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April 22, 2006

While the world scrambled for the correct pronunciation of baby Suri’s name, let me say how happy I am for Katie and Tom Cruise.  Tom is an interesting guy. You may remember almost a year ago when I sat down with Tom for what turned out to be a half hour special - on Scientology, his marriage to Nicole, his beliefs, etc.  In that interview, I challenged Tom over his position on psychiatric medicine and drugs by asking him if Brooke Shields (his 1981 co-star in “Endless Love”) was wrong to take Paxil to help her deal with postpartum depression.  His answer came across as scathing, but it was honest. “Where’s her career now?…It’s irresponsible for her…”

I left that sit down with Tom better understanding him and mostly respecting his guts.  Most movie stars stay diplomatically unopinionated - for the biggest star in the world to haul off with honesty was thrilling, frankly. 

I understand Scientology and, therefore, am not threatened by it.

I think people felt a need to ridicule Tom after that interview (Oprah appearance fallout intensified) because ignorance breeds fear…

I will never become a Scientologist…the religion professes to include people of all faiths, but all things considered, it’s a religion of science with no God…I can’t harmonize my life with both.

There around 10,000 religious sects and offshoots of faiths out there in the world and, to me, some are very scary.  I just finished reading Jon Krakauer’s “Under The Banner Of Heaven”, about the violent and brief history of the Mormon religion. (Only 176 years old). This book might freak you out, but taken in the context of its present day form, not so much to me. Some of Its fundamentalist breakaway sects…sure.

Well, it seems the world is coming around.  In other words, Tom’s goal in sitting down with me may have been achieved.  If he set out to immunize the general public on Scientology and make it more “accepted”, great strides have been made. Nobody is saying anything other than “congratulations” to Tom… the negative stuff has simmered and withered.

Good. For Tom’s fiancée, mostly.

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