Here is a series of articles on Tom Cruise's publicity stunts on behalf of scientology, Sctientology beliefs, and press coverage of the religion. It has some good information on the bizarre nature of Scientology. As the author states Scientology is a more recent sci-fi version of Gnosticism where the body and creation is devalued and even made into an enemy and a convoluted myth concerning the origin of humanity and its purpose and nature replaces a creator and creature relationship.
The media attention on Cruise and his beliefs has been interesting to observe. While the incredulity concerning Scientology is welcome, it is revealing to see how squeamish any strongly held belief makes mainstream "liberal" Americans. I abhor Tom Cruise's beliefs (they are pagan and devilish). But what makes the media so uneasy is his dogmatic insistence on his beliefs. The media is just as uneasy with Christians who feel strongly about their creed.
Today's culture and elite cannot understand or fathom anyone or any group that has a deep and strongly held faith. The prevailing attitude is skepticism and cynicism. Doubt and uncertainty about eternal matters is the only comprehensible outlook. This skeptic's mindset gives rise to people like Cruise who get entrapped in Scientology and other religions. An attitude which destroys every belief, every stability, every tradition lays waste to the soul of a people and culture. When this emptiness really takes root, people find they cannot live with it and they latch onto something (Scientology, money, alcohol drugs, sex) to fill that hollowness.
3 comments:
Pastor Alms,
Your comment, "The prevailing attitude is skepticism and cynicism," I believe is correct. However, I believe the root cause of such skepticism and cynicism is relativism. The popular medias' and others' relativism causes them to look at Confessional Lutherans, and anyone else with strong faith, and question any believer's absolute truth.
You are very correct about relativism. Relativism is a form of cynicism. If everything is correct and worthy of acceptance then nothing is really valuable and all items can equally be held to or sneered at. In a strange way, you and I have more in common with Tom Cruise than with a nominal, liberal Lutehran who can accept anything as long as no one insists on anything!
I'm not sure whether you know this, but Scientology is the result of a bet by L. Ron Hubbard with fellow sci-fi writer Poul Anderson that he- Hubbard- could invent a religion and get people to actually follow it.
Hubbard won.
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