Cult News

Guy Ritchie “cult” career casualty?

Groups that have been called “cults” such as Scientology and the Kabbalah Centre include many celebrities and claim that their teachings somehow enhance a person’s life, notably the hi-profile stars that tout them.

However, do Hollywood stars ultimately benefit or lose because of these groups? Have they been sucked into something like a “black hole” that instead of increasing their success may limit or even extinguish their light?

Certainly, stars like John Travolta, Madonna and Tom Cruise want the public to think that their spiritual commitment has somehow elevated them in virtually every aspect of their lives, but what about their careers?

John Travolta’s career has been plummeting ever since he signed off on a Scientology-linked film called “Battlefield Earth,” which was reviewed as one of the worst movies of all time and based upon a book by his hero L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.

Since then Travolta has increasingly become Scientology’s paunchy pitchman, jetting himself around for the religion’s related photo ops while his career crashes.

Arguably since Madonna took up with the Kabbalah Centre her career likewise has been steadily trending downward.

A pop music queen in the 1980s Madonna doesn’t seem to be following in the footsteps of Cher and Tina Turner who maintained their standing for decades, instead the 47-year-old star may burn out before reaching fifty.

The one-time “Material Girl” trained in dance now apparently dances to the tune of her spiritual mentors. The singer’s most recent concert tour included a flashing light show in Hebrew and Kabbalah Centre souvenirs for sale, but her fans don’t seem to be buying it.

Maybe Madonna believes that her name is more than just a past publicity ploy and she sees herself as a proselytizing “spiritual mother,” a contradiction of her hit song that admonished a parent for preaching.

Who would have ever imagined this fiercely independent woman that once mocked the church establishment would one day become so seemingly compliant and subservient to some religious group?

Does slavish devotion to groups called “cults” ultimately lead to some sort of professional meltdown?

The casualty list appears to be growing.

Guy Rtichie, Madonna’s husband, embraced his wife’s passion for the Kabbalah Centre. And according to critics his latest film Revolver may flop largely due to its influence reports Daily Snack.

It seems Ritchie may now want to “kick” his Kabbalah habit, but if he does it might cost him his marriage, due to Madonna’s diehard devotion.

The “world’s biggest movie star” may also be waning due to purported “cult” influence. Tom Cruise has become better known lately for couch jumping on Oprah and ranting at Today Show host Matt Laurer about psychiatry instead of his latest picture.

Scientology’s leading celebrity wants his would-be wife to get his religion too, so Katie Holmes may soon be hearing the same sucking sound as Madonna’s mate.

But Holmes can always cling to the hope career-wise that in the future she will end up like one of Cruise’s ex-wives Nicole Kidman, who found out that dumping him and Scientology led to both a career boost and an Oscar.

Endnote: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how ephemeral you really are. Once above the world so high like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle little star now I wonder what you are!

Kathleen Turner, an actress known for her sultry and soothing vocal tones, donated voiceover for a soon to be released documentary titled “Answering The Call,” which according to its press kit “reveals the plight of Ground Zero workers and their illnesses.”

But it looks like Ms. Turner may be “answering the call” of Scientology.

The documentary by Lou Angeli was produced and written by diehard Scientologist Bunny Dubin (see credits).

Dubin won a Scientology Freedom Medal in 2001 for her efforts as a volunteer minister at Ground Zero. She and her husband are both big givers and active promoters of the controversial church, which has been called a “cult.”

Another Scientologist Geoff Levin provided original music for “Answering The Call.”

Not mentioned in the film or press kit is that Scientology volunteers were eventually asked to leave Ground Zero, a tragedy they arguably seemed anxious to exploit.

Disturbing is the way that Dubin apparently shaped “Answering The Call” into a vehicle that can be used by Scientology like an infomercial to promote a controversial project that was dumped by the New York Fireman’s Union amidst much bad press in 2003.

The documentary press kit states that Ground Zero workers have “found relief through the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a program partially funded by actor, Tom Cruise.”

And as everyone knows Tom Cruise is Scientology’s number one celebrity booster and winner of its Freedom Medal of Valor.

