Must be an imbecile in real life:-(

I'm pretty sure that someone in his elevated position is treated much differently than the common man so it's easy for him to reject the negative..
One positive of Scientology would be their dianatics self actualizing theme which I think that Tom feels he owes his success to ..even though it has manipulated his personal life to where no one should really want to be involved with him.
He's blinded to its faults because of his success..

I don't like Scientology. But only because I am a Christian and therefore think everyone should be a Christian because that's how Jesus said to think. Of course a lot of people are going to reject Christ because they are misguided. And yes I shouldn't have posted that comment on the general board where I called people morons for believing things that I think are foolish. That particular poster made me angry with his insistence on Dick Chaney being behind 9/11. I think that's a bunch of bologna.

I think one can make up any BS science, but you'll be nailed if you make up BS medicine. I think that caused its downfall.

I've been a fan of his since "The Outsiders", lol. I know he had almost no role in that one but he caught my eye XD

Honestly, and I don't mean this in a rude or disrespectful way, but I just don't understand why people can't just leave him alone. It's sad.

He's basically treated like a god - you can see how that would be very addictive. It's clear (pun) he wants more than to just be an actor, he literally wants to save the world like in one of his films. There is also a very high possibility that they have a lot of dirt on him, from the auditing sessions.

Not everyone who joins cults are "imbeciles", and Tom Cruise obviously isn't one either. He's just someone who was manipulated at a fairly early age by a system that has suckered many other talented people as well. And now, like a long-term addiction, it's very hard to break away from it.

On the bright side... He only joined the cult because of his sincere desire to get rid of what he was considering an illness )

As to imbecile... Maybe that's a bit harsh. I do not consider myself superintelligent and is not familiar with scientology literature but it took me three readings to finally get what Hubbard's 'Fear' was all about. I've also read some 'free zone dianetics' texts back in the day and it really takes certain concentration and logical efforts to get the ideas camouflaged by all that specific vocabulary of theirs.

So Cruise made it to the top of their 'church'... Was it because of his popularity? Sure. But was it only because of his popularity? Seems like some intellectual work was also in place.

He's in a position that very few will ever be in their lives. He is almost a Pope-like figure in his church. That kind of power and status is beyond what even your typical Hollywood A-lister could imagine

So I can't really judge him because I can't imagine what that would be like. Of course, from the outside looking in he seems crazy to be so wrapped up in what is obviously-to-us a cult

I don't think he's an idiot. He may be a delusional asshole, but not an idiot

You assume that most people, given the opportunity, would choose to live a "great, decent and healthy life". I would say that most people would prefer to be treated like royalty if they were given the choice. Ultimately, he is like anyone deep in belief system of a religion. You assume that everyone in Scientology should see it the way outsiders see it: as a cult. How do you think all modern religions started out? Christianity got to be so massive by convincing intelligent people to believe outlandish things, and do some very morally-questionable things in order to consolidate power and influence

Humans are strange and the mind is mysterious. I'm an atheist, to me it seems plainly obvious that God doesn't exist. And if a God does exist, it isn't like anything described in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc. concerned with the trivialities of human lives. It seems like total nonsense. But I can't deny that some very intelligent and successful people throughout history have been very devout Christians or Jews or Muslims

I don't think Scientology is all that different. It is newer, yes. It is less mainstream. But are their beliefs really any crazier than those in any other religion if you REALLY think about it? I don't think so. Are their practices abusive? Probably. Have members of all other religions abused human rights over the centuries? Definitely. Did that stop otherwise "good" people from remaining loyal to their church? Nope

I never really cared for Tom Cruise and when I learned he was into Scientology I really began to wonder about him.