2008
Tom Cruise on Scientology: The Banned Video
Anyone who’s read Mind on Fire for awhile knows that I consider censorship to be one of the Great Evils, up there with killing small furry creatures and willfully making squeaky sounds with Styrofoam containers. So it should come as no surprise to you to know that Scientology is not one of my favorite institutions.
It’s not their beliefs that turn me off–Scientologist teachings are no more or less offensive to reason than fundamental doctrines of Christianity (or the versions peculiar to Mormonism). It’s that anytime someone criticizes the religion, Hubbard’s institution harasses them with high-priced lawyers, private investigators and the threat of a personal visit from Tom Cruise. In addition to countless websites, more recently they’ve completely shut down the publication of the unauthorized Cruise biography in Australia. In my Inferno, these lawyers would in habit the same circle of Hell as RIAA bullies, where they give each other Brazilian waxes and apply salves of hot chili oil and peppermint afterwards.
Fortunately, the little, lawyerless people have been able to resist Scientologist censorship via the Internet (yay, Internet!). Because the Church of Scientology is trying so hard to suppress it, I am publishing a link to this video of Tom Cruise spreading the good Scientologist word. You can chase it down with a Wikipedia article on Xenu.