Cruise's psycho rant

[Houdini]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX FRI JUNE 24, 2005 10:51:08 ET XXXXX

CRUISE 'WAR OF WORLDS' INTERVIEW TURNS INTO SHOWDOWN ON PSYCHIATRY, SCIENTOLOGY

NBC 'TODAY SHOW' host Matt Lauer was lectured by star Tom Cruise on the dangers of psychiatry and antidepressant during a promotional interview for WAR OF THE WORLDS.

The exchange aired Friday morning.

LAUER: TOM CRUISE CREATED A FIRESTORM WHEN HE CRITICIZED BROOKE SHIELDS FOR REVEALING THAT SHE WENT INTO THERAPY AND TOOK ANTIDEPRESSANTS TO DEAL WITH HER POST PARTUM DEPRESSION. AS A SCIENTOLGIST, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE. I ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS COMMENTS.

CRUISE: i've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist I never agreed with psychiatry. and when i started studying the history of psychiatry, i understood more and more why i didn't believe in psychology.

//And as far as the Brooke Shields thing is, look. You gotta understand, I really care about Brooke Shields. I-- I think here's a-- a-- a wonderful and talented woman. And-- I wanna see her do well. And I know that-- psychiatry is-- is a pseudo science.

MATT LAUER: But-- but Tom, if she said that this particular thing helped her feel better, whether it was the antidepressant or going to a counselor or psychiatrist, isn't that enough? //

TOM CRUISE: Matt, you have to understand this. Here we are today where I talk out against drugs and psychiatric abuses of electric shocking people (PH), okay, against their will, of drugging children with them not knowing the effects of these drugs. Do you know what Aderol (PH) is? Do you know Ritalin? Do you know now that Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that?

MATT LAUER:

The difference is--

(OVERTALK)

TOM CRUISE:

No, no, Matt.

MATT LAUER:

This wasn't against her will, though.

TOM CRUISE:

Matt-- Matt, Matt, Matt--

MATT LAUER:

But this wasn't against her will.

TOM CRUISE:

Matt, I'm-- Matt, I'm asking you a question.

MATT LAUER:

I understand there's abuse of all of these things.

TOM CRUISE:

No, you see. Here's the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do.//

MATT LAUER:

//aren't there examples, and might not Brooke Shields be an example, of someone who benefited from one of those drugs? TOM CRUISE:

all it does is mask the problem, Matt. And if you understand the history of it, it masks the problem. That's what it does. That's all it does. You're not getting to the reason why. There is no such thing as a chemical imbalance.

(OVERTALK)

MATT LAUER:

So, postpartum depression to you is--

TOM CRUISE:

Matt--

MATT LAUER:

--kind of a--

TOM CRUISE:

--don't--

MATT LAUER:

--little psychological gook--

TOM CRUISE:

That--

MATT LAUER:

--googley-gook?

TOM CRUISE:

--no. No. I did not say that.

MATT LAUER:

I'm just asking what you-- what would you call it?

TOM CRUISE:

No. No. Abs-- Matt, that is-- the-- post-- now-- now, you're talking about two different things.

MATT LAUER:

But that's what she went on the--

TOM CRUISE:

No. MATT LAUER:

--antidepressant for.

TOM CRUISE: But what happens, the antidepressant, all it does is mask the problem. There's ways of vitamins and through exercise and various things. I'm not saying that that isn't real. That's not what I'm saying. That's an alteration of what-- what I'm saying. I'm saying that drugs aren't the answer, these drugs are very dangerous. They're mind-altering, anti-psychotic drugs. And there are ways of doing it without that so that we don't end up in a brave new world. // the thing that I'm saying about Brooke is that there's misinformation, okay. And she doesn't understand the history of psychiatry. She-- she doesn't understand in the same way that you don't understand it, Matt.

// MATT LAUER: But a little bit what you're saying Tom is, you say you want people to do well. But you want them do to well by taking the road that you approve of, as opposed to a road that may work for them.

TOM CRUISE: No, no, I'm not.

MATT LAUER: Well, if antidepressants work for Brooke Shields, why isn't that okay?

TOM CRUISE: I-- I disagree with it. And I think that there's a higher and better quality of life. And I think that promoting for me personally, see, you're saying what, I can't discuss what I wanna discuss?

MATT LAUER: No. You absolutely can.

TOM CRUISE: I know. But-- but Matt, you're going in and saying that-- that I can't discuss this.

MATT LAUER: I'm only asking, isn't there a possibility that-- do-- do you examine the possibility that these things do work for some people? That yes, there are abuses. And yes, maybe they've gone too far in certain areas. Maybe there are too many kids on Ritalin. Maybe electric shock--

TOM CRUISE: Too many kids on Ritalin? Matt.

