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Scientology embarrassments multiply as former members leave, speak freely
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The secretive Church of Scientology has faced some serious public relations challenges in the past week: the repeated public discussion of the religion's inner workings and beliefs . Not only have four high-ranking former members continued to meet with the media, but a second famous member of the church has left, noisily.
On October 22, ABC’s Nightline program featured four high-ranking scientologists, including its ex-spokesman, who first told their stories to the St. Petersburg Times back in June. Far from going silent after the groundbreaking June newspaper stories, the four individuals once again told their stories: this time for a national television audience.
The new spokesman for Scientology, Tommy Davis, was even forced to leave an interview during the coverage to avoid answering questions about the galactic overlord Xenu and disembodied space aliens purported to be at the center of the religion’s beliefs. Davis refused to deny that all of our negative thoughts come from space aliens blown up by Xenu on earth’s volcanos 75 million years ago, instead choosing to claim the question itself was an affront to his religious beliefs. He left the interview when Martin Bashir would not let the question drop (starts at minute 2:45 in the video).
The most recent embarrassment is that Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis not only left the group after 32 years, but he did so publicly. In a widely-available letter to Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis, Haggis speaks out about some of the problems in Scientology including its doctrine of Scientologists “disconnecting” from family or friends who do not accept the religion.
Despite universal claims among former Scientologists about the practice, which involves cutting all contact with the offending party, the church denies it happens. Haggis gives his response after seeing Davis deny the practice in a CNN interview (video at the end of this article).
“I was shocked,” Haggis says. “We all know this policy exists. I didn't have to search for verification - I didn't have to look any further than my own home.” Haggis’ wife was “disconnected” from her parents by order of the church as recently as a year ago.
“And you could laugh at the question as if it was a joke?” Haggis continues in the letter to Davis. “You could publicly state that it doesn't exist? To see you lie so easily, I am afraid I had to ask myself: what else are you lying about?”
Haggis is not the first celebrity to leave Scientology, but he is only the second to publicly renounce the religion after doing so. The first was actor Jason Beghe, who left the church in April of 2008. Beghe spoke thoroughly about his experiences in an interview at this link.
By all accounts, Scientology is not a “turn the other cheek” religion. The founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, taught that anyone who criticizes the organization and its beliefs must be doing so to hide personal crimes from the light of Scientology wisdom. Hubbard urged followers to “expose” the crimes of anyone who speaks against the church. The doctrine was called “Fair Game” when Hubbard introduced it. Although church leadership says that doctrine has been discontinued, those who have tried to expose the church’s secrets have reported that it is alive and well.
It would appear that the Fair Game strategy is no longer working to silence everyone who speaks out about Scientology.
Update: Paul Haggis' spokesman says that he did not intend the letter to be publicly available and is not sure how it ended up becoming public.
For more info:
- The single most comprehensive site exposing Scientology: www.xenu.net.
- Scientology exposed as newspaper, former members defy church intimidation.
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