Manhattan College Named #1 School for Scientology; Tom Cruise Visits for Ceremony
Janice Dickinson
Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: The Triangle
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In an event that has been building for years, Manhattan College was named the number one school for young scientologists because of its high population of students adhering to Scientology, as well as efforts to reach out to the community to spread the world about the religion.
Manhattan College has a longstanding relationship with the Church of Scientology, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Since its inception in the 1950s, Manhattan College has emphasized the value of Dianetics, Scientology's central text, and taught it in all introductory level literature courses.
Classes in advanced teaching of Scientology are also offered every semester, and are meant to guide students along the path to full enlightenment. More classes are being added to the religion department, and a full year of credits in Scientology courses will be added as a core requirement for next year.
L. Ron Hubbard also spoke to students yearly until his death, and each year the lecture series grew. As Scientology grew to be more visible on campus, the initiative turned to the Riverdale community, in an effort to enlighten the community.
Manhattan College prides nearly 100 percent of graduates take important roles in the Church of Scientology, from leading recruiting headquarters, to managing public relations and preventing slander of the Church, and even to taking positions that involve guarding Scientology's most important documents and information, including top-secret IRS papers.
In support of all that Manhattan College has done for the Church of Scientology, actor Tom Cruise made a surprise visit to campus to announce his donation of $7.5 million to the school's Fund for the Development and Spread of Scientology. The Fund will make it possible for students to spread the truth about Scientology and to prevent slanderous and dangerous media statements about the Church, such as a recent episode of a cartoon show airing on Comedy Central, which has been banned on campus, from airing.
Manhattan College has a longstanding relationship with the Church of Scientology, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Since its inception in the 1950s, Manhattan College has emphasized the value of Dianetics, Scientology's central text, and taught it in all introductory level literature courses.
Classes in advanced teaching of Scientology are also offered every semester, and are meant to guide students along the path to full enlightenment. More classes are being added to the religion department, and a full year of credits in Scientology courses will be added as a core requirement for next year.
L. Ron Hubbard also spoke to students yearly until his death, and each year the lecture series grew. As Scientology grew to be more visible on campus, the initiative turned to the Riverdale community, in an effort to enlighten the community.
Manhattan College prides nearly 100 percent of graduates take important roles in the Church of Scientology, from leading recruiting headquarters, to managing public relations and preventing slander of the Church, and even to taking positions that involve guarding Scientology's most important documents and information, including top-secret IRS papers.
In support of all that Manhattan College has done for the Church of Scientology, actor Tom Cruise made a surprise visit to campus to announce his donation of $7.5 million to the school's Fund for the Development and Spread of Scientology. The Fund will make it possible for students to spread the truth about Scientology and to prevent slanderous and dangerous media statements about the Church, such as a recent episode of a cartoon show airing on Comedy Central, which has been banned on campus, from airing.