Maybe Kathleen Turner doesn’t know the details regarding every charity she supports, but there can be no doubt that Cruise knows it all, just ask Matt Laurer.

The process that is the pivotal centerpiece for the documentary’s cited “detoxification project” is called the “purification rundown” invented by the founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard.

The rundown is a religious ritual that is reportedly “neither medically safe nor scientifically verified.”

According to the documentary press kit the purification rundown is “a precise regimen that includes doses of the vitamin niacin, exercise, saunas, repeated showers and the digestion of a small amount of polyunsaturated oils.”

However, the chief medical officer for FDNY Dr. Kerry Kelly said, “The essence of their program is you stay in it until you suddenly wake up and say, ‘I feel great.’ It’s hard to have faith in a program like that.” Kelly concluded that there is no “objective evidence” to support the claims made by the program reported the NY Daily News.

“While we are aware some members of the department have availed themselves of the program, we in no way endorse it,” NY Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Francis X. Gribbon told the New York Times.

Prominently featured in “Answering The Call” are two paid members of the Advisory Board of the Scientology-linked project, retired fireman Joseph Higgins and Dr. David Root.

To better understand the labyrinth of links between Scientology and such programs click here.

But despite all the ties between Scientology and the project none of these connections are explicitly made clear within the documentary. There is only a passing reference about Church of Scientology volunteer ministers.

Kathleen Turner was center stage for the press conference held yesterday after the preview of “Answering The Call” at the Lutnick Theater inside the USS Intrepid, a floating museum moored at Manhattan’s Pier 86.

Standing next to the actress was Bunny Dubin who has said that her work as a volunteer minister is part of an ongoing “crusade” for Scientology.

Interestingly, all the proceeds from the documentary will be given to actor Denis Leary’s Firefighters Foundation. This is the second time Cult News has reported links between Leary, Cruise and Scientology.

Dubin announced at the press conference that she hopes to create a national network based upon the success of “Answering The Call,” which may mean this documentary could prove to be a promotional bonanza of free advertising for Scientology.

Note: This is not the first time an actress has donated voiceover work regarding some dubious documentary. Rosie O’Donnell was hooked into providing such services for free by a “homophobic cult” in 2002.

According to the May issue of Source, an official Scientology magazine, “Bella Cruise” has completed the “Basic Study Manual,” which is an introductory level of Scientology.

The course completion was accomplished at what is referred to as the “FLAG Land Base” in Clearwater, Florida, which is Scientology’s spiritual headquarters.

The Cruise kids, Isabella, 12, and Connor, 10 are also home-schooled according to Fox News.

Tom Cruise’s sisters, both Scientologists tutor the adopted children of their brother and his ex-wife Nicole Kidman.

Perhaps this is a trend amongst Scientology’s celebs; John Travolta has his kids home schooled too.

It seems that whatever decision making provisions were once agreed upon in 2001 by the divorced couple, Nicole Kidman may have somehow lost the ability to say much about the education of her children.

But the Cruise/Kidman divorce reportedly provided for joint custody, with educational decisions to be made by both parents jointly.

Rumors swirled that Scientology was the primary cause for the last Cruise marriage meltdown. And Kidman once cool and somewhat distant about her former husband’s religion has since their breakup apparently abandoned it completely.

Could the Oscar-winning actress’s worst nightmare now be just around the corner?

Reportedly within Scientology kids are hooked up to “lie detectors” called “e-meters” and Scientology auditors then “interrogate them about their families” and may “denounce non-believers as enemies.”

One day Nicole Kidman might be labeled a “Suppressive Person”(SP), which is Scientology-speak for someone negative that should be avoided.

“I don’t have time…to be suppressed,” said former sitcom star and Scientologist Jenna Elfman. SPs are “the biggest cowards that exist,” she told Scientology’s Celebrity magazine.

This type of attitude could potentially affect the relationship Nicole Kidman has with her children. The actress could be declared an SP if she opposes her ex-husband’s religious choices for their children.

Maybe this is why Ms. Kidman has been so guarded in her comments and/or kept quiet about Scientology, Tom Cruise and his recent rants.

