Celebrities

Basically, the only reason that I have ever even heard of Scientology is because of the celebrities associated with it. Among the many who partake in this religion, Tom Cruise and John Travolta are the most notable. Now, obviously, celebrities are people, too, and they must have some religious beliefs or spirituality. Nevertheless, the fact that So-and-So Actress is Jewish never makes the evening news as Travolta’s ties with Scientology do. So, my question is, how did this happen? Is this a coincidence that famous people are always showing up as Scientologists?
After researching articles on the Internet, it appears that this is no coincidence at all. In fact, it appears that L. Ron Hubbard tried to get the influential and famous to join his religion. He started doing this in 1955, when “he launched something he called Project Celebrity, listing 63 famous people he wanted to interest in his 'science of the mind'. It was a catholic selection that included Ernest Hemingway, Danny Kaye, Orson Welles, Liberace, Bing Crosby, Pablo Picasso and Walt Disney” (Shaw). In theory, this plan is a good idea. Use those with power to promote your cause. However, Hubbard’s cause is not a charity or political party. It is supposedly classified as a religion. I see a religion as a tool of self-discovery. One should need to be persuaded by Tom Cruise to choose a life-path.
Though the Pope holds much power in the world arena, he does not recruit celebrities for the specific purpose of converting them to Roman Catholicism. John F. Kennedy was a world-famous Catholic, but he was so from birth. He never went on Oprah to tell anyone about it.

Shaw, William. "What do Tom Cruise and John Travolta know about Scientology that we don't?"
Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph, 14 Feb. 2008. Web. 9 Dec. 2009.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3671262/What-do-Tom-Cruise-and-John-Travolta-know-about-Scientology-that-we-dont.html. Online.