http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,360642,00.html

Quote :

" Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith have won critical acclaim for pumping nearly $1 million of their own money into a new private school that will offer organic meals, laptops for every student and an environment of learning based on "equity" and "respect" to create "citizens of the world." Here's what the parents of the school's pupils aren't being told: The New Village Academy plans to use some teaching methods developed within the Church of Scientology and has hired a team of Scientologists to put them into action. Pinkett-Smith, who currently home-schools the couple's two children, has long been talking about opening up a school where Jaden, 9, and Willow, 7, can continue to receive an education in line with their beliefs, friends told FOXNews.com. So she and her actor husband are bankrolling the pre-kindergarten through sixth grade school in Calabasas, Calif., and they have selected a group of Scientologists, including the Director of Learning, Director of Qualifications and Artistic Director, to create that atmosphere. But you won't find references to the Church of Scientology on NVA's Web site. Ron Reynolds, executive director of the California Association of Private School Organizations, a consortium of the state's private and religious schools, said it's not the actual teaching of Scientology methods that raises a red flag for him. His concern is the school's non-disclosure about its apparent religious affiliation. "School should be forthright about its purposes. And if it's a religious school, I don't see why it wouldn't wish to announce its religious affiliation loud and clear," Reynolds said. While the Church of Scientology is never mentioned explicitly, some of its teaching methods and terms are not hard to find on the site. Under the glossary of educational theories, it lists "study technology," an "educational model developed by L.R. Hubbard." That's L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology. "[S]tudy technology focuses on three principles," the curriculum reads. "First is the use of 'mass' to foster understanding — children need to see and feel what they are learning about," reads the posting. Scientology supporters say study technology can be beneficial because it is individualized and helps students overcome things they don't understand by building one idea upon another. But critics say its concepts can be overly simplistic and brainwashes students with its covert religious instruction. The site uses other Scientology terms, such as "spiraling" and "gradient," to describe how students master a level of learning before moving on to the next. Scientology already runs its own semi-official network of schools called Delphi schools, which employ Scientologists and use teaching techniques like study tech — just like NVA. While there has been much speculation about the couple's ties to Scientology, Smith has never publicly said he is a Scientologist. Last month, Smith was quoted as saying, “I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions. And I respect all people and all paths.” In December, interviewed on "Access Hollywood," Smith said of his Scientology connection: “I was introduced [to] it by Tom [Cruise], and I’m a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household, I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98 percent the same ideas of Scientology, 98 percent the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism.” In 2004 the couple donated $20,000 to the Hollywood Education and Literacy Program (HELP), the basis for Scientology’s home-schooling system. Click here to read the FOX411 on Will Smith's contribution. There was never any mention of faculty members’ Scientology backgrounds on the school’s Web site. As if underscoring its secretive nature, the school's faculty member page on its Web site was suddenly taken down last week — but FOXNews.com learned at least three staff members have ties to Scientology. Tasia Jones, NVA’s director of learning, graduated from the Scientologist Delphi School in Milton, Mass., according to her MySpace profile. She was previously the Boston director of HELP, the same Scientology group to which Smith donated $20,000 in 2004, according to media reports. On her Scientology Online blog Jones wrote, “I am currently teaching in a small private school. I have inspirations in the arts, particularly movies/films.” On a page entitled “My Success,” Jones said, “My success in Scientology has been I have hope for myself and others that life can change for the better, all is not lost. I have a much more optimistic look than many of my peers.” According to TruthAboutScientology.com, an online monitoring database that tracks the religion and its practitioners, Jones completed six Scientology courses between 2000 and 2006, including one entitled Hubbard Professional Metering Course. The official Scientology Web site wrote this about what skills are learned: “It is not possible to successfully do anything in life if one cannot control objects, situations and communication. This course teaches that skill.” Sigrid Burket, NVA’s Director of Qualifications, is described on the school Web site's faculty page as a “Youth Specialist” and sports coach. In 2004, Burket was listed as the director of a school that practiced Scientology beliefs — an official list compiled by the Church itself. According to TruthAboutScientology, Burket has completed eight Scientology courses. Sisu Raiken, the NVA's Artistic Director and performance teacher, is also a Scientologist. From her Scientology Web site she writes: “Without exaggerating, I can honestly say that Scientology has made EVERYTHING about my life seem better. I am more productive, making more income, have a happier family and doing EXACTLY what I want to do in life. When I first found out about Scientology I was a failed artist and about to give up. Today I am well-known in my field (performer and teacher), very well-respected and VERY happy.” According to TruthAboutScientology, Raiken has completed 16 Scientology courses, including a course that teaches the evils of psychiatry and how to “detect and handle suppressive persons,” according to the official Scientology Web site. Numerous e-mails and phone calls for comment on the school's faculty by Smith's representatives and NVA were not returned. Reynolds said people are certain to be curious about what Smith's new school has to offer, especially due to its name recognition. But he balks at why NVA wasn't more upfront about the school's Scientology connection. "I fail to understand why you would hide what you are. How can parents make informed choices if they have to struggle to ascertain what the purpose and philosophy of the school is?" Reynolds said. "

