With all the talk of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes‘ divorce after only five years of marriage, the conversation has quickly turned to Scientology as the reason for the Hollywood couple’s split.
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According to reports, the huge area of contention in the marriage stems from the couple’s daughter Suri, 6, and her possible participation in Sea Org.
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Sea Org is a well known base where the highest levels of Scientology are taught, and according to their website, it is composed of adults and minors who have committed their lives to the volunteer service of their religion.
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It’s rumored that Katie was extremely resistant with Suri’s participation in Sea Org, while Tom was pushing for her to attend.
Even the likes of media mogul Rupert Murdoch chimed in on Tom and Katie’s divorce, as he tweeted the other day:
“Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people.”
We’re not agreeing with the second part, but the story has developed into a conversation about the highly touted religion of Scientology.
We’ve always heard about Scientology running Hollywood, but what are the rituals and observances of the top secret religion?
Here’s a quick 411 on everything you need to know about Scientology.
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Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard, a American science-fiction author, in California in 1953. Therefore, Scientology is 59 years old.
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Its world headquarters are located in the Gold Base, unincorporated Riverside County, California.
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In its teachings, Scientology states that people are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature and a goal for all Scientologists is to become certain of one’s spiritual existence and one’s relationship to God, or the “Supreme Being.”
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The story of Xenu is a main component of Scientology, which teaches about extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in Earthly events, collectively described as “space opera” by Hubbard.
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Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States and other countries, which is why they are recognized as a real religion.
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Their book of worship is Dianetics and Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard.
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In the afterlife, Scientologists believe in reincarnation.
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Unlike Christians and the cross, Scientology’s symbol is a Double “S”; shining cross.
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The days observed by Scientology, including Hubbard’s birthday, March 13, 1911.
-May 9, the publication date of Dianetics.
-The second Sunday in September known as Auditor’s Day.
– October 7th, the annual meeting of International Association of Scientologists.
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They also follow the eight Dynamics:
-Self (the urge to survive as an individual)
-Creativity (the urge to survive through family).
-Group survival (the urge to survive through a group such as a nation, team, community, race, etc.)
-Species (the urge to survive through the survival of the human species)
-Life forms (the urge for life itself)
-Physical universe (the urge of the universe to survive)
-Spiritual dynamic (the urge for the survival of the life source)
-Infinity (the urge to exist as infinity or God)