MATT LAUER: I'm just saying. But-- but aren't there--

TOM CRUISE: Matt.

MATT LAUER: --examples where it works?

TOM CRUISE: Matt. Matt, Matt, you don't even-- you're glib. You don't even know what Ritalin is.// //if you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt, okay. That's what I've done. Then you go and you say where's-- where's the medical test? Where's the blood test that says how much Ritalin you're supposed to get?

MATT LAUER: You're-- you're-- it's very impressive to listen to you. Because clearly, you've done the homework. And-- and you know the subject.

TOM CRUISE: And you should.

MATT LAUER: And-- and--

TOM CRUISE: And you should do that also.

MATT LAUER: And--

TOM CRUISE: Because just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. //you should be a little bit more responsible in knowing really--

MATT LAUER: I'm not prescribing Ritalin, Tom. And I'm not asking--

TOM CRUISE: Well--

MATT LAUER: --anyone else to do it. I'm simply saying--

(OVERTALK)

TOM CRUISE: Well, you are. You're saying--

MATT LAUER: I know some people who seem to have been helped by it.

TOM CRUISE: I-- but you're saying-- but you-- like-- this is a very important issue.

MATT LAUER: I couldn't agree more.

TOM CRUISE: It's very-- and you know what? You're here on the Today Show.

MATT LAUER: Right.

TOM CRUISE: And to talk about it in a way of saying, "Well, isn't it okay," and being reasonable about it when you don't know and I do, I think that you should be a little bit more responsible in knowing what it is.

MATT LAUER: But--

TOM CRUISE: Because you-- you communicate to people.

MATT LAUER: But you're now telling me that your experiences with the people I know, which are zero, are more important than my experiences.

TOM CRUISE: What do you mean by that?

MATT LAUER: You're telling me what's worked for people I know or hasn't worked for people I know. // i'm telling you i've lived with these people and they're better.

TOM CRUISE: So, you're-- you're advocating it.

MATT LAUER: I am not. I'm telling you in their case-- (LAUGHTER)

(OVERTALK)

MATT LAUER: In their individual case, it worked. I am not gonna go out and say--

TOM CRUISE: Matt--

MATT LAUER: --"Get your kids on Ritalin. It's the cure-all--

TOM CRUISE: Matt, Matt.

MATT LAUER: --and the end-all."

TOM CRUISE: Matt, but here's the point. what is the ideal scene for life

TOM CRUISE: Okay. Ideal scene is someone not having to take anti-psychotic drugs.

MATT LAUER: I would agree.

TOM CRUISE: Okay. So, now you look at-- and you go okay. A-- a departure from that ideal scene is someone taking drugs, okay. And then you go, okay. What is the theory and the science behind that, that justifies that?

MATT LAUER: Let me take this more general, 'cause I think you and I can go around in circles on this for awhile. And i respect your opinion ...

MATT LAUER: Do you want more people to understand Scientology? Is that-- would that be a goal of yours?

TOM CRUISE: You know what? I-- absolutely. Of course, you know. And people--

MATT LAUER: How do you go about that?

TOM CRUISE: You just communicate about it. And the important thing is, like you and I talk about it, whether it's-- okay, if I wanna know something, I go and find out. /Because I don't talk about things that I don't understand. I'll say, you know what? I'm not so sure about that. I'll go find more information about it so I can-- I can come to an opinion based on-- on the information that I have.

MATT LAUER: You-- you're so passionate about it. And I'm--

TOM CRUISE: I'm passionate about learning. I'm passionate about life, Matt.



http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3tc.htm

Sorry if this should have gone into Entertainment, but this seemed more like an "off-topic" issue. I found this interview to be really, really annoying. Cruise continually gloats about having done "research" on psychiatry, but his gross misuse of terminology leads me to believe the opposite. His statements are irresponsible and possibly dangerous.

[PrObLy]

Maybe he has a chemical imbalance ;)

This was my favorite part of the interview:


MATT LAUER:

--googley-gook?

TOM CRUISE:

--no. No. I did not say that.

[Butch]

http://video.msn.com/video/p.htm?t=1&p=Source_Today%20Show&i=1a0a3ed6-306d-

After watching that, the only thing I could think of was "midlife crisis"

By the way, the really wackjob part of the interview comes about 8 minutes in . . .

[Kevster]

I saw this interview when I took a break at work. I couldn't believe how much of an arrogant %$@*tard Tom Cruise was in that interview. I'll come out and say that I have not liked Tom Cruise for a very long time, but it's crap like this where he starts going off on medical science when he has little, if any background in it that really makes me hate him outright. Let's just say I have a lot of experience dealing with people who have had severe depression and suffer from bipolar disorder. Seeing "celebrity" asshats like Tom Cruise spewing his scientology crap and biased "trust me because I'm a famous actor with nothing better to do" opinions about science just makes me sick.