It's spreading

NO WILL

NOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo

5/30/2008 2:13:26 PM

POD PEOPLE

5/30/2008 2:14:12 PM

Summary?

5/30/2008 2:14:20 PM

i mean...he has had direct contact with aliens.

5/30/2008 2:15:16 PM

LOL

5/30/2008 2:16:07 PM

^^^rich people are stupid

[Edited on May 30, 2008 at 2:16 PM. Reason : ^]

5/30/2008 2:16:28 PM

WTF is Scientology? I mean, seriously? What is it?

5/30/2008 2:18:10 PM

Chorch of Scontology?

5/30/2008 2:21:38 PM

Will Smith is now IN THE CLOSET.

5/30/2008 2:31:05 PM

damn. this is fucked. they got will smith. scientology uses some good techniques, but the whole alien/Xenu thing and "clearing" the planet (that's their goal) . . . . is bugged out. not to mention the $100K's of $ bucks to advance in it.

and it goes against any of the major religious faiths, i.e. Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism.

5/30/2008 2:54:37 PM

Quote :

"and it goes against any of the major religious faiths, i.e. Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism."

please step in front of a moving bus...please?

5/30/2008 2:57:29 PM

what's your point, fagmire?

5/30/2008 2:58:15 PM

sounds like someone is butthurt from another thread

5/30/2008 2:59:25 PM

i lost a ton of respect for will smith when i heard he fell for the scientology mess. he's a great actor... but dang will, come on.

5/30/2008 3:04:49 PM

^^^^

yeah I don't see the point of the last sentence of that post.

5/30/2008 3:05:21 PM

Cool, Leah Remini left the church. Kirstie Alley is not impressed.

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/kirstie-alley-pissed-leah-remini-leaving-scientology-164350625.html

7/15/2013 2:37:31 PM

Was hoping for Fresh Prince at the end...

DISAPPOINT

7/15/2013 2:39:43 PM

I really hope that scientology is more of a front for atheists... Purposefully growing a stupid religion (but the actually members are in on the joke) to counter the equally stupid other "real" religions.

7/15/2013 2:41:53 PM

POD PEOPLE

7/15/2013 2:50:28 PM

Quote :

"Actress Leah Remini, best known for her leading role on CBS's "King of Queens" from 1998 to 2007, has left the Church of Scientology. Her discontent with the church leadership reportedly stems from an incident that occurred during Tom Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes in 2006."

Why do any of you care about this shit

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

[Edited on July 15, 2013 at 2:53 PM. Reason : katie holmes isn't even that hot]

7/15/2013 2:53:08 PM

It's the real life mafia. It sill exists and you can see them on TV and they aren't all greaseball jersey pedophiles. everyone loves mob drama

7/15/2013 2:57:12 PM

^^why are you even quoting and commenting? just to be annoying?

i'm just happy a high-profile celeb publicly left the silly church. i'm anti-religious.

