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I asked ChatGPT to write a fictional story about Tom Cruise.

The result was absolutely mind-blowing…

Note: Random photos were not provided by ChatGPT. I have merely included them for entertainment purposes only.

Write a flash fiction story based on the style of L. Ron Hubbard including Tom Cruise, an evil religious galactic overlord, an exotic setting, and bring it to an unexpected conclusion in 5,000 words or less.

Tom Cruise was exploring the remote jungle of a distant planet when he stumbled upon a hidden temple. The temple was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It was carved out of a single massive rock, and the entrance was flanked by two giant statues of strange creatures with multiple eyes and tentacles.

As Cruise stepped inside the temple, he felt a sudden surge of power. He could sense that he was in the presence of something ancient and otherworldly. The air was thick with the smell of incense and the sound of chanting.

At the center of the temple, Cruise saw an altar. On top of the altar was a golden object that seemed to glow with a strange energy. Cruise felt drawn to it and approached cautiously. As he got closer, he saw that the object was a book.

He reached out to pick up the book when he heard a voice behind him. “Stop right there, human.”

Cruise spun around to face the speaker. It was an alien, unlike anything he had ever seen before. It was tall and had skin that was the color of ash. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and it had a mouth full of sharp teeth.

“Who are you?” Cruise demanded, his hand still on the book.

“I am Xorgon,” the alien said. “And that book is mine. It contains the secrets of the universe, and I will not let a mere mortal like you take it.”

Cruise hesitated. He knew that he should back away, but he couldn’t resist the temptation of the book. He reached out again, and this time Xorgon lunged forward, his claws extended.

Cruise was faster, and he dodged the attack. He ran for the exit of the temple, with Xorgon hot on his heels. The jungle outside was dense, and Cruise knew he could lose the alien if he could just find a place to hide.

He ran deeper into the jungle, hoping to find some shelter. Suddenly, he saw a clearing up ahead. As he approached, he saw a strange machine sitting in the center of the clearing. It was like nothing he had ever seen before, and it seemed to be calling out to him.

Without thinking, Cruise climbed into the machine and pulled a lever. The machine roared to life, and Cruise was thrown backwards as it lifted off the ground. He could see Xorgon below him, shouting in rage as he vanished into the distance.

Cruise was exhilarated. He had always loved adventure, and this was the ultimate adventure. He had no idea where the machine was taking him, but he knew that he was going to enjoy every moment of it.

The machine flew higher and higher, until Cruise could see the entire planet spread out below him. He felt a rush of power, as if he was master of everything he could see. He knew that he was destined for greatness, and he could feel the universe bowing to his will.

Suddenly, the machine lurched to a stop. Cruise was thrown forward, and he hit his head on the control panel. When he came to, he saw that he was in a massive palace, surrounded by strange creatures.

At the far end of the room, there was a throne. On the throne sat a figure shrouded in darkness. Cruise could sense that this was the being he had been searching for all his life – the evil religious galactic overlord who ruled over the universe.

“You have come seeking power, mortal,” the overlord said, his voice echoing through the room. “But you are too late. I have already claimed the power of the universe for myself, and there is nothing you can do to stop me.”

Cruise stood up, defiant. He had never been one to back down from a challenge, and he wasn’t about to start now.

“I didn’t come here to challenge you,” Cruise said. “I came here to learn from you. I want to know the secrets of the universe, just like you do.”

The overlord laughed, a sound that echoed through the palace.

“Very well, mortal,” he said. “I will teach you the secrets of the universe. But be warned, the knowledge you seek comes with a heavy price. Are you willing to pay it?”

Cruise nodded, determined. He had come too far to back down now.

The overlord stood up from his throne and stepped down to where Cruise was standing. He placed his hand on Cruise’s forehead, and suddenly Cruise was engulfed in a blinding light.

He saw visions of worlds beyond his imagination, of beings of immense power, and of the secrets of the universe itself. He saw the overlord’s rise to power, and the destruction he had wrought to get there.

Cruise was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the knowledge he was receiving. He felt his mind expanding, his consciousness reaching beyond what he had ever thought possible.

But then, just as suddenly as it had started, the light faded, and Cruise was back in the palace.

The overlord was looking at him with a cold, calculating gaze.

“You have learned much, mortal,” he said. “But now, it is time for you to pay the price.”

Cruise felt a sudden pain in his chest, as if something was ripping him apart from the inside. He fell to his knees, gasping for air.

The overlord stood over him, his face twisted into a cruel smile.

“You see, mortal,” he said. “The knowledge you seek comes with a cost. And that cost is your soul.”

Cruise tried to stand up, but the pain was too much. He felt himself slipping away, his consciousness fading.

But then, suddenly, he felt a surge of energy. He looked up and saw that the book he had taken from the temple was glowing in his hand.

He opened it and saw that the pages were filled with ancient symbols and incantations. Without thinking, he began to recite them.