Edit: sorry for the ranting (I don't go off like that very often) but Tommy-boy just hit a big nerve with me today

[MikeD]

I thought Lauer handled himself well. Cruise had on his ******* game face for sure...

Hard to shake the feeling that Katie is nothing but a pawn to him for Scientology...

[riskykougra]

Ever notice the people who really have nothing to say shout the loudest. I think Tom Cruise is doing everything he can to get attention ...including marrying Katie...it just never looks real. But watch I'm wrong and they are married a long, long time. In Hollywood ..thats about 2 years..tops. :heh:

[LegendKiller]

It is true that the history of psychiatry is pretty shakey, from frontal lobe lobotomies to shock therapy for any ailment, to simple witch doctor like tactics. I think most people would agree that ADHD and ADD plus drugs are *WAY* over prescribed. I also think that most psychiatrists do more harm than help and they do have a history of creating reliance upon them to propegate their practice.

That beings said, some people do truly need help. There is a chemical imbalance that can only be solved with drugs, temporarily. I do not advocate long-term drug use, but used in conjunction with helpful psychiatric sessions they can help tremendously.

I also think that most sciences went through the same issues. The history of medicine as a whole is pretty disgusting, especially before sanitary practices. Its also pretty stupid to hate Ritalin because it is a "street drug". Heck, most good drugs are also street drugs.

Tom seems like he is starting to go a little whacko and is starting to get a bit too visible about his "religion". There also the whole Scarlet Johannsen thing last week, Katie Holms every day, and now him going off on one of the most popular morning shows in TV history. I am sure Spielberg is about to whack him with a 5lb sledge.

[Grimm]

Isn't Ritalin the drug that they prosicuted the doctor who conducted the testing on? The FDA found out that it wasn't effective and was way overprescribed because of intentional false recomendations.

Tom Cruse is an actor. He is not a world leader or some kind of hero, he entertains people for a living. Why do people care what he has to say about things not related to acting? Why are the expectations of him as a person so high?

[johnnymk]

I guess the real test is how many people has psychiatry and/or drugs actually helped people and for how long? My guess is not many and not for very long. Plus what are the long term side effects of the drugs and how hard is it to get off of them?

[molecularfire]

psychiatry is-- is a pseudo science.
:lmfao: This coming from a christian scientist.

Yeah, the history of psychiatry is shady. So is the history of medicine, surgery, OB/GYN, etc... There are still way too many idiots out there pretending to be doctors in the psychiatry field but IMO it has gotten much better and does much more good than harm. That said, ritalin unfortunately is over-prescribed (a mixture of lazy parenting, lazy doctoring, and a poor definition of the disease). In my admittedly limited experience with psychiatry, I am under the impression that Ritalin is prescribed more often to treat the parents than the children. That happens in other medical fields also though... how many doctors out there prescribe antibiotics for viral infections because if you shrug your shoulders and say "good luck. It'll probably clear in a week or so. I really can't give you anything that would work better than what you can get over the counter at Walgreen's so why don't you go to them on your way home" most likely they are going to be looking for another doctor who will give them antibiotics that they know are absolutely useless.

[Houdini]

It is true that the history of psychiatry is pretty shakey, from frontal lobe lobotomies to shock therapy for any ailment, to simple witch doctor like tactics. I think most people would agree that ADHD and ADD plus drugs are *WAY* over prescribed. I also think that most psychiatrists do more harm than help and they do have a history of creating reliance upon them to propegate their practice.


Psychiatry has made tremendous advances over the past 50 years. Illnesses for which there were no treatments now have effective treatments. Our knowledge about psychopharm has rocketed. Despite misconceptions about electroconvulsive therapy, it is VERY effective for specific indications.



That beings said, some people do truly need help. There is a chemical imbalance that can only be solved with drugs, temporarily. I do not advocate long-term drug use, but used in conjunction with helpful psychiatric sessions they can help tremendously.


That's a generalization. It depends on the illness. Some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, DO require long-term pharmacologic management. Therapy can help with developing insight, but in most cases the primary problem can only be treated with drugs.

[LegendKiller]

Psychiatry has made tremendous advances over the past 50 years. Illnesses for which there were no treatments now have effective treatments. Our knowledge about psychopharm has rocketed. Despite misconceptions about electroconvulsive therapy, it is VERY effective for specific indications.



That's a generalization. It depends on the illness. Some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, DO require long-term pharmacologic management. Therapy can help with developing insight, but in most cases the primary problem can only be treated with drugs.


I know the field has made large advances, as I said above, every science starts out with archiac methodologies and move up from there. I also know that electric therapy can be extremely useful in many cases even today, same with frontal lobotomies and other "extreme" methods of therapy.

