Apparently Cruise was planning on sending six-year-old Suri off to Scientology's Sea Org (the Sea Organization). Katie, however, has enrolled Suri in a Catholic school. Sea Org members sign a billion-year contract. Sea Org officers wear naval uniforms. They have ranks like captain, lieutenant and ensign. Officers, including women, are addressed as "sir."
If that sounds a little Trekkie to you, it's no surprise. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was a science fiction writer who published a self-help book called Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health in 1950. The book was announced in an issue of Astounding Science Fiction (which became Analog Science Fact & Fiction in 1960). The editor of Astounding, John Campbell, had published many of Hubbard's short stories and became an early convert to Dianetics. Campbell claimed that Dianetics cured his sinusitus. In a letter to Jack Williamson he wrote, "I know dianetics is one of, if not the greatest, discovery of all Man's written and unwritten history."
Many scientists and even other science fiction writers, like Isaac Asimov, blasted Dianetics as quackery. Writing in Scientific American, Nobel-prize winning physicist I.I. Rabi wrote, "this volume probably contains more promises and less evidence per page than has any publication since the invention of printing."
Hubbard apparently took the criticism to heart and formed the Church of Scientology in 1952. Many believe that Hubbard actually started the church because religions are exempt from taxes. Whatever the reason, Scientology is a money-making enterprise first and foremost. Members undergo "auditing" sessions to become "clear," all for a fee. While most religions want the Holy Word to be publicized broadly, the CoS sues anyone disseminating their sacred texts for copyright and trade secret violations. In order to rise to higher levels in the organization you are required to undergo training sessions that cost many thousands of dollars (which were apparently waived for sufficiently notable people, like Cruise and John Travolta). As you rise in the Church, more of the theology is revealed:
Among these advanced teachings is the story of Xenu (sometimes Xemu), introduced as the tyrant ruler of the "Galactic Confederacy." According to this story, 75 million years ago Xenu brought billions of people to Earth in spacecraft resembling Douglas DC-8 airliners, stacked them around volcanoes and detonated hydrogen bombs in the volcanoes. The thetans then clustered together, stuck to the bodies of the living, and continue to do this today.Sure, the whole Xenu story sounds crazy. But is it any crazier than an angel named Moroni telling Joe Smith where to dig up the Golden Plates for the Book of Mormon and then make him give them back? Crazier than Jehovah's Witnesses who would let their children die rather than take a blood transfusion? Crazier than Christian Scientists who would let their children die rather than accept any medical treatment? Crazier than Catholics who think that any priest can miraculously transubstantiate bread and wine into Christ's actual flesh and blood, which parishioners then consume in ritual cannibalism and vampirism? Crazier than Jews who slice off bits of infant penises?
Sea Org's billion-year contract sounds preposterous. But is it any less ridiculous than the infinitely longer contract of eternal life in some unknown and unknowable place promised by so many other religions?
No matter how well respected a religion might be today, every single one started out as a heresy, in direct defiance of the established orders of the day. The real question isn't how crazy a religion is, but how well it serves the people. Does is provide harmony, happiness, health and long life? Or does it cause suspicion, strife, hatred and death?
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