Sciencetology and Anti-Depressants

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LAUER: TOM CRUISE CREATED A FIRESTORM WHEN HE CRITICIZED BROOKE SHIELDS FOR REVEALING THAT SHE WENT INTO THERAPY AND TOOK ANTIDEPRESSANTS TO DEAL WITH HER POST PARTUM DEPRESSION. AS A SCIENTOLGIST, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE. I ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS COMMENTS.

CRUISE: i've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist I never agreed with psychiatry. and when i started studying the history of psychiatry, i understood more and more why i didn't believe in psychology.

//And as far as the Brooke Shields thing is, look. You gotta understand, I really care about Brooke Shields. I-- I think here's a-- a-- a wonderful and talented woman. And-- I wanna see her do well. And I know that-- psychiatry is-- is a pseudo science.

MATT LAUER: But-- but Tom, if she said that this particular thing helped her feel better, whether it was the antidepressant or going to a counselor or psychiatrist, isn't that enough? //

TOM CRUISE: Matt, you have to understand this. Here we are today where I talk out against drugs and psychiatric abuses of electric shocking people (PH), okay, against their will, of drugging children with them not knowing the effects of these drugs. Do you know what Aderol (PH) is? Do you know Ritalin? Do you know now that Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that?

MATT LAUER:

The difference is--

(OVERTALK)

TOM CRUISE:

No, no, Matt.

MATT LAUER:

This wasn't against her will, though.

TOM CRUISE:

Matt-- Matt, Matt, Matt--

MATT LAUER:

But this wasn't against her will.

TOM CRUISE:

Matt, I'm-- Matt, I'm asking you a question.

MATT LAUER:

I understand there's abuse of all of these things.

TOM CRUISE:

No, you see. Here's the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do.//

MATT LAUER:

//aren't there examples, and might not Brooke Shields be an example, of someone who benefited from one of those drugs? TOM CRUISE:

all it does is mask the problem, Matt. And if you understand the history of it, it masks the problem. That's what it does. That's all it does. You're not getting to the reason why. There is no such thing as a chemical imbalance.

(OVERTALK)

MATT LAUER:

So, postpartum depression to you is--

TOM CRUISE:

Matt--

MATT LAUER:

--kind of a--

TOM CRUISE:

--don't--

MATT LAUER:

--little psychological gook--

TOM CRUISE:

That--

MATT LAUER:

--googley-gook?

TOM CRUISE:

--no. No. I did not say that.

MATT LAUER:

I'm just asking what you-- what would you call it?

TOM CRUISE:

No. No. Abs-- Matt, that is-- the-- post-- now-- now, you're talking about two different things.

MATT LAUER:

But that's what she went on the--

TOM CRUISE:

No. MATT LAUER:

--antidepressant for.

TOM CRUISE: But what happens, the antidepressant, all it does is mask the problem. There's ways of vitamins and through exercise and various things. I'm not saying that that isn't real. That's not what I'm saying. That's an alteration of what-- what I'm saying. I'm saying that drugs aren't the answer, these drugs are very dangerous. They're mind-altering, anti-psychotic drugs. And there are ways of doing it without that so that we don't end up in a brave new world. // the thing that I'm saying about Brooke is that there's misinformation, okay. And she doesn't understand the history of psychiatry. She-- she doesn't understand in the same way that you don't understand it, Matt.

// MATT LAUER: But a little bit what you're saying Tom is, you say you want people to do well. But you want them do to well by taking the road that you approve of, as opposed to a road that may work for them.

TOM CRUISE: No, no, I'm not.

MATT LAUER: Well, if antidepressants work for Brooke Shields, why isn't that okay?

TOM CRUISE: I-- I disagree with it. And I think that there's a higher and better quality of life. And I think that promoting for me personally, see, you're saying what, I can't discuss what I wanna discuss?

MATT LAUER: No. You absolutely can.

TOM CRUISE: I know. But-- but Matt, you're going in and saying that-- that I can't discuss this.