“You want to be aware of everything your children are up to, When they hit 13, there’s a lot of secrets, and my daughter will be 13 this year,” she recently told the Houston Chronicle in an interview about her new movie Bewitched.

Tom Cruise, arguably Scientology’s number one crusader, has converted his entire immediate family and now seems intent upon arranging for the intensive indoctrination of his adopted children into the often-secretive religion, which has been called a “cult.”

Nicole Kidman says she is “desperately trying to be a good mom,” but is she really “aware of everything” that her daughter is being taught behind Scientology’s closed doors?

Note: Dave Touretzky contributed supporting material for this article.

Salon calls Scientology Dianetics “stranger than fiction”

Academics often called “cult apologists” have come to the rescue and defended both Tom Cruise and Scientology in the press lately.

J. Gordon Melton and David G. Bromley were both quoted in a recent article run within the Chicago Sun-Times.

Bromley is an old friend of Scientology and has been officially recommended by the controversial church as a “religious resource.”

The so-called “new Cult Awareness Network” reportedly run by Scientology also once recommended both Bromley and Melton for “factual information on new religions,” in the wake of a California cult (“Heaven’s Gate“) mass suicide in 1997.

David Bromley’s frequent writing partner Anson Shupe made a bundle working for Scientology lawyers. He helped Scientology knock off its perceived nemesis the “old Cult Awareness Network” enabling a Scientologist attorney to eventually buy its name and files through a bankruptcy proceeding.

The files of Scientology’s former foe were later handed over to J. Gordon Melton.

Melton and Bromley can almost always be counted on to defend virtually any group called a “cult” no matter how heinous or harmful.

Bromley told the Chicago Sun-Times, “Cult is a four-letter word for a religion you don’t like.”

It seems Time Magazine must have got it wrong when it called Scientology the “Cult of Greed,” despite the fact that a subsequent libel suit filed against the publication by the purported “cult” sputtered to a dismissal without ever going to trial.

Mr. Melton has raked in quite a nest egg working for groups like the Children of God and the International Church of Christ. He was paid by J.Z. Knight (known as Ramtha) to write a book, not to mention his all expenses paid trip to Japan courtesy of the infamous cult known as “Aum Supreme Truth.”

Melton arrived in Japan in 1995 and promptly pronounced that Aum was the victim of “persecution,” despite the fact that the cult had gassed the Tokyo Subway system sending thousands of Japanese to hospitals and killing twelve.

Melton told the Chicago Sun-Times that “new religions,” his supposedly politically correct euphemism to describe “cults,” put people off because of their “newness.”

However, it appears that what puts people off most about Tom Cruise’s behavior and his strange Scientology banter is the bizarre nature of it all.

Today the London Free Press asked, “Has Cruise Cracked?”

Meanwhile Salon Magazine published a critique of Scientology and its founder titled “Stranger than Fiction.”

How convenient is the timing that these two alleged academics Melton and Bromley are now helping out Scientology’s “poster boy” Tom Cruise.

But the news media should know that such specious scholars cannot be counted upon for any meaningful objectivity, they are politically if not literally invested in their positions.

Benjamin Zablocki, a professor of sociology at Rutgers University put it succinctly when he said, “The sociology of religion can no longer avoid the unpleasant ethical question of how to deal with the large sums of money being pumped into the field by the religious groups being studied…This is an issue that is slowly but surely building toward a public scandal.”

Stephen Kent, a professor of sociology at the University of Alberta in Canada concluded, “Scholars who compromise objectivity or academic integrity threaten to diminish the reputation of social science.”

Rich religious groups like Scientology can easily afford to pump cash into the pockets of quite a few professors and assorted academics. Perhaps the press should scrutinize more carefully the likes of sources such as David G. Bromley and J. Gordon Melton.

It looks like Madonna and her spiritual mentors at the Kabbalah Centre (KC) can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to movie star Tom Cruise sucking up the oxygen in the news lately.

A scathing series about her supposedly Jewish mystical group run by Radar Magazine and an investigative report on ABC’s 20/20 went largely unnoticed by the tabloids and mainstream press because the “biggest movie star in the world” has been having his own little media meltdown.