No doubt long term medication and chemical imbalances are a case by case basis, as with almost everything else in the world.

[ufcrusher]

:lmfao: This coming from a christian scientist.

Psst...he is a SCIENTOLOGIST. A follower of L.Ron Hubbard. You know those crazy people who have the museum of Scientology in Hollywood.

My friend and I were seen laughing at some of the idiocy in their shrine and we were followed for 2 hours or more by some followers. It was not something we particularly cared to have happen. We ended up sneaking out the back/side entrance of some place to get away from them, dashed up a side street and then walked a few blocks over before going back on the main drag.

[nickel]

i saw a re-play of the interview, and yes, Tom looks like he's going off the deep end a bit during it. i think he screwed up spewing his views so strongly.
i agree that SRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are overly prescribed because i take and update medical histories all the time, and everybody and their mother seems to be taking anti-depressants. BUT at the same time i feel some people do have brain chemical imbalances that are causing them difficulties and do benefit from these meds.
he speaks of ritalin, and i do feel that drug is abused by parents who demand to have their kid put on it, and the docs who over-prescribe it. kids on ritalin end up being spaced out... drugged. i don't see how they can perform in school. it is sad to see actually. again, there are cases out there where it is warranted, but not at the rate i'm seeing.

still, Tom didn't need to get so riled, and he really needs to do some REAL research himself on the topic. he is looking stupid lately. i used to drool over him, but as of late i've lost interest. i think i need to watch "Risky Business" again to help me remember when Tom was cool.

[molecularfire]

Psst...he is a SCIENTOLOGIST. A follower of L.Ron Hubbard. You know those crazy people who have the museum of Scientology in Hollywood.

:banghead:
Man... I actually knew that. My brain has gone to rot recently. It will be missed.

i agree that SRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are overly prescribed because i take and update medical histories all the time, and everybody and their mother seems to be taking anti-depressants. BUT at the same time i feel some people do have brain chemical imbalances that are causing them difficulties and do benefit from these meds.
Yeah, SSRIs are prescribed a LOT but in the defense of psychiatrists I think the reason is that they have an awesome side-effect profile compared to previous anti-depressants that 1) they are replacing the other anti-depressants and 2) doctors (not just psychiatrists) are less hesitant to prescribe it for people who are slightly depressed who will feel better with it but who aren't quite ready to take their own lives yet.

Despite misconceptions about electroconvulsive therapy, it is VERY effective for specific indications.
:stupid: There is a big misconception on ECT with the general public. It is nothing like what they did with Jack Nicholson in "one flew over the cuckoo's nest" (which is unfortunately the kind of thing people think of when they hear ECT). It is done by a doctor, the patient is under anesthesia so isn't even awake for the procedure, the amount of electricity used is very small. It isn't the image of the patient strapped down, getting fried, screaming, with the smell of charred hair in the air. Heck, I don't even consider ECT an "extreme" therapy... it is very helpful and the side-effects are not as bad as a lot of the meds currently on the market. I think it will just take time and more long term data before it is used as a mainstream treatment.

[LPMiller]

Scientology is a cult, not a religion. I believe, firmly, in religious freedom, but Scientology is pure evil upon the landscape. Everything he is spouting, from the drug digs at Brooke Sheilds to his rant on psychology, is a direct quotation out of Dianetics.

Of COURSE L.Ron spoke against it. He activiely used it to brainwash his followers. You always have to question a religion that not only seperates you from everyone else, but actively seeks to take you away from family and friends that do not believe in what you do. That's a classic cult sign.

[Houdini]

Yeah, SSRIs are prescribed a LOT but in the defense of psychiatrists I think the reason is that they have an awesome side-effect profile compared to previous anti-depressants that 1) they are replacing the other anti-depressants and 2) doctors (not just psychiatrists) are less hesitant to prescribe it for people who are slightly depressed who will feel better with it but who aren't quite ready to take their own lives yet.

:stupid: There is a big misconception on ECT with the general public. It is nothing like what they did with Jack Nicholson in "one flew over the cuckoo's nest" (which is unfortunately the kind of thing people think of when they hear ECT). It is done by a doctor, the patient is under anesthesia so isn't even awake for the procedure, the amount of electricity used is very small. It isn't the image of the patient strapped down, getting fried, screaming, with the smell of charred hair in the air. Heck, I don't even consider ECT an "extreme" therapy... it is very helpful and the side-effects are not as bad as a lot of the meds currently on the market. I think it will just take time and more long term data before it is used as a mainstream treatment.