MATT LAUER: I'm only asking, isn't there a possibility that-- do-- do you examine the possibility that these things do work for some people? That yes, there are abuses. And yes, maybe they've gone too far in certain areas. Maybe there are too many kids on Ritalin. Maybe electric shock--

TOM CRUISE: Too many kids on Ritalin? Matt.

MATT LAUER: I'm just saying. But-- but aren't there--

TOM CRUISE: Matt.

MATT LAUER: --examples where it works?

TOM CRUISE: Matt. Matt, Matt, you don't even-- you're glib. You don't even know what Ritalin is.// //if you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt, okay. That's what I've done. Then you go and you say where's-- where's the medical test? Where's the blood test that says how much Ritalin you're supposed to get?

MATT LAUER: You're-- you're-- it's very impressive to listen to you. Because clearly, you've done the homework. And-- and you know the subject.

TOM CRUISE: And you should.

MATT LAUER: And-- and--

TOM CRUISE: And you should do that also.

MATT LAUER: And--

TOM CRUISE: Because just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. //you should be a little bit more responsible in knowing really--

MATT LAUER: I'm not prescribing Ritalin, Tom. And I'm not asking--

TOM CRUISE: Well--

MATT LAUER: --anyone else to do it. I'm simply saying--

(OVERTALK)

TOM CRUISE: Well, you are. You're saying--

MATT LAUER: I know some people who seem to have been helped by it.

TOM CRUISE: I-- but you're saying-- but you-- like-- this is a very important issue.

MATT LAUER: I couldn't agree more.

TOM CRUISE: It's very-- and you know what? You're here on the Today Show.

MATT LAUER: Right.

TOM CRUISE: And to talk about it in a way of saying, "Well, isn't it okay," and being reasonable about it when you don't know and I do, I think that you should be a little bit more responsible in knowing what it is.

MATT LAUER: But--

TOM CRUISE: Because you-- you communicate to people.

MATT LAUER: But you're now telling me that your experiences with the people I know, which are zero, are more important than my experiences.

TOM CRUISE: What do you mean by that?

MATT LAUER: You're telling me what's worked for people I know or hasn't worked for people I know. // i'm telling you i've lived with these people and they're better.

TOM CRUISE: So, you're-- you're advocating it.

MATT LAUER: I am not. I'm telling you in their case-- (LAUGHTER)

(OVERTALK)

MATT LAUER: In their individual case, it worked. I am not gonna go out and say--

TOM CRUISE: Matt--

MATT LAUER: --"Get your kids on Ritalin. It's the cure-all--

TOM CRUISE: Matt, Matt.

MATT LAUER: --and the end-all."

TOM CRUISE: Matt, but here's the point. what is the ideal scene for life

TOM CRUISE: Okay. Ideal scene is someone not having to take anti-psychotic drugs.

MATT LAUER: I would agree.

TOM CRUISE: Okay. So, now you look at-- and you go okay. A-- a departure from that ideal scene is someone taking drugs, okay. And then you go, okay. What is the theory and the science behind that, that justifies that?

MATT LAUER: Let me take this more general, 'cause I think you and I can go around in circles on this for awhile. And i respect your opinion ...

MATT LAUER: Do you want more people to understand Scientology? Is that-- would that be a goal of yours?

TOM CRUISE: You know what? I-- absolutely. Of course, you know. And people--

MATT LAUER: How do you go about that?

TOM CRUISE: You just communicate about it. And the important thing is, like you and I talk about it, whether it's-- okay, if I wanna know something, I go and find out. /Because I don't talk about things that I don't understand. I'll say, you know what? I'm not so sure about that. I'll go find more information about it so I can-- I can come to an opinion based on-- on the information that I have.

MATT LAUER: You-- you're so passionate about it. And I'm--

TOM CRUISE: I'm passionate about learning. I'm passionate about life, Matt.
 
