“We thought the priests had a great lifestyle”: Before Joining Scientology Top Gun Star Tom Cruise Almost Became a Priest at 14 Before Going Against the Rules
Tom Cruise has been the face behind successful billion-dollar franchises like Top Gun and Mission Impossible in Hollywood for decades. At an age when actors go ahead with their retirement plans the 61-year-old megastar just gave the audience a nail-biting moment with his motorcycle stunt in his 2023 release Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One.
Despite having a crazy fan following in almost every part of the world Tom Cruise is one of the most humble actors in the entertainment industry. His association and dedication towards Scientology need no introduction. Not many people know that he had almost greatly influenced by priesthood before being introduced to Scientology.
Before Joining Scientology Tom Cruise Almost Became A Priest At The Age Of 14
Tom Cruise was raised in an abusive environment during his childhood, during his teenage he sought refuge in a Roman Catholic Church. According to The New York Daily News as a teenager, he was greatly influenced by priest Ric Schneider. For the actor, he was no less than a mentor and even helped him get into a school named St. Francis Seminary School in Cincinnati, reportedly Tom Cruise had started studying to become a priest there when he was only 14.
According to The New York Daily News, Ric Schneider claimed that Tom Cruise wanted a good education. He said-
“Tom was instantly hooked. I think he wanted a good education. With his parents going through a divorce, it was tough on him, that’s maybe one of the reasons why he came here.”
According to the actor’s alleged former best friend Shane Demple, he had a strong Catholic faith. He said-
“He had a very strong Catholic faith. We went to Mass, spent time in the chapel, and enjoyed hearing stories from the priests. We thought the priests had a great lifestyle and we were really interested in the priesthood.”
Tom Cruise is not only a great actor but was also exceptionally good in his academics. Reportedly his interest in priesthood dates back to the time when he had no idea about Scientology.
Tom Cruise Opens Up On Scientology
Tom Cruise’s association with Scientology is not hidden from the world. The 61-year-old actor was introduced to Scientology by his ex-wife Mimi Rogers. The Mission Impossible actor’s relationships were affected by his dedication to the church. During an interview with the Playboy in 2013, the actor spoke about his faith in Scientology and how it has helped him evolve as a person. He said-
“It’s something that has helped me incredibly in my life. I’ve been a Scientologist for over 30 years. It’s something that is, you know…without it, I wouldn’t be where I am. So, it’s a beautiful religion. I’m incredibly proud.”
According to the viral interview, Tom Cruise refrains from talking about religion and faith during the promotion of his movies. He pointed out-
“What’s interesting is, if I don’t talk about my religion, if I say I’m not discussing it or different humanitarian things I’m working on, they’re like, ‘He’s avoiding it.’ If I do talk about it, it becomes, ‘Oh, he’s proselytizing. When I’m promoting a film, I’m not going to get caught up in anything else, and that includes all my personal things.”
While talking about having an equal amount of respect for other faiths, he said-
“I have respect for what other people believe. What I believe in my own life is that it’s a search for how I can do things better, whether it’s being a better man or a better father or finding ways for myself to improve. Individuals have to decide what is true and real for them. I’m fortunate in the life I have…I’ve gotten to travel to different places all over the world, to see the commonality of the human experience,”
Tom Cruise further added-
“It’s something I look for. Whether it’s in Canada, France, India, or Russia, even though people have different color skin and they believe in different things, there is a commonality of the human experience that is very real for me.”
Tom Cruise’s ex-wife Katie Holmes was introduced to Scientology by her actor husband, but she went on to leave the religion after her divorce. According to the report by the Daily Mail, the Batman star did not want her daughter Surie to be raised by a Scientologist. Tom Cruise’s inclination toward Scientology was one of the most significant reasons for his divorce from Katie Holmes.