:stupid:
That's one of the reasons so many people are on SSRIs. It's not just psychiatrists who prescribe them. In many regions, family practice docs are outprescribing the psychiatrists. They probably are overprescribed, and I've refused to put some mildly depressed patients on them. The drug companies market them heavily to FP docs though. That may prove to be a bad trend. :shrug:

ECT is pretty cool. It has few side effects. The patient may forget what he/she had for breakfast that morning, but that's not always a bad thing. The shape and intensity of the current wave used is different than it was years ago. Many psych residents I know have repeatedly stated they would prefer to be shocked than to take antidepressants.

[kimchicowboy]

dude, i got duped into buying TWO dianetics books as an idealistic early teenager. since then, i haven't had any respect for scientology. hahaha.

[Jane83]

tom cruise is an idiot, and scientology is for psycos
tom cruise is both!

[DarkFury]

Somebody pass me the microphone filled with water... :hmm:

[Kevster]

Scientology is a cult, not a religion. I believe, firmly, in religious freedom, but Scientology is pure evil upon the landscape. Everything he is spouting, from the drug digs at Brooke Sheilds to his rant on psychology, is a direct quotation out of Dianetics.

Of COURSE L.Ron spoke against it. He activiely used it to brainwash his followers. You always have to question a religion that not only seperates you from everyone else, but actively seeks to take you away from family and friends that do not believe in what you do. That's a classic cult sign.


:stupid:

Well said LPM. That is exactly how I feel about scientology as well.

[hapoo]

Psst...he is a SCIENTOLOGIST. A follower of L.Ron Hubbard. You know those crazy people who have the museum of Scientology in Hollywood.

My friend and I were seen laughing at some of the idiocy in their shrine and we were followed for 2 hours or more by some followers. It was not something we particularly cared to have happen. We ended up sneaking out the back/side entrance of some place to get away from them, dashed up a side street and then walked a few blocks over before going back on the main drag.


My god, a couple months back i was in LA to go to a club. We had to walk down the street and my gf and i had to go to the bathroom REALLY bad. So we just walked into the first open building which at first i thought was a hotel. Turns out it was the Scientology Shrine in Hollywood. We asked to use their bathroom and they took us to the very back of the building all the while explaining that they would be happy to give us a free tour afterwards. And when we came out they were still waiting out there for us. They took us back out again advertising. VERY creepy. Only good part was that their bathroom was really clean :)

[mcs328]

I think they mentioned that Cruise was misinformed on a lot of stuff he says and that the "church" of scientology can't back up any of the "facts" he claims.

[Grafalgar]

Scientology scares the living crap out of me. A buddy of mine was part of that whole thing at one point, and my gosh the stories he tells, the stuff he went through. I mean, we say "brainwashing" and don't really know what it means, but that's pretty much what he went through. Ex he told me a story where he would get "audited", where the purpose was to verbally abuse him as much as possible. If he reacted (like crying, getting defensive, etc), he would fail the auditing right then and there. To pass he needs to sit through the entire thing cement-faced. The point was to apparently condition (brainwash) the followers to be able to take abuse and ridicule from outsiders, 'knowing' they'll get attacked for their "belief(s)." Essentially, a devout Scientologist is an unshakeable, undeterred entity and it requires moving of fairly large mountains to change their minds.

He was lucky enough to escape the 'clutches of Scientology' .. and now warns people about it. Crazy stuff.

Anyway, back on topic .. Tom Cruise is an idiot. It's a bummer that he's in a movie I really want to see. I think I'll wait until a friend rents it or something .. I refuse to (knowingly) put money in that man's pockets.

[Kevster]

Anyway, back on topic .. Tom Cruise is an idiot. It's a bummer that he's in a movie I really want to see. I think I'll wait until a friend rents it or something .. I refuse to (knowingly) put money in that man's pockets.

:stupid:

As much as I want to see Spielberg's new movie I'm going to wait as well. Tom Cruise really pissed me off and I refuse to do anything that will help him. So when someone gets the torrent for a good copy of this, please - help a brother out and shoot a PM. ;)

[cheapie]

hehe

http://tcruiseko.ytmnd.com

[jstreet]

FREE KATIE (http://www.freekatie.com/)

[LegendKiller]

I am to the point that I am not going to see War of the Worlds because of his utter stupidity.

[nickel]

I am to the point that I am not going to see War of the Worlds because of his utter stupidity.
yeh, i know you aren't alone. he's done some damage.

