How to lose a Billionaire? James Packer dumps Scientology.
May 11th 2008 12:20
How to lose a Billionaire? James Packer dumps Scientology.
It was the most public seduction of the last couple of years. Tom Cruise took a personal interest in making sure that James Packer son of the media mogul Kerry and currently the richest Australian was made feel special. Soon the richest recruit that Scientology had recruited was sitting in the front seats of Scientology events as if they were classical music concerts.
Packer was approached by Cruise in 2002 after a disastrous year where he lost about $350 million in the One.tel business collapse, his first wife left him and he was starting to gain weight. In 2006 Packer told the Financial review that he practice Scientology for an hour or so every couple of days. He was reported as saying that he has friend in Scientology and it has been very helpful. There was also plenty of speculation just a few months ago about whether James Packer would be bankrolling the new $7 million Scientology Centre in Ascot Vale, Melbourne Australia. However it was the possibility that James Packer might use his position as a media owner to give advocacy to Scientology that made this union so controversial.
Now all this seems to have changed as close friends of James Packer have reported that he has left the Church of Scientology. He has been reported as saying that he ‘No longer Needs’ Scientology in his life. The cause of the split is still unknown but may have to do with James Packer’s desire to increase his Gambling empire which comes into conflict with L Ron Hubbard’s attitude to gambling.
In losing James Packer the Church of Scientology has lost access to the biggest purse string that it has ever had. They have also lost access to one person in Australia that could have controlled much of the media information about them. Who knows what will happen next.
One this is unlikely. It is very unlikely that the cult will go after James Packer in aggressive manner.
James Packer - Billionaire and now Ex-Scientologist.
It was the most public seduction of the last couple of years. Tom Cruise took a personal interest in making sure that James Packer son of the media mogul Kerry and currently the richest Australian was made feel special. Soon the richest recruit that Scientology had recruited was sitting in the front seats of Scientology events as if they were classical music concerts.
Packer was approached by Cruise in 2002 after a disastrous year where he lost about $350 million in the One.tel business collapse, his first wife left him and he was starting to gain weight. In 2006 Packer told the Financial review that he practice Scientology for an hour or so every couple of days. He was reported as saying that he has friend in Scientology and it has been very helpful. There was also plenty of speculation just a few months ago about whether James Packer would be bankrolling the new $7 million Scientology Centre in Ascot Vale, Melbourne Australia. However it was the possibility that James Packer might use his position as a media owner to give advocacy to Scientology that made this union so controversial.
The late Kerry Packer and his son. Not much look at but they are rich.
When someone laughs this loud at your jokes it must mean that you are rich.
In losing James Packer the Church of Scientology has lost access to the biggest purse string that it has ever had. They have also lost access to one person in Australia that could have controlled much of the media information about them. Who knows what will happen next.
One this is unlikely. It is very unlikely that the cult will go after James Packer in aggressive manner.
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Comment by S.L. Bradish
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Hopefully Packer has the wealth and resources to keep them out of his hair. From accounts I've read by former members, they're pretty aggressive.
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
To call Scientology a religion is to stretch the definition beyond all reason. It is more of a brainwashing business aimed bleeding people of money. Xenu.net gives a good historical account of their activities. Including the life story of L Ron Hubbard. Fascinating stuff to read.
DA
Thanks for your comments.
The reports indicate that Nichole Kidman was dumped by Tom after she was interviewed by magazine and showed less that the total loyalty required of her answers. She has been reasonably silent about he past in the cult. Some suggest out of fear of retribution by the CoS.
Packer is in different boat all together. He inhereted the Packer Media Empire. His father Kerry was considered to be one of the most powerful people in the country. Second only to Rupert Murdoch in media ownership but much more influential in Australia. Most journalists were scared of him.
The CoS do not like big negative publicity campaigns so I figure that they would not bother him too much. This media shark can bite their head off and put pressure on the government to consider a similar ban that was imposed in Germany.
Louie
Thanks for your comments.
