Look, we’re not here to knock anyone’s religious choices. Truly, we aren’t. But there has been far too much conspiracy and fury looming over the subject of Scientology not to address it. Is it really a religion, or is it more akin to a cult? Do we have the right to judge anyone else’s closely held beliefs? What if their beliefs too harshly impact the way they parent their children? Are we to stand up for these kids or mind our own beeswax?

Cult or religion — whatever we call it — Scientologists as a whole like to keep a tight lid on their belief system and its practices. Why? What’s there to hide? Christians, Pagans, Buddhists, and more are eager to share their wisdom and teachings with anyone who will listen. Why are Scientologists so hush hush? Why is it all a big secret? Don’t they want a larger following? Does everyone have to be inducted into the fold in the middle of the night like some frat party hazing spell?

It sure does seem that way. It’s interesting to note that among the celebs who have ventured into the world of Scientology, almost all of them credit a fellow celebrity for bringing them on board. What does Scientology mean? What are their beliefs? Is there are legitimate history behind it? Is it all about wealth? Is there criminal activity going on? Are their practices ethical?

Fortunately, these famous folks have shed some light on it for us. Get ready to learn more about the religion whose founder, L. Ron Hubbard, claims began when an intergalactic creator named Xenu flung a bunch of human beings onto planet Earth from somewhere else and forced their spirits to carry on with life here. Try to stay with me.

13 Tom Cruise

Perhaps the leader of the pack, Tom Cruise hasn’t kept his religious faith a secret from anyone. In fact, he’s been credited for helping to bring many other popular names in the business on board with Scientology. No one seemed to care too much about his religious views until rumors began to leak regarding his behavior when married to his second wife, Nicole Kidman — who has since broken away from the Church.

Then, his subsequent engagement — which happened rather quickly — to his third ex, Katie Holmes, produced some pretty erratic behavior, too. Who could forget his sofa jumping episode on Oprah back in 2005? Still, it’s interesting that no one jumped to the conclusion that Cruise was on drugs or just that madly in love the way they would have with most other starts. Instead, they used it as a platform upon which to attack his belief in Scientology.

In a book that detailed her detachment from the Church, Leah Remini spoke candidly of Tom Cruise, noting she was only able to meet him after she donated $1 million to the Church. Leah also remarked that Tom and Katie invited her and her husband to their wedding, with one catch — that they bring their friends Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, too, despite Tom and Katie not really knowing them at all.

12 John Travolta And Kelly Preston

John Travolta has been involved with the Church of Scientology for many years. Back in 2015, HBO aired a documentary titled Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. It detailed the extreme importance of star power to the religion, and how it helps to recruit further wealth and following. Rumors have swirled for years that Travolta is more of a belonging to the Church than an active participant. Why? What could they hold over his head that would make him stay?

The threat of being exposed as a homosexual has been the presiding theory. There have been allegations for years that John Travolta is not the heterosexual, faithful husband to Kelly Preston that he appears to be. It used to be easy to discount these rumors in the age of Saturday Night Fever, when tight pants and frivolous dancing were all part of the role he played. But when a cruise ship employee accused Travolta of sexual harassment in 2011, and a male pilot comes forward alleging he had a six-year affair with the Grease star, minds start to wander.

There is also a pile of circumstantial evidence that has left many wondering if the death of Travolta’s son Jett could’ve at all been at the hands of the Church. Speculation had swarmed for years that Jett was autistic but not being treated for such because the Church of Scientology doesn’t recognize the diagnosis as real. The question remains, if Jett’s seizures were a side effect of autism that was going untreated because of the Church’s beliefs, would he still be alive today had his parents belonged to another faith and have been led to appropriate treatment?

11 Catherine Bell

Despite her regular role as Cassie Nightingale in The Good Witch series, Catherine Bell is not the sultry Wiccan some people have painted her as. An interview with the JAG alum was printed in Source — a magazine for followers of the religion that is not intended to be read by those not affiliated with it.

