Jason Beghe, TV And Movie Actor, Films Scientology Rant: "Destructive And A Rip-Off"

A former Scientologist has left the controversial church of Tom Cruise and is speaking out on YouTube. Jason Beghe is the real-life best fried of David Duchovny, he played Demi Moore's love interest in "G.I. Jane" and has appeared on shows like "Criminal Minds," "Numb3rs" and "CSI."

As Foxnews reports about the Jason Beghe video:

In 2005, Beghe appeared in promotional spots for the Church of Scientology. But now Beghe has escaped the church after taking courses since 1994. He's made a video that's up on YouTube.

This is what he has to say: "Scientology is destructive and a rip-off." He also says: "It's very, very dangerous for your spiritual, psychological, mental, emotional health and evolution. I think it stunts your evolution. If Scientology is real, then something's f----ed up."

You can see from the video that Beghe does not mince words. But his refreshing candor about the religion he joined in 1994 should shake the Celebrity Center to its core. "It ain't deliverin' what it's promised. It sure has not."

The video is billed as a three-minute teaser to a longer interview with Beghe that's on its way. But the short video packs a powerful punch. Beghe still uses a lot of Scientology lingo like "OT" and "clear." Still, it's quite easy to understand the point he's making. After 14 years and a tremendous amount of money, he's seeing Scientology in a different light.

Beghe has completed so many courses that he's considered a top Scientologist, or "OT 5" -- similar to Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. But Beghe reveals: "The further up the bridge, the worse you get."

Watch:

Comments

[Margalo]

Scientology is not a religion. It is a business. When it lost its IRS tax status, it both threatened and bribed to get it back. Hubbard started it at a scifi writers convention as a joke to start a BS "religion" and make money, but threw in bits and pieces of old religions to make it look good. PT Barnum was right about a sucker every minute. Scientology takes people's money in advance on the ever rising prices of its classes, then refuses to return the money to the people who decide not to take the class. It keeps its auditors (using their mini-lie detector equipment) at the same level, so that they do not know that as people "progress" there is no improvement. It keeps all the written statements the people are forced to write, as well as recordings of the sessions, and uses them to blackmail the people. If Scientology "declares" a person as an enemy, then there is no limit what they will do: blackmail, suing to ruin the person, physical threats, actual attempts to kill them (some successful.) Hubbards' former secretary, Anderson, won millions of dollars in Los Angeles Superior Court in the 1980s for the harassment and attempt to kill him. After that case, they are still stalking complainers: Any complaints about them and they take the video down, get the police to confiscate people's computers. These people are very, very dangerous.

[mcthorogood]

The vid is gone, looks like the Church filed a "terms of use" violation with YouTube. I guess I'll just read some of their secret cult bibles on Wikileaks.org

[piotr]

Folks. Stop confusing this cult with religions. Scientology is a cult, a very dangerous cult. Judaism, Buddhism, Islam - those are religions.

[ColoradoDan]

There many more EX members as present Scientologists. Most are silent after leaving ... Scientology is very big on lawyers and extreme measures. Most just wish to get past it all like a bad dream.

It is true that many of these OTs do actually worsen upon going up the Bridge. One can become dependant upon running into auditing (at HUGE financial expense) at every new problem. When amazing superhuman results do not appear, one needs more and more auditing to handle the upsets created by auditing to begin with.

Folks like Cruise, Travolta and Kirstie have bottomless checking accounts ... it's a religion developed for the rich and egotistical. Hubbard targeted celebrities quite openly ... they were key to getting the 'little' people aboard. The celebrities who promote are treated as very special indeed.

The personality test is geared to find ones 'ruin' ... it assumes that we are all screwed up bigtime and the reg (the one who demands the monies) needs to know intimate areas of insecurities. Then they ruthlessly mine those sensative areas and promise that yes, only we can save you. WOGs are non-Scientologists and considered fairly worthless until coming over to their side.

Always study both sides to any religion is the advice I give. With the Internet (which Scientology HATES with a passion), one can surely read all they wish pro and con. The secrets are no longer secrets.

[SaintZak]

So does this mean there will be a Monkey Shines 2?

[ailbhe]

Brave man, scientology will target him for a smear campaign and possibly worse. Remember the journalist who they tried to set up as a terrorist?

www.xenu.net

I think Tom Cruise has actually done more to expose Scientology lunacy thanks to his public meltdown and those creepy tapes on youtube where he imagines a future where all suppressive persons (those who question scientology) will be something children will only read about in the history books.

[tinkaboutit]

Judaism is far more destructive.

[majormoderate]

what about christianity and islam? why single out judaism? how about ALL religion...

[THORGODOFTHUNDER]

Amen to that !

