Will Smith studied Scientology with Tom Cruise but says in a quote from Us Magazine in December 2007: "I believe that my connection to my higher power is separate from everybody's."Us Magazine: Will Smith: Scientology Wasn't for Me (December 3, 2007) More recently, Smith gave out Scientology 'personality test' gift cards to his film crew.
On September 16, 2008, Fox News reported that Smith is not a Scientologist. When asked if he was, Smith replied no and then said "you can take different parts of things you like and put them all together."FOX News: Will Smith Clears the Air (September 16, 2008)
Quotes
"We are a secular school and just like all nonreligious independent schools, faculty and staff do not promote their own religions at school or pass on the beliefs of their particular faith to children."--Jacqueline Olivier, head administrator for New Village AcademyLos Angeles Times: Scientology is focus of flap over Will Smith's new school (June 29, 2008)
"People tend to think study technology is a subject, but it is really just the way the subject is taught. They then come to the conclusion that we are teaching Scientology when actually a methodology doesn't have anything to do with content."—Jacqueline OlivierLos Angeles Times: Scientology is focus of flap over Will Smith's new school (June 29, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith are starting a new private school
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School will employ Scientologists
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Uses Study Technology, a teaching method developed by L. Ron Hubbard
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Religion will not be taught at the school
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The Smiths both continue to deny any involvement with Scientology