As Tom Cruise stumbles and fumbles from one interview and/or public appearance to another with his new galpal Katie Holmes in tow no one seemed to notice the reports about that other “Hollywood cult.”

Nevertheless, it is the controversial KC that has arguably become the number one “new religion” within the entertainment industry, drawing in popular celebrities such as the Hiltons, Donna Karan, Britney Spears and Ashton Kutcher, while stars within the Church of Scientology become less liked, relevant and/or struggle with weight problems.

Hawking everything from its staple “Kabbalah Water” ($2.65 per one-liter bottle) to the hot selling “red string” amulet ($26.00) and more recently its very own “Kabbalah Energy Drink” (a carbonated combination of its holy water and caffeine), the controversial KC seemed poised to bump Scientology off its perch in Hollywood.

Well maybe not just yet.

Tom Cruise, Scientology’s remaining big star has managed to bring his faith back into the media limelight, though the actor’s co-religionists may not feel their getting the kind of attention they like.

Meanwhile, Radar has revealed that the family who controls the KC (Mr. and Mrs. Philip Berg and their sons Michael and Yehuda) just might be better at garnering stars and accumulating assets than the late L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology.

Reportedly the supposed “Kabbalists” have built a spiritual empire with assets of approximately $60 million, a total disclosed through the paperwork of just a few Berg-controlled nonprofit entities. Much of this accumulated wealth has been developed since 1996, the magical year that Madonna began to grace the KC’s mystical minions.

The former “Material Girl” alone has reportedly personally contributed at least $18 million to various Kabbalah Centre linked coffers.

All this has enabled Papa, Mama and the baby Bergs to live life large, which includes pricey customized mini-mansions in Beverly Hills, paid for by the tax-exempted charity they control.

It seems like the once tough Madonna has become a soft touch when it comes to her spiritual mentors and may be little more than their stooge, pouring her time and money into such things as children’s books that benefit the Berg-controlled charity called “Spirituality for Kids” (SFK).

Radar reports that SFK actually only had about 150 participants in Los Angeles during 2003, despite the fact that this specious spiritual endeavor spent $813,092 on program services: $440,332 of it on salaries and wages, and a “scandalously low” $1,985 through a scholarship fund.

SFK apparently is better at flipping LA real estate for a profit than helping children.

The nonprofit organization, which touts Madonna as its international chairperson, reportedly loaned out about $1.5 million in private mortgages to a company controlled by Berg devotees.

How does making a fast buck on real estate help kids to become more spiritual?

Never mind.

Madonna seems to be so “brainwashed” she doesn’t appear to care. Instead of showing up where needy kids might be the aging pop icon was recently seen at a public signing for her latest children’s book in Bergdorf’s Manhattan store, a venue the Berg’s probably felt could potentially provide them with more rich patrons. The store also sells KC products.

And what about the “wisdom” the Bergs dole out to their awed disciples?

Well, Radar reported that it’s often written by paid professional ghostwriters possibly recruited through ads on the Web site “Craig’s List,” while some was allegedly plagiarized.

Can ghostwriters and/or purported plagiarism provide religious revelation? Madonna seems to think so. When asked about Radar’s revelations she said, “I have an incredible leader [Philip Berg] who is very wise. The last thing you’d accuse him of is charlatism…don’t listen to the messenger, hear the message.”

Radar also pulled back the Berg’s corporate shells and uncovered a labyrinth of intertwined entities controlled by the family and its friends, which raises serious questions about KC tax-exempt nonprofit status.

And why does the KC maintain branches in such unlikely places as Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín, Colombia, which are known more for drug trafficking and money laundering rather than Jewish mysticism?

Madonna looks more like a dupe than a diva these days.

As the middle-aged singer approaches fifty and her career opportunities turn more to clothing ads and perfume instead of new music, perhaps the spiritual bromides and trinkets offered by the Bergs make her feel better.

But won’t that feeling turn to humiliation as the public exposure of the KC begins to set in?