[ialsohaveadream]

On the plus side, I find him way more entertaining now that I know he's crazy. I would've been a way better interviewer, though, because I would've given Tom even more rope to hang himself with. "Really? I wasn't aware psychology was so ridiculous. Can I read some of these studies you mention? What other things can you teach me?" And I would've said that with a face so straight, I could've lied to my mom. :)

[Houdini]

On the plus side, I find him way more entertaining now that I know he's crazy. I would've been a way better interviewer, though, because I would've given Tom even more rope to hang himself with. "Really? I wasn't aware psychology was so ridiculous. Can I read some of these studies you mention? What other things can you teach me?" And I would've said that with a face so straight, I could've lied to my mom. :)

:stupid:
I'd like to know his definition of antipsychotic. I'd also like to know exactly which studies he's reading (likely just those published in Scientologist propaganda). I'd also ask him why he interchanges psychology and psychiatry. I'd like to see how he'd treat a multiply decompensated schizophrenic locked on my psych ward who's actively psychotic with vitamins. It would be interesting to see his explanation of the "therapy" offered during an "auditing" session with an "E-meter." From what I can tell the thing measures skin conductance. It's basically an ohmmeter with a big dial. And they guide the "audit" based on variances in the dial while the subject holds a couple of probes. Wait...I thought PSYCHIATRY was the pseudoscience...hmmm...

[ialsohaveadream]

:stupid:
I'd like to know his definition of antipsychotic. I'd also like to know exactly which studies he's reading (likely just those published in Scientologist propaganda). I'd also ask him why he interchanges psychology and psychiatry. I'd like to see how he'd treat a multiply decompensated schizophrenic locked on my psych ward who's actively psychotic with vitamins. It would be interesting to see his explanation of the "therapy" offered during an "auditing" session with an "E-meter." From what I can tell the thing measures skin conductance. It's basically an ohmmeter with a big dial. And they guide the "audit" based on variances in the dial while the subject holds a couple of probes. Wait...I thought PSYCHIATRY was the pseudoscience...hmmm...
I wonder if he actually knows the difference between psychiatry and psychology. He kept mentioning that pills poison kids, but psychologists don't give pills. And I love the irony in the way scientologists use psychological techniques to indoctrinate their followers, then tell them psych is useless. I'm a sucker for that stuff, though.

I remember when the scientologists would be waiting at the Metro stops in DC, and I'd say "No thanks, already joined Heaven's Gate. Just got my new Nikes." They never really reacted, and now I know why. Yay for conditioning!

[jstreet]

I remember when the scientologists would be waiting at the Metro stops in DC, and I'd say "No thanks, already joined Heaven's Gate. Just got my new Nikes." They never really reacted, and now I know why. Yay for conditioning!

I haven't seen any scientologists since I've been here, but there is that big mofo of a church they own next to gay Xando in Dupont. Now by the Metro we have the LaRouche people... talk about conditioning. I feel bad for them.

[Gothic Girl]

I didn't see this interview till just now. But I remember when he outright attacked Brook Shields. I was very angry as I have suffered from Post Partum Depression and it ain't no thrill ride. Matt Lauer hit the nail on the head when he said that Tom wants people to do well as long as they're taking the road that he approves off. I always knew that Tom Cruise was very arrogant and full of himself, but this is just way too much. IMO Tom should be taking those anti-psychotics.

And to be honest, I love Speilberg and own just about every movie he's ever made, but I just don't know if I can sit through a Tom "I know everything and you don't" Cruise movie.

[ShawnLee]

I love one thing though. No one on public media, NO ONE, will talk about scientology in all of this. I flipped through The View yesterday morning (I was getting ready for work, leave me alone) and they were talking about it, but while all thought Tom Cruise was pretty stupid, none mentioned Scientology. It's like the elephant in the room no one wants to bring up first.

I don't mind being followed by Scientologists or being harrassed by them. I don't fear them since I have nothing to hide and I will readily admit to all of my faults, in fact for them to bother me would be pretty cool since it could probably be used as a tool against them, and the Christian-martyr ideals in me would probably enjoy it at some level. That said, they're a bunch of crazies who follow a cult whose founders admitted was made for the sole sake of making money (and boy does it ever). I feel sad for anyone suckered into it, and I hope they really enjoy talking about Xenu and being a level 8 Operating Thetan because they're going to ruin everything else in their lives.

[Gothic Girl]

What exactly is Scientology? All I know is that there are a lot of famous people in it, and it just seems like a psycho cult.

[InfiniteNothing]

What exactly is Scientology? All I know is that there are a lot of famous people in it, and it just seems like a psycho cult.


It's the study of scient :shrug:

[ialsohaveadream]

It's the study of money being transferred to the Hubbard next-of-kin bank account. :)

[mcs328]

"I was born a snake-handler, I'll die a snake-handler"

[attgig]

What exactly is Scientology? All I know is that there are a lot of famous people in it, and it just seems like a psycho cult.

as stated above, it's widely considered a cult.

L. Ron Hubbard is the founder, and dianetics is the gateway for scientology. their beliefs are somewhat buddhist in that they have to enter various mind-states. salvation is acheived through going through those mind states and also proseletyzing.
god is a nebulous being - everyone can realize their own god.

the part where most people object and feel that they become cultish is the aforementioned auditing - which has led to peoples deaths.

also, to be a scientologist, you have to pay for materials, each step getting more and more expensive.... hence, rich actors who have much disposable income are scientologists.

