Access Exclusive: Tom On Scientology

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Firefighters with health problems caused by 9/11 are just one of many groups that Tom reaches out to year-round, spreading the word about Scientology’s various learning and healing technologies.

But there is still one question: what exactly is Scientology? One of its biggest proponents will explain.

Tom was asked about the concept of auditing, a Scientology practice. “To audit is to listen,” Tom said.

Auditing is at the core of the Scientology religion. It’s a technique which uses an electro-psychrometer (or e-meter) to help measure a person’s reaction to unhappy memories so they can be worked through – or “cleared.” Tom acknowledged that he audits, but advised that any description he can give wouldn’t convey everything necessary to understand the practice. “It is better for people to read a book and discover for themselves what Scientology is,” he said.

There are perceptions and misperceptions about Scientology. Tom was asked to further explain his religion.

“Well, I will agree there are a lot of misperceptions about a lot of things in life. I don’t agree that there is a general misconception or perception. I believe there are people who don’t know what it is. But there are people that don’t know what it is and there are people that know what it is.”

What is Scientology to Tom Cruise?

“Scientology for me (is)…if you don’t understand something, it is literally because you have misunderstood words. That’s all. Whatever it is.” Like any religion, it’s not easy to sum up what Scientology is in just a few words. But it is basically an applied religious philosophy, that by helping oneself and others, you reach a higher level of consciousness. “What Scientology is, is it addresses man as a spiritual being. Okay? And it gives people tools that they apply to their lives to improve conditions. And that is what it is.”

Tom was asked about the perception that Scientology requires its initiates to pay to attain higher levels of consciousness.

“Here is the point, said Tom. “I wouldn’t be here today where I am (without it) and it is things that I apply to my life to help me improve my conditions that actually help me to be able to think for myself, to be able to make the decisions. I use it and I apply it and when you talk about things, those are lies. And really, when you get down to it, you know there are bigots. There are people that just want to hate, period. No matter what. Right?”

The church was established in 1954 by science fiction and “Dianetics” writer L. Ron Hubbard. It Years later, Scientology received tax exempt status as a religion, which means it exists only on donations by its members. To date, it’s hugely profitable and global, boasting 3,200 churches in 154 countries.”

Is Scientology a faith or is it a religion. Tom was reminded that the average person thinks of church, they envision houses of worship, prayer, of God or other deities.

“It is a religion,” said Tom. It is not a matter of, ‘There is no God.’ There is a God, okay? But there are things where there are…that is why I say you have to read what Scientology is, because it is non-denominational. There are Jewish Scientologists. There are Christian Scientologists. There are Baptist Scientologists.”

But the powerful church is not without its detractors. Some claim that it is over-aggressive in recruiting and employs mind-control, escalating fees. Some go so far as to call it a cult.

“What it comes down to is, ‘’What do you know?’ I don’t care about what other people say. I don’t live my life based on what other people think. I should do okay. I live my life based on what I know is right for myself . And what I care about is other people. And I care about my family and I care about the world and I wanna see it a better place. And I don’t care what people say. I know what Scientology is. It is extraordinary, what it has done.”

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