[Edited on July 15, 2013 at 2:59 PM. Reason : ]

7/15/2013 2:57:30 PM

how brave

7/15/2013 2:58:41 PM

Quote :

"i'm anti-religious."

i, too, hate it when other congregate in the spirit of their shared beliefs...it just makes me so...angry

7/15/2013 2:59:20 PM

Quote :

"News of Remini's departure first surfaced last Friday, in a report from longtime Scientology critic Tony Ortega. On Monday, Ortega (a former editor-in-chief at The Village Voice) followed up on his original report with several new details from his sources about why Remini was leaving. He writes on his website that during Cruise's wedding to Holmes in Italy in 2006, Remini asked Miscavige why his wife, Shelly Miscavige, was not in attendance. Shelly has reportedly not been seen by any church members since 2007, but at that time, it was unusual that she wasn't present at such a high-profile event. Remini was told "to shut up, as if the question itself was out of line," according to Ortega's source."

I take back what I said. This is now actually interesting.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

7/15/2013 2:59:21 PM

Quote :

"i lost a ton of respect for will smith when i heard he fell for the scientology christian islamist bhuddist religious mess. he's a great actor... but dang will, come on"

I am no schentiologist, but plz to explain how the actors that believe that there is a guy (or multiple deities) in the sky that created Earth and everything on it several thousand of years ago are any more credible than those who "fell" for scientology?

There are lessons to learn from any religion, and Ithink Will SMith understands that. One thing is to use certain techniques that may have proven to be effective and another another is to impose a religious dogma upon the students.

Quote :

"In December, interviewed on "Access Hollywood," Smith said of his Scientology connection: “I was introduced [to] it by Tom [Cruise], and I’m a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household, I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98 percent the same ideas of Scientology, 98 percent the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism""

7/15/2013 3:01:31 PM

i think his 98% quote is pretty wrong.

7/15/2013 3:03:53 PM

Quote :

"I really hope that scientology is more of a front for atheists... Purposefully growing a stupid religion (but the actually members are in on the joke) to counter the equally stupid other "real" religions."

That's what the Flying Spaghetti Monster is for.

7/15/2013 6:32:42 PM

Quote :

"I am no schentiologist, but plz to explain how the actors that believe that there is a guy (or multiple deities) in the sky that created Earth and everything on it several thousand of years ago are any more credible than those who "fell" for scientology?"

Because other religions don't force you to pay to be part of them, basically.

7/15/2013 9:36:21 PM

David Miscaviage is a straight up nut case. I recommend everyone read "Inside Scientology" - if you're interested in this shit, at least. I mean for gods sake, a girl died from leaving her in a room starving to death and they got away with it. Their ability to brainwash people is amazing

7/15/2013 10:08:26 PM

And he I was thinking that was was a white person thing

7/15/2013 10:22:08 PM

ITT, I learn that Tom Cruise and Will Smith are friends.

7/15/2013 10:54:04 PM

Quote :

"Because other religions don't force you to pay to be part of them, basically."

This is a troll. I repeat. This is a troll. Do not be alarmed.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

7/15/2013 11:19:30 PM

Nah, he's pretty much right on. Yeah it's nutty who gives a shit. They are the new mob... a really creepy mob that cannot handle ridicule on any level.
It's like islam but they use lawyers instead of butcher knives and bombs (except when they use butcher knives and bombs)

[Edited on July 16, 2013 at 1:11 AM. Reason : angry feet]

7/16/2013 1:11:31 AM

i'm not trolling.

you can get all the religious texts of pretty much every major/minor religion you want to for free and study them/practice them all you want.

can you do that with scientology? no.

7/16/2013 12:09:19 PM

The beliefs of Scientology are even whackier than a lot of "traditional" religions, even Mormonism.

7/16/2013 12:23:47 PM

yeah i'm not even going there. i'm pretty sure south park has already covered that.

7/16/2013 12:49:47 PM