So far the diva turned diehard “cult member” seems unfazed by the growing controversy surrounding the KC. “They’re not worldly-wise, they’ve been naive about marketing themselves,” she is quoted to say in ContactMusic.com.

Does Madonna think spirituality is about “marketing”? Perhaps she does given her penchant for selling herself. And she may believe that the Bergs should sell themselves in much the same way.

But Madonna’s “Lucky Star” appears to have fallen as many of her disillusioned fans fade away. It seems they liked her sex book better than the “Kabbalah” branded stories she now sells for kids.

Actor Tom Cruise is becoming increasingly known for his commitment to Scientology rather than his latest film. And an article faith for Scientologists is a belief in aliens from outer space.

No, this is not a joke.

Scientology teaches its devotees that much of the human condition can be attributed to an “incident” that began in outer space and ended on planet earth.

Sound like Steven Spielberg’s new movie called “War of the Worlds“?

Well, this isn’t a movie script, but rather a religious sacrament amongst Scientologists.

This great truth is revealed to church members when they reach the rank of OT-3 (Operating Thetan Level 3).

Tom Cruise is an OT-6.

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is responsible for the origination of this sacred text.

Hubbard revealed that 75 million years ago an alien galactic ruler resolved an overpopulation problem by sending his excess subjects to earth on spaceships.

Billions of aliens thus came here, but they were paralyzed and stacked around the base of volcanoes.

Then H-bombs were lowered and detonated within the volcanoes, hence the exploding mountaintops often seen in Scientology promotions, a cryptic allusion to their once well kept secret that now is widely known through the Internet.

But these billions of alien souls called “thetans” still remain on earth clustered in groups. And Tom Cruise, along with other Scientologists, believes that every earthling is full of them.

These Body Thetans or BTs are also supposedly problematic little pests, which should be dealt with.

Think of Scientology as the ultimate “BT buster.”

Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Jenna Elfman all have paid copious amounts of cash to clear themselves and bust those potentially debilitating BTs.

Cruise and Elfman have both reached OT-6, but long-time Scientologist Travolta is an OT-7, though this doesn’t seem to have done his career much good lately.

Sound like some internal/personal “War of the Worlds” these stars have undertaken?

Who says life can’t be like a movie?

L. Ron Hubbard was a Sci-fi writer before becoming a revered religious prophet, though some say he was more like a “cult leader.”

But Hubbard’s story telling bombed as the colossal movie flop “Battlefield Earth” demonstrated starring John Travolta. The author arguably did better creating religious myths. When Hubbard died in 1986 his financial residue was reportedly valued at more than $600 million dollars.

H.G. Welles, the author of “War of the Worlds” certainly knew how to write good Science Fiction, so maybe Tom Cruise will do better than John Travolta with his latest movie project.

But wouldn’t it be great and create much more of a buzz if during the former Top Gun’s round of promotional interviews he held forth regarding the great truth taught by Scientology about aliens from outer space? After all it relates rather nicely to the theme of his latest film and allegedly explains much of humanity’s problems.

Wait a minute; forget about such a humanitarian effort.

Tom Cruise can’t do that because of another seemingly holy Scientology sacrament. And that is you have to pay for religious revelation in his church, and there is quite a price list of suggested donations. Those who haven’t paid their way to OT-3 may never learn of the carefully guarded secret about spaceships from other worlds.

Well, that is before the proliferation of the Internet.

Now you can just point and click here.

Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg

Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg got more than they bargained for in a recent interview for the German magazine Spiegel. Both the actor and his director were confronted with tough questions about Scientology and its influence in Hollywood.

Cruise was asked specifically why he had a tent set up promoting his religion on the Paramount set of his new film with Spielberg titled “War of the Worlds.”

“I felt honored to have volunteer Scientology ministers on the set,” he said.

Steven Spielberg tacitly admitted it was “an information tent” promoting a “belief system,” but then claimed that “no one was compelled to frequent it.”

What’s next?

If the Oscar-winning director makes a movie with Mel Gibson will there be a tent on that set for his schismatic Catholic sect?

How far does catering to stars go when making a feature film?

The reporter then asked Cruise if he felt that it was his “job to recruit new followers for Scientology?”

