Cruise extols Scientology in 2004 video
(CNN)
-- Tom Cruise expounds on his beliefs in Scientology in a 2004 video that made
its way onto the Internet this week. "I think it's a privilege to call yourself a
Scientologist, and it's something you have to earn," Cruise says at the
beginning of the video. Cruise says he's "driven ... by
the opportunity to really help, for the first time, change people's lives. I'm
absolutely, uncompromisingly dedicated to that." The video was shown at a 2004
Scientology ceremony honoring Cruise for his humanitarian work. Church of
Scientology officials said it can be viewed at any of its churches, but it
created a stir this week when what the church calls a pirated and edited
version appeared on YouTube. The video has since been taken off
YouTube, but an interview portion remained available on the celebrity Web site
gawker.com on Thursday.
"The Cruise Indoctrination Video
Scientology Tried To Suppress" is the title of gawker.com's presentation.
"You have to watch this
video," the site says. "It shows Tom Cruise, with all the wide-eyed
fervor that he brings to the promotion of a movie, making the argument for
Scientology," which it calls "the bizarre 20th-century religion.
Cruise talks over a repetitive
guitar-riff soundtrack, and appears to be answering questions, though an
interviewer is not seen or heard.
A second part of the video, made
available to CNN by the publisher of a new unauthorized biography of Cruise,
shows Cruise accepting Scientology's Freedom Medal of Valor award and
exchanging military-like salutes with Scientology chairman David Miscavige to
audience applause. The publisher denies leaking other parts of the video to the
Web.
In the video by the publisher, Cruise
also salutes a portrait of L. Ron Hubbard, cited on the church's Web site as
the founder of "the only major religion founded in the 20th century."
Hubbard's
biography cites his accomplishments as everything from mariner and
horticulturalist to author and humanitarian.
In the video, Cruise
puts emphasis on the latter role.
A Scientologist "has the ability
to create new realities and improve conditions," Cruise says.
On its Web site, the Church of
Scientology highlights its humanitarian work, from anti-drug campaigns in
places from Minnesota to Taiwan to teacher training in India.
The Web site defines Scientology as
"the study of truth." Cruise embraces that in the video.
"If you're a Scientologist, ...
you see things the way they are," Cruise says.
He also says he finds peace in the
religion.
"The more you know as a
Scientologist, you don't become overwhelmed by it," according to Cruise.
The unauthorized biography of Cruise is
by author Andrew Morton. A Cruise spokesperson and the Church
of Scientology have disputed the book, saying Morton did not seek their
comment.
"Accuracy and truth were not on
Morton's agenda," according to a church statement.
"Tom Cruise has done remarkable
work for his faith over the past few years," Morton said. "If it
wasn't for him the Church of Scientology would be a shadow of what it is today."
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