"I am not a Scientologist" says actor, despite using Scientology teaching methods at his school New Village Leadership Acaemy by Helen Parsons
(libertarian)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
"I am not a Scientologist," superstar Will Smith told Anonymous in response to concerns that his new school would be used as an indoctrination tool for the Church of Scientology.
Meeting with members of Anonymous Monday September 8th outside of New Village Leadership Academy, the private school he founded with his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, Smith explained that, while he has witnessed impressive results from Study Tech within his own family, he will not allow his school to be used as a tool for Scientology.
Smith's public friendship with actor Tom Cruise and large donations to Scientology-based charities such as the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project have led the speculation that the Hancock star joined the controversial cult. Smith has refuted any claims of participation in either Auditing or Purification, both critical components of Scientology.
"If Scientologists or anybody tells me how to run my school, I'll just do this," he laughed, making an elbowing gesture. The actor began using the Study Tech methods for home schooling his children and has worked with faculty members to adapt those methods for use at NVLA.
The actor stated that he does not wish to pay a licensing fee to Scientology because of his desire to maintain complete control over the teaching methods used at NVLA, an option not typically offered to licensees of Scientology "technology."
An evaluation of Study Tech done by Carnegie Mellon professor Dr. David S. Touretzky, concluded that "There is no reputable educator anywhere who endorses [study technology]," said Touretzky, a noted critic of Scientology. "What happens is that children are inculcated with Scientology jargon and are led to regard L.R. Hubbard as an authority figure. They are laying the groundwork for later bringing people into Scientology."
Hubbard wrote and lectured on his theories which followers much accept as gospel. "There is no such thing as a fat cell," explained the author-turned-cult-leader in a bulletin to his parishioners. "Smoking cures lung cancer!" was part of a lecture he delivered in 1961. In his book History of Man, Hubbard wrote that human beings developed from clams which were preyed up by large birds.
Based the on the curriculum which Smith provided Anonymous, these outlandish conceptswhich Scientologists take at face value because they were stated by Hubbardwill not be included in students' course work.
"We appreciate Will's interest in our efforts and his openness in speaking with us directly. It shows his concern both as a parent and educator," said Anonymous who are hopeful that NVLA will take the great strides necessary to correct for the deficiencies in Scientology's Study Tech, or abandon them altogether.
"We will be keeping an eye on the situation to make sure that NVLA lives up to the goals Will Smith has for it, which include keeping the Church of Scientology out of the classrooms."
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The views expressed
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This article makes me laugh because it presents commonly stated criticsms without the emotional baggage often present in criticisms.
"Hubbard wrote and lectured on his theories which followers much accept as gospel." is one of those critical but untrue statements. Hubbard himself said more than once in his writings -- be skeptical, don't take what I write as gospel, understand and try out these ideas for yourself, make your own judgements, form your own opinions. Indeed, without understanding, his philosophy can hardly be used - except as critical chant.
Actually, Terryeo, your argument does not address the concept itself. The author did not claim that Hubbard instructed his followers to accept what he said without question, but did claim that "they" do so. Would you say that is accurate, at least in the majority of cases?
mark tomles - I know I question and try out an idea at least once before accepting it. I can't tell you what everyone else does, except for the people I talked with about this idea. The people I talked with about this idea, generally, said they had some doubt at first, then tried various ideas out, then said they were surprised it was just as Ron Hubbard said.
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