“I’m a helper,” said the middle-aged actor.

But then the one-time “samurai” made the startling claim that “Scientology [has]…the only successful drug rehabilitation program in the world…called Narconon.”

The German reporter then did something akin to Hara Kiri in Hollywood he disagreed with Tom Cruise.

“That’s not correct,” he told the star.

He then went on to say that Narconon “is never mentioned among the recognized detox programs [and] independent experts warn against it because it is rooted in pseudo science.”

Pseudo science?

Narconon is based upon the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.

The former “Top Gun” then told the reporter, “You don’t understand what I am saying. It’s a statistically proven fact that there is only one successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. Period.”

Apparently Mr. Cruise thinks that when people don’t agree with him they must not “understand.”

But the premise of the Narconon program is largely based upon something called the “purification rundown,” which has been dismissed as “not scientifically verified” nor “medically safe.” And Scientology’s claim about curing drug addicts has been censured by the British Advertising Standards Authority.

In fact, Narconon has been at the center of controversy recently within California public schools for the very reason that it promotes unproven claims. And as Mr. Cruise should know the very same type of Scientology-linked program has been sharply criticized in New York, regarding the so-called “detox clinics” the actor opened up there amidst much fanfare.

Never mind.

Mr. Cruise apparently doesn’t wish to be confused by the facts and instead dogmatically insists upon his Scientology version of reality, which incidentally includes a theology based in part upon space aliens revealed to Scientologists when they reach the “Operating Thetan Level 3″ or OT3.

There are eight “Operating Thetan” levels within Scientology.

Tom Cruise has reportedly reached at least OT6, which means he knows the space alien story called “the incident.”

Perhaps his latest film really reflects the essence of Tom Cruise’s current life, a kind of “War of the Worlds”?

On one side there is the real world of scientific fact and reality, on the other Scientology’s rather bizarre world based upon a mix of fiction and somewhat flaky philosophy concocted by a former Sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard, a man that had less than a stellar record for telling the truth.

Though Hubbard certainly never reached the stature of the author of “War of the Worlds” H.G. Wells, in Mr. Cruise’s mind he is messianic.

The star’s Hollywood crusade has included guided tours through Scientology’s “Celebrity Center” for Paramount executives. And it seems like if anyone wants to work with him in the entertainment industry they must pander to his penchant for proselytizing.

After all, no one less than Steven Spielberg has let him pitch a tent on a movie set for his controversial sect.

“Are you trying to extend Scientology’s influence in Hollywood,” the Spiegel reporter asked Cruise.

Spielberg again quickly jumped in to seemingly defend his bankable star.

“I often get asked similar questions about my Shoa Foundation,” the director said.

The reporter retorted, “Are you comparing the educational work of the Shoa Foundation [devoted to a study of the Holocaust] with what Scientology does?”

“No, I’m not,” responded Spielberg.

But then the director went on about how some people in Hollywood feel strongly about “very personal missions” and “in Tom’s case, it’s his church.”

Might that be his “Mission Impossible”?

Maybe everyone is getting a dose of religion in Hollywood these days, especially since Mel Gibson made so much money from his “Passion.”

However, the Spiegel reporter wasn’t moved and pointed out that “in Germany Scientology is not considered a religion…but rather an exploitative cult with totalitarian tendencies.”

Maybe someone should have told him that in Hollywood superstars have “totalitarian tendencies” and that their cachet can make almost anything palatable, even a so-called “exploitive cult.”

That is, as long as their box office grosses hold up.

On that basis both Spielberg and Cruise must focus on their mission to make “War of the Worlds” more successful than their last effort together “Minority Report.”

Scientology critics have given $1,000 to an anti-cult organization in the name of Tom Cruise and sent the actor a certificate denoting this and citing the criteria for a destructive cult, which they apparently think, applies to his religion.

The certificate and corresponding letter of explanation were just posted on the Web site Holy Smoke.

This effort represents some belated blowback regarding Cruise’s seemingly cynical effort directed towards journalists who perhaps had less than glowing things to say about his church.