[Emerald3232]

If what he says is the truth, that they used hidden video and taped these "audtiing sessions" without consent or a warrant signed by a judge, then the FBI ought to raid them.

Non-consensual hidden video violates California's wiretapping laws. If what he said was true these guys could get in as much trouble as Pellicano. Worse even. Much worse. Imagine the conspiracy charges, the number of people who would know.

[ThePodiumIsMine]

yawn

[Calinative]

I just feel bad for this guy. You can tell by the way he uses all the vocabulary of their cult that they really a got a hold of his brain. At least he got out when he did.

[Thecookie]

Time for Scientology Deathwatch ...
http://lifeisacookie.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/jason-beghe-deathwatch/

[Nexus7]

Scientology as a totalitarian cult of government infiltration and espionage disguised as a religion and self-help movement... terrorists in the making.

Scientology cannot survive the exposure and scrutiny imposed upon it by the global information network. The Internet is Scientology's Viet Nam and cannot win against the exposure-campaigns waged by Anonymous.

Given the extensive criminal history of Scientology, it is not a far stretch to consider the desparate organization resorting to acts of violence against itself to further perpetuate their cherished image of being persecuted by intolerant "religious bigots" or whatever names they use to smear their critics.

Watch them. Monitor them. Expose them.

[rkrapten]

AND, you have to read this...as it speaks volumes http://factnet.org/?p=311

[rkrapten]

ALL of you should take to reading the information contained on this site http://www.factnet.org/

[Zankee]

"Grasshopper"..,

In order to "SEE the LIGHT".., first, one must retract his head from that "Dark Place"....

[juancp82]

true

[Zankee]

Why is it that people who want to gain your trust say: "I give you my word."? Certifies: that the "Word" is of no value unless you receive assurances, and then.., you cannot be 100% sure that the assurances are sound.
Before ALL else there was the "Word", as: "In the Beginning there was the WORD..."; this was the staff, to be used as the "standard" of conveying "truth" between man and his perceptions. Our assigned vigilance only concerned our respect and protection for the "Word".., and we most asurredly FAILED.... This, I believe has led us to the results we are experiencing now.

Not until we restore the "Word" to the highest pinnacle of respect...will we acquire relief from our insanities....

[slobone]

If he was dumb enough to fall for them in the first place, why should we pay any attention to what he has to say now?

[Zankee]

Were all the same.., he went under the spell of scientology...we went under the spell of "Zionism"; the only difference...he came to his senses....

[MTiffany]

Oh, please do tell us more about this "Zionism" of which you speak. Will opposing "Zionism" and "Zionists" cure the world of all its ills? Could it really be that simple? Please, do tell.

[Zankee]

Yes!

[HanShan]

"RELIGION is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." (Seneca the Younger, 5 BC - 65 AD)

[fiberoptimist]

Great quote!

[azphil]

It was true then and it has been validated many times over the centuries. The Ayotallahs, the Saudis and Bush are only the latest examples of rulers who have found it useful.

[johnpherson]

Perfect!

[kfdan]

Basically, Hubbard designed Scientology as physiology with a twist. That twist was their clear machine that supposedly read you ... delusions ... or something along that tract. The basic concept is mind control and a clearing (convincing) that you can overcome these delusional blocks via recognition of what they are ~ elements of your personality that hold you back. This aspect is understood throughout all types of recognition processes and they work ... most of the time ... if you are honest with yourself. The organization of Scientology however, works toward amassing money with which to combat critics and enrich their organization and in that respect they are like all other power hungry, organized religions!

[zizyphus]

A poster has mentioned that Scientology has infected Fox news, another mentioned Greta von Susteran, also Donald Rumsfeld. No one has mentioned the connection between Scientology and the CIA.

The CIA/military hired Scientologists Dr. Hal Putoff and Russell Targ to train psychically gifted soldiers in the art of remote viewing, in a classified CIA/DIA funded program called Stargate. A physicist, Puthoff also worked for the NSA.

For persons interested in the connections between our government and Scientology, exploring this avenue may lead to something.

[odvo]

I've done some reading on remote viewing and Stargate, but I wasn't aware of any scientology connection. Elaborate?

[zizyphus]

http://www.sc-i-r-s-ology.pair.com/veritas/cst/cst-cia.htm

I just found this, and it is very, very interesting. After digesting this, I am thinking Scientology has been highjacked by the CIA now.

Also, check Hal Puthoff in Wikipedia. I have been studying remote viewing, and have read all the popular books on it. None of them mention Scientology at all. But it is true that Puthoff was an OTVII, and that prior to that he was in the Navy,and the NSA. Was he a mole?

