Is Will Smith a Scientologist or not?
Why the cat and mouse game? Is he ashamed of being a Scientologist? Is he NOT a Scientologist, or is he just a very personal guy?
Seems like the cat and mouse game draws MORE attention to it and makes it seem like there is something wrong with Scientology.
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M$13 Answers
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M$http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,360642,00.html
Will Smith Funds Private Scientology School
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.
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M$And anytime someone says "not that it matters" is a sign that it does matter. It's like saying "Not to be offensive" right before you say something offensive.
Will Smith is a good actor. I've enjoyed most of his movies. He does no harm to children or small animals. The rest of it, don't care about. I think that he's so squeeky clean that some want to dirty him up. If you can't find the dirt, invent it. The funny thing is, I don't think Smith cares. Any press is good press, right?
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M$It's subtle, but I did answer the question. I think that the story is made up (so he's not) by Perez Hilton. As to who decided what counts, that's up to the asker.
Not caring about the religious persuasion of someone I don't know and will most likely never meet makes me a "better person"?
Good points Darcy. I agree with you.
People always like to think that what I say has a deeper meaning. Allow me to reassure you, I'm a shallow person in that I say what I mean. If I meant that I thought I was better than Jason because I didn't care about Smith's religion, I would have said it. See that writing between the lines? No? Good, cause there isn't anything there! Honest!
It's a good point (i.e. "not that it matters"), but why keep stoking the flames?
Darcy, are you a Therapist or Psychologist? You've gone completely off subject and completely avoided the question which completely defeats the purpose of you even posting here. The question was, "Is he a Scientologist"... Not, "Can you attempt to prove yourself as a better individual than myself by making yourself out to not care more about Will Smith's religion?". Sorry, if I offend... Just speaking my mind.
That was how I percieved the message that you were attempting to convey.
Ever think that perhaps he was just being generous? Perhaps he was giving to a cause he liked (it was school--we should always fund education) but didn't necessary subscribe to. I've donated money to Catholic charities and I'm not Catholic.
Oh, and Smith didn't stoke the flames. Hilton did. I don't see Smith holding up any sign that says "I donated money..."
Wow, interesting discussion going on here. What I'm seeing is: Question asked. Then Darcy's answer = It doesn't matter. So do answers such as these, ones that don't necessarily answer the question, count as an answer? How literally are we taking all these questions?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/16/will-smith-i-am-not-a-sci_n_126826.html
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M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$"I don't necessarily believe in organized religion," Smith, 39, said when asked about Scientology Friday at a junket for his upcoming film I Am Legend.
"I love my God, my higher power, but it is mine and mine alone, and I create my connection, and I decide how my connection is going to be," he added.
Describing himself as a "student of world religions," Smith — who was raised a Baptist — said: "I believe that my connection to my higher power is separate from everybody's.
"I don’t believe that the Muslims have all the answers and all the beliefs. I don’t believe the Christians have all the answers and beliefs, or that the Jews have all the answers."
{US Magazine}
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M$I mean, you can't proove he is if he does not say he is.
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M$Smith has stated that, "I just think a lot of the ideas in Scientology are brilliant and revolutionary and non-religious". If that's his opinino, then he obviously believes in the religion... in a non-religious way. If he believes in the religion, then he's, at least partially, Scientologist. That's just my opinion, though. What definition are you using for "Scientologist"? Must he believe in all of their theories, or just some of them?? You know... Like the Catholics.
What is your source for those quotes mrhelmsc? Please include sources for all quotes in Mahalo Answers! :-)
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M$But...
In May, he gave a million dollars to a school who's teachings are based in Scientology. At the same time, he also donated over $100,000 to a Christian ministry.
To quote Smith, “I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions. And I respect all people and all paths.”
So there's your answer.
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M$I guy's visited my school and no!
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M$
Different ones... Including Scientology?