The former “Top Gun” previously sent out cards notifying reporters that he had made donations in their name to Scientology and he enclosed a plaque listing the “12 rules” of the controversial organization, once called the “Cult of Greed” by Time Magazine.

The recent contribution given in Cruise’s name and the corresponding certificate is a reciprocating gesture. And his detractors labeled the actor’s previous mailing to journalists “intrusive and presumptuous.”

Apparently mocking him the Scientology critics said, “We’ve read of your recent donations to charity on behalf of others and felt you would appreciate our effort.”

Tom Cruise has become something of a middle aged poster boy for Scientology, known for constantly promoting the churches programs and its founder L. Ron Hubbard.

However, a thousand-dollar donation is really a pittance when compared to the millions the star has spent on and/or gifted to Scientology, about 10% of his net worth to date according to the London Express.

And the certificate isn’t much either when compared to the so-called “Freedom Medal of Valor” cast in gold and encrusted with diamonds presented to the actor by Scientology’s leader David Miscavige, followed by a stiff staged salute.

But after all, isn’t it the thought that counts?

Note: The anti-cult organization later refused to accept the donation made on behalf of Tom Cruise. A board member stated that the organization felt “uncomfortable accepting a donation in the name of somebody who obviously would not approve.” Scientology probably didn’t feel “uncomfortable” about accepting money from Tom Cruise under similar circumstances.

CounterCOG.com, a domain name once devoted to archiving critical information about the so-called “Children of God” now known as “The Family,” seems to have been co-opted by cult apologists.

It appears this shift of purpose took place about two years ago during March of 2003, but only recently came to the attention of CultNews.

According to records held within the “Way Back Machine,” an Internet database with “40 billion Web pages” archived from 1996 to just a few months ago, some time after February of 2003 and beginning in March 2003 the domain name went from a resource of critical information about COG to an entry point for apology.

The site then announced; “Negative sentiments are typically implied when the concepts ‘cult’ and ‘sect’ are employed in popular discourse.” And that the new page would “seek to promote religious tolerance and…not carry implicit negative stereotypes.”

“Negative stereotypes” apparently means posting personal testimonies, research, news stories and/or court documents that note the destructive nature of groups that have been called “cults.”

Entering www.countercog.com now takes visitors to “Academic Research 2K,” which uses “politically correct” euphemisms to describe destructive cults such as “minority religion” and/or “new religious movement” (NRM).

The Web page features links to The Family Web site, once the focus of criticism at CounterCOG.com and other purported “cult” sites such as Rev. Moon’s Unification Church and the Church of Scientology.

These Internet destinations are listed under the heading “Information on Religious Movements.”

Links to additional resources often called “cult apologists,” such as CESNUR run by Massimo Introvigne of Italy, the “Religious Freedom Page” originally launched by a now deceased professor Jeffrey Hadden and a Canadian database known as “Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance,” which is essentially the brainchild of Bruce Robinson a former chemical company employee and self-professed agnostic.

These pages come under the heading of “scholarly works.”

Professor Hadden was an academic once quite friendly with Rev. Moon and recommended by Scientology as a “religious resource.”

But Mr. Robinson admits “that few if any of our authors have theological degrees. We feel that a formal theological degree would be counter-productive” and that “theological training is not needed for our work.”

Well, so much for the “scholarly” standing of works at his site.

Mr. Introvigne, like his former colleague Professor Hadden, has been criticized for working closely with groups called “cults”

In fact, Scientology may be the common thread that runs through the current so-called “counter-COG” Web page.

Because rather than testimonies from those exploited by COG, a controversial group often called a “sex cult,” visitors will instead see links to friends of Scientology along with one link specifically to that organization’s own database.

This makeover is reminiscent of the radical shift of purpose that took place when the Cult Awareness Network was reportedly taken over by Scientology in 1996.

A Scientologist bought CAN’s name, files and even its phone number. Now when you call the “new CAN” the phone is likely to be answered by a Scientologist.

Peter Vincent of Chicago, Illinois bought the domain name “countercog.com.”

Mr. Vincent was contacted by CultNews for comment, but did not respond.

