Kirstie Alley Lashes Out At Leah Remini For Doubting Scientology

Former King of Queens star Leah Remini's departure from the Church of Scientology has garnered explicit criticism from her friend — well, former friend — Kristie Alley. Citing the separation as a result of "years of interrogations and thought modifications," Remini had been one of the Church's most famous and outspoken members. Upon hearing that Remini was parting ways with the Xenu establishment, Kristie Alley took to Twitter and ripped her former friend, saying:

Woah! Slow down. Talk about intolerance of an individual to practice his or her own beliefs. Alley's lashing-out is only one example of the cultish behaviors and tendencies members of the Church of Scientology exhibit.

Founded in 1952 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is a religion that teaches its members that people are immortal creatures who have lost their true nature. Among its many bizarre teachings, the Church asserts that human souls have been reincarnated on Earth after having once lived on other planets. The related lessons and edification are not offered to their members until they have donated large sums of money to the Church. Referred to above, Xenu is the dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy" who brought billions of his people to Earth, collected them around volcanoes, and then destroyed them using hydrogen bombs. All of this apparently took place 75 million years ago. The teachings of Xenu are considered sacred and only divulged to the most senior members of the Church who have reached the level of O.T III, or Wall of Fire. Only then are members allowed to read the secret writings of the Church's founder. Scientology has been associated with brainwashing and defrauding its members in addition to harassing its critics.

The Church is no stranger to controversy. Both of Tom Cruise's former wives, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, defected from the Church. A recent report divulged that when Cruise's ex-girlfriend Penèlope Cruz was dismissed by Church leader David Miscavige for being "unwilling to forsake her Buddhist beliefs," he began "an elaborate auditioning process … to find [Cruise] a drop-dead-beautiful true believer to share his life."

The followers of Scientology have always displayed cultish actions towards non-believers. The video is evidence enough:

One of the most curious cases that brought immense attention to the Church occurred in 1994. While in the care of Flag Service Organization, a branch of the Church of the Scientology, Lisa Mcpherson died of a pulmonary embolism. The Church was charged with several felonies including negligent homicide. While the charges were eventually dismissed, a civil suit filed against the Church was settled in 2004.

The fixation on secrecy and strange rituals has drawn great attention to Scientology. If critics question their beliefs, the Church is not hesitant to be vocal or radical in response. Kirstie's comments about her former friend seem to typify that very quality.