Author |
Message |
Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 9:14 pm
Yeah, Tom is definitely out there.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 7:27 am
CNN brought up a good point re Tom Cruise...would we be reacting this way if his religon was Christianity, Judism ect?
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 7:49 am
Tex, give CNN a big raspberry for me. Firstly Cruise is a Christian. Scientology is NOT a religion. Cruise himself has said this on many interviews. Not sure if he still practices, in fact I am sure he doesn't but he emphasizes that scientology is not a religion and you can be a Catholic and a scientologist, Jewish and a scientologist, Muslim and a scientologist. That's bull but its what he says. LOLOL Secondly, for myself I definitely would. If he was giving that rambling, incoherent speech about his love of teddy bears... it would still make him obsessed and off-kilter (not to mention a Napoleon complex).
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 8:00 am
There are a lot of hokey TV evangelists, and they affect me the same way Tom does in this video. Just want to know what planet--oh, that's right . . . 
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Merrysea
Member
08-13-2004
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 8:49 am
ITA with Rissa and Herckleperckle!
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 9:33 am
Texannie, yes, a very big yes. Doesn't matter what they'd be babbling about. Could even be something I feel passionate about. But the way he goes on and on in circles, really saying nothing, and being all crazed about it screams cult to me. 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 10:47 am
Thanks Brenda. I do believe that people react this way because of the 'cult' status that Scientology has. <>
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 10:48 am
Many people are passionate and emotive when expressing their beliefs. Think of certain preachers in many mainstream religions for example.
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 11:24 am
It's also the "I GET IT, and you don't GET IT, unless you think exactly the SAME way I do" that screams cult to me. Being passionate about something is one thing, but talking like you KNOW it ALL and those who don't know exactly what you know are just clueless is another. I really wish he'd disappear from the spotlight. Then I could continue to think of the Tom of yesteryear, the guy from Top Gun and Risky Business. The charasmatic, laughing guy. Not this.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 12:46 pm
Brenda, don't most people who are truly passionate have that attitude about their passion? They do believe if you understand how wonderful their passion is, you would be passionate about it too.
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Holly
Member
06-19-2005
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 1:25 pm
Wish he could articulate what he's so passionate about. Nothing he said made sense to me. Nor to most others that I can see. So, I wouldn't confuse his ramble with passion.
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 2:18 pm
Sure Texannie, but most are not dripping with the arrogance that he is. And most people can be passionate about something but still realize that other's may not feel that way and there's nothing wrong with that. It's the "blind faith" aspect of it that I find so creepy. That there's no way, but Tom's way. Can you imagine what will happen if his kids decide they don't want to be scientologists??? Wow. I can't even imagine how he would react.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 2:37 pm
Texannie, This is what is wrong with Cruise's arrogance: The Death of Lisa McPherson. This is what is wrong with someone of Cruise's fame making scientology look like a reasonable organization or even worse... attractive: Jeremy Perkins; a scientologist tragedy There are many more stories like this. I feel a certain level of pity for him because it is so obvious how brain-washed he is, but even more angry at the amount of damage a celebrity of his stature can do by promoting this group. ETA: Just found this: Deaths associated with scientology
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 2:45 pm
I hope we don't start posting examples of all the damage that some people have done throughout history in the name of various religions or other beliefs? There would be too many examples to mention. There has also been a lot of good done as well. I'm not suggesting that multiple wrongs make a right. It's just not an uncommon phenomenon. I feel a certain discomfort when any celebrity uses their status to expound on a topic where their knowledge may be limited or unfounded but I also defend their right of freedom of speech.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 3:06 pm
Fair enough Jimmer. It just chafes me when CNN makes a comment that likens this group to mainstream religious groups. They are NOT a religion first of all, "The Church of....." is their registered business name, same as Walmart and Fedex. By saying what they (CNN) did leaves the impression that this group is just another belief system and that is wrong and dangerous.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 4:01 pm
Don't all religions think they're the ones who are right and the others are wrong? And aren't most religions based on "blind faith"? I wouldn't want to listen to Tom for very long, but I certainly don't care if HE feels that way. Any type of fervent spiritual belief has been found to be immensely helpful with health situations, so there are just as many "miracles" as there are deaths associated w/religion/spirituality.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 4:11 pm
The church of wal mart.......
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 4:32 pm
"The Church of..." doesn't that keep them from paying taxes?
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Landileigh
Member
07-29-2002
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 4:40 pm
i love the church of wal mart! i tithe weekly!
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 4:53 pm
I agree that Scientology is not like other churches. If Tom kept his religious beliefs to himself and didn't spout his opinions all over the place, I think people would feel differently about him.
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Beckie03
Member
07-05-2007
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 5:28 pm
To me it doesn't matter what religion he is, it's how he is presenting himself. "We are the authority". OMG, are you serious? It is like any radical "religion"...it's just horrible and scary. He could be a Christian and if he was radical, I would still be freaked out. I think the big reasoning behind wanting to focus on Tom is because nobody knows about Scientology. It's like the Children of God. Everyone knows very little and in a few years when people get out of it, we will hear more. You don't see (maybe I'm wrong) tons of Christians hiding everything about their religion, being secretive.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 5:31 pm
One of God's gifts to us is free will. I realize that people can find all kind of excuses for the way they act but still we all have free will. If someone wants to follow Scientology...then he has the choice..it's not for us to judge. If Scientology starts invading my home then I have the free will to act against him. But since Tom Cruise hasn't invaded or acted illegally...then I say leave him go!
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 5:33 pm
The thing is that most religions believe they are right. Some religious people are so sure they are right that they think that people who don't believe the same way will not enjoy eternal life with them. I don't think that Tom is right in what he believes. However, I don't think that Tom is all that unusual in his strong beliefs.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 5:58 pm
Jimmer, i agree.
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Beckie03
Member
07-05-2007
| Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 6:07 pm
But that's what is scary Jimmer. Anybody who is that strong in their beliefs seriously scares me. Because they don't see past that...they don't see right and wrong.
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