Gawker
You have to watch this video. It shows Tom Cruise, with all the wide-eyed fervor that he brings to the promotion of a movie, making the argument for Scientology, the bizarre 20th-century religion. Making the argument is an understatement. The Hollywood actor, star of movies such as Mission Impossible, is a complete fanatic. "When you're a Scientologist, and you drive by an accident, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you're the only one who can really help... We are the way to happiness. We can bring peace and unite cultures." There's much much more. Let me put it this way: if Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch was an 8 on the scale of scary, this is a 10.
This video's been passed around privately by reporters and writers investigating Cruise's ties with Scientology. Most reporters have been wary of taking on the Scientologists, because they have a history of both litigation, and the harassment of critics. The publication of Andrew Morton's biography of Tom Cruise, which claims he is the second most powerful person in the cult, has seems to have opened the floodgates. Several indoctrination videos were available on Google Video, on Sunday, and showcased on Gawker, before being removed by the person who had originally posted them. Yesterday, for a few hours, the clip of Tom Cruise discussing his beliefs as a Scientologist appeared on Youtube, and was republished by Radar and Defamer. That video is no longer available, most likely after the Church of Scientology sent in a copyright infringement notice. Gawker is now hosting a copy of the video; it's newsworthy; and we will not be removing it.
Comments
Wild and woolly, baby. Wild and woolly.
In all this crazy Tom Cruise hating business of the last couple of years, I have prevented myself from thinking he's totally batshit. This video. He's fucking batshit. But I bet some Opus Dei video by Clarence Thomas would be just as frightening.
This thing is so totally Cruisey.
I'm so happy, I thetaned in my pants a little.
HOLY SHIT.
Top Gun audition:
Here Tommy, howzabout you just read what the page says.
I just watched a show last night on the History Channel about cults at the whole Jonestown Massacre. It's amazing how the weak-minded can be talked into believing anything.
The only ones who can help? Yeah, just push those doctors and EMTs aside, baby, and jump in there and voodoo 'em right back to life!
No offense to believers of voodoo.
I just keep flashing back to Ben Stiller and the "Tom Cruise: One Night Only!" off-broadway show.
Ouch! [Mathnet gets hit by falling frog.]
Bravo, Nick. If this is "New Gawker 2008(tm), it's about time.
This video is more frightening than The Bucket List.
Help me Obi Wan Kenobi.
Oh goody, now Scientology gave him John Travolta's double chin.
Tom Cruise is not as big in Scientology as people think, he is mainly a poster boy. The people how run things really don't believe the crap they are spouting, Cruise does. My dad dated for years the daughter of one of the 'founders', and was exposed to a lot about its inner workings. It is a money making venture that required payments to be enlightened, the founders never believed in it. Uniting culture and bring peace - only if you have a nice bank account.
I will totally join any church that has the Mission: Impossible theme as its music.
@DorothyZbornak: I meant "and" not "at."
@Leiakat: who, not how.
Hey, Tom! I'm a criminal! Rehabilitate ME!
I want a job creating broadcast graphics for the Church of Scientology. Can somebody get me in touch with their HR department?
Uh, Nick, Seth like, totally posted that yesterday.
@gerbilsinlove: Voodoo's not even remotely as crazy or scary as this.
I had an accident and Tom Cruise was right there help me clean it up.
Thank you, Mr. Denton.
"I've canceled that in my area." I am going to be saying that all the time forever!
What is an "SP"? Also: doesn't it seem like he is just acting (albeit acting crazy)? And angry. He seems angry.
Aside from all the crazy, here... He keeps talking about "helping" and "doing something" and how, as a Scientologist, he knows he "can't drive by an accident and not help out."
He does a really good job of hiding his good works.
@Helman: Suppressive Person. An enemy of the Scientologist. Thanks, Nip/Tuck!
He's fooking CWAZZZZY!!!!! Thank god i'm an atheist.
Delusions of grandeur born of successfully battling the Tripods?
This is like watching one long tracking shot of craaaaazy. And seeing it crash into a wall at the end.
