Let’s make one thing really damn clear. I think Scientology is the whackiest bunch of bullshit ever to be spewed. When you sit down and read what they’re really all about… a religion founded by a science fiction writer… it absolutely astounds me that anyone on the planet is stupid enough to subscribe to it. It’s utter nonsense. That’s my opinion, and I’m entitled to it. HOWEVER…
What my opinion does NOT entitle me to is to treat people who follow scientology any differently than I treat anyone else. I may think their beliefs are total horse crap… but they are entitled to believe them, and they are entitled to the same level of treatment and respect regardless of their beliefs (I don’t have to respect their beliefs in order to show respect to them as individuals).
I bring this up because of this interesting story coming from the upcoming new Tom Cruise movie. Yahoo News brings us this:
Germany has barred the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist, the Defense Ministry said on Monday. Cruise, also one of the film’s producers, is a member of the Church of Scientology which the German government does not recognize as a church. Berlin says it masquerades as a religion to make money, a charge Scientology leaders reject.
Now hold on a second. Do I think Cruise is a whack job? Yup… sure do. However… why should what the dude believes have ANY bearing on if they can shoot a movie someplace?!?! This is outrageous. Has Cruise broken any laws? Has he committed some crime? It’s just not civil to punish the man for something he believes in his head. He is entitled to those beliefs… however stupid I may think they are, and those beliefs should have nothing to do with whether or not you let him film his damn movie in a certain place or not. This is pretty dangerous stuff.