[Grafalgar]

Apparently Scientology was founded on a bet between Hubbard and some other dude (Heinlen or something). Bet was that Hubbard could(n't) create a religion based on one of his books. Hubbard won :P

I've heard it repeated a few times, but not sure how much of it is true :P

[LPMiller]

The idea is that millions of years ago, the great alien Xenu sacrificed other aliens on some nuclear volcano. Those 'thetans' then hung around and infested humanity. Scientology professes to help 'clear' those thetans. You traverse through the various levels (7 or 8, I think) to get 'clear'. Eventually, you start pulling away from friends and family because their non-clear nature and weakminds place you at risk. I myself have been declared a wog and an enemy of scientology, by the man who sung at my wedding and who was one of me best friends in highschool.

The reason the media doesn't attack it outright is 3 fold.

1) scientology has cultivated a 'light' version for famous people. This is to give them a better front, and popular defenders of the faith. Though it must be said, many of them aren't hardcore like Cruise or Travolta, and are only in it because it can help your career.

2) because the church actively attacks any bad press, to the point of having people knocked into the poor house, jailed, and possibly killed.

3) The recent 'awareness' of religion in general and the religous right. While in no way would the religious right support Sci Tol, the very affect that's going on of being sensitive to them bleeds over to things like Sci Tol. Thus, all religions get a pass to an extent.

The main difference between a mainstream religion though, and Sci Tol, is the seperation. Christian churches, budism, whatever, do not declare other people you love to be enemies. Nor do they tend to ask you to mortgage your house for your training. They also don't give 'personality profiles' before you can join - if you aren't the right personality, they'll ask you to leave and never return. Real religions accept all comers. they try to be a part of your lifes, not the controlling element of it.

[Showtime]

All religions can be very controlling. Most rules are unclear and up to the interpretation of people. Sci Tol seems more cultlike than some of the other religions, but I have seen Christians, etc. separate themselves from friends and family. Separation from family/fds is a common theme whenever people disagree. It could be about a persons choice of mate or some type of behavior.

My question is.... are there hawt chicks at the Church of Scientology? ;)

-j

[LegendKiller]

The idea is that millions of years ago, the great alien Xenu sacrificed other aliens on some nuclear volcano. Those 'thetans' then hung around and infested humanity. Scientology professes to help 'clear' those thetans. You traverse through the various levels (7 or 8, I think) to get 'clear'. Eventually, you start pulling away from friends and family because their non-clear nature and weakminds place you at risk. I myself have been declared a wog and an enemy of scientology, by the man who sung at my wedding and who was one of me best friends in highschool.

The reason the media doesn't attack it outright is 3 fold.

1) scientology has cultivated a 'light' version for famous people. This is to give them a better front, and popular defenders of the faith. Though it must be said, many of them aren't hardcore like Cruise or Travolta, and are only in it because it can help your career.

2) because the church actively attacks any bad press, to the point of having people knocked into the poor house, jailed, and possibly killed.

3) The recent 'awareness' of religion in general and the religous right. While in no way would the religious right support Sci Tol, the very affect that's going on of being sensitive to them bleeds over to things like Sci Tol. Thus, all religions get a pass to an extent.

The main difference between a mainstream religion though, and Sci Tol, is the seperation. Christian churches, budism, whatever, do not declare other people you love to be enemies. Nor do they tend to ask you to mortgage your house for your training. They also don't give 'personality profiles' before you can join - if you aren't the right personality, they'll ask you to leave and never return. Real religions accept all comers. they try to be a part of your lifes, not the controlling element of it.

I think I am going to pick up a book on this, I have never really read anything about scientology nor seen it attacked on a detailed basis. Sounds like a geek religion that brainwashes people.

Is a Wog some kind of evil entity?

[Butch]

Mel Gibson and Michael Moore . . . you've now got company . . . Tom Cruise has been added to my list of celebs I refuse to pay to see . . .

[MrGreg]

War of the Worlds opens tomorrow. I'll be very interested to see how it does at the box office. I think Senior Cruise's antics will really hurt the movie's turnout.

[Kevster]

Here's something I found on Fark, which has been discussing Tom Cruise and Scientology quite a bit lately.

Balanced Look at Scientology (http://home.comcast.net/~tschap/balancedlookatscientology.htm)

Operation Clambake (Anti-Scientology Site) (http://www.xenu.net/)

http://www.xenu.net/archive/media/time-cover.jpg

http://prodtn.cafepress.com/3/22973403_F_tn.jpg

[LegendKiller]

War of the Worlds opens tomorrow. I'll be very interested to see how it does at the box office. I think Senior Cruise's antics will really hurt the movie's turnout.


