(Updated, Sunday, 9:19 a.m. PST)
Scientology operates more as a business than as a church, relying on techniques perfected by car salesmen to attract new members and celebrities to its rolls.
That's just one of the takeaways from Janet Reitman’s controversial book about one of the world’s most secretive religion. “Inside Scientology” chronicles L. Ron Hubbard’s creation of Scientology six decades ago and traces its development into the faith of choice for movie stars such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
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The book has inspired the church's ire. In a 7-page statement to TheWrap, the church maintains that Reitman never interviewed nor requested interviews with any Scientology officials.
For her part Reitman strongly refutes those claims, noting that she spoke to numerous higher-ups and members, as well as visited facilities, while researching the Rolling Stone article that became the basis for her book.
In an interview with TheWrap, Reitman, a Rolling Stone contributing editor, addressed blackmail rumors and talked about why Kabbalah may represent a bigger threat to it than any “South Park” parody.
“They have the goods on everybody,” she said regarding blackmail rumors. “You are constantly being asked to write up your transgressions, maybe even your unspoken transgressions.”
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Consequently, she said, “They know everything about you.”
Is Scientology still a big religion in celebrity circles?
I totally think that celebrity Scientologists are hesitant to be public about it these days, but I don’t think they’ve ever had as many celebrities as people think. There are really very few. Cruise is a big celebrity. Travolta is a long-time celebrity. Jenna Elfman had a TV show, but most of these people aren’t huge celebrities.
Kabbalah has gotten the superstars. Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Madonna -- those are big stars.
How effective has Cruise been as the public face of Scientology?
I don’t believe he’s been an effective face in terms of getting new members, but he’s been very effective in terms of getting the existing members excited.
There was a specific strategy in place to make Cruise into the model Scientologist. It was a promotional strategy and it’s been good and bad.
Existing members are not necessarily aware, of how the church is perceived. They are told they should not read newspapers, they would not have watched the “South Park” episode that makes fun of them, and they would not have read the magazine article that became the basis for my book. So from their viewpoint, Cruise’s behavior would be perceived completely differently than what we see. It would have made them really excited to see him jumping on Oprah’s couch.
What do you think of the rumors that celebrities like Cruise remain Scientologists because the church knows their secrets and they fear blackmail?
I didn’t go into that too much in my book, but it seems obvious.
