Will Smith: Scientology Is Like The Bible

From a Men's Vogue profile on Will Smith:

"I've studied Buddhism and Hinduism and I've studied Scientology through Tom. And nobody's saying anything different! Look, I use the Bible to explain the ideas of God, and life, and love, and relationships, and the life of Jesus Christ to teach my children how to defend their spirit. But in all of the experiences I've had with Tom [Cruise] and Scientology, like, 98 percent of the principles are identical to the principles of the Bible. The Bible says, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And you know, there's a Scientology principle: Do not create experiences for others that they cannot comfortably perceive." Smith would rather stroll many paths to enlightenment than commit to one high road. "The Bible talks about your spirit being immortal, that you were created for existence beyond your physical body. Well, that's no different from Scientology! I don't think that because the word someone uses for spirit is thetan that the definition becomes any different."

Comments

[arielito]

He's right. They're both full of shit.

[Artoo45]

Say it ain't so Will, say it ain't so! As for the whole "Uncle Elron's religion is just like Jesus' religion", I would beg to differ. Listen to Hubbard in his own, er, colorful words . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWJ7f1JUvMM

Run away Will, run away.

[oogabooga]

How much dough did he fork over to them for enlightenment?

[Sumocat]

It's too bad Smith was only referring to the principles of both religions and not their followers. Homeschooling is very prominent in the fundamentalist Christian movement, just as it is among Scientologists. Fundamentalists also believe in faith healing (as opposed to modern medicine). And there's also the Mormon movement that was also founded by a guy with a book. Smith wasn't wrong for comparing the two, but I think he could have gone further than looking at general principles.

[raker]

I hope Smith was being ironic. Yeah, they're alike, but not in a way that reflects well on either.

[usingmybrain]

Maybe their motto should be...
"Home schooling.­...keeping kids stupid and sheltered since, well, whenever the hell we started this"
Hey Will, I sure hope you and Chef and John and Tom have a nice time in your little fantasy world....I­'ll be here dealing with reality.

[stevesrant]

So Will is striving for Thetanhood? Hey,most hollywood stars did not become millionaires because of their brains; they got there because (as I just heard Tyra say) they won the genetic lottery. And that's the real religion most of us follow - the cult of beauty.

[xenubarb]

Scientology is nothing like Christianity. Will Smith's "happy face" statement is of no value.

The reason $cientology is reviled is not because of its "religious" dogma. No, it is reviled because of its behavior toward critics and ex-members. Google "Scientology abuse, death, fraud." It's worse than you can fathom, a scam on every front, with a 50 year trail of broken families, savings and mind in its wake.
http://www.xenu.net is a good site for critical overview of this cult.

Belgium is gearing up to prosecute the organization for fraud and practicing medicine without a license. I'm bringing the popcorn.

[InofTouch]

Funny that The Bible is just another word for The Book

[cavemandave]

dammit, i really liked will smith. the super adventure club claims another victim.

[Blutus]

What makes Christianity

a "religion"?

How the Guy in the Sky

is named??

Thetan, Jesus, Satan, the Demi-Urge.­....


It's all mumbo jumbo.
All of it!

[libmatters]

Scientology has been called a religion without a god. Well, maybe one god: money.

[RavagesOfTime]

What would Uncle Phil say?

[RavagesOfTime]

What would Uncle Phil say?

[Irtnog]

Just a second Ginzaman..­.When you get right down to it Scientlolgy is no more implausible than the Christianity. I mean, walking on water? parting the red sea? turning water into wine? food (manna) falling from the sky? and the list goes on and on. Both "religions" require abject suspension of disbelief. Who is to say that one is true and the other not?

Secondly, as far as home schooling goes, the VAST majority of home schoolers in the country are evangelical christians. I know this from experience as a parent of formerly homeschooled children. Much of the home schooling cirricula out there is bible based. It's like both of these "religions" can't stand the light of indisputable truth shone upon them so their practicioners choose to control what their children are exposed to in order to discourage critical thinking.