No more invitations to Mission Impossible premiers for him. And no more Tom Cruise laughing loudly at his terrible jokes.
Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
The wonderful Peter Yang's No.1 blog
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Some might say that for business that wants to be a religion they are doing sensationally well.
Ching $$$$$.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
ie: What does Scientology, Nicole Kidman and Jamie Packer all have in common?
A: They've all found themselves under Cruise Control.
Ouch - sorry.
MNG
Comment by Johnny Come Lately
Jack's Back
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
There was an insightful doco on L.Ron recently, he used to brow beat his followers about drug taking, but was in fact a career drug addict himself, on pills, and died an undeclared outcast, in a hotel in the USA.
Scientologists will not admit it, of course, however; researchers, ex-scientologists, the police and coroner's reports say different.
The level of abuse and 'slavery' is rife within it, but they keep this away from the 'big ticket' members, such as Hollywood stars. Some members are required to do hard physical labour, such as building a star's private abode, in a scientology compound/resort, without remuneration and little food, they are also ostracised from the main group. This sort of punishment was meted out to those that questioned what scientology was doing.
Generally, first they get you to confide in them, then they bleed you dry of money. They should really be up for fraud and larceny.
cheers...and no "Ned for OTs" here please!! I do NOT want to be a "thetan"!!!
fog
Comment by Anne Tootill
The Female View
Funny Stuff
Glad to hear that James has finally seen the light, seems he has a mind of his own afterall.
I agree with Fog, Scientology should have the world 'church' removed from its name, all that tax free money rolling in, it's an outrage.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your opinion.
I am not sure how you can describe a UFO cult as a religion but I agree that they are crude.
Johnny
Thanks for your comments.
I do agree that they would be reluctant to take on Packer. Andrew Denton described once that interviewing his father was like petting a white pointer shark. For a moment it looks take but it is quite capable of biting you in half.
I think the reason that Tom Cruise looks crazy is because he may actually be batshit crazy.
Fog
Thanks for your comments.
Yes they do have a litany of complaints against them. and L Ron Hubbard's life makes a terrific read. So delusional and so cynical about it. I read the copy of his death certificate and it mentioned the anti-psychotic drugs in his blood. Mentally ill on medication and running anti-psychiatrist campaigns. Classic loone.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Scientology were banned in Victoria for a number of years after a Royal Commission into their practices.
They got back in years later and set up in Russell Street.
I love to have the word church removed from their name but the law is rarely clear in that area.
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
The fact that they have managed to register as a church anywhere is a joke. At least a few of the European countries such as France and Germany have had enough common sense not to allow this obvious tax scam.
I say we start a church worshipping Captain James T Kirk, it makes about the same sense.
Maybe you're right about James's gambling empire being behind the split or maybe he picked up the marbles he lost a while back.
I would love to see them try their strong-arm tactics on Packer just to see what would ensue.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
People get caught to used car sales men and people get caught to Scientology. Both lose money.
I look forward to the day that a proper investigation is dome of them. I hope that they do take on Packer because that would be a fight worth watching.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Think I migth join up, at least you get a groovy uniform, and all they do is talk trekkie stuff....ummmm..maybe I won't join up afterall...(sorry JD...no offense meant to you!)
fog
Comment by Thoraiya Dyer
Demented World
It was banned for a while in Victoria, but now it's back??
I don't know whether to be proud of VIC for banning it in the first place or depressed because they caved
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Trekkies as religion.
Beam me up to heaven.
Senseless but unless they become harmful I can live with it.
Thoralya
Scientology got back into Victoria after they had 5000 members on the books. At the time that was the cut off point of what described something as religion.
They usually hang about Russell Street offering free personality testing.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
It is not what Scientology believe in that makes them so bad. It is their deceptive, oppressive and aggressive manner in which they conduct them selves that makes them dangerous.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
That's what I mean by aggressive.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Scientology in Germany. I am not sure what is going on there but it is worth checking out.
Ban religions is very difficult legally, even fake religions so you would expect a lot of changing positions.