Reports suggest that Cruise's absence from the UK bases, during which he lived in the country while filming "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One" and was spotted in Birmingham and the Cotswolds, indicates a potential shift in his stance towards Scientology. This is not the first time Cruise has shown signs of disengagement from the religion. In 2021, there were reports that he was "drifting away" from Scientology after being regarded as its "poster boy" for three decades.
Scientology, which claims to focus on the study and handling of human spirits, was founded by American author L. Ron Hubbard, who expressed in his writings that "the spirit… is not a thing. It is the creator of things."
Interestingly, there are suggestions that Cruise may have visited the central London building of Scientology rather than the branch in his plane, as he was previously seen using a helicopter to access the area for church visits.
In the past, Cruise was highly revered by members of the religion, almost in a god-like manner. Notably, other celebrities, including John Travolta, Nancy Cartwright, and Elisabeth Moss, also follow Scientology.
Tom Cruise has openly discussed his views on Scientology in the past. In a 2008 interview with Times Online, he described it as a belief system centered on helping others and gaining a unique perspective on life. He said, "It's like, we're here to help. If you're a Scientologist, you see life, things, the way they are, in all its glory, in all of its perplexity, and the more you know as a Scientologist, the more you become overwhelmed by it.
