scott wrote:NerblyBear wrote:When he says, "I won't hesitate to 'put ethics' on someone else because I ruthlessly put them on myself," what is he talking about?
Ratting people out for breaking the rules?
He means he'll get tough with Scientologists who slack off and don't bother to recruit new members, raise funds and otherwise promote the church as obnoxiously as possible. He also said he surrounds himself with people who are serious about Scientology, and and anyone who doesn't 'perform' up to his high standards is "out of the arena". He has (or, at least he believes he has) eliminated any influence in his life that in any way conflicts with this cult he's been indoctrinated into. Pretty sad, really.
scott wrote:I thought this was pretty obvious. He doesn't hesitate to have high moral standards for others, because he has high moral standards for himself. He demands adherence to a strict ethical code in his own life. He also has ethical expectations that he projects onto others.
Seems kinda obvious and also very rational and reasonable to say and do.
Well, yes, I guess he probably does honestly mean it that way, but he's confused because he's in a cult. The Scientology rhetoric is cleverly crafted to alter the way people think about the words they use. To understand what Tom Cruise is talking about, you have to understand what the word "ethics" means to a Scientologist.
NerblyBear wrote:Um, no. Using that phrase "to put ethics on" is not how normal, non-cult people speak -- indeed, it doesn't make any sense at all in any other setting. All cults use some phrase to refer to how they keep other members in line, whether that be "caning" or whatever.
This is cult-speak. If a member breaks one of Scientology's rules, he's ready to make them feel ashamed for doing so. This is how I interpret that weird statement.scott wrote:so you're saying you've never heard common expressions like "don't put all your bullshit on me" used to describe the process of projection?
NerblyBear is right. It's not the same thing.
Scientologists use the term "ethics" to mean anything that is good for Scientology as a whole. It has nothing to do with any other kind of good works or philanthropy or being a nice guy or helping anybody outside the cult, short of bringing them into the fold. "Ethical behavior" is then defined as promoting Scientology, generating cash flow and bringing in new members and "outside ethics" means any beliefs that are not in the interest of promoting Scientology and recruiting new members. For instance, Cruise mentions people "bringing in their outside ethics". This means voicing or promoting any beliefs or excuses for why they can't or don't "perform" (as in recruit converts or enrich the Church).
One of the tenets of Scientology is that they are to read and reread the "tech", which is the writings of Hubbard on Scientology. No individual interpretation, paraphrasing or even recitation of Hubbard's writings is allowed. They must be read from approved teaching materials (which, of course, you must pay for), and there are levels which the members work their way up through. Working the levels is called "getting tech in". Members are are only allowed to read the tech appropriate to their own particular level, and there are fees associated with attaining a new level. Fees are either paid in dollars or are assessed by bringing in x number of new converts, or in the case of celebrities, traded for public appearances and favorable press regarding Scientology.
"Putting ethics on somebody" means calling them on breaking the rules, reporting them to Church authorities or levying a punishment on them. Any Scientologist who reveals any of the secrets of the cult (or breaks any of their other many rules) can be punished by getting busted down one or more levels, or even be excommunicated entirely. Once somebody has been excommunicated, all Church members are forbidden from having any friendly or supportive contact with them whatsoever. If they start complaining to others about Scientology, they will then be categorized under a special doctrine called "Fair Game." This basically means that all Scientologists are encouraged to harass, slander, libel or otherwise level vicious personal attacks against the ex-member, should he or she say anything derogatory about Scientology. This is the most extreme example of what is meant by "putting ethics on somebody". You could see how angry Cruise became in his speech, when bragging of how intolerant he is of so-called "SP's" (suppressive persons), or people who disrespect Scientology in his presence. He says that "SP's" don't even dare to challenge him.
Anyway, that's why new initiates and others at the lowest levels of Scientology commonly deny that Scientology is really about space alien ghosts and atom bombs inside volcanoes and intergalactic spacecraft that look exactly like commercial airliners from the 1960s. Those members will also tell you that Scientology is really just a philosophy and code of conduct developed for healthy living and is compatible with any and all religions. Those people haven't yet risen to the level of indoctrination where they learn the ridiculous myths that the cult is really based upon.
You want to know what Scientology is really about?
Read this: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/Xenu/