Bell discussed the thetan levels of the Scientology organization, which describes what echelon a member has reached. She detailed how she spent more than $400,000 on her trainings and teachings that brought her to that level. In addition, donating more than a half million dollars toward the building of a new Scientology titled Super Power in Florida.

Her story was one of pursuing goals — specifically wanting to attain a certain status and Thetan before she started filming another season of JAG. She spoke about participating in Flag, and the teachings she followed that introduced her to what she really believes is going on in the universe. Sound like a bunch of fluff and cult nonsense? Alright, maybe that’s why people are singling out Scientology.

10 Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley’s family put themselves under the microscope back in 2010 when she took up filming for her own reality show titled Kirstie Alley’s Big Life. Her public battle against Leah Remini put Kirstie in the spotlight at a time when she may not have been ready for it. Alley had been promoted to OT-7, a level within the Church that acknowledges that she is free from aberration.

In other words, the Church recognized Alley’s level of spiritual development and felt, based on what their terms of achievement are, that she deserved a fancy title and more clout within the Church for having grown to such a level.

From a distance, it seems as though Scientology cultivates growth in people, but many are questioning what lies behind it all. Is there corruption and are their practices ethical? Why do people like Kirstie need a church to validate spiritual growth for them? Why can’t they achieve that all on their own?

Is that the cut off line for the control they have over their followers? Maybe not. Kirstie competed twice on Dancing with the Stars with her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and he has since publicly stated that the two aren’t friends anymore. Why? One day a friend of his mysteriously received a note telling him he and Kirstie were now disconnected. They weren’t allowed to be friends anymore, likely because Maksim was friends with Leah Remini. The plot thickens.

9 Sonny Bono

During his marriage to famed musical extraordinaire Cher, singer, actor and U.S. Representative Sonny Bono dabbled a bit in Scientology. While his wife at the time was oblivious to what he found appealing about the religion, we don’t think it’s a stretch to assume Bono saw the potential for greater success in joining forces with the Church.

Many celebrities have found solace in the Church of Scientology and credit it for bolstering their ego and confidence while strengthening their talents to make them more marketable and more likely to get the parts they wanted in films and so on. Stars like Catherine Bell exclaim that their career took off after becoming involved with the Church. Naysayers of the faith believe Scientology leaders are deeply entrenched in a relationship with Hollywood, the kind where they could coincidentally make sure Catherine Bell was offered that part on JAG she auditioned for the day after her introductory class for Scientology. One has to ask, are these stars being duped?

Despite finding appeal in the religion when introduced to it by Mimi Rogers, first wife of Tom Cruise, Sonny never officially ascribed to the religion. Instead, in all official documents throughout his life until his death in 1998, Bono maintained that he was of Roman Catholic faith.

8 Jenna Elfman

"What is important to me? I give a damn about making the world a better place. I care about seeing others smile with genuine happiness. I think the world needs more of that. I'm not interested in sensationalism. I'm interested in seeing other people do well. And spreading kindness, warmth and sincerity. I never forget to appreciate the absurd. And I find it uplifting to admire what's right in others. I also find it pleasurable to be totally ridiculous. xo Jenna."

Upon the release of Leah Remini’s tell-all book that attacked the Scientology religion and her televised show on the topic, Jenna posted this statement to Twitter in what many think was directed at the King of Queens star.

The picture that our beloved Dharma and Greg actress painted sounds nothing short of any religion. In fact, it sounds pretty pleasant, but her fans have doubts, at least that’s what they expressed during an AMA with her on Reddit earlier this year.

Many followers spammed her with questions like, “When you are on vacation do you visit volcanoes or are you too scared to be close to the thetans?” and “Can you blink twice if they are watching you?” This speaks to much of the ridicule and shame that the religion has had cast upon it that leads us again to question, is it religion, or is it a cult?

