The Mercury, Australia
Oct. 8, 2004
Rohan Wade
www.themercury.news.com.au

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ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 8915 • Posted: Thursday October 7, 2004  

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A little bit of Hollywood has come to Launceston in the form of celebrity religion, scientology.

The religion noted for its A-list celebrity followers such as Tom Cruise, is at the Royal Launceston Show in a bid to introduce potential volunteer missionaries to the fold.

Sydney-based volunteer missionary Cyrus Brooks, who moved to Australia several years ago from Hollywood, said the scientology tent at the show was aiming to show people not only what they could do for themselves, but do for other people.

He said scientology volunteer missionaries worked to counsel people after disasters, ranging from global tragedies to everyday domestic breakdowns.

“Often its just about helping repair a relationship between a parent and their child or helping someone avoid drugs,” he said.

Mr Brooks said the Church of Scientology appealed to celebrities, possibly because their extremely public lives meant they needed to learn how to cope with extra pressure.

“They have the same problems as everyone does, but their every move is watched by a lot of people, so they want to learn how to help themselves through that,” he said.

Mr Brooks said scientologists had started a mission in Launceston this year and had more than 50 members.

He said scientology was based on a principal that man was basically good, and was a spiritual being, not just flesh and blood.

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