The overlord howled in rage as the symbols on the pages began to glow with a bright light. The light grew brighter and brighter, until it engulfed the entire palace.

Cruise felt a surge of power, as if the book was granting him the strength he needed to defeat the overlord. He stood up, his eyes blazing with determination.

The overlord was thrown back by the force of the light, and Cruise could see that he was weakening.

He continued to recite the incantations, his voice growing louder and more powerful with each passing moment. And then, suddenly, the overlord was gone, vanished into thin air.

Cruise looked around, his heart pounding in his chest. He had done it. He had defeated the evil religious galactic overlord and had saved the universe from his tyranny.

But then, as he turned to leave the palace, he saw something that made him stop in his tracks.

The book he had been holding was still glowing, and as he looked at it, he realized that it was not just a book of knowledge.

It was a book of power.

And as he held it in his hand, he could feel its energy coursing through his veins, filling him with a strength he had never known before.

He looked out over the universe, his eyes gleaming with a new understanding.

He was not just a mortal anymore. He was a god. And with the power of the book in his hand, there was nothing he couldn’t do.

Cruise gazed out at the universe, feeling the power of the book coursing through his veins. He knew that he could do anything he wanted, and the possibilities were endless.

But as he thought about all of the things he could do, a new feeling began to creep into his mind: fear.

He had always wanted power, but now that he had it, he realized just how dangerous it could be. He could use it to help others, but he could just as easily use it to destroy them.

He looked down at the book in his hand, and for the first time, he felt a twinge of regret. He had defeated the evil overlord and had saved the universe, but at what cost? He had become a god, but at what price?

Cruise closed the book and felt the power begin to fade. He knew that he couldn’t keep it, not with the temptation it held.

He looked out at the universe one last time, then threw the book into the void.

As it disappeared, he felt the power leave him, but he also felt something else: a sense of freedom.

He turned and left the palace, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. He had learned the secrets of the universe, but he had also learned something more important: that power, no matter how great, was not worth sacrificing his soul.

As he walked away from the palace, he knew that he had made the right choice. He didn’t need to be a god to make a difference in the world. He just needed to be Tom Cruise, and that was enough.

Editor’s Note: The short definition of flash fiction is any fictional story that’s under 1,500 words long. Some journals may have a different definition of flash fiction length, but most accept 1,500 words as the standard maximum word count.

This story is 1,530 words … pretty clever ChatGPT!

Weekend Throwback … Saturday Night Live parody of Scientology.

Please enjoy because you deserve to laugh at the world’s dumbest Faux-ligion.

SNL Music video celebrates … Neurotology.

Scientology’s eerie resemblance to contemporary Progressive belief and practice.

Bruce S. Thornton is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, an emeritus professor of classics and humanities at California State University, Fresno, and a research fellow at the Hoover Institution.

His thoughts on Scientology from 2015…

The HBO documentary about Scientology, “Going Clear,” is a must-see. Not so much because it exposes Scientology as a moneymaking, totalitarian cult, something most people already have known for 50 years. More useful is the film’s description of Scientology’s ideas, techniques, and tactics, for they bear an eerie resemblance to contemporary Progressive belief and practice.

Not so much Science,

as it is “Science Fiction.”

The first dimension of Scientology, as its name suggests, is scientism. This is the notion that human identity and behavior both individually and socially can be understood and hence manipulated as successfully as real science understands and manipulates the material world. Because of that success, genuine science has immense authority and commands respect that scientism attempts to expropriate. That’s why L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology’s founder, dressed up a retooled Freudianism and space-alien mythology with new technical-sounding jargon and dubious technology. Hence neologisms like “Scientology,” “Dianetics,” or “Ingram,” hence the “E-Meter,” a glorified carnival attraction with knobs and dials replete with numbers and oscillating needles that supposedly identify and measure psychic trauma. This patina of scientific objectivity made Scientology attractive to potential recruits who had failed to find answers to their psychic discontent in traditional religion or in psychotherapy.

Character Assassination … √

Just as Scientology defames critics and defectors with false accusations and character assassination, so too do progressives frequently hurl epithets like “racist” at those who criticize Obama, or indulge preposterous tropes like the “war on women,” or throw ugly names like “denier,” redolent of Holocaust denial, at anyone who questions that anthropogenic global warming is a scientific fact rather than a hypothesis. And progressives are eager to use the power of government and institutions like the IRS and college administrations to silence and stigmatize those who oppose them.

Conspiracy of the Detractors…

This explains another similarity: the rationalization of opposition as a conspiracy of the malignant evil against the enlightened good. Nothing bespeaks the cultic mentality like the belief that a “vast right-wing conspiracy,” as a newly announced presidential candidate has put it, rather than the failure of progressive ideology and policy, explains their opponents’ criticism. Scientology is famous for its aggressive use of this conspiratorial rhetoric to deflect inquiries into its practices, blaming them on cabals of doctors and psychologists angry at Scientology for challenging their lucrative monopoly on mental health.