Then check out:
http://www.sc-i-r-s-ology.pair.com/

[RobertAndropolis]

I have not seen a story that garnered more longer posts than this one. Really long. Don't you all know that nobody reads long posts? Mr. Cruise is an insane controlling narcissist who has been trying for the longest time to find a mate who appeals to him (i.e., someone who looks like him). Good thing Ms. Holmes came along ready to be brainwashed, ready to cut her hair in a short, razor style like her master. The only thing left on his agenda is to somehow shrink her a couple of feet so his 5' 6" frame isn't dwarfed by her height. After the divorce from Ms. Kidman was finalized, she went on the talk shows and said "Now I can wear my high heels again." Shit, this just turned into a long post, dammit. Maybe I need to get out of my own theta-trap...

[adled]

Only my opinion but if all the 'traditional' religions were without the weight of their longevity to buttress their authority they would be no different than Scientology, and that's no praise hallelujah or otherwise. All religions that ask you to believe that somehow some all-powerful entity gave them the 'Word' are no better than Scientology. However if whatever religion someone practices helps them get in touch with their spiritual side then I say, live and let live.

[Snoware]

Typical of the Scientologist to avoid the issue and distract. Counter damaging facts about scientology with attack on psychology. typical. Psychology does not define scientology just like abortion does not define Christianity. Catholic priests did not counter child abuse charges with attacks on abortion clinics. Stop avoiding the issues.

As for religions and scientology. In the following you can replace Christianity with Judaism, Islam, Hinduism etc.

Christianity is capable of being corrupted by man.
Scientology is designed to defraud man.

[ColoradoDan]

I've spent a lot of time at both the very old Celebrity Center as well at the one that is now the Celebrity Center in Hollywood. At one time, the reg's used to promote that COS made Travolta straight. There's is nothing that Scientolgy cannot cure ... according to them. I've seen it, like this guy, from both sides. The OT levels are fun at times but no one really gets 'free' except of a huge chunk of money. Some folks, when they still have troubles after the OT Levels, get really nutty because 'they were promised that they were so much more Powerful" and so on. It's all Pied Piper stuff.

The Church lies about Hubbard almost totally. They also hide what is one the OT Levels especially OT3. So most folks involved have no idea what is really going on. LRH's life is a fairy tale ... if anyone digs in and researches the data, there's lies upon lies upon lies about his life.

Much of the data is good to great actually but it's been lifted from ancient and contemporary philosophy, religions and so on. LRH was good at gathering data. But the OT levels got really wacky and endless. One can get so involved in this stuff that one cannot call a spade a spade. This guy says it like ti is and is lucky to have bailed when he did.

[priorzola]

So many religions try to seperate humans from their own humanity. They try to convince us that acting humanly (with flaws and doubts) is somehow abnormal and then they offer up the false delusion that it is possible to escape these forms of human fraility by going "heaven" or becoming "clear". It's no different than many self-help gurus (which is all that L. Ron Hubbard initially was--after being a bad sci-fi writer, liar, and crook) and pharmaceutical companies. They dangle the concept of everlasting "happiness" as a human possibility and if, for some reason you don't achieve it, you are a failure as a human being. Folks, "everlasting happiness" is an impossibility here or in any made up afterlife or on any other planet. It doesn't exist. "Happiness" is an occasional sensation we feel, like sadness, boredom, and fear. To say you want to always be happy is like saying we want to always be orgasmic. It's not possible and it defeats the purpose of enjoying happiness on it's own terms. Part of the exhilileration of happiness comes from knowing at that moment you're not sad. You can't enjoy one without experiencing the other. The best each of us can hope for is feeling happiness more often than feeling sadness. Beware of any and all false prophets (ie. profits) who try to convince you that your goal and success as a human is dependent upon achieving what is entirely unachievable.

[rzan]

The Church of Scientology has threatened the lives of ex-members who have spoken out. Mr. Beghe is very brave. Tom Cruise and John Travolta appear to be very nice guys, but there is a decidedly creepy edge to both of them.

[TakLoufer]

Have you ever noticed that no really good actors are members of this group? I mean, I remember Beghe in various roles throughout the 80's and 90's but he was never anything more than a hunkola with delusions of becoming the next Harrison Ford or Robert Redford. Not that either one of those guys is such a great actor -- they made big via their good looks and charm, not their largely wooden emoting. If he hadn't joined this group Beghe probably would have gone down Tom Sizemore's road to self-destruction. Or, he might have just done a Michael Schoeffling and quit the business to become an apparently perfectly happy blue-collar family man. I think MS (Jake from "Pretty in Pink") probably has the best life of any of these guys, the lucky sod. ;)