Off the Shelf: Religious savior or pure mad man?

The rumor mill stops here. Andrew Morton, world-renowned biographist, mostly known for his biography of Princess Diana, has written an in-depth look into Tom Cruise's mysterious lifestyle. Morton has spent the last several years of his life researching Cruise's rise to super-stardom and his acquiesce into the cult world of Scientology.

St. Martin's, the publisher of this roller coaster ride known to all as Tom Cruise, is now facing a potential $100 million lawsuit for libel. Though if one takes the time to read the unauthorized biography, and really studies it critically, Morton has done his research and most events described appear to be very factual.

If Morton were trying to destroy Cruise and his religious fanaticisms, he would have probably taken several pot-shots at his sexuality. However, Morton seems to have chosen a path of integrity, quoting sources regularly, pointing toward Cruise's alpha-male behavior and the hordes of women he's had in bed.

According to Morton and many hard-core Scientologists, Cruise was what saved Scientology. His earthbound celebrity status, huge talent for acting and his enormous wealth have pushed Scientology to new heights of recognition. He is even influencing some of the highest echelons within the White House - sounds scary doesn't it? It should.

Most are probably unfamiliar as to what Scientology actually is.

Science fiction writer Ron L. Hubbard, and founder of Scientology, wrote that some 75 million years ago an alien ruler named Xenu solved the overpopulation problem in our galaxy by exiling 13.5 trillion beings to Earth, vaporizing them with nuclear bombs after forcing them into volcanic pits. These millions of lost souls, known back then as thetans, were implanted with numerous false ideas about God, Christ and organized religion.

Later the souls of the thetans attached themselves to human beings. According to Hubbard, these barnacle-like thetan souls are the cause of all humanity's problems.

Because of these troglodytic thetan souls, people can never be pure, and will be amidst constant emotional and physical turmoil.

During his creation of Scientology, Morton states that Hubbard boasted during a science fiction writer's conference in 1947, "If you really want to make a million, the quickest way is to start your own religion."

That is exactly what he did, focusing his recruitment practices mainly on the rich and famous, simply because they had wealth and influential power, referring to newly-inducted members as "raw meat."

Cruise has reportedly donated millions to this debacle of a religion, similar to the pyramid schemes of Amway and other network marketing companies designed to provide false hope and take advantage of people who are in need of a sense of belonging.

Morton compares the religious cult to the fascist regime within George Orwell's "1984," where every ounce of humanity is controlled and watched over continuously, via a teleprompter (or TV).

Here, a person can be brought up on charges of thought crimes and be brain-washed, or become systematically disposed of for a differing political opinion, or for dating the wrong person.

Sects within the Scientology organization, according to Morton, are soldiers dedicated to watch people for dissidence and face crimes, very reminiscent of Orwell's fiction.

When a member has committed a crime against the faith, he/she will be sentenced by the Rehabilitation Project Force and could be punished by being forced to run around a pole for days in the scorching sun.

Morton writes that Cruise is second-in-command of the Scientology movement; Cruise denies this. Affirming that he is affiliated with religion, but is not in a position of influential power, hence the pending lawsuit. This statement seems implausible coming from the most powerful super-celebrity on planet earth.

For fans of Mr. Mission Impossible, this book is a must-read, even if you are not into celebrity gossip. Scientologists' beliefs also revolve around an end-of-times theory, or an Armageddon of sorts. Maybe Cruise is our next religious savior, or in this writer's opinion the next Anti-Christ. Read the book and decide for yourself.

csedler@unews.com