Why are so many celebrities drawn to Scientology?

Question

Or so it seems, anyhow.

Answer 1

I live in Hollywood and do ministry here, so I can tell you the truth from experience: The cult of Scientology has a "Celebrity Center" on Franklin Avenue. When actors come to Hollywood and are looking for work, the Scientologists (who are very powerful in Hollywood) invite the new people to come over. They promise them work, but only after they have signed away A GOODLY PERCENTAGE of their income to the Church of Scientology. It's a horrible, vicious circle.

Answer 2

Because Scientology specifically caters to them!

The organization has set up centers for celebrities ONLY. In the United States alone, there are centers in Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Portland, Nashville and Dallas. There are several other international celebrity centers as well.

L. Ron Hubbard (the science fiction writer and "prophet" of Scientology) was quoted as saying "A culture is only as great as its dreams and its dreams are dreamed by artists". He cites this as the reason the Celebrity Centers were established, though critics point to the fact that Hubbard launched "Project Celebrity" in 1955 to recruit celebrities into the church. This gives Scientology a more favorable public image, hence garnering more support and allowing them to recruit more paying members.

It's practically a hobby for the stars to involve themselves in bizarre fringe factions. It could be that some of them joined just to get themselves noticed. It might be for the thrill of it (how exciting could things be after a few years of glitz and glam? I'm sure it loses its novelty and at that point, it's reasonable to assume celebrities seek out anything that can hold their attention). It might be because they're human just like the rest of us and completely susceptible to suggestion and being swindled.

Scientology certainly appreciates the ca$h that a celebrity "paycheck" bring to the table. Scientology is, after all, a business first.

Answer 3

Scientology seems to sell itself as an "it" religion. In other words, it's more hip than most.

There is an argument that religion, as a whole, preys on the weak-minded. In the case of Scientology, I believe that to be more true than in other cases, simply because of its numerous celebrity followers. When people opt to go to Hollywood to try and make it, few of them have more than a high school education, and many do not have that. They're not that educated, and even less versed in school of life, and that makes them a *prime* candidate for Scientology.

Once someone is a member of Scientology, they're pretty much in for life (not unlike the Mafia). When they are able to land celebs the caliber of Tom Cruise and John Travolta, they are successful at funnelling a large portion of their income into their church, and that keeps the cycle going.

This is not to say that Cruise or Travolta are unintelligent. Both come across as intelligent, but smart people can believe in stupid ideas, and religion as a whole is proof positive of that.

Answer 4

Well if you wanted a bunch of general critical speculation from "non celebrities" I guess you definitely got it from most of the answers posted here.
But if you ask any Scientologist , celebrity or not , artists or not, why they are Scientologists and support Scientology you will get the same simple answer:
Because it works for them and because it helps them to make their goals a reality.
Scientology does consider the artists (not just celebrities) the most valuable beings in any civilization because they can and do CREATE and are the dreamers who make a better future for us all. They deserve to be helped and in this society they are targets for others to shoot at.
Any other reason is just someone elses "reason" or attempt to shoot at the target. It doesn't make it the right answer.

Answer 5

I guess you can ask why so many are drawn to hinduism too, Madonna, Demi Moore. It is the same with any religion. There is just something that draws them to it. But it's the people like Tom Cruise that preach it and let it control their lives who give it such a bad name. John Travolta and his wife are wonderful people who don't act abnormal. So noone thinks badly of them like they do Tom Cruise. He takes his beliefs to an unhealthy level, saying that you don't need to treat depression with drugs. Evidently he doesn't have someone in his family who is severly bipolar. And unfortunately there are alot of cult aspects to scientology, like alienation of friends and family that are cause for concern. People tend to find a promise of something that is lacking in their lives that draws them into a belief system. Christianity has the promise of eternal life after death in the presence of a loving god. I think that scientology has the promise of the first trip to planet Zlsndlfoof.

Answer 6

L. Ron Hubbard was a great visionary. I read his book and improved my reading by 2-x's. He states in Dianetics (not spelled correctly) that is is not meant to be a religion and it cannot replace religion. He says this several times. after his death the free society started by him to help others was turned into a religion and money producing vulgarity of what he wanted.
People will call anything a Religion and Hubbard helped many people and with him gone others had rather use part of his knowledge instead of admitting they are sinners and are living out of Gods will.

Answer 7

Because it is, in essence, about finding the best you. They believe that if you yourself is good enough, you will arrive at a higher plain of existence. You your own saviour, basically. I suppose that's easy and comfortable for celebrities. Celebrities are just out in the open in front of people. I'm sure a lot of regular people not in the public eye are attracted to it for similar reasons.

Answer 8

The main reason is because of its expensive nature. It costs so much to reach the higher levels that it becomes an exclusive "IT" club that celebrities want to be a part of....and only they can afford.

Answer 9

why are so many celebrities drawn to marriages that only last two years?

Celebrities have the same problems as everyone else, we just think about them differently because they are celebrities.

Answer 10

There are a handful of celebrities not as many as you attempt to infer!

And every cult knows how to prey on human psychological weaknesses.

Every cult has their various tricks up the sleeves.