I am certainly not going to see it. I even have a bet with a friend saying that War of the World would make more than SW EP III, it was made before I knew about or saw all of this, now I want to lose. Its only for $5 anyway.

I didn't think anybody would replace Lucas as one of the most despised people in HW, but now Tom has.

[GracieBayb]

just watched the today show clip... i'm actually starting to wonder if tom cruise is on drugs :heh:

[ialsohaveadream]

Oh, that's not drugs. That's pure, uncut, fresh-from-the-vine crazy right there.

[GracieBayb]

Oh, that's not drugs. That's pure, uncut, fresh-from-the-vine crazy right there.
:hehehmm: seriously... when he was like, "those drugs are anti-psychotic," i was like thinking... uh, isn't that a good thing? :eek3:

[Cubsfan]

The idea is that millions of years ago, the great alien Xenu sacrificed other aliens on some nuclear volcano. Those 'thetans' then hung around and infested humanity. Scientology professes to help 'clear' those thetans. You traverse through the various levels (7 or 8, I think) to get 'clear'.
Wait a second... didn't I play this game before? Or was that "Ghosts 'n Goblins"? Oh well, it was fun anyway.

[welfareloser]

i haven't been on the internet more than once a week this summer, but i did take a moment to watch the tom cruise interview (on dial-up, no less, now THAT'S dedication) ... wow. go ahead and have an opionon. make it as stupid, nonsensical, and uninformed as you like... but ignorant AND condescending is an ugly, ugly, UGLY combination, and that's when my blood starts to boil. stupid is fine. stupid and obnoxiously sure that you're right and everyone else is crazy... :2far:




anyway. i'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for being smart and sane (or at least entertainingly crazy, *ahem* ialso *cough*) i can imagine on any other board, this discussion would be peppered with posts like "well he's entittled two his opinyun" and "well my brother sez they used to do that shock stuff and i saw a movie about it oncet so everything he says is worth considering."

*group hug*


i actually picked up a copy of dianetics at goodwill a few months ago (no money in the hubbard swiss bank account, 35 cents to charity, and another copy of the evil paperback grimoire is off the streets... everybody wins, yay!) i wanted to have a good laugh (i'm now building a pretty decent collection of "whackjob religious books" ... there's this "12th planet" book by some guy who spends about 700 pages re-interpreting every major religious text to prove that it's all about the aliens that dropped us off on this planet... wow, is it a hoot; it's like the guy was secretly doing a project entitled "how to pack as many different logical fallacies as possible on every page" ... and i also got "the force of star wars" which is an old, old paperback that re-interprets star wars as a biblical allegory... talk about a piece of fluff designed to make a quick buck... )

anyway. i brought a whole box of books to read on vacation, but none of those. oh well. they're in queue for the fall, i guess...


:wavey:

[LegendKiller]

Brooke Shields fights back


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8427947/

[nickel]

Aliens seize Tom Cruise's brain
Seacoast Online -John Breneman
Sources say Tom Cruise's recent spate of odd behavior was triggered by an incident on the set of his new blockbuster, "War of the Worlds," where the controversial actor was reportedly given a brain probe by disgruntled Martians.

The spacemen reportedly disguised themselves as movie aliens to get close to Cruise, then jammed a three-foot titanium cylinder into his skull and made off with nearly half of his cerebellum.

Since then the actor has puzzled observers by playing trampoline on Oprah's couch, getting in "Today" show host Matt Lauer's face and proclaiming his eternal love for Batman's girlfriend.

Is it all just a publicity stunt to hype his starring role in the new $130 million Steven Spielberg epic? Perhaps, but Hollywood insiders suggest Cruise is using the promotional tour to proselytize for his beloved Church of Scientology, a trendy religion founded by Nebraska author L. Ron Hubbard that apparently encourages its followers to act like bossy know-it-alls.

Cruise, who recently scolded Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants, now subsists entirely on Scientology-flavored Kool-Aid and is reportedly mulling a bid to become the church's Exulted Grand Poobah.

In Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," opening June 29, the director stays relatively faithful to the classic H.G. Wells novel despite Cruise's effort to rewrite it so a family of Scientologists defeats the alien menace and creates a new world order.
link (http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/johnb/6_30fake.htm)

[Butch]

Hmmm . . . I'm sure I'm missing some of the humor in this because I know next to nothing about Scientology . . . but it's still worth some giggles for those of us who are clueless :)

http://www.picapic.net/media/TCM9C2S84Q8GV4

[Nija]

A local radio station that I've been listening to recently ( Indie 103.1 FM (with streaming goodness) (http://www.indie103.fm/) has a morning show (hosted by Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones), and they have play the Tom Cruise rant (word for word) through the voice of SpongeBob Squarepants. :heh: