The Latest Defector From the Church of Scientology

Back in April of this year, many of you will recall that I devoted an entire post railing against the Paul Haggis’ movie CRASH (2004). I quoted film critic David Cornelius who aptly said the movie was “obnoxious, hollow, and not at all as smart or important as it thinks it is.” I followed this assessment with my own: A totally derivative film: GRAND CANYON meets MAGNOLIA with a dash of SHORT CUTS for good measure.

For some reason, I did not point out that Haggis used to be a writer for the absolute worst American sitcom of all time: DIFFERENT STROKES. The connection I would have made then would be that both works hit you over the head with simple morals and even simpler solutions. I mean, it did not surprise me one bit when I looked over Haggis’ CV and saw he used to write for some of the worst television shows ever.

Upon closer inspection, however, one will see that Haggis has been deeply involved in dozens of progressive movements and organizations, from environmental awareness to basic human rights in El Salvador. He is a proud card-carrying member of both Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union. Not bad! I still think CRASH has the dubious distinction of being THE WORST MOVIE OF ALL TIME, but all is forgiven owing to the fact that Haggis seems to be a really nice guy who wants to improve the world any way he can.

Last but not least is the fact that Haggis’ CV is quite impressive once you get past the FACTS OF LIFE era. The 90s saw him writing for less embarrassing fare, and the new millennium is proving to be an incredibly prolific time. In the last five years alone, he has had writing credits for the two new James Bond movies, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, and TERMINATOR SALVATION. One can easily see that Haggis has managed to do an impressive amount of creative and activist work over the last 30 years while being a devout Scientologist.

Yup, that’s right. Yet another Scientologist in Hollywood.

Jokes about silly celebrities being brainwashed and jumping on Oprah’s couch are many. The whole phenomena is an easy target. But I’ve always entertained the notion that maybe Scientology is actually a pretty normal religion. I don’t know of any Scientologists directly, but the ones I do know of seem pretty together and intelligent to me. Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Giovanni Ribisi, Jenna Elfman, Juliette Lewis, Rob Thomas, Beck, Kirstie Alley, and the list goes on. Unlike many of their celebrity compadres, none of these believers has gotten in trouble with the law, struggles with a drug problem, or comes anywhere near making their lives a shamble. Okay, Kirstie Alley has a weight problem, but that’s the most serious flaw I can find out of any of them. I mean, the Church of Scientology seems to have a pretty good batting average. Their followers seem so mundane and familiar, especially compared to evangelical Christians and the like.

But I’ve never been able to reconcile the ostensibly rational believers with the rumored teachings of the Church. There is a major disconnect here. Smart, reasonable people don’t pay through the nose for the “privilege” to read their sacred texts (the last I heard, all the other religions offer this information for free). Smart, reasonable people don’t participate in the practice of “disconnection” wherein a Scientologist is asked to cut off ties with loved ones who have not converted. Smart, reasonable people do not accept the practice called “fair game” wherein former Scientologists are retaliated against by having their most personal confessions aired publicly. Smart, reasonable people don’t believe that 75 million years ago, a being called Xenu, dictator of the Galactic Confederacy, brought a race of people not unlike humans to this planet, piled them around a bunch of volcanoes, then destroyed them with hydrogen bombs.
Okay, you get my point.

But what if these claims are untrue? What if these descriptions are nothing more than a vast smear campaign on the part of Viacom and Time Warner? I recall reading an interview with Tom Cruise wherein he was asked if he really believed in the Xenu Story. Cruise became very, very upset and said he would not even respond to such a question. He then testily implied that in order for the conversation to continue, such questions would have to be taken off the table. I interpreted this hostile response as a “No, I don’t believe in Xenu and neither does the Church of Scientology.” This assumption was challenged, however, by claims of former Scientologists who say that no discussion of Xenu is permitted amongst lower ranking Scientologists of the spiritual hierarchy. Talking about Xenu prematurely, before being properly exposed to it as a highest level Scientologist, is a severe transgression.

More can be learned about this new religion from various blogs and interviews of former Scientologists. They all confirm the rumors: increasingly large amounts of money are involved to get to each level of the spiritual hierarchy, Scientologists are asked to “disconnect” from loved ones not indoctrinated in the Church, “fair game” practices do go on, and – here’s the kicker – the Xenu Story exists. Members of the highest levels believe it and protect it fiercely.
Clearly, this is a very unpleasant religion, which begs the question: Why do people stay? Well, they usually don’t. Scientology has a 95% turnover rate within 3-5 years. The number of truly active members is estimated to be only 50,000.

And why do those truly active members stay? I guess that’s a question for Paul Haggis who has, last month, renounced his membership in the Scientology community through an angry letter to one of their directors. He had been a believer for 35 years but, upon hearing that the Church of Scientology supported California’s Proposition 8 (which banned gay marriages), has renounced his membership on the grounds that he wanted nothing to do with a homophobic institution. There were other reasons as well, such as his disapproval of their “disconnection” practices which he and his wife were subjected to. In the letter, he also called them on the unethical act of publishing former members’ confessions and secrets in the press. Said Haggis: “That kind of character assassination is unconscionable.” No mention of the Xenu story however.

This is the last paragraph of Haggis’ defiant letter which has been going around the internet like wildfire:

The great majority of Scientologists I know are good people who are genuinely interested in improving conditions on this planet and helping others. I have to believe that if they knew what I now know, they too would be horrified. But I know how easy it was for me to defend our organization and dismiss our critics, without ever truly looking at what was being said; I did it for thirty-five years. And so, after writing this letter, I am fully aware that some of my friends may choose to no longer associate with me, or in some cases work with me. I will always take their calls, as I always took yours. However, I have finally come to the conclusion that I can no longer be a part of this group. Frankly, I had to look no further than your refusal to denounce the church’s anti-gay stance, and the indefensible actions, and inactions, of those who condone this behavior within the organization. I am only ashamed that I waited this many months to act. I hereby resign my membership in the Church of Scientology.

Hmm. That’s all very well and good, but did it really take him 35 years to realize this? Like his movie CRASH, this is a religion that is so clearly “obnoxious, hollow, and not at all as smart or important as it thinks it is.”