Scientology pisses me off. I normally don't get pissed off at a religion, but it pisses me off because it's not really a religion, it's a cult based on science fiction and I think Tom Cruise is a real :censored:hole for the nonsense he spouted about Brooke Shields. I'm with her.
 
Tom Cruise has been caught up in several mistakes/lies about his "history of psychology." He's naturally bought into many of the urban legends about prescription drugs, saying some of them were named after Hitler and whatnot.

But why would he go for the unvarnished truth anyway?
 
That interview really makes Tom Cruise look like a tool. He seemed kinda out of it on Letterman last night too.

I like his movies though and he is a good actor. And doesn't it seem that the older he gets the younger he looks?
 
(in reply to the interview Irvine posted above)

Yuck. What an arrogant asshole. He honestly thinks he knows all about mental health issues. What an arrogant fool.

Cruise is a perfect example of what a little knowledge can do.

I just hope people realize he's just an actor.
 
It is rare that people can ask Cruise about Scientology and get an answer. Cruise usually responds with the "we're misunderstood" victim lines.
 
Jesus. You should've kept your mouth shut, Tom. That interview showed your arrogance and ignorance a little too clearly...

BTW, this site is a must read for anyone who wants to know what Scientology is all about. After reading just a portion of it it is totally clear that Scientology is nothing but a cult, started out of pure lies, perpetuated with more lies and aggressive bullying and intimidation tactics.
 
The one thing that stood out to me (among all the other crap in the interview) was when Cruise said you can be a Christian and a Scientologist. This is the biggest steaming pile of cow dung ever.

Here's one site where there's a side-by-side comparison: www.sweenytod.com/cos/Theology/Theology/peik.htm

These are some of my favorites:

About telling the truth
"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No', 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." - Jesus Christ NT: Matthew 5:37

"Handling truth is a touchy business ... Tell an acceptable truth." - L. Ron Hubbard, The Missing Ingredient, 13 August 1970. 

About using religious deception
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." - Jesus Christ, Matthew 7:15

"Churches are looked upon as reform groups. Therefore we must act like a reform group." - L. Ron Hubbard, 1966, According to Jon Atack's The total freedom trap

About using religion to make money
"... men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." - St. Paul, 1 Timothy 5:5

"I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is." - L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd Eshbach in 1949; quoted by Eshbach in Over My Shoulder. 

On revenge and enemies
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also." - Jesus Christ, Luke 6:27-28, Matthew 5:38-39

"An enemy... may be injured by any means or tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed." - L. Ron Hubbard, Penalties for Lower Conditions, HCO PL 18 Oct 67

About redemption in Christ 
"... I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - St. Paul, Galatians 2:20

"Christ died for his own sins." - L. Ron Hubbard, (Uncertain ref; Saint Hill tape #12 or such. Readers are urged to post the correct ref, if possible).

About the reality of Christianity 
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life." - St. John , 1 John. 1:1

"I don't know how they found it; either by watching madmen or something. But since that time they have used it. And it became what is known as Christianity. The Man on the cross. There was no Christ!" - L. Ron Hubbard, Class 8 Auditor's Course (Confidential), taped on the ship Apollo in Corfu, Greece. 

I like how with the last two he said Christ died for his own sins, and then he goes on to say there was no Christ.

:|
 
nbcrusader said:
People should take the time to learn about the basic teachings of Scientology. It has qualified as a religion for tax purposes, but the basic tenents are all rooted in science fiction.

Scientology is a large, wealthy, agressive cult.
Me and nbcrusader agree on something!

:dancing:

OK, the CoS is an interest of mine, basically because I've always thought Hubbard was a crap sci-fi writer, and after reading in one of Carl Sagans books that Sci was started because Hubbard made a bet with some other writers that he could invent a religion and make a lot of money, I wanted to know more.

And we've got a good disscussion going on another msg. board about it and I've just spent an hour catching up, and then I come over here and now I don't have time to get into it because I have to head out to work soon.

