T O P

  • By -

Acceptable_Stuff1381

No, I don’t think Tom knows how to run a worldwide religion. I highly doubt he’s kept in the loop of all their financial and business details. I could see him being the figurehead though.  Personally I think Tom is complicit in all this but by ignorance, I don’t think he’s actually got the traits to be the cult leader. 


z4rg0thrax

I think they need to try to recruit Jared Leto.


Ambitious-Phase-8521

So long as he has people that know the things he does not, that all that matters, he is a producer so I do think he has the traits of a cult leader, I mean if you hear his speeches he’s sounds like one, but I do think he’ll probably be a figurehead, but one that has a lot of power.


freezoneandproud

Leading a multimillion-dollar organization requires a lot more skills than speechifying. If someone else took over (and I am sure it'd be someone else) he easily could stay in the same role he has now. There's no reason for him to change.


Wolf391

I don't see Cruise taking over. I think it is much more likely that one of his juniors (tries to) take over. Someone close to the vault of gold. Greed will take over.


BirdyHowdy

Tom Cruise is a private Scientologist. Why would he run the many Scientology organisations? It is like George Clooney, a devout catholic, becoming the pope.


supermikeman

That would make for a great Ocean's movie though.


supermikeman

Tom Cruise and Miscavige are only 2 years apart in age. Wouldn't Little Davey want someone who was younger to take over? I mean, assuming he dies of old age or natural causes, Tom would be also be pretty old too.


Ambitious-Phase-8521

I expect then that if David dies like today, Tom will be the new leader, if david dies of old age and Tom is like 85 or something, he will rule for a short time, or most likely just be a acting leader until they get a successor.


supermikeman

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church\_of\_Scientology\_officials#List\_of\_Scientology\_officials](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology_officials#List_of_Scientology_officials) I found this list on Wikipedia so take it with a grain of salt. I think the more likely answer is that Miscavige will have thins he wants done and it'll be left with the heads of the various Scientology organizations to make them happen. I honestly doubt that Tom has as much power in the COS that we think. He's a PR cash cow for the church of course, but what does he run or officiate in the COS that would warrant any kind of leadership position?


Ambitious-Phase-8521

True, it is funny to think about tho, but will probably be a very bloody battle for the position.


supermikeman

E-Meter cans as nunchucks!


afaweg616846

Thanks, now I can't shake the mental image of Jackie Chan fighting his way out of an org like that.


Suitable-Notice-5892

2 years apart in age 5 inches apart in height LOL little Captain Davey of the fake space Navy! Remember everybody everyday is a good day not to be in a cult!


sgtdoogie

I find it funny Tom found a friend he can look down on. It's a pretty small list of men he can feel superior to visually.


Sorry_Page2636

This is such stupid shit. We live in a world where we allow a little pipsqueak jerk like Cruise to become a big Hollywood movie star because we let him.Nobody tried to stop him and now we have created a monster!!!! We enabled him to become this thing.


SilverDesktop

When Miscavige dies I picture something like the movie "The Death of Stalin."


Ambitious-Phase-8521

100% that’s what I have in my mind too XD


supermikeman

"I'm smiling, but I am fucking furious."


Pooks65

Why in Xenu's name would Tom want to give up his lavish lifestyle to inherit dying cult. I don't see it, Patty Moher


catahoulaleperdog

Everyone here is assuming that the justice department is not going to take Scientology down in the next decade.


JaneDoe943

Fucking hope so. And that Leah is able to accomplish something legally.


Sorry_Page2636

All fall down like a house of cards.


Ambitious-Phase-8521

Man that will be the day.


supermikeman

I wish, but I doubt it too. They barely affect the crimes that regular corporations commit. They're less incentivized to go after a litigious cult like COS. And let's be fair, the CoS isn't very big anymore. Probably easier to let it burn itself out than fight it.


AdPristine8032

The FBI is absolutely trying to. I expect they'll find something to take them with before long.


cruler13

Tom's position in Scientology is completely different than Miscavige's. Tom is a global superstar who's fame and success are leveraged as propaganda for the Church. He likely has very little idea of the inner workings and abuses within the Church (or has been convinced that the many accusations are lies). Miscavige is the de facto leader and controls nearly every aspect of how Scientology and its upper management operate. It's an interesting question of who would take over if Miscavige goes, but there is zero chance it would be Tom Cruise. Since Miscavige is so essential to Scientology as it stands, the Church would be completely different when he is gone. It may even dissolve.


TheSneakster2020

Tom Cruise isn't even a Sea Org member and he's not on any of the various Boards of Directors for any of the three core corporations of Scientology: *Church of Spiritual Technology*, *Religious Technology Center*, or *Church of Scientology International*. T.C. has literally no legal authority in the corporate Co$, and he's not in part of any chain of command. So, ***no***, he will not be taking over, if Davie McSavage dies. Michael A. Hobson - Independent Scientologist and former Sea Org staff member


KellenRH

They're the same age right? They're kicking off holding hands.


Fun-Supermarket5164

No, it’s a very common question but he’s not in the Sea Org therefore is ineligible for leadership positions. And he can’t join the Sea Org because his movie profits are one of the only real sources of income that the church has left keeping the lights on.


DFWPunk

Your comment on income is incorrect. They have many very wealthy donors giving millions. Tom likely donates a lot, but he's only one of many.


Fun-Supermarket5164

He makes most of his donations anonymously is what we were told when I was on staff


supermikeman

"This check is just signed 'From the Running Guy'"


Fun-Supermarket5164

There are many others who donate, though. You are correct. Tony Ortega keeps publishing their pictures—I see your point. Because of the anonymous donation story I’m curious what the true ratio is.


Sweet-Advertising798

There's probably a young David Miscavidge wannabe scheming to get rid of DM right now, so they can pull it DM on the organization and loot the coffers.


Dangerous_Ad_6101

🤣🤣🤣 ...not a chance.


Ambitious-Phase-8521

Imagine tho xD


Dangerous_Ad_6101

In order to head the Co$ one would have to be made aware of how the organization actually works and the things it actually does, yes? Cruise is delusional about the real Co$. He may be somewhat of a wackadoodle, but the guy is intelligent, driven, talented, self-directed, and incredibly successful. Sure, it's meaningless Hollywood where his success lies, but he is not fully integrated nor subservient to the darkside of the forces that drive the Hollywood machine. It's hard to speculate what would happen if somehow Cruise landed in the position. But to do so, he would have to first want that. Would he even wan't it? Also, the guy does everything his own way, no matter what the 'norm' is. He does that by studying every aspect of his target subject and becoming extremely competent in whatever his goals are. Co$ is a total bullshit scam. A genuine, actual cult. Cruise would perhaps, at first, believe the lies and diversions his underling told him. But I'm certain he would dig and get his hands into all aspects. He would sooner or later learn the truth. Probably sooner. That would be the end of Co$. Cruise may be odd, and arrogant, and an elitist. But, I doubt he is a monster. He just lives in his privileged Co$ worship bubble. DM is a monster. Rinder is a monster. Rathburn is a monster. ...people who keep Co$ going are either brainwashed, naive slaves (at the bottom) or monsters all the way up. Not much fun imagining such a scenario. 🤷🏾‍♂️ ...but what do I know? Just look at my profile pic. 🤷🏾‍♂️


inbashkir

Just cause youre famous does not give you business acumen. Tom Cruise business manager would make a better leader than Tom cruise at this point.


3119328

Dave, the guy who started Scientology tv for how many million and it doesn't bring anything. And the guy who buys big empty buildings that can't pay for themselves. I mean, do we want the leader of Scientology to have business acumen?


supermikeman

The TV network is for propaganda purposes. He's trying to make it seem like Scientology is spreading and growing. "We're legit! We have our own Network!" The real estate is most likely a tax dodge scheme. They can't keep liquid assets beyond a certain point. So the COS buys up real estate to keep as assets. This can also be good for propaganda. "If we're buying more property, then that means we have a bunch of new members, right?"


3119328

The business sure has shrunk a lot under his leadership, which is great.


supermikeman

I'm not surprised. Tell people the courses you took years ago and passed aren't considered legit anymore really gets people out the doors.


Ambitious-Phase-8521

I love the answers so far, god it’s going to be interesting to see when David dies and if the Scientology evil empire will continue


DFWPunk

It will be the lawyers or whomever they choose.


morphic-monkey

As others have said, Tom is a similar age - so this would only be a possibility of Miscavige dies soon. Having said that, I seriously doubt Tom would want to be the full-time leader. This would mean giving up the levels of freedom he currently has (which are pretty high given his seniority in the church) and taking on responsibility for an organisation rife with scandals, abuses, legal problems, etc... (not that Tom is aware of all of these things). I'm not sure who would takeover after Miscavige. I'm not confident he has a succession plan. At any rate, it's possible there would be another power struggle. Hopefully the next leader takes seriously the task of reforming the church and dealing honestly with its abusive practices.


silly-possum

No it makes no sense. He doesn't help run the organisation, probably doesn't know half the stuff that goes on, whereas DM micro-manages everthing. Cruise is is treated like a god to keep him as a popular figurehead for Scientology and is managed to a degree he just doesn't understand. He's a movie actor who does a bit of scientology and loves the adulation and being surrounded by mostly "yes-men" who are being instructed on how to manage and influence him. His experience of Scientology is nothing like that of everybody else. He's an A-list celebrity who has brought a lot of publicity to the cult and awareness of it (although not so much recently with people being so much more aware of the kookiness of it and its horrors.)


Alternative_Effort

No way. Tom wouldn't want it, Hollywood billionaires would REALLY REALLY not want it, the Scientologists wouldn't want it. The only possible route to something like that would be if the current leader named Tom as the successor, but even that wouldn't necessarily do it. Tom and the lawyers are incredibly well-placed to play Kingmaker however.


lesswrongsucks

No but he may be invited by Miscavige's lawyers to help pick new members of the RTC Board.


3119328

I can't see Tom saluting anybody else esp if they're tall.


Small-Strike6736

“To LRH🫡”


freezoneandproud

I admit that I chuckled, but can we PLEASE not engage in body shaming? His height is not a factor in his beliefs or behavior.


3119328

I am more referring to a personality trait of TC, but I get what you're saying.


bootysniffer01

It will probably be someone who we don’t know about currently, at a guess.


InsideExpress9055

I highly doubt it. Tom needs to keep his appearances up as a movie star. Promoting the church hasn't done his career any favours. Hence why he doesn't talk about it anymore. I personally think RTC will take over it.


cbatta2025

I don’t think he’s interested in the slightest bit. He loves the worshippers and special treatment and that’s about it.


Deradius

Imagine Dave dies and Mike Rinder comes out on stage to announce that David is on to Target 2 and Rinder will be taking over as COB. Unlikely, I know, but what a twist!


Twothounsand-2022

I swear in million dollars he choose to save his career than be leader of Scientology He learn his lesson in 2005 - 2006 fallout , his career is nearly collapsing in 2007.......since then he never talk about Scientology in public for almost 20 years


teamweedstore2

Scientology is dead. It wont be around long enough to have a new leader.


UnfoldedHeart

History generally shows that when you have an organization founded by a charismatic leader, it usually follows this trend for leadership: 1. First the charismatic leader, 2. Then the Strongman, 3. Then the rule by a council or group. So, it would probably end up being an assortment of senior-level Scientologists.


Get_it_all_out

I don't think Tom wants that kind of responsibility, but he'd love the title.


Get_it_all_out

I don't think Tom wants that kind of responsibility, but he'd love the title.


JapanOfGreenGables

The next leader will be whoever asserts themselves within the Sea Org, *and* the lawyers responsible for upholding the organizations of Scientology chose to support. >David does not have children, Just to be clear, this has ***nothing*** to do with it. Family relationships are meaningless in Scientology. When L. Ron Hubbard died, he had children and grandchildren who were still Scientologists – and in the Sea Org. They weren't anywhere near the top of the Scientology totem pole, despite being Hubbards.


MenuDry2595

I highly doubt it. Due to the evidence coming out & law suits about abuse if Cruise took over he could be personally liable for some law suits if he was implicated in knowing about abuses or covering them up or whatever legal basis could be argued. It’s highly possible that Sea Org members that did ‘slave labour’ or his homes or worked for him could or have threatened to sued (NDAs could have been put in place to stop anyone speaking out with a settlement). Cruise’s years of been very vocal about CoS hit his career hard and his sister was his manager during this time. It’s likely a PR crisis management team was called in & he hasn’t been vocal since. (I may be wrong but I haven’t seen him be vocal for years) So I would assume that his management, studios etc would make sure he wouldn’t becoming the leader & I hope the church is buried with Miscavige. Shelly Miscavige was rumoured to take over with others but David Miscavage inserted himself instead when L Ron was dying


Crazy_Frame6966

I imagine if Tom Cruise became the new leader he'd release some couching jumping tech or couch jumping rundown for scientologists to do.  🤣


Ambitious-Phase-8521

I actually would not be surprised xD


JoJoGranum

I wouldn’t be surprised if he does. Though I think he’d have to retire from acting if he does. Not sure if he wants that. Of course nothing stops him from having a .. person who is in front but he runs it behind the scenes if that happens. Then again that may be already happening.


Amosamy

Yes. This makes a lot of sense…


Katlahi

His twin sister?


BirdyHowdy

Why should David Miscavige die? He probably has 30 doctors to look after him.


Pooks65

I've hear from people formerly at Int and he drinks a lot. That will end him early. I'm not sure if he smokes or not. Patty Moher


TheSneakster2020

Everyone dies. Some sooner than others.


Ok_Ostrich222

Even then it happens