A "religion" is a cult with the benefit of time. I view all religions as harmful to humanity. But the level of harm varies. Scientology is particularly harmful in the present day. They destroy lives and cause great financial and psychological damage to their members.

At the very lowest levels, Scientology is not a lot worse then most "self-help" systems - not surprising as Hubbard stole the vast majority from other, better writers. But as people reached the original goal of "clear" and didn't obtain and real benefit (and were no longer giving money to Hubbard), he started creating new levels and goals.

Each higher level is crazier than the last. Each level re-defines words in new ways. Eventually, Scientologists have a completely distorted view of reality. By the time one has reached the "OT" level, you believe a whole bunch of palpably untrue things. When you combine the reinforcement of other cult members with the ego echo chamber in which many big Hollywood stars live - eventually you can believe anything.

For instance, Scientologists at Cruise's level believe they have "MEST powers" - that is absolute power over Matter, Energy, Space and Time. They believe they can kill with a glance. That intense stare that Cruise often uses in his acting is the fabled "OT III Death Stare".

It would all be hilarious if they didn't have a body count. If they didn't regularly engage in criminal acts. If they didn't use the courts as a weapon intending to bankrupt their foes. If they didn't force members to "disconnect" with family members who oppose Scientology. If they didn't use female members as temple prostitutes to pull in male recruits (Lisa Marie Presley, Mimi Rogers).

They are a destructive and malign force.

OK, here's the list:

# Iggy Pop
# Kanye West
# Chris Martin
# Kris Kristofferson
# Patti Smith
# Terrence Howard
# Flea
# Q-Tip
# Adam Levine
# Chris Rock
# Justin Timberlake
# Kate Moss
# Sir Peter Blake
# Sheryl Crow
# Dennis Hopper
# Woody Harrelson
# Amy Lee
# Tommy Lee
# Dixie Chicks
# Mick Jones
# Sharon Stone
# Bono
# Shelby Lynne
# Anthony Kiedis
# Travis Barker
# Lisa Marie Presley
# Kid Rock
# Jay Z
# Keith Richards
# Billy Gibbons
# Corinne Bailey Rae
# Johnny Depp
# Graham Nash
# Brian Wilson
# Rick Rubin
# Owen Wilson

Background to clip:

1958
17. January 26 - The Crickets make their second and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, singing only one song, "Oh, Boy!"

Further stuff from R&R Hall of Fame:



Buddy Holly


Buddy Holly played rock and roll for only two short years, but the wealth of material he recorded in that time made a major and lasting impact on popular music. Holly was an innovator who wrote his own material and was among the first to exploit such advanced studio techniques as double-tracking. He pioneered and popularized the now-standard rock-band lineup of two guitars, bass and drums. In his final months, he even began experimenting with orchestration. Holly's catalog of songs includes such standards of the rock and roll canon as "Rave On," "Peggy Sue," "That'll Be the Day," Oh Boy!" and "Maybe Baby." Though Holly lacked the arresting sexuality of Elvis Presley, he nonetheless cut an engaging, charismatic figure with his trademark horn-rimmed glasses and vocal hiccup. His creative self-reliance and energetic, inspired craftsmanship prefigured the coming wave of rock and rollers in the Sixties. Holly was a professed influence on the Beatles and Hollies (both of whom derived their names from his). Even the Rolling Stones had their first major British hit with Holly's "Not Fade Away."