Invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, scientology is a religious system based on a set of beliefs and practices. While it has often been referred to as a scam or a cult, there are dedicated practitioners of scientology. However, not everyone’s experience has come to be the same with the Church and actress Leah Remini is one of those who got disillusioned after being part of the Church of Scientology from her childhood.
Remini left the Church of Scientology in 2013 and in 2015, brought out her memoirs titled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, which highlighted the malpractices of the church. She also made an Emmy winning docuseries, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, dealing with the same subject.
Talking about her experience with the church, Remini had mentioned, “The organization controls every aspect of your life.” She further revealed, “Once your parents become Scientologists, they’re no longer your parents. So, if you ask your mom a question, she’ll say, ‘Well, we have to look at the policy.’ You’re being raised by Scientology. If you’re not (spending) two and a half hours a day studying Scientology, your parents will kick you out of the house.”
Unfortunately, after Remini had exposed the Church, she faced continuous harassment in the hands of the institution. However, she has not been afraid to talk about it either. As reported by Radar Online, in a recent interview, she mentioned, “It’s difficult to say it’s gotten easier when I have a multimillion-dollar organization terrorizing me and my family.”
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During last year’s August, the actor filed a lawsuit against the Church as she alleged that the institution was surveilling her 20 years old daughter, Sofia. She said, “I’m hunted. My daughter is followed. There is constant surveillance.”
The Church has however fired back at Remini claiming that her claims do not have any evidential base and are simply made up. A representative of the Church further mentioned, “For years, Ms. Remini has repeated ad nauseam unsupported and untrue allegations to monetize her hate campaign against the Church of Scientology.”
With the Church alleging that it is actually Remini who has been harassing them instead of being the other way round as the actor claims, things naturally get difficult at times for Remini. However, she does not regret leaving the Church at all and credits therapy for her healing and progress.
Talking about the same, she mentioned, “There are good days and bad days, but in general, it’s been worth it… My heart has opened up so much.” Amid her constant battle with the Church, Remini’s life has seen other major changes as well since last year she split from her husband of 28 years.
However, whatever struggles she might be going through, Remini’s stance on the Church appears to be loud and clear, which has its roots in the childhood sufferings that she had to go through because of the institution.