7 Jason Lee

My Name Is Earl star Jason Lee was an avid follower of the Scientology religion for many years. When claims surfaced last year that Lee was purchasing real estate for the Church in Denton, Texas last year, the celeb put the rumors to rest by assuring fans it wasn’t possible, because he no longer practices Scientology.

Of course, this led to questions about why he left the Church. Rumors were also swirling the year prior that he and wife Ceren had been on the outs, citing the Church and his overly devout commitment to it as coming between them, but it would seem Ceren had a stronger lock on her husband than she thought.

Jason originally became a Scientologist after being introduced to the religion by the Ribisi family when dating Marissa Ribisi. Other followers of the faith have remarked that it appeared Lee left the religion years ago, but has only went public with the news recently to silence rumors of concern.

6 Laura Prepon

Laura Prepon is currently pregnant and due with her little one sometime this year with her fiancé, Ben Foster. We can’t help but wonder if she will pass on her values to her child and if they’ll stick, the way they have with so many others before them. While lots of celeb scientologists are busy making alleged asses of themselves, Prepon sat down with Celebrity Magazine, who are affiliated with the religion, and the picture she painted of it was quite, well, spiritual. In fact, the wasn’t all that different from many religions.

She spoke of going through earlier phases of development in the beginning that opened her eyes to things she’d been doing in her life that may not have actually been in her best interest. When going through a period called objectives, she noted, “I kept pushing through and confronting things. It explained that in session, you’re supposed to turn on things that at times aren’t easy to go through. You’re supposed to be restimulated and uncomfortable at times, because you move through it in session, so that when you are out in the world things happen, you’re not affected.”

Is this concept all that foreign to most anyone who belongs to any faith? Don’t Christians, Hindus, Pagans and more also aim to confront their demons, confess their wrongdoings and learn from their mistakes so as to not continue making them? So, why are we singling out Scientology?

5 Danny Masterson

Fellow That 70’s Show actor Danny Masterson has found his name in the news as of earlier this year, and probably not in the way he would hope. Allegations were brought forth that Masterson had committed sexual assault in the early 2000s against at least three other women. This is an investigation that the LAPD continues to look into. Masterson has denied all allegations.

What’s particularly interesting is that all three women who have formally accused Masterson are Scientologists themselves. So, these aren’t women who are against the religion. Quite the contrary, they are more likely to be women who were afraid to speak up for the fear of what the headlines could do to their Church and belief system. Rumors continue to swirl that the Church was aware these sexual assaults happened and helped Masterson to cover them up. One of the women who has come forward with her story actually believes the LAPD is compromised by the Church, too.

4 Priscilla Presley

Much of the light that was shed on Priscilla Presley’s choice to engage in Scientology came on the heels of the beloved and departed Elvis Presley. In the practice of Scientology, higher authority figures in the Church are put in place for lower tier members to be their advisors. The advisor was appointed to Priscilla, and it wasn’t long before the two were allegedly involved in a torrid affair.

It is said that his advisor was sent to a labor camp for rehabilitation after the affair was discovered, because the rules of the Sea Organization — a subgroup of Scientology that requires their members to sign billion-year contracts and work for pennies in devout faith — prohibits married members from having sex with anyone but their partners, and also strictly advises against sex with pre-clears in the organization.

Lisa Marie Presley has also been involved with the Church, but detached from it in 2014 alongside a bitter feud with the Miscavige family. Her father, Elvis Presley, was adamantly against the organization when he was still alive and quoted as saying, “F - - k those people! There’s no way I’ll ever get involved with that son-of-a-bitchin’ group. All they want is my money.”

3 Giovanni Ribisi

While Giovanni Ribisi’s name is credited on many films, his devout loyalty to the religion of Scientology seems to be leaving many of his fans questioning their faith in him. In response to Leah Remini’s tell-all book that slams the religion, Ribisi implied her claims are unfounded and that she’s only on the warpath against the religion to drum up conspiracy and drama that she can profit from.

