The beginning of the end for the cult of scientology?

It began to gain some serious weight when Tom Cruise jumped onto the novelty religion bandwagon. Scientology would not have the publicity and popularity it currently boasts if Cruise had chosen crystal healing to ease the guilt celebrity status and disgusting amounts of money seem to bring. Scientology gave him a chance to throw his money at a place where he can pretend it does him good, but where it actually disappears into the abyss of the bizarre celebrity religious expense account. And as it gains support and regular income from a long list of celebrities, so it gains recognition and the support of a wider section of the general public. Or so it hopes.
Today it was announced that Paul Haggis, the writer of Oscar-winning dramas Crash and Million Dollar Baby, has turned his back on Scientology following their support of controversial legislation that bans gay marriage in California. It is no weird thing to see fickle celebrities running to and from religions and sects, but the peculiar thing about his leaving is the way he employed language as he publicly shunned what has become the most popular sci fi concept of all time.
His statement said he ‘resigned’ from Scientology, seen by many as a cult. Now, I have not had an active interest or involvement in any religion beyond that of attending the odd Sunday session at the local church, but I know that usually it isn’t something that requires a resignation when you become sick of the boring old bloke in the dress. Scientology may employ less dresses and more glam, but does it really require a resignation? Surely religion isn’t so much of a chore that it can be used to add the tedium of real work to the lives of those who haven’t had it for a while? Maybe it’s the super lie-detecting act of ‘auditing’ applied that makes it something to bear? Or, even better, the introductory act of a ‘Purification Rundown’, consisting of light exercise, saunas and the injections of speculatively high levels of niacin.
Could this be the celebrity condemnation that starts a wave of quitters from this extremist celebrity health spa? With rumours that John Travolta is considering leaving after the death of his son earlier this year, the ‘resignation’ of Haggis could stir the Scientology camp into a state of panic, at least it should do. One by one its celebrity endorsers are discovering the dirty side of Scientology, which once threatened to become almost credible for the level of support it had. Now it is finally being seen for the politically-driven, bigoted cult that it is, and at a time when it could’ve gone either way.
Paul Haggis, may you be the first of the many disillusioned to pull back the veil and take in the cruel air of reality.