Religious Nuts

I was once in a meeting in which someone wanted to promote a sale in an ad as coming from “a higher power”. One of the executives objected, pointing out that it could offend some of those “religious nuts” out there. Though phrased as a joke with a laugh in his voice, it probably wasn't the right way to point out why claiming divinity in advertising would be a bad idea. Some chuckled, others like myself forced a small polite smile and sat quietly taking notes.

Society presents a division not just between people with different beliefs, but between those of faith and those who believe it's all nonsense and fantasy. In a decade in which some very bad people crashed planes into buildings and killed thousands in order to be rewarded with virgins in the afterlife, people are more hostile than ever toward religions. Any belief system can and has been twisted over the years, the potential validity tarnished by those who would use it to manipulate and control people, or simply for financial gain. Scripture is taken out of context all the time to suit the ends of believers and nonbelievers alike. As a Catholic, I might think some jokes are in poor taste, and if I received an ad in the mail with the headline that had been proposed it might raise an eyebrow, but I'd recognize the ignorance in which it might have been conceived. Some mistakes are harmless, and it's important to choose our battles.

Some see science and religion as opposing forces. Some sects refuse medical care on the basis of their beliefs. I don't necessarily see the disconnect. If we were created by God in his image, then we're his instruments. A doctor's skills would then be an extension of the Lord, so long as the goal was saving a life. All life on this planet had to be traced back to some source, some force that guided energy and matter in a precise and planned way. There are too many patterns in nature, too many perfectly functioning ecosystems and interactions for there not to be a design behind it all. We might disagree on the nature of the architect, but the concept of one shouldn't be too far-fetched. Some might say it's all fantasy, that the Son of God walked the Earth over two thousand years ago performing miracles, that the divine made human died and came back.

I respect that others believe different things. I'm a little more puzzled by those who believe nothing at all, but I can understand why some things are hard for people to accept, and why they might prefer a life of license, living for themselves. I might disagree, but I'd never mock. I might say “you're wrong”, but I'd never say, “you're crazy.” Of course, this assumes that I'd never have a conversation with Tom Cruise:



There are those who believe in things others might call Fantasy. Then there are those who practice Scientology, which some might call Science Fiction. Younger by far than the world's religions, it sprang forth from L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 and has been embraced by Cruise and other high profile celebrities who can afford the dues needed to “level up” and climb the ranks as they try to become an ”Operating Thetan”, getting in touch with their immortality and cleansing themselves of the material things which drag them down in this world.

It's hard to respect or understand something that involves an alien frozen in a volcano, and people tapping in to dormant alien abilities. Some of Cruise's statements are downright frightening. Is he really the only person who could help if he drove past an accident? They can rehabilitate criminals? Bring peace and unite cultures? As someone who's always been taught humility, the amount of ego stemming from this belief system is overwhelming, at least the amount of ego flowing from Tom Cruise. I have no idea what he's laughing about at the 4:35 mark in that video, but it was scary.

I first heard snippets from this video while listening to Opie and Anthony, and one of them astutely caught something near the end around 8:15. He starts to say “...people who are depending on...” and pauses, as if he was about to say “me”, before switching to “us”. I don't think I would call him a “religious nut”, because that would entail referring to Scientology as a religion. I'm not sure the author even considered it a religion, and it's safe to call Cruise simply a nut promoting a cult.

“Look, I wish the world was a different place. I'd like to be able to go on vacation, to just...romp and play...and just...do that. You know what I mean?”

No, Tom, we have no clue.

UPDATE: It seems the thousand Thetans of Xenu's army have descended upon the above video. You can find it(while it lasts?) at this link. Thanks, B13.