I also watched that Matt Lauer interview, and Tom did come off as a pompous jerk. Assuming that Matt knew nothing about what he was saying. I wanted Lauer to bitch slap him

And this was specifically asking about the relationship between Sci and Meds, so I'll try to post info on that when I get a chance, but there's also soooo much other frightening stuff about the CoS (Xenu, Satanism, oh the fun never ends!) if anyone wants to discuss the other ends of it....?
 
coemgen said:
The one thing that stood out to me (among all the other crap in the interview) was when Cruise said you can be a Christian and a Scientologist. This is the biggest steaming pile of cow dung ever.



well, to be fair, i've been doing a bit of reading on Scientology -- and trying to consult encyclopedia stuff, not pro- or anti-scientology sites -- and i think what makes Scientology and Christianity compatible (from a membership standpoint) is that Scientology doesn't consider itself exclusive of other religions. thus, members are welcomed to retain their church affiliation when they become Scientologists. you might argue that this is theologically incompatible, but purely from Scientology's standpoint, one can be both.

reading through all the stuff, it seems realtively harmless, the philosophies behind it. mostly New Age-y self-help stuff that's everywhere. if it feels good, do it, i suppose ... :shrug:

i'm sure there are people who are waaaaaaay too into Scientology (as there are peoelp who are waaaaaaaaay too into any religion) and that there are probably individual Scientology churches that are cultish, just as there are christian chruches that are cultish.

i suppose i don't understand the anger towards Scientology that i see coming from those who are just as strong in their respective churches as Cruise seems to be in his.
 
I don't like the anti-psychology stuff that Scientology's come out with. Some other autistics I know are boycotting Tom Cruise's movie to protest his comments about Brooke Shields and anti-depressants. Not that it will do anything except make a personal statement, and I'm not involved in the boycott personally anyway. They ran a ludicrous campaign against Prozac. This is what pisses me off. If they'd leave us the hell alone I wouldn't shudder every time I have to pick up Hubbard's book at work. I normally couldn't care less what other people do about religion, it's their business.
 
Irvine511 said:

reading through all the stuff, it seems realtively harmless, the philosophies behind it. mostly New Age-y self-help stuff that's everywhere. if it feels good, do it, i suppose ... :shrug:

I wouldn't exactly say harmless...
The link that Dieman had posted before is a great one, you can spend hours digging through it. This is a little bit of what the Sci's believe -

"Further, as one progresses through a series of auditing “levels,” one can eventually be restored to native state and can attain the status of “operating thetan,” wherein one is free of attachments to the body and, even while “exterior” to (outside) the body, one can consciously control matter, energy, space, time, thought, and life. Hubbard's writings and lectures include many tantalizing details of the god-like abilities that may be gained through auditing.

For most individual Scientologists, recovering these god-like abilities (and encouraging and assisting others to do so as well) is the primary goal of participation in Scientology. The “levels” through which a participant progresses make up what is called “The Bridge to Total Freedom.” Progress through all the levels of the “Bridge” often takes many years of dedicated study and practice, and the cost in fees for services for the Bridge is currently estimated at approximately $300,000 - $500,000 in US dollars. "

http://www.xenu.net/archive/infopack/6.htm
 
verte76 said:
I don't like the anti-psychology stuff that Scientology's come out with. Some other autistics I know are boycotting Tom Cruise's movie to protest his comments about Brooke Shields and anti-depressants. Not that it will do anything except make a personal statement, and I'm not involved in the boycott personally anyway. They ran a ludicrous campaign against Prozac. This is what pisses me off. If they'd leave us the hell alone I wouldn't shudder every time I have to pick up Hubbard's book at work. I normally couldn't care less what other people do about religion, it's their business.

Yeah, that's my issue with it too. I don't really care what people choose for themselves, it's when they attack others and their choices I get pissed off.
 
Sparkysgrrrl said:


I wouldn't exactly say harmless...




okay.

no more harmful than any other religion.

and i notice that Scientology shares some elements of Right Wing Conservative Politicized Christianity's contempt for psychotherapy.
 
indra said:


Yeah, that's my issue with it too. I don't really care what people choose for themselves, it's when they attack others and their choices I get pissed off.

