Ah what the hell (opps, I realize that word can stir religious debate), I will put in my unsolicited 2 cent.

I am religious, but not fanatically so. I have been fortunate enough to study many religions, including Scientology. As with just about every religion I have ever studied, there are some wise teachings in Scientology. And, there are some “questionable” teachings. Ok, nuff said about that.

What I am put off by with any religion is its members pushing down your throat as the law, every teaching they preach, and then putting down those outside of the circle that is that religion (the “faithful”). I definately got that sense from Scientology. You really don’t move up the ladder, unless you buy into the program and if you don’t buy into the program, well then you are not in the circle.

This is not that different from many religions, but on the more extreme side of median, in my experience. That said, most religions have something useful to teach us and this one is no different. Just not for me, but I learned some useful stuff nonetheless.

I rebelled against the religion I was raised in; hence my multidecade exploration of other religions. I have since come back to my original religion. Not because I believe in its teachings more than others, but because I decided I did not have have to believe all its teachings to be part of a community of people, who share something. It is that community aspect that draws me to religion now and I find the one I am part of to be more tolerant of other religions than most.

Despite learning something useful from Scientology, I was turned off by it overall. But I have no opposition to it or Tom Cruise other actors being part of that world. He is still my favorite actor just like Michael Jackson is still my favorite singer. They may have lost their minds, but talent is talent.