn’t it?

Apparently, though the “hard sell” may have worked in New Zealand, Hubbard’s creation is still having difficulties in other parts of the world, where critics don’t seem to think it’s such a charitable concern.

In an Irish courtroom the seemingly nightmare existence of a former Scientologist is now spilling out through daily press reports. Every day of testimony seems to reveal another layer of abuse endured by Mary Johnston, a Dublin resident.

Ms. Johnston has filed a lawsuit against the Dublin mission of Scientology claiming she was “brainwashed” during her two years of membership. She says this produced “psychiatric injuries as well as post traumatic stress disorder,” reports the Irish Voice.

During her often-emotional testimony Johnston told the court that Scientologists essentially interrogated her, through what they call “auditing” and exhumed the most painful and private memories of her life, which included two abortions.

The Irish woman also testified how Scientologists pressured her for money, even urging her to sell her business to obtain cash for courses.

Johnston described how her life became increasingly isolated. At one point a Scientologist allegedly even influenced her not to attend a family funeral. Her involvement also seemed to fuel conflict with her boyfriend, who refused to loan her money for Scientology courses.

This court case offers a disturbing look inside the controversial church that has been called a “cult.” And the recounting of Johnston’s journey may help many to better understand the grip Scientology seems to have on its members.

If deeply private and confidential information is shared through the group’s “auditing” process and apparently noted within the file of each participant, Scientology would then potentially have considerable leverage concerning anyone who considers leaving.

What information lies within the files of John Travolta or Tom Cruise? Does this afford Scientology a special hold over its celebrities? Both stars have taken numerous courses and gone through “auditing” for years.

Johnston also told how she was taught that reading a critical article about Scientology would somehow require “repair,” to undue the supposed damage done by exposure to such negative information.

What information have well-known celebrities ignored per such advice?

It is said that celebrity members like Travolta and Lisa Marie Presley often have Scientologists accompany them as “assistants.” Are such assistants there for “damage control”?

If a regular Scientologist was subjected to this much handling and manipulation, what is the organization willing to do to keep its really important members?

Last month Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton visited a Mexican prison with other members of the National Foundation of Women Legislators. The lawmakers went to see how a controversial Scientology drug rehabilitation program called “Narconon,” supposedly helped convicts there, reported SignOnSanDiego, November 21st.

But since that visit controversy once again has arisen regarding Narconon, concerning a proposed center in Canada.

Recently, the town council of Marmora, Ontario “unanimously denied” a rezoning application that would have allowed Narconon to set up a facility in that community. And there were “rumors that Narconon…is an attempt by the Church of Scientology to infiltrate the region,” reported the Osprey Intelligencer.

Apparently though Narconon may be selling well in Mexico, Canadians aren’t buying into it.

Narconon funding was dropped in Utah and another center’s certification was once rejected in Oklahoma.

Perhaps US legislators brought to the Baja don’t know about Narconon’s troubled history. Intead, they were told the program works, according to a study done in Mexico that claims it reduces recidivism amongst prisoners there.

But a Swedish medical expert testified, “There is no documentation to show that the [Narconon] method of detoxification from drug abuse conforms to scientific standards and medical experience…The risks and side effects of the treatment method have also not been evaluated in a serious way. Methods that have not been evaluated and/or rest on incorrect theories should not be used in Swedish medical care.”

Hopefully, before Senator Clinton and other lady legislators embrace Narconon they will read “Scientology; The Cult of Greed,” the award winning cover story published by Time Magazine in 1991.

Time called Narconon “a classic vehicle for drawing addicts into the cult” (i.e. Scientology).

Mary Johnson an ex-Scientologist (1992-1994) has sued her former church. The Irish citizen claims she “suffered psychiatric and psychological injuries and post traumatic stress disorder,” reports the Irish press.

Some former members have said it’s difficult to leave Scientology. And according to Johnson she was threatened and intimidated when she decided deciding to leave the organization.

Historically, those who sue Scientology in Great Britain often have had it easier in court than Americans. Perhaps this will prove true in Ireland too.

The press in the British Isles has also been more outspoken in recent years about Scientology than the American media. Some say the controversial church threatens and intimidates reporters as well as its former adherents.

Nicole Kidman will talk about Scientology in her interview with Leslie Stahl slated for this coming Sunday on CBS “60 Minutes,” says Liz Smith.

The former wife of Tom Cruise will supposedly reveal some of her feelings about the controversial church, which has been called a “cult.”

If Kidman brings out negative aspects of the church, it will a first. Typically, people who have left Scientology appear afraid to speak out, especially celebrities. The organization has a reputation for being quite punative when it comes to ex-Scientologists who say things they don’t like.

Kidman has a history of making remarks in interviews that seemed to distance her from Scientology. There has been speculation that Scientology may have contributed to the disintegration of her marriage and subsequent divorce. And also, that Kidman had concerns about its influence upon her children.

Curise remains a devout Scientologist and one of its most ardent public advocates.

Los Angeles attorney Barry Fisher has made something of a career out of defending the interests of groups called “cults.”

Fisher was recently back in court for the Krishna organization (ISKCON), reports Associated Press.

Apparently a cause for this “activist” is fighting for ISKCON’s right to annoy people in airports. As any frequent flyer knows, Krishna devotees often work air terminals as a place to hawk books and solicit donations.

However, the courts have ruled repeatedly that free speech doesn’t really include soliciting people at LAX, which is not a “public forum” to promote book sales.

But that doesn’t deter Fisher, who historically can’t seem to find a “cult” he won’t defend.

