Bill Maher Compares Glenn Beck To Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard

Colby Hall — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:08:24 +0000

Comedian Bill Maher appeared on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS yesterday, and was asked by the host to share his thoughts on the Tea Party movement and its relationship to religion. “When you watched Glenn Beck‘s rally,” Zakaria asked “what’s fascinating is that it was mostly about religion.” Maher did not demur in his response, saying “I think he’s doing what some people before him have done, like L. Ron Hubbard, who’s a novelist and decided, you know what, it’s a much easier gig to be a religious leader.”

Maher added “I think Glenn Beck is (segueing) from what he was, mostly a political preacher, to a preacher preacher. It is an easier gig and you make more money, you know, Jim Bakker kind of money.”

Scientology Spokesman Storms Out on Nightline, Refuses to Answer Questions about Emperor Xenu

Zeke Turner — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:53:32 +0000

Last night’s episode of ABC’s Nightline included interviews about the Church of Scientology, one of which ended when Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis stood up, tore off his microphone and stormed off the set.

Martin Bashir incited him to leave with a series of questioning, starting with “Do you believe that a galactic emperor called Xenu brought his people to earth 75 million years ago and buried them in volcanoes?”

It might seem like a pretty simple yes/no question, but Bashir was asking about a part of Scientology scripture derived from the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and kept secret from the non-Scientologist public and even some Scientologists who don’t rank high enough, we think.

Davis was noticably upset as soon as Xenu entered into the questioning, telling Bashir:

“Ok, Martin, I am not going to discuss the disgusting perversions of Scientology beliefs that can be found commonly on the Internet and be put in the position of talking about things that are so fundamentally offensive to Scientologists … that’s all.

But Bashir persisted, citing his responsibilities as a journalist. Soon enough Davis stormed out, and Nightline cut hard to Bashir in the studio, who doesn’t bat an eye behind the Nightline desk: “When we come back, the future of celebrities in the church.”

Martin Bashir interviews Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis on ABC’s Nightline (starts at 3:40), via TV Newser:

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Bill Maher Compares Glenn Beck To Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard

Scientology Spokesman Storms Out on Nightline, Refuses to Answer Questions about Emperor Xenu