Rebunk Bigotry Watch (I)

by Cliopatria

Does it make me a religious bigot if I find myself disappointed that Beck (whose new album is getting rave reviews) has recently announced that he is a Scientologist? Does it make me an even worse bigot if I admit that I am pretty dubious that Scientology even IS a religion? Does it make me irredeemable if I think that some religions (if Scientology IS a religion) at least deserve to be taken more seriously than others? Shouldn't my waxing and waning Catholicism be sending me into paroxysms of guilt? Should I feel even guiltier that I do not feel that sense of guilt?

By the way -- tongue in cheek though they may be, these are generally serious questions. If someone declares themselves to be part of a religion, does that in and of itself demand that I respect that religion? One of my colleagues last semester had a student whose religion (by all we could tell through our online forays, the only word one could seriously use was" cult." Let's just say this -- some pretty seriously bizarre sexual practices were prominently involved, and I've got pretty, er, catholic tastes when it comes to sexual practices) called for a holiday, and the student wanted to take a day off from school. She let him, but it did get us to wondering what religious tolerance means.

So give it to me straight, Rebunkers -- I love Beck, can't wait to get the new album, but it perplexes me that he is a Scientologist -- does this seeming intolerance make you love me any less? I'm curious to hear your takes.

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Derek Charles Catsam - 4/7/2005

Andrew --
Thanks. I encourage all skeptical folks to keep an open mind, certainly, and if any of our readers are Scientologists, by all means, make the case if you feel the need. But the site to which Dr. Ackerman sends us is pretty rigorous. Put it this way: its purpose is "the fight against Scientology on the net."
dc

Andrew Ackerman - 4/7/2005

Here's some more fuel for your skepticism of Scientology as a religion and the motives of its celebrity adherents: Operation Clambake.

JoAnn Ryan - 4/7/2005

I agree that they can do what they want within their own parameters, but I disagree that they can use their "religion" as an excuse to be relieved of duties, etc. So, I assume that our bigotry is a limited form of bigotry.

Derek Charles Catsam - 4/7/2005

JoAnn --
I'd like to think what I am feeling is less intolerance than skepticism. I am not certain that being critical entails being bigoted, though I may well be on this issue. But the origins of scientology and the way it has played out in the culture, I just dunno -- does this make Joanne Dixon a religious leader? Am I communing with my vessel to god if I call the Psychic Friends? I guess my intolerance, if that is what it is, is also benign -- people can do whatever they want within the realm of the law, and if scientology helps people to get through the day, that's fine. I don't want to stop them from doing it, or make them where a scarlet letter "S", or forbid them from attending school or anything. I certainly don't advocate discrimination. I just think they might be full of spit or something that sounds remarkably like it.
dc

JoAnn Ryan - 4/7/2005

Yes, Derek, you're a hopeless religious bigot. Actually, I'm just teasing you. I think you are more like most Americans today who are swarmed by religious imagery and causes. It makes us all question what is more legitimiate religion. I think the traditional would be considered more legitimate, personally. But then again, isn't bigotry defined as intolerance of another idea, thing, person? So I guess those of us who are traditional and feel superior in legitimacy are bigots.

Derek Charles Catsam - 4/7/2005

Ed --
Absolutely, it was a serious question. And I had not read Geertz in any substantial way since my undergrad religion course with the legendary H. Gans Little at Williams back in the spring of 1990. That is why i was a bit astounded to see that for all of the verbiage, Geertz would seem to give a lot of leeway to those that would call themselves part of a new religion. I suppose that is fine -- all religions were new and looked at skeptically at one point. but I still look askance at some of the things that spring up under the rubric of religion.
dc

Ed Schmitt - 4/7/2005

Well you said your question was relatively serious :) I don't mind focusing instead on Whitney Houston's pilgrimage to the Holy Land...of course that was two stints in rehab ago.

Derek Charles Catsam - 4/6/2005

Oscar --
I think Ed's question below hits the point perfectly -- that the number of celebrities in general whjo are Scientologists is rather astounding. I have never known a Scientologist, that I am aware of, in my life, yet I can name at least a handful of celebrity Scientologists.
For some reason I am amused by an image of Tom Cruise identifying lima beans shaped like L. Ron Hubbard.
dc

Derek Charles Catsam - 4/6/2005

Ed--
Wow -- bringing the thunder with a Clifford Geertz reference. But my goodness, most anything can qualify under it.
I might hurt my brain pondering the celebrity-to-normal person ratio question. If anyone is teaching a celebrity religions course, please weigh in, and also consider blogging for Rebunk . . .
dc

Ed Schmitt - 4/6/2005

A good place to begin tackling this is with Clifford Geertz's classic anthropological definition of religion as "(1) a system of symbols which acts to (2) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by (3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (4) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that (5) the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic." To me the more interesting question is what the ratio of scientologists in the "celebrity community" (whatever that might mean) is to that of the general population (maybe narrowing it more to cities in blue states or even along the coasts). Or why is scientology and Kabbalah so popular among celebs? Is anyone teaching a "celebrity religions" course?

Oscar Chamberlain - 4/6/2005

There's something about scientology and music. Chick Corea is a long-time Scientologist. My mind's going blank right now, but I'm pretty sure a respectable number of other good musicians are. Maybe it's a good "platform" if you're creative.

Of course, that would not explain the movie version of "Battlefield Earth."