Exaltation of the Grand Wizard…

Finally, and most important, is the “great leader,” the messianic figure, the transformative personality whom no one must doubt or criticize, and whom the faithful must defend and protect. For Scientology, it is founder L. Ron Hubbard, a mythic figure whose alleged intellectual talents and achievements have nothing to do with the real man. One of the spookiest moments in “Going Clear” is the footage of Tom Cruise and current Scientology honcho David Miscavage saluting a gigantic picture of Hubbard in a scene evocative of Orwell’s 1984.

While L. Ron Hubbard is not revered as a “god” by his followers, there is certainly a vibe in the same order as Kim Jong-Un in North Korea. This former Scientologist explains…

At the end of every study period, the entire classroom stands (everyone) and APPLAUDS A HUGE PICTURE OF HUBBARD hanging on the wall while shouting HIP HIP HOORAY. Every day, every major event closes the same way. There are huge photos of Hubbard and busts of him everywhere. Each organization has AN OFFICE fully furnished waiting for him should he return. These offices have better furniture and decor than anywhere else in the building. There exists a house on the property where the top Scientology leader works (and beats his staff) which is kept ready for Hubbard to make his triumphant return from whatever planet he went to after he died…I mean….discarded… while in “full vibrant health”. They may not worship him, but Scientology is a full-on cult of personality.

By the time Scientologists get to the crappy science fiction story of Xenu … it’s too late.

As Paulette Cooper writes in her book, “The Scandal of Scientology,”

When people first enter this exciting world of the totally free, they rarely realize just how expensive it is going to be … In addition to the price of the courses, there are many other expenses. A Scientologist must buy many of Hubbard’s books, and often attend special lectures or Congresses, which usually run tapes of Hubbard, or speeches by top Scientologists.

The actual financial cost of the Scientology experience is relatively minor when compared to the impact it has on the totality of one’s life … as former member Chris Shelton shared on Quora seven years ago…

How much is your life worth to you? That’s how much they will take from you before they are done with you and kick you to the curb. Like Cameron here said, it costs you everything. Not just money. It costs you your friends, your family, your business associates, your entire life. It may sound melodramatic, but it’s not. I cannot be any more real or down-to-earth in answering this.

It’s easy to see that reaching the level of Scientology which reveals the “Space Opera” tale of the Galactic Lord Xenu involves much more then money … there is also a considerable “investment” of one’s time and emotional energy. During this time a cognitive dissonance is developed that serves as a defense mechanism for people who may be threatened by information that threatens their beliefs. Upon reaching OT III, you are basically “all in.”

In Scottish journalist Charles Mackay’s 1841 work, “Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds,” he writes,

However much we flatter ourselves about our individual rationality, a good story, no matter how analytically deficient, lingers in the mind, resonates emotionally, and persuades more than the most dispositive facts or data.

Like the fools who followed Bernie Madoff’s investment ponzi scheme, the Scientology adherents have all given in to the delusion and are surrounded by people who have all made the same commitment … and all fully intent on maintaining the lie. Most people don’t reach OT Level III, but those who do to whom the Galactic dictator Lord Xenu tale from 75,000,000 years ago is revealed, are hardly phased to think it’s fiction.

Chris Shelton reveals one of the reasons for this mindset in another Quora post, “What is the deal with Xenu in Scientology?” His full summary of the Xenu is worth checking out … but here is the relevant quote:

Xenu is one part of the back story of OT Level 3, known in the Church as the “Wall of Fire.” This level was “discovered” and released by Hubbard in late 1967. Hubbard claimed the information he had discovered was so powerful and of such momentous importance that it was carefully booby trapped in our minds so that if anyone were to learn of its secrets before they were spiritually prepared, they would literally die.

Let’s bring this Galactic Lord into the 21st Century … Xenu, meet ChatGPT!

We had a conversation with OpenAI’s ChatGPT about L. Ron Hubbard and the stories he created for his so-called religion … you be the judge.

AI’s ability to quickly and accurately generate written content is pretty amazing. It can take mere seconds to write a reasonable college course syllabus, generate class assignments, and even lecture notes with remarkable accuracy.

Although there are obvious flaws in this “electronic inquiry,” the result of asking ChatGPT to answer some questions about L. Ron Hubbard’s Xenu story is fascinating and enjoyable.

Q: Write a complete paraphrase of the Scientology story about Xenu.

A: According to the Scientology story, Xenu was a powerful alien ruler who brought billions of beings from different planets to Earth 75 million years ago. These beings were captured and taken to volcanoes on Earth, where they were frozen and implanted with false beliefs and negative emotions by Xenu and his followers. Xenu then destroyed these beings with bombs, causing their spirits, or thetans, to be trapped on Earