What Intelligent Celebrities Say About Scientology

We know the celebrities that used to have some intelligence, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Tom Cruise and Nancy Cartwright.  These are the Famous Faces of Scientology.  We know what they have to say about Scientology and its myriad under-corporations.  But what do non-Scientologist celebrities say about Scientology?  We will look at a few of them here today.  Thanks to FACTNET for compiling and keeping these safe for us.

Graham Berry recalls:

"I learned today that after George Magazine did its article on Germany and Scientology, David Miscavige flew east and met with John Kennedy, Jr. After the self-appointed cult leader left the meeting Kennedy thought and said: 'what a nasty piece of work he is.'"

A quip from Howard Stern goes, 'My dad's Jewish and my mom's a Scientologist, so I sell clay tables at half price.'  

In an Open Letter from Steve Allen to Heber Jentzsch, President, Church of Scientology, June 1997:

"When I ran into you at an airport a few weeks ago there was no opportunity to have a talk, but since I have about 49 seconds free between appointments at the office this morning it occurs to me that you might be interested in an idea that I have suggested to you and other Scientologists before. When I spoke at a convention in the East quite a few months ago, a convention at which a dozen or so Scientologists were in attendance, I said something to them along the following lines. 'If I may make a suggestion to you folks, whatever your purely religious views are, you're entitled to them and they are more or less in the category of not anyone else's business. 'But I also suggest that it is not because of those views that your group doesn't have a very good reputation. There are other churches that, in the opinion of non-members, have some truly bizarre beliefs but no one dislikes the individual members as a result of those beliefs. 'The Mormons are a perfect example. No non-Mormon on Earth accepts a word of Mormon assertions about the experiences of Joseph Smith, visits with angels, golden plates, etc. But despite that fact the Mormons have a very good social reputation. A number of my personal friends are Mormons and they are for the most part lovely and socially decent people. 'But - again - the same cannot be said of Scientologists. And if I were you it would occur to me to wonder why. So, to save you a little wondering time, I'll tell you why right now. You have the reputation as just about the worst bullies this side of the National Rifle Association. I've talked this over with some of you and you've said that the terrible harassment's and crimes are a thing of the past, that you've learned from your earlier mistakes, etc. That may be true, and I certainly hope it is, not only for your sake but for the sake of everyone concerned. But to be honest, many people doubt that Scientology has reformed itself in this particular regard."

Writer Tilman Hausherr said of Race car driver Mario Andretti in 1988:


"The logo 'Dianetics' was removed from his car after he said he didn't want to be associated with the publication. 'It's not something I believe in, so I don't want to make it appear like I'm endorsing it,' Andretti said." "Logos are a matter between race promoters and sponsors. That's why Andretti did not know until he came to town that his car would be decorated with seven 'Dianetics' decals."

In 1997 someone commented that Scientology's belief system closely resembles the writings of Issac Asimov.  Far from being flattered, Asimov was alarmed by Scientology and similar systems of pseudo-science.

'Never in history has humanity faced a crisis so deep, so intense, so pervasive, and so multi-faceted,' he wrote. 'There have never till now been so many people on earth so dependent on a complex technology, so burdened by its flaws, and so likely to witness a complete breakdown of that technology in a matter of decades. If we are to pull through we must thread our way carefully through the rapids that lie ahead. At every step we'll be depending on our knowledge, grasp and understanding of science, of its potentialities and its limitations... Under these circumstances, what crime is greater than that of misteaching the public about science?...Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.'

In Skepticism and Science Fiction, 1996, author Greg Bear said:

"The delusional, no-talent charlatans may scoop in more money, but the game is truly not worth the coin. I sleep much better at might than they should. This brings up a case in point that illustrates the real role of skepticism in science fiction. Rumor has it that L. Ron Hubbard, a pretty good science fiction writer of the 1940s, made a conscious decision that science fiction was a mug's game and that the real money was in starting a religion. So he did, using science fiction magazines and a gullible, though very famous, science fiction editor to get his start. No one knows whether he eventually came to believe in what he wrote and sold to others as revealed truth. If I had been Hubbard, I would not have been able to convince myself. I suspect most charlatans realize that they have perverted very real, very useful aesthetic instincts to hoodwink large numbers of gullible people into believing and paying. When we stop being artists, and start being money-grubbing pseudo-prophets, the net is down, the ball can go anywhere in the court, and the audience has changed. This audience knows so little, and cares so little about the truth, that it oohs and aahs at every random serve, every double bounce, every net ball. It does not perceive the difference between an earned point and a flub. The charlatan on the court smiles and receives applause for all. That's not our audience. That's not my game."

From Joe Boyd, quoted in A Mind-Bending Experience in 1997 about Rose Simpson (Singer - Incredible String Band):


"Rose left LRH's cohorts behind years ago and, in her present capacity as mayoress of Aberystwyth, revealed in a recent interview how Scientology had narrowed the band's view of the world and how damaging that had been to their music."


And a great catch by our good friend Arnie Lerma:


"Sunday Nights episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 had a hilarious Scientology Reference... During one scene of Sunday nights show, the 'hero' of the movie walks out of a bar and is jumped by a couple of thugs who proceed to beat him up. The commentary, as he's attacked is, 'LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO SCIENTOLOGY!'" - Mike The Flexing Rectum Rinder . "A picture of a Volcano appears in the old movie being shown, one of the fellows says: 'Oh wow, man, D-ann-ett-ics....' Next guy sez: 'See Page 57, how to get more money out of Tom Cruise..."


Joe Kevany (Comedian):
Some L.A. schools were found to be using textbooks by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, says Joe Kevany. "The methods seem to be working. Several of the students now want to start their own religions when they grow up." - LA Times 4.8.1997


"I'm afraid he went crazy and turned a lot of other people crazy." [Arthur C. Clarke talking about L Ron Hubbard, KFYI radio, Phoenix Arizona 8-9 pm show 1/24/04]

And to the Celebrities who have started on their recovery, Jason Beghe, Paul Haggis, Katie Holmes, and Nazanin Boniadi, welcome back to the real world.