There is more uncomfortable laughter in this video than there was during that evening I spent with Rue McClanahan.
@SinisterRouge: Gah! No Clarence Thomas videos, please.
What a fall from grace. Sad, he was such a golden boy at one time. Now just a conductor on the train to crazy-town.
But I do find the persecution of Tom for his beliefs to be sad too. We all have the right to religious freedom in this country, even if it is with a "cult".
BTW Tom, my brother once saw an accident and pulled four people from a burning car. In doing so, he too was burned. He did not need Scientology to know he had to help. He changed a whole bunch of lives that day.
He really meant it. We are supposed to worship the Cock.
Can someone tell me what "it" is? I know we're making "it" better, and "it's" a blast...
Wow! This is the best Tom Cruise movie EV-AH! Give that man an Oscar.
@TheHonJudgeSmails2: Well done.
I couldn't follow it. What is he talking about? Someone in grade school should have taught him that a sentence is a complete thought.
Goodbye, Gawker!!!!!
@PICKLES_IN_MY_TUNA: Yeah, I agree. Is he crazy? Maybe. But he has the right to believe what he believes.
@mathnet:
Shouldn't that be the other way around?
What the EFF is he talking about?! Such as, for the children...
(sadly, I think that speech made more sense than this video...)
Didn't L. Ron start Scientology as a bet? As in, he was like, "Betcha twenty bucks I could start a religion." And the dude was like, "no way, man." And they dropped acid. But while they were tripping, L. Ron wrote his idea down, and when he came down, he set to it.
(Um, are they going to find me now for writing that?)
I cannot sit through the whole video with that stupid Limp Bizkit guitar riff of the Mission: Impossible theme. Annoying as fuck.
"Freedom Medal of Valor"?? Is that like the "First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence"?
The sad part of this is, talk to any believer about their religion for 20 minutes and they'll sound just as delusional and nuts as Tommy (though maybe just not as manic).
Remember when we all thought he was gay? This man is not gay.
Plus, vague much? What he said was so damn vague.
@katastic: Ack! Where are we going??
My e-meter says ... Oh, wait, that's my turgid member.
I can't handle the truth.
Respect the cock. Tame the critic.
i only have 3 minutes down, but this is kind of a snoozefest. ever heard of editing, church of scientology film unit?
I was hopeless until I saw Anthony Bourdain's face in the No Reservations ad in the upper corner. once again Anthony has saved me. Thanks for providing me with an out. scary scary shit.
I have to say that this video does not affect my impression of Scientology at all. Just of Cruise.
This video is start-to-finish rhetoric about making things better and bringing about peace and helping people. But I don't know a damn thing about HOW Scientologists aim to reach those lofty goals. What the fuck to they BELIEVE?!
I wonder if he knows how wonderful he is. Oh wait.
Do these "authorities on the mind" know anything about narcissistic personality disorder?
@KarenUhOh: Mission Impossible 4: 2 Girls 1 Cruise?
oh my god that scared me so bad my nipples got hard!
@Helman:
Happy to be servicey:
SP is an abbreviation for "suppressive person" Accoring to the Scientology glossery, a suppressive person is: a person who possesses a distinct set of characteristics and mental attitudes that cause him to suppress other people in his vicinity. This is the person whose behavior is calculated to be disastrous. Also called antisocial personality.
See [www.scientology.org]
There's a recent, interesting New Yorker article by Gawker's friend, Dana Goodyear, which describes how Scientology began targeting celebrities. If you're not rich (I read elsewhere that Scientology takes 10% of your annual income) then they will recommend an appropriate church chapter for you---in other words, actor hopefuls, you won't be in the same dinner party w/ Cruise. But they can help actors make comebacks, like Travolta. I knew a Scientologist who left her kids to "pursue her dreams" and from what I understand, Scientology makes you a guilt-free zone: you are responsible for your own happiness and no one else's. In fact, you can best serve others by serving yourself first. Think how appealing an idea that is (me,me,me) to actor egos & how freeing it must be for a person surrounded by needy entourages to focus solely on themselves.
@Ian Spiegelman: Ha!