Yes, and I happen to believe they are picking on me and my whole lifestyle because so much of it is therapy for autism which I personally accept as a medical problem. Hell, the art studio I work at is specifically for autistics.
 
Irvine511 said:




okay.

no more harmful than any other religion.

and i notice that Scientology shares some elements of Right Wing Conservative Politicized Christianity's contempt for psychotherapy.
Ive never been in a christian church that had contempt for therapy.
Its overmedication thats the biggest issue
Covering the manifestation of a mental or emotional problem without attacking the root issue
 
u2bonogirl said:

Ive never been in a christian church that had contempt for therapy.
Its overmedication thats the biggest issue
Covering the manifestation of a mental or emotional problem without attacking the root issue



i'm specifically referring to the APA's announcement, in the mid-1970s, that homosexuality was not a disorder.

this statement has been attacked by right wing christianist groups ever since. no, of course not all, but many do, especially the CWA and Dobson's ilk. i also smell strands of anti-semitism in many of these denouncements of psychology.

there was also a thread on exorcism/possession that i perused earlier in the day, and the idea that someone is actually possessed by an evil spirit is, to me, also contemptuous of psychology and total nonsense. what that person needs is therapy, not exorcism.
 
Diemen said:
Actually, I would disagree, Irvine. I'd say it's noticeably more harmful.

http://www.lisamcpherson.org/



and i can show you stuff done by the Mormon church where they use shock therapy (tying electrodes to the genitals) to try and "cure" gay men from getting aroused when they see erotic pictures of other men.

again, i don't think the teachings, in and of themselves, strike me as particularly bad.
 
verte76 said:


Yes, and I happen to believe they are picking on me and my whole lifestyle because so much of it is therapy for autism which I personally accept as a medical problem. Hell, the art studio I work at is specifically for autistics.

But verte, Tom really cares for you. He CARES! :rolleyes:

Yeah, I really find his assumption that everyone on anti depressants is completely clueless about what they are taking, but he knows all about them, incredibly obnoxious.

But, the guy's an actor, not a doctor of any kind. Just because he says he knows doesn't mean he actually does. And I certainly hope most people understand that.
 
I saw the interview with Tom Cruise, and he made my blood boil. I suffer with depression, and I'm on medication and therapy as well. The drugs are not a cure all, but without them, it has made me deal with the illness, in order for me to function with life. I'ts hard for people to understand depression, unless they have been through it themselves. I hope and pray that Tom Cruise never has to deal with it.
 
tiny dancer said:
I saw the interview with Tom Cruise, and he made my blood boil. I suffer with depression, and I'm on medication and therapy as well. The drugs are not a cure all, but without them, it has made me deal with the illness, in order for me to function with life. I'ts hard for people to understand depression, unless they have been through it themselves. I hope and pray that Tom Cruise never has to deal with it.

my mother in law is bipolar and she honestly cant function without lithium. She just crashes and burns and can die if she gets off her meds.
By taking them she is sane enough to deal with her emotional issues
:yes: I know where those of you who are on these kinds of medications are talking about. In order to even levelheadedly tackle issues you have to take the stuff.
When I was a child I was prescribed antidepressants because, well, I was depressed and unhappy and angry all the time. But it wasnt necessarily a brain thing, but an emotional thing.
Technically I have been diagnosed as mildly bipolar in that, because of chemicals my moods and state of being can change quickly and seemingly for no reason at all
I chose to deal with the problems before I started medication because I wasnt emotionally or physically impaired without it
This was ten years ago or so, and Im still not on medication (though I can be a bit nutty at times and Im not ruling out being on medication later in life)
I understand both sides of the issue
Some people cant live without it
And some dont want to
 
Irvine511 said:
and i notice that Scientology shares some elements of Right Wing Conservative Politicized Christianity's contempt for psychotherapy.

How can just about ever thread get tied to "right wing" Christianity????
 
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