Note: For genuine counter COG information see the following Web sites:

Ex-Family.org

Moving On.org

The Magic Green Shirt

Jenna Elfman is concentrating much of her time these days on Scientology. The former star of “Dharma and Greg” is taking course after course and crowed about it in last month’s issue of Scientology’s magazine Celebrity.

A Scientologist since 1991 Ms. Elfman was first introduced to the religion, often called a “cult,” by her husband Bodhi.

“I’m on OT VII now,” she boasted.

There are eight so-called “OT” (“Operating Thetan”) levels in Scientology. Members of the group can essentially buy their way to the top through increasingly expensive courses and Elfman certainly has plenty of cash from her Dharma days, not to mention residual income paid out through reruns.

Scientology “is a complete understanding of what is happening on the planet right now…as you go up the OT levels, you learn a lot more specific details,” said the former Dharma and diehard Scientologist.

This can be seen as a somewhat cryptic allusion to Scientology’s secret theology based upon what sounds more like Sci-fi than religious doctrine.

When Scientologists reach “OT 3” they are told “specific details” about an incident that allegedly occurred some 75 million years ago. Back then a galactic ruler named “Xenu” purportedly paralyzed people and sent them to earth in space ships. They were then arranged around a volcano and murdered with H-bombs, but their souls are still supposedly hanging around haunting humanity.

These pesky little ghosts are called “Body Thetans” or “BTs.”

And if you have big bucks like Elfman it’s no problem paying Scientology to eventually “clear” you of their negative influence.

The sitcom star now says it’s her shared “duty to clear the planet.”

“I intend to make Scientology as accessible to as many people as I can. And that is my goal,” the TV actor turned missionary told Celebrity.

Then Elfman went on and on sounding more like one of those cartoon characters from her recent “Looney Tunes” movie instead of someone grounded in reality.

She warned readers “the more successful I became, the more suppression I bumped into…especially in the entertainment industry, which really is home to rabid suppression.”

Has Dharma gone Daffy Duck?

Or, is “rabid suppression” just some sort of religious rationalization used to explain away her growing list of movie flops?

Perhaps Elfman’s fellow Scientologist John Travolta was bitten by this same “rabid” bug, considering the string of dogs he has starred in the last few years.

Scientologists believe that “suppression” largely comes from so-called “Suppressive People” (“SPs”) that are out there posing a potential menace.

“You want to survive as an artist or a leader,” cautioned Elfman, “…know you are going to be under attack…you have to be able and willing to confront evil if you want to survive.”

And diehard Scientologist Dharma has apparently confronted this perceived “evil” quite literally by “cleaning house of those people, who were very good at convincing [her] that they were there to help, when they were absolutely not,” the star summarized.

Hopefully, she still has a good agent.

“I don’t have time as a leader, as an OT and as an artist to be suppressed,” Elfman explained.

Those nasty “SPs” don’t scare diehard Dharma either.

“An SP? Why would that be scary? They’re the biggest cowards that exist,” she said.

Elfman then appeared a bit fanatical expressing her religious enthusiasm.

“Bring it on. Please. Please just try and attack me. I welcome it. Now that I’m willing to confront them, they scurry away…They scurry, because I’m willing to confront them,” she taunted.

Has good old hippie-dippy Dharma gotten a bit paranoid since her show was cancelled?

Well don’t expect Elfman to see a psychiatrist.

“Dianetics is the modern science of mental health…psychiatry…that’s incorrect technology,” says the former sitcom star.

What is Ms. Elfman planning for her future?

To be “absolutely relentless and unreasonable about grasping [Scientology technology] and owning it,” she says. “That way, I can have complete KSW (Keeping Scientology Working)…[and] forge ahead with a very high speed of particle flow.”

Huh?

Her religious rant continued, “If we want to clear this planet, we’ve got to know and apply this tech. It’s just a rule. It just is…I can’t even emphasize it enough. It’s just truth. You can’t go beyond truth, it just is…if you want to Keep Scientology Working, you need to do the PTS/SP Course. Either that or you could be dead. You pick.”

For Jenna Elfman at least, it seems to be Scientology “do or die.”