John Travolta is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology, a religion created by L. Ron Hubbard that focuses on spiritual enlightenment, which he has credited with saving his life and helping him through personal tragedies, particularly the loss of his son. He joined in the mid-1970s and has spoken extensively about how Scientology provided support and guidance, even in the face of public scrutiny and controversy surrounding the religion.
In 1955, Hubbard created a list of 63 celebrities targeted for conversion to Scientology. Prominent celebrities who have joined the organization include John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, Nancy Cartwright, and Juliette Lewis.
Yes, Scientologists acknowledge Jesus as a significant historical religious teacher and part of humanity's spiritual heritage, but not as the divine Son of God in the Christian sense; L. Ron Hubbard described him as a great moral teacher, an "Operating Thetan" (a spiritual being who has achieved spiritual enlightenment), and a conduit for wisdom, though he also made controversial, often negative, later comments about him. Scientology doesn't focus on Jesus's resurrection or salvation through him but sees him as one of many enlightened figures, viewing spiritual freedom as overcoming reincarnation through auditing.
Celebrity Scientologists
Scientology believes humans are immortal spiritual beings (thetans) with unlimited potential, trapped in physical bodies due to past traumas and forgotten their true nature, which involves countless past lives, even on other planets. Core practices like "auditing" aim to clear these negative past experiences (engrams) to achieve spiritual enlightenment and freedom, culminating in the "Operating Thetan" (OT) state where one regains abilities to control life and matter, involving secret higher-level teachings about an alien dictator named Xenu.
Scientology's "sacred scripture" includes all the writings and taped lectures of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. A particularly important part of this scripture are the technical bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology, known as HCOBs, for "Hubbard Communications Office Bulletins".
There are no dietary laws whatsoever and no general prohibitions against smoking or drinking. However, Scientology does have a mandatory rule banning the consumption of any alcohol within twenty-four hours of or during an auditing session or training.
Most definitely. In Scientology, the concept of God is expressed as the Eighth Dynamic—the urge toward existence as infinity. This is also identified as the Supreme Being. As the Eighth Dynamic, the Scientology concept of God rests at the very apex of universal survival.
What some may not know about Tom is that he is a born-again Christian and his faith journey is just as diverse and colorful as the characters he's played. The actor is known as an incredible humble, down-to-earth guy, likely a result of being raised in a faith-filled environment.
The Church of Scientology maintains a central list of ex-members and splinter groups formally declared to be suppressive. In an executive directive of 1992, the Church's "International Justice Chief" lists over 400 groups and over 2,300 individuals considered to be suppressive.
Donald Trump identifies as a nondenominational Christian, having previously been associated with Presbyterianism and influenced by Norman Vincent Peale's "positive thinking," though his faith journey includes shifting affiliations and a strong connection with evangelical Christians, with recent statements emphasizing a stronger faith after a life-threatening event. While raised Presbyterian and attending church as a child, he declared himself nondenominational in 2020, yet his religious identity is complex, drawing from various Christian influences and appealing to a broad base of Christian supporters, including Christian nationalists.
Scientology weddings do not require that both parties of the wedding be adherents of Scientology. Nor does the Church necessarily exclude material from weddings of other faiths in its own ceremonies.
Pitt's spiritual journey began in his own home, as he was raised with a devout Christian mother. Pitt told The Hollywood Reporter in 2012, “I grew up very religious, and I don't have a great relationship with religion, I oscillate between agnosticism and atheism.”
John Travolta famously mispronounced Idina Menzel's name as "Adele Dazeem" while introducing her performance of "Let It Go" at the 2014 Oscars, a memorable flub that became a viral sensation, leading to memes and even an "@AdeleDazeem" Twitter account. Menzel, the voice of Elsa in Disney's Frozen, initially found it jarring but later embraced the moment, calling it one of the best things for her career, and even celebrated its anniversary by sending "Adele Dazeem" happy birthday wishes.
Not only did Travolta lose his former girlfriend to cancer, but over the years, he has lost several more dear and loved ones. That includes his wife, actress Kelly Preston, and their son Jett.
Personal life. In 2014, Aniston became a practitioner of Buddhism.
He was raised Catholic.
Costner was raised Baptist. He was not academically inclined in school, but did play sports (especially football), take piano lessons, write poetry, and sing in the First Baptist Choir. He has said that watching the 1962 film How the West Was Won as a child inspired his love for Western films.
There are no dietary laws whatsoever and no general prohibitions against smoking or drinking. However, Scientology does have a mandatory rule banning the consumption of any alcohol within twenty-four hours of or during an auditing session or training.
Scientology teaches the existence of reincarnation; Hubbard taught that each individual has experienced "past lives", although generally avoided using the term "reincarnation" itself. The movement claims that once a body dies, the thetan enters another body which is preparing to be born.
Nonpracticing Scientologists in good standing may return to partake in religious services at any time. If someone decides they no longer wish to be a member of the Church, they are free to leave.
Jesus is described inconsistently, and mostly unfavorably, by L. Ron Hubbard the founder of Scientology. In early writings and lectures, Hubbard considered Jesus merely a teacher in his time, but later Hubbard described Jesus and the Crucifixion as fictitious.
In response, Hubbard ordered that, "Any staff who are trained at any level as auditors (but not in AOs) are to be clothed in the traditioned ministerial black suit, black vest white collar silver cross for ordinary org wear."
Given the Scientology tenet that the body is mortal but the spirit is immortal, and given the minister's role in comforting those bereaved by loss, a funeral ceremony serves to end the cycle of the life passed and focus on the future.