Perhaps the most sensitive aspect of the Church's theology concerns confidential scriptures meant only for higher level Scientologists.
According to former Church insiders --
these documents describe L. Ron Hubbard's belief in an intergalactic emperor called Xenu --
who brought the spirits of his people to earth 75 million years ago --
burying them in volcanoes.
These spirits, the story goes, have stuck to the bodies of people living today in the form of body thetans.
[Bruce Hines] They have had some really bad experience -- millions, billions, trillions, actually quadrillions of years ago -- which is way older than the big bang, basically.
You're supposed to isolate and communicate with them telepathically so that they go away.
[Martin Bashir] Do you believe in a galactic emperor called Xenu who brought his people to earth 75 million years ago and buried them in volcanoes?
[Tommy Davis] Okay.
[Martin Bashir] Do you believe that?
[Tommy Davis] Martin, I am not going to discuss the disgusting perversions of Scientology beliefs that can be found now commonly on the Internet, and be put in the position of talking about things, talking about things that are so fundamentally offensive to Scientologists to discuss.
[Martin Bashir] Well, I have the burden of my own journalistic responsibility that I bring to this meeting, and I hope that I've been appropriately respectful of you in my asking of the questions.
[Tommy Davis] Well, you haven't to the degree to which the question you know, by virtue of the fact that it's been made very clear in other media entities, that it's something that we consider offensive. And it is in violation of my religious beliefs to talk about them.
[Martin Bashir] So just for clarification, just for clarification, do you personally believe --
[Tommy Davis] I'm going to stop you. If you're going to ask me that question again, and you're going to repeat things about volcanoes, and this kind of thing, and so on and so forth --
I will stand up and walk out, Martin. Because what you're doing by doing that, you are intentionally asking me things which you know I find offensive. And you're insisting on asking me them. So I'm asking you one more time.
[Martin Bashir] Mr. Davis, I'm not trying to offend anybody. I'm just trying to ask you a series of questions about the public faith that you have. I'm not trying to mock you. I'm trying to understand what your beliefs are.
[Tommy Davis] Sure.
[Martin Bashir] You've explained what auditing is. You've explained the growth of the Church. You've done all of those things.
I am asking you in the context of those questions, in the context of those questions, is it true that L. Ron Hubbard said that understanding the origins of the human race as described through Xenu and the intergalactic emperor --
is it true that somebody would die --
When we come back, the future of celebrities in the church.
[Martin Bashir] Last night we reported on allegations from former senior Scientologists, that the leader of the Church, David Miscavige, struck subordinates. Those accusers have since left the Church, and they now say they hope celebrity members may also recognize what they call the Church's darker side.
Tom Cruise is a close friend of the ecclesiastical leader of the Church of Scientology --
David Miscavige.
[Tom Cruise] I want to tell you something. That I have never met a more competent, a more intelligent, a more tolerant, a more compassionate being.
[Martin Bashir] Here he is receiving the organization's Freedom Medal of Valor at a prestigious ceremony.
[Tom Cruise] So I say to you, sir COB, we are lucky to have you, and thank you very much.
LRH! [Screaming applause]
