With his new movie, War of the Worlds, coming out later this summer, Tom Cruise has been making the publicity rounds. While this isn’t new since Cruise has been staring in hit movies since the 90’s, what is new is his outspokeness of his beliefs. Cruise is a 20-year member of the Church of Scientology.
In an online interview Cruise and War of the Worlds director Steven Spielberg speak about the movie and some of their beliefs. What was shocking to me was to hear Cruise’s respone to a challenge to his belief system.
Close to half way through the interview, Cruise is asked about Scientology and the tent that was on the set of War of the Worlds. If I have ever seen a textbook case of a brain washed human being this is it:
Cruise: I’m a helper. For instance, I myself have helped hundreds of people get off drugs. In Scientology, we have the only successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. It’s called Narconon. SPIEGEL: That’s not correct. Yours is never mentioned among the recognized detox programs. Independent experts warn against it because it is rooted in pseudo science. Cruise: 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. SPIEGEL: With all due respect, we doubt that. Mr. Cruise, you made studio executives, for example from Paramount, tour Scientology’s "Celebrity Center" in Hollywood. Are you trying to extend Scientology’s influence in Hollywood? Cruise: I just want to help people. I want everyone to do well.
The actor just ignores the challenge and restates his original point with no support at all, only his word. Spielberg sensing where this was going interjects something about one of his foundations to change the subject off of Tom Cruise and his brainwashing religion.
I know many of our non-Christian readers may think that us Christians do the same thing. But I can tell you, I honestly look at people’s objections to Christianity and I do research on it. I would not merely spout off an unproven statistic have it rebutted and then repeat it.