But what if the rumors are true, and nice guy Giovanni is just doing what he was taught to do by the Church, as Remini stated? It seems Leah isn’t the only one who has questioned the Church. Lucia Ribisi, Giovanni’s daughter, has also walked away from the faith, and she confirmed to KCRW — an L.A. radio station — while using a pseudonym that she’d left the Church and was disconnected from many of the people she grew up with.

Lucia remarked that she’d become so bothered by the Church’s involvement in her life that she sought help through her school. The Ribisi family was a long-standing part of the Scientology religion dating back to the 1960s when Al Ribisi — Giovanni’s father — became involved in the organization. Lucia remarked that her dad’s interest in the religion would dampen when he would date women who weren’t on board with his religion.

His mother is a strong part of the Scientology movement and has been quoted saying, “you’re either with us, or you’re against us.” Perhaps he fears disconnection if he doesn’t stick with them. Or, maybe, Scientology actually just works for Giovanni and his family.

2 Isaac Hayes

Since the famed singer’s death in 2008, rumors have circulated about the last several years of his life and just how much involvement the Church of Scientology had in his life and career. Most who practice Scientology agree that the Church’s presence in their lives is welcomes and encouraged. They claim to want their involvement. Others who’ve broken away from the Church claim you’re tricked into a lot of it, and that you must sign lifelong contracts with the Church about your devotion to them and your outward behavior moving forward. So, does the Church of Scientology require its followers to give up their rights to free will?

Some would say that’s exactly what happened in Isaac Hayes’ case. Hayes suffered a stroke in 2006, but the people who were caring for him — mostly other players in the Scientology movement — painted it as minor exhaustion troubles to the press. Hayes relied on his work voicing Chef on South Park for income after losing the rights to his songs, but when the show began to poke fun at the religion, Hayes was pressured to cut ties, and eventually did.

In 2006, following his stroke, the Church of Scientology issued a statement saying Hayes had resigned from the show. No one ever actually spoke with Isaac on this issue. Since then, both South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Hayes’ son have come forward confirming it was the Church that pushed Isaac out, causing the show to write off the character of Chef. Hayes left the Church of Scientology nothing in his will.

1 Leah Remini

If you were a stranger to Scientology up until last year, your newfound knowledge of it likely stems from Leah Remini. Once a BFF to fellow scientology worshiper Kirstie Alley, the two embarked on a rather public and dramatic feud when Leah came out against the Church. Alley blocked Remini from her life after she detached from Scientology, and called her a bigot when interviewing with Howard Stern. Still, Remini said she understood Kirstie’s behavior, because that is exactly how the Church of Scientology tells people to behave towards others who break their ties with the faith.

Leah has said the Church prefers to induct members at a young age or those who are most sensitive to criticism — ahem, like celebrities — because they prey on this feature and bolster their egos, surrounding them with praise. Disturbing events started to occur to Remini when she was just 12-years old, but she remained in the faith for three more decades — like a product of brainwashing. There was corruption, sexual assault, pedophilia and more at play, and she couldn’t break free — convinced that the power she held was only great so long as she was a part of the community that allegedly bestowed it upon her.

Much of the heat directed toward Leah came as a response to her filing a missing person’s report for Shelley Miscavige in 2013. Shelley, wife of David Miscavige — the Church of Scientology’s leader — hadn’t been seen in public since 2007, and there were rumors that she’d been making executive choices behind David’s back and he thus had her sent away to a private church facility. However, Shelley confirmed with police that she wasn’t missing, but she didn’t make her way back into photos with David until 2016. Suspicious much?

Sources: New York Daily News, Daily Mail, US Magazine, Too Fab, Fox News, The Independent, ET Online, Page Six, The Independent, Indie Wire, Carnegie Mellon University, Fox News, MSN, Washington Post, The Mirror