In fact, Barry Fisher once had his expenses paid by the now infamous Japanese cult Aum, to come to its defense in Tokyo, shortly after the cult gassed the city’s subway system killing 12 and sending thousands to hospitals.

What did Mr. Fisher say? He claimed Japanese law enforcement’s response to the horrific attack was somehow an effort, “to crush a religion and deny freedom.”

Right.

Fisher comes with impressive recommendations. The “Cult Awareness Network” (CAN), largely controlled by the Church of Scientology since 1996, recommends him “for information about new religions.” Shortly after the members of “Heaven’s Gate” committed group suicide in 1997 near San Diego, CAN promoted him as a “religious liberty attorney.”

Defending “religious liberty” can be lucrative. Rev. Moon has billions and the Church of Scientology is certainly not poor. And though ISKCON says it may go bankrupt rather than pay damages to children sexually and physically abused within their schools, they seem to have enough cash on hand to cover Fisher.

No doubt Barry Fisher will continue his crusade for “religious liberty.” Probably at least as long as “persecuted” “new religions” can afford to pay his fees and/or expenses.

Lisa Marie Presley 34 has ended her 3-month marriage to Nicholas Cage. She says, “We shouldn’t have been married in the first place. It was a big mistake.”

A “factor in the breakup is thought to have been Ms Presley’s devotion to the Church of Scientology,” reports the Herald Sun in Australia.

Australians now have a much keener interest in Scientology since the richest family in that country is now apparently entangled with the controversial group.

This is Presley’s third marriage. Her first, to a devoted Scientologist, produced two children. Her second, a strange union with singer Michael Jackson, lasted two years. The Jackson-Presley marriage apparently ended largely due to the pop singer’s refusal to be involved in Scientology.

Couples of different religious beliefs often marry and work things out. But it appears that Scientology does not approve of a prominent member like Presley, marrying outside of the church. That is, unless there is some hope of recruiting a spouse. When that fails, divorce appears to be the likely alternative.

Scientologist Kirstie Alley apparently divorced largely due to disagreements about Scientology. And there seemed to be some strain in the marriage of Tom Cruise to Nicole Kidman over the religion. Kidman kept insisting it wasn’t the focus of her life and emphasized her Catholicism, while Cruise remained a deeply devout practitioner and promoter of Scientology.

Nicholas Cage, like Michael Jackson, was probably pitched to take study courses promoted by the controversial church. But apparently the Oscar winning star passed. That may have easily led to the rapid disintegration and ultimate break-up of the marriage.

Will Elvis’s daughter ever find wedded bliss? Unlike baseball, three stirke outs doesn’t end this mating game. Just look at Elizabeth Taylor or Zsa Zsa Gabor, many celebrities like to keep on swinging.

But whatever happiness Elvis’s heir may find through matrimony, it is likely to only be within the arms of a practicing Scientologist.

Tom Cruise gives $2 million dollars a year to the Church of Scientology, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian press continues in its effort to dig up information about Scientology, as they run stories about the apparent conversion of one of their most prominent citizens James Packer to the new religion, which has been called a “cult.”

And why does superstar Tom Cruise think the church is worth the hefty donations that he reportedly gives it?

Cruise says that he appreciates Scientology, which is “an applied religious philosophy that you use in your life to help you … It’s something that helps an individual find out who you are.”

But according to Scientology finding out “who you are” is someone “full of these clusters of souls called ‘body thetans,'” that are the result of an event that originated in outer space 75 million years ago.

This story is typically told to Scientologists when they reach “OT III” (Operating Thetan Level 3), an achievement that often takes many years.

As a reported “OT V” Cruise already knows the story and accepts it essentially as religious revelation and apparently has “applied” it somehow for “use in [his] life.”

Learning this “religious philosophy” also can be extremely expensive. The Herald reports, “It is understood the cost of a course at the Los Angeles center is US $376,000.00.”

Of course this is not much for a superstar like Tom Cruise, who makes millions from one picture. He can probably also easily afford to kick in an extra two million, as something like an annual tithe too.

And James Packer, whose father is the richest man in Australia, should have no problem paying for his enlightenment either.

What is Mr. Packer’s response to recent stories? He says, “No comment whatsoever.”

A paid promotion this month run on I Wire, announced that 21 books by L. Ron Hubbard are set for release in E-book format for February. The books were touted as “world-wide science fiction bestsellers.”

However, some critics have observed that the way Mr. Hubbard’s books apparently become “best sellers” is through religious devotion, rather than any genuine fan base amongst sience fiction buffs.

His market appears to substantially consist of devoted Scientologists that buy his books, almost like an act of faith.

And judging by one title touted for February their faith might well move mountains.

On the list is “Battlefield Earth.” This was the Hubbard book, which was the basis for the box office bomb starring Scientologist John Travolta.

One critic wrote, “A million monkeys with a million crayons would be hard-pressed in a million years to create anything as cretinous as Battlefield Earth.” Another said the script and/or story line was “deeply dumb, depressingly derivative.”

A Hubbard enthusaist quoted by I Wire described the author’s legacy as “a rich storehouse of…fiction.” Perhaps the “rich[est] fiction” the writer ever produced was the religious mythology Scientology is based upon.

L. Ron Hubbard reportedly once observed that inventing a new religion would be a good way to make money. And based upon the quality of his writing this may have been a shrewd career move.

It seems that only a devoted Scientologist is likely to find Hubbard’s books anything but “deeply dumb” and “depressingly derivative.”