Celebrity Scientologists

Celebrity Scientologists

The world’s religions have always had some kind of figurehead. In modern times that person isn’t always clergy but rather the lay people who have found themselves attracted to a Path. Celebrities do not seem immune to the religion bug, and many of them are drawn to Scientology. Why is that?

Well in part because Scientology courts celebrities. Hey – nothing wrong with that. It’s a great endorsement and very clever PR. And at least Scientology isn’t shy about admitting they seek out celebrities. They’ve even had a plan in place for accomplishing that goal since 1955! Specifically, they want celebrities who are at their prime of life and career. To this ends, they have specially created Celebrity Centers (one in Los Angeles of course) hoping that its presence will increase the numbers of rich and famous among their flock. We have to admire this. Long before the media had tabloids, Scientology saw a rare opportunity to cash in on fame by using the famous to distribute information about their beliefs and support their causes. It’s brilliant.

On the other hand, we cannot say for sure how great the involvement turns out for celebrities. Oh, sure Scientology stays afloat and prospers thanks to those huge incomes, but many celebrities also seem to fade on the radar once they get too deeply involved. Let’s take a peek.

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Catherine Bell
This actress who promotes HELP (the Hollywood Education an Literacy Project) may need a little help herself. This particular program has ties to Scientology and has been highly criticized for NOT getting contributions where they belong. While one year’s expenses of over 200,000 were paid, only $100 was given out in grants! This is only one of several Scientology projects she’s supported. Others include Psychiatry: an Industry of Death Museum (yeah, that sounds uplifting) and the music video “United” that supposedly promotes human rights with a song. Let’s hope their accountants are doing a better budget this time.

Sonny Bono
Early in Bono’s career it would be understandable to get involved in Scientology or any other trendy Hollywood gig. But after politics converted him into a Republican he downplayed his Scientology connections (although privately apparently he maintained them dutifully – something that’s enough to make all the elephants in the cemetery turn over in their grave). Apparently we have Mimi Rogers and Tom Cruise to thank for bringing Sonny into the flock.

Jenna Elfman
We have to ask – has Dharma’s Karma run amok? This actress got interested in Scientology in 1991. According to interviews on the subject, each group takes courses to obtain higher levels (something we’re sure she can afford; spirituality isn’t cheap these days). During this process you learn how to avoid little alien spirits (we’re wondering if the “spirits” are actually of a different kind).

Beck Hansen
Ok, let us paint you a picture. Here you have a singer-songwriter-instrumentalist that loves sound effects and has always skirted the edge of alternative rock in all its forms. Until 2005 no one knew anything about his connection to Scientology. At that juncture 2005 Beck came “out of the closet” about Scientology saying it was part of his life through his dad. His interview on the subject included claiming it was just an ideology/philosophy, but adding that the group’s drug treatment program has a 89 percent success.

Jason Lee
Who would think that a guy who works on a show called “my name is Earl” would even think about life’s deep mysteries? Here you have a great humorist who somehow found Juliette Lewis (“The other sister”) a suitable mate. This is really hard to reconcile with a skateboarding genius. Too many flips in the air… that’s what we’re thinking.

Danny Masterson
A character from that’s 70’s show, Mr. Masterson endeared us by being the only remotely interesting actor (not that the show strove for any type of depth). You’ll mute everyone else’s performance to tolerate his character during re-run season. Apparently like others, family members have been Scientologist and he came into the whole idea from them.

Leah Remini
She’s cute on King of Queens, but a disaster from a PR standpoint. When she appeared on the “Majority Report” she made Scientology look ludicrous for it’s purported detox cure-all that sounds more like snake oil. It’s surprising to us that the Church hasn’t found a tidy way to excommunicate her… well, not yet any way.

Isaac Hayes
Had the composer of “Shaft” gotten the shaft? Then again, a guy that cooked for the crew of South Park may not have had all his spoons in the bowl. After the rather nasty-savory episode about Scientology on South Park, Mr. Hayes made a hasty retreat to no-tag-back zone. Unfortunately, Hayes passed away recently due to a stroke, and some claim that Scientology might had something to do with it.

Greta Van Susteren
For those of you who don’t remember this name – think Fox News. She’s the legal brow beater who covered some really flashy cases like O.J. Simson’s. This is another one of those head-shaking twists of fate. Who would think that a pretty savvy lawyer from CNN and Fox would go in this direction? Not us, that’s for sure.

Jerry Seinfeld
We’re not a big fan, but how does a good Jewish kid (who should be promoting mitzvah not aliens) end up in a group like this? Well, according to him it was just a passing interest. We’re quite certain that assurance makes Moses sleep better.

John Travolta
John Travolta is no new-comer to Scientology having first been introduced in the Mid-1970s. He got hooked on Dianetics. He feels that this approach helped him start a successful career. However, some reporters have said he receives lucrative compensation for those “beliefs” to the tune of upward of $1,000.00 per endorsement plus commissions for conversion.

Tom Cruise
Of course, we cannot forget to mention Xenu’s favorite disciple and the most powerful front man for Scientology…Tom Cruise! He got involved with Scientology in 1990 through his first wife, Mimi Rogers and he recently received the church’s first Freedom Medal of Valor for his dedication to Scientology.

More Tom Cruise news.

Now, please understand that we are not claiming Scientology is “bad” or “wrong’ or a “cult” … but in reading this list of names we find ourselves rather amazed, and yet not. The nick name for Hollywood is Hollywierd, and while we might love these actors their choice to stay with Scientology even when it hurts their career is something we simply don’t “get” … maybe the aliens will tell us.

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