Will Smith and Scientology
I was raised around Southern conservative Christianity, so it startles me sometimes how much more repulsed I am by Scientology. I don't know if it's simply because I've been more exposed to Christian conservatism, or because Scientology seems so insidious and willfully subtle.
Take Will Smith's new movie: http://www.vulture.com/2013/05/after-earth-will-smith-love-letter-to-scientology.html?test=true
The article calls it Will's love letter to scientology. I find myself actively liking actors less as I learn they're Scientologists... which isn't so different from finding myself actively liking other people less if I learn they're super-conservative Christians, but still....
Maybe it's that (I imagine) Christians aren't covertly inserting their religious theology into popular entertainment. But I know they are. Actively. Maybe it's because I think Scientology's tenants are so incredibly laughable. But so are many of Christianity's.
Maybe it's that I'm just a religious bigot and I'm aware that most active religions today are self-serving organisms that don't really have the interests of the planet as a whole, or people as a whole, as any kind of priority in their theology.
And maybe it's just that Scientology repulses me.
cross-posted from dreamwidth. http://charlottechill.dreamwidth.org/22226.html#comments
Take Will Smith's new movie: http://www.vulture.com/2013/05/after-earth-will-smith-love-letter-to-scientology.html?test=true
The article calls it Will's love letter to scientology. I find myself actively liking actors less as I learn they're Scientologists... which isn't so different from finding myself actively liking other people less if I learn they're super-conservative Christians, but still....
Maybe it's that (I imagine) Christians aren't covertly inserting their religious theology into popular entertainment. But I know they are. Actively. Maybe it's because I think Scientology's tenants are so incredibly laughable. But so are many of Christianity's.
Maybe it's that I'm just a religious bigot and I'm aware that most active religions today are self-serving organisms that don't really have the interests of the planet as a whole, or people as a whole, as any kind of priority in their theology.
And maybe it's just that Scientology repulses me.
cross-posted from dreamwidth. http://charlottechill.dreamwidth.org/22226.html#comments