Tom Cruise has taken a lot of criticism from a lot of fronts. And now there’s a video of him extolling Scientology viralling around the internet. (There’s no such word as “viralling” but I think it captures the spiraling viral video phenomenon.)
It seems to me that Cruise is, indeed, the poster boy for how Scientology works when it’s successful. He’s confident in himself and his decisions — enough to carry on his purposeful life despite harsh criticisms. He feels a sense of humanitarian responsibility and he acts on that sense. He’s learned to be a positive thinker and the kind of person who actually practices what he preaches. His energy is focused, his goals ambitious, and he has a support system that really does provide philosophical as well as practical support.
Hmm. What would happen if all “religions,” all philosophies, were able to provide that kind of practical and motivating support?
I don’t think that you have to be a Scientologist to achieve those senses of confidence, caring, and contribution. But it’s hard figuring it all out by yourself, hard keeping motivated, hard remaining positive in a negative environment.
Scientology seems like the ultimate support system for individuals serious about attaining their dreams. Unlike many other spiritual approaches, it seems to prod you to get off your duff and DO. Not just contemplate, but ACT. And, more importantly, it gives you the psychological tools to enable you to move ahead in your chosen life’s path.
As a young man, my father read Norman Vincent Peale’s “The Power of Positive Thinking.” and Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Throughout his life, he made good use of what he learned from those books.
From what I’ve read about Scientology, it seems to build on the techniques put forth in those two books, and it puts its own spin on the process of self-actualization.
There are many successful members of Scientology, and many of those are from the fields of the performing arts, which are very competitive and stressful.
I imagine that Scientology’s “can do” philosophy has helped them persevere in their chosen careers, helped them to overcome obstacles to success. No wonder that so many of them have found a psychological and “spiritual” home in Scientology.
My Dad had Norman Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie and his Polish Catholic parish. Together, they worked for him.
Tom Cruise has Scientology.
Hey, it works for him.