Josh Brolin Reveals "Bizarre" John Travolta Scientology Encounter
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Josh Brolin is among the legion of Hollywood stars who tried out Scientology -- and said no thanks.
One of the reasons the Oscar-nominated actor was turned off? Brolin tells the New Yorker magazine he once observed famous Scientologist John Travolta practice his beliefs on the late Marlon Brando at an L.A. dinner party.
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The star, 42, explains that Brando arrived for the bash in pain, and with a cut on his leg after he had helped out a stranded motorist. Travolta, 56, offered to soothe the Hollywood legend, explaining he had reached a "new level" in Scientology.
According to Brolin, Travolta touched Brando's injured leg and Brando closed his eyes.
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"I watched this process going on -- it was very physical," Brolin tells the mag. "I was thinking, 'This is really f***ing bizarre!"
He continues: "Then, after ten minutes, Brando opens his eyes and says, 'That really helped. I actually feel different!'"
Travolta's attorney told the New Yorker that Brolin's account was "pure fabrication."
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Still, Brolin admits that he visited the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood in a "moment of real desperation" for an "auditing," or spiritual counseling.
And while he passed on joining, he says he respects famous practitioners of the religion such as Travolta and Tom Cruise. "Each has a good head on his shoulders, they make great business decisions, they seem to have wonderful families," the True Grit star admits. "Is that because they were helped by Scientology?"
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16I think it's so funny--the gossip rags are full of celebrity tragedies--drug addiction, fights over custody--and here's John Travolta supposedly helping someone and it becomes a point of controversy? Does anybody else notice what a bizarre set of values this reveals?
Wow, Corey, off topic much? The reason that Scientology is NOT a real religion is that it charges $$$ for it's members to learn the advanced tenets (which are total bunk-I know). I'm with Josh on this one-John Travolta saying that he is on a new level qualifies him as a mystical healer? Give me a break. Scientology abuses it's members (the Sea Org--look it up) and lavishes attention on celebrities for what reason? Good old fashioned money.
Only the elimination of all conservative Christians will allow all Americans to be free and the world to no longer have to live in fear of the U.S.A.'s imperialist, terrorist holy war. The conservative ideology has never helped mankind in any way, it has not only never helped mankind in anyway, it has oppressed, murdered, raped and killed all those in it's way to gain power. History shows us this. Fact shows us this. James Madison, the "Father of the U.S. Constitution", along with many founders of this country, regardless of their religious or non-religious affiliations, knew keeping politics and religion separate not only preserves each, but helps them flourish: "The number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church and the State."
IF THERE IS ANYTHING BIZARRE ABOUT THIS ARTICLE IT IS JOSH BROLIN!
The Bible talks about the laying on of hands for healing, so I did not find this act "bizarre". What I do find sad, though, is that rich and famous persons searching for (??) are looking in the wrong place. The place to begin IMHO is the Bible. The history (Old Testament) shows what was and how it worked for centuries and many truths and consequences are shown there. Then the New Testament shows what God did for us because we could not make good choices all the time in the past. Start there......then work at proving or disproving what you have read. To find happiness, contentment, truth, love....takes time and hard work and research. No one can hand it to you.
Being an ex-cult member of another group, it's amazing the similarities! Dr. Margaret Singer was right about the similarities in cults! That Article in the New Yorker was an excellent expose. I can see a lot of comments from the current members of Scientology trying to discredit the article but once they have had enough and exit themselves they will see too. Signed -Ex-Cult Member of another group entirely.
He said it looked bizarre but Brando felt it helped, Brolin then gave Kudos to famous practitioners and their lovely families. It all seemed very complimentary, but the religion just isn't for him in particular. Geez, the article digs too hard for controversy (and people fall for it). Who knew the press was capable of such things? Yet, I feel Paul Haggis makes extremely valid points. Isn't that Haggis sitch old news since he left "in 2009 over its opposition to gay marriage and the way it allegedly treats detractors." The funny thing is, Brolin made favorable comments, but the detractors say, "pure fabrication." I say, unimportant. Lets return focus to Egypt...
Sceintology is nothing more than positive suggestion. If it works the suggestion worked. Anyone can give a positive suggestion and help someone. It doesn't have to cost money. Hubbard's "religion" is 20th century. It's outdated by any kind of Quantum Physics or 21st century scientific discoveries on how the physical universe is affected by the individual.
The New Yorker turned tabloid now, actually worse. They started spreading outright lies, something that can be often noted when observing anti-scientology rants. One example: The New Yorker press release and Lawrence Wright’s profile on Paul Haggis, "Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology," released Monday, reported on an alleged federal investigation. The New Yorker was well aware the Church knew nothing of the investigation but had refuted the same claims based on a case already thrown out by a Federal Court Judge. Nonetheless, The New Yorker irresponsibly used the same sources who were discredited in the dismissed case to claim an "investigation" so as to garner headlines for an otherwise stale article containing nothing but rehashed unfounded allegations. Allan Lengel, a former Washington Post reporter who writes for AOL News on federal law enforcement matters, filed this late today in a breaking story on Wright’s allegations: "The author cites two sources in the FBI who ‘assured me that the case remains open.’ However, a federal law enforcement source told AOL News the investigation has fallen short and no criminal charges are expected to be filed." Obviously, this contradicts what Wright wrote in The New Yorker. If you published Wright’s account, this contradiction should be made known to your viewers and/or readers. The New Yorker article is just another thinly veiled tabloid piece repeating old and new rumors from people with an axe to grind with the Church of Scientology. The New Yorker author Lawrence Wright could not come up with a single line that has not been discarded as the work of fanatic anti-religionists a long time ago. This piece actually sheds a new light on him as a researcher and writer. How much does his obvious hate against religion taint his judgment? This piece has been written by someone with a deep-set hatred against religion and spirituality. Just like the Hollywood dude Haggis, who openly confesses that he makes a living putting his personal life traumata in movie scripts, Lawrence Wright lives his anti-religious hatred in writing one-track minded articles and books. The New Yorker, putting on tabloid colors for a moment, has allowed him to air his therapy sessions and that is their choice but one really has to ask: I don't really want to waste my time reading something like this.
No, I haven't read that New Yorker article. I'll look it up.
What happened to religious tolerance? Anyone can qualify other people's religious practices as bizarre, just think about it.
that's a joke
scientologists are complete nutjobs. google it to see what they believe in, you'll laugh your a$$ off.
Ellie, look up Lisa McPherson and judge for yourself. Did you actually read the New Yorker article?
So, someone gets hurt helping others in a car wreck, that person gets helped with their injuries and someone watching is passing judgement on what is bizarre? I guess that's useful if you're in need of a sullen opinion and not real help. At least Brolin has enough insight to see that some faith and spirituality is an aid to others and their lives, even if he backpedals into the point.
No one really knows and no one can really judge unless they themselves belong/ed to this religion. Every religion seems strange to those who observe it from the outside with very limited knowledge of its teachings.