Dubbed "the study of truth" by its founder and spiritual messiah, the late science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology was born in the early 1950s and now claims more than 10 million members in 159 countries. One of America's most controversial religions, its widely known for attracting Hollywood celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorWed, 03 Dec 2008 22:52:51 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43365/germany-drops-pursuit-of-scientology.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGermany is dropping its pursuit of a ban on Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of illegal activity, security officials said today. But domestic intelligence services plan to continue monitoring the group. The German branch of the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology has been under observation by domestic intelligence services for more than a decade, the AP reports.http://www.newser.com/story/43365/germany-drops-pursuit-of-scientology.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 21 Nov 2008 18:31:28 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/40181/holmes-holds-own-on-stage.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIn a perfect world, stars John Lithgow and Dianne Wiest would be the center of attention in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons . “In this world, however, Mrs. Tom Cruise is playing a supporting role,” writes Natalie Finn of E!. So with tabloid-lovers watching and Anonymous protesting outside, how did Katie Holmes do in her Broadway debut? Not bad, critics say, but not great.http://www.newser.com/story/40181/holmes-holds-own-on-stage.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 17 Oct 2008 12:37:14 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/39354/jlo-battled-blues-breakdown.html?refid=rss_all_defaultJennifer Lopez admits to having had a “nervous breakdown” in 2002 and a weepy “hormone thing” 10 days after the birth of her twins in a previously unpublished interview excerpted at the Daily Beast. "I couldn’t get up fast enough to feed the babies," says Lopez of her post-baby meltdown. "I was crying and crying and going, ‘Oh, Papi...they’re going to know everybody more than me…They’re going to love everybody more than me!’"http://www.newser.com/story/39354/jlo-battled-blues-breakdown.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 07 Oct 2008 9:42:18 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37879/scientology-protests-greet-katie-on-broadway.html?refid=rss_all_defaultKatie Holmes made her Broadway debut in All My Sons last night, but not before about 30 anti-Scientology protesters put on a show of their own outside Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The protesters, some masked, chanted "Scientology kills! and carried "FREE KATIE" placards. And, yes, her famous hubby showed up for moral support.http://www.newser.com/story/37879/scientology-protests-greet-katie-on-broadway.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 19 Sep 2008 6:47:37 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37658/smith-i-am-not-a-scientologist.html?refid=rss_all_defaultDespite months of speculation, Will Smith tells Fox News that “I am not” a Scientologist; he even agreed to speak with the anti-Scientologist group Anonymous. Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who are close friends with Scientologist Tom Cruise, opened a school which uses Scientology teaching tools. But, “You can take different parts of things you like and put them all together,” Smith explains.http://www.newser.com/story/37658/smith-i-am-not-a-scientologist.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 17 Sep 2008 8:32:41 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36908/scientology-facing-trial-for-fraud-in-france.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAn imminent court case could lead to the Church of Scientology being banned in France, the BBC reports, with the controversial sect being accused of organized fraud by a former congregant. The woman claims she was suckered by the offer of a free personality test, and wound up spending more than $28,000 on books, illegally prescribed drugs, and other supplies.http://www.newser.com/story/36908/scientology-facing-trial-for-fraud-in-france.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 08 Sep 2008 11:46:33 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34875/cruises-partner-quits-ua.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe next mission impossible for Tom Cruise may be reviving his own career, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Cruise's business partner Paula Wagner is quitting her job as CEO of United Artists just weeks after her husband, Cruise's agent Rick Nicita, left CAA. The changes likely reflect the star's unhappiness with his career as he casts about for suitable roles and a new screen image, say industry observers.http://www.newser.com/story/34875/cruises-partner-quits-ua.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 14 Aug 2008 6:03:05 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34681/did-isaac-hayes-go-to-heaven.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe death of legendary soul singer Isaac Hayes on Sunday is no cause to mourn: He’ll apparently be back. Hayes was a dedicated Scientologist, and as Nina Shen Rastogi explains in Slate, this means eternal life. Church founder L Ron Hubbard describes the Scientology experience as "simply living time after time, getting a new body, eventually losing it and getting a new one."http://www.newser.com/story/34681/did-isaac-hayes-go-to-heaven.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 11 Aug 2008 21:55:33 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33833/lawsuit-targets-cruise-scientology-crime-syndicate.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAn ex-Scientologist says the organization is a “crime syndicate” in a $250 million federal lawsuit that names Tom Cruise as the head honcho's "right-hand man," reports the Daily News. The suit uses a statute designed to counter organized crime in an attempt to have the Church of Scientology broken up.http://www.newser.com/story/33833/lawsuit-targets-cruise-scientology-crime-syndicate.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 31 Jul 2008 8:52:33 CDT