Tom Cruise YouTube Video Touches on Scientology

The basic tenets of Scientology are simple: man is basically good and spiritual salvation depends on the individual, his or her relationship to others, and attaining a symbiosis with the universe. Scientology proposes that man is a spiritual being whose existence does not end with one life but continues on and that he is blessed with abilities beyond what he believes. The ultimate goal of Scientology is "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights." A bit naïve, perhaps, but still a worthwhile and very impressive aim.

Scientology is often referred to as a cult. Many religions espouse similar fundamentals truths, attract a wide and diverse following, but are not assumed to be a cult. Any religion--Christianity, Muslim, Taoism, Druid-can become a cult in the hands of the wrong person. David Koresh and the eighty-two ill-fated members of his cult, whom he referred to as students of the Seven Seals, were members of the Branch Davidians, themselves a cult who originated under the umbrella of the Seventh Day Adventists. The People's Temple, under Jim Jones' leadership, took its roots from the Protestant doctrine. The fact that Scientology is endorsed by prominent public figures (John Travolta, Priscilla Presley, Giovanni Ribisi, Jason Lee, Katie Holmes, Rob Thomas to name but a few) seems to make the organization a target for criticism and labeling.

Of course, possibly it's most prominent proponent, Tom Cruise, makes criticizing the group almost too easy. Opponents of any organization or cause will always use the most extreme cases or members to justify their dissension and Tom is nothing if not extreme. Watch the recent interview that was removed from You Tube.