Tom Cruise Divorce: Does Scientology Deserve Its Bad Reputation?

Over the last week, Scientology has taken a beating in the press. From exposes on its Sea Organization to wild stories about children being subjected to questions about their parents, guarded truths and strange rumors have been on the front pages of major newspapers since Katie Holmes filed the paperwork needed to divorce Tom Cruise, supposedly to shield their daughter from Scientology’s influence.

Every major religion has its share of skeletons in the closet and fanatics at the forefront. Considering how interested in Scientology many Americans suddenly are, it’s not a surprise to see so many negative things being written; however, it is a surprise to see how little any of the major outlets have been saying positively about the Church. Calling Scientology a cult isn’t a fringe opinion, it seems to be what just about everyone outside the religion actually thinks.

Ordinarily, people are very quick to chastise a woman for ending a marriage when there wasn’t infidelity, abuse or addiction involved. The divorce rate may be a bit pathetic in America, but people still like to see relationships work out for the benefit of the children. In Holmes’ case, however, large segments of the population are vehemently defending her for walking away over Cruise’s belief system.

But is Scientology really that bad? Is it overtly worse than the major religions or have people just gotten a negative impression of it thanks to a few bad apples in the bunch? What do you think? Is it it as dreadful as people say, or should we all take a step back and try to see the positives of L. Ron Hubbard’s creation? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below….

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