The List. Again.
Here are a few people who I have lost respect for today:
* Kirstie Alley, actress
* Anne Archer, actress
* Jennifer Aspen, actress
* Jason Beghe, actor
* Catherine Bell, actress
* Karen Nelson Bell, producer, director and musician
* Mary Bono, congresswoman
* Sonny Bono, artist and congressman
* David Campbell, musician
* Nancy Cartwright, voiceover artist (best known for the Simpsons)
* Kate Ceberano, actress and musician
* Erika Christensen, actress
* Chick Corea, musician
* Tom Cruise, actor (Respect lost long ago)
* Dave Davies, musician
* Sky Dayton, founder and Chairman of the Board of EarthLink
* Jason Dohring, actor
* Jenna Elfman, actress, and her husband Bodhi, actor
* Michael Fairman, actor
* Wally Gobetz, philosopher
* Beck Hansen, (Beck) musician
* Isaac Hayes, musician, actor
* Katie Holmes, actress
* Nicky Hopkins, musician
* L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology
* Mark Isham, musician
* Jim Johnson, owner of Mr. Jim's Pizza chain
* Joshua Klesel, former congressman
* Jason Lee, actor and professional skateboarder
* Geoffrey Lewis, actor
* Juliette Lewis, actress (daughter of Geoffrey)
* Peggy Lipton, actress
* Christopher Masterson, actor
* Danny Masterson, actor, older brother of Christopher Masterson
* Lisa McPherson, died controversially while in the care of the Church of Scientology
* Peter Medak, director
* Floyd Mutrux, writer, director and producer
* Haywood Nelson, actor
* Corin Nemec, actor
* Judy Norton, actress and musician
* Eduardo Palomo, actor, and his wife Carina, actress and musician
* Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis
* Priscilla Presley, actress
* Kelly Preston, actress and John Travolta's wife
* Leah Remini, actress
* Giovanni Ribisi, actor
* Marissa Ribisi, actress, wife of Beck Hansen, sister of Giovanni Ribisi.
* Michael D. Roberts, actor
* Mimi Rogers, actress
* Billy Sheehan, rock bassist
* Michelle Stafford, actress
* Patrick Swayze, actor
* Greta Van Susteren, host of On the Record with Greta Van Susteren on FOX TV
* John Travolta, actor
* Edgar Winter, musician
Why? Well, they're all Scientologists. And anyone who pays people to reach stages of enlightenment are complete and total idiots. It's not that the religion is stupid and preposterous (see Mormonism), it's that you cannot be enlightened unless you pay money. Even the Catholics won't charge people to get into heaven (most of the time).
Here is an idea of the finances needed as a member (thanks to Wikipedia for the info): Members of the Church of Scientology are invited to attend any number of classes, exercises or counseling sessions, for a set range of fees (or "fixed donations"). Charges for auditing and other church-related courses run from hundreds to thousands of dollars. A wide variety of entry-level courses, representing 8 to 16 hours study, cost under $100 (US). More advanced courses require membership in the International Association of Scientologists (IAS). Membership without taking expensive courses or auditing is possible, but the higher states of Scientology cannot be reached this way. In 1994/95, Operation Clambake, a website highly critical of the Church of Scientology, estimated the cost of reaching "OT IX readiness", one of the highest levels, is US $365,000 – $380,000. [7]
Critics hold that it is improper to fix a donation for religious service and that therefore the activity is non-religious. The Church of Scientology points out that many classes, exercises and counseling may also be traded for "in kind" or performed cooperatively by students for no cost, and that members of its most devoted orders need donate nothing for services.
I really don't have anything against religion per se, just the fact that people are so disabled in some circumstances that they will go this far. They must, MUST, denouce psychology, yet, they are so damaged that they of course are the ones who need it the most (see Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch maniacally). It's like EST in the 1980's (see my Father's breakdown of '84) where selfishness was promoted as a "good thing". A bunch of fucking dimwits.
Let's close with a quote from Maynard Keenan of Tool:
Fuck L Ron Hubbard and
Fuck all his clones.
Fuck all those gun-toting
Hip gangster wannabes.
Fuck retro anything.
Fuck your tattoos.
Fuck all you junkies and
Fuck your short memory.
Fuck smiley glad-hands
With hidden agendas.
Fuck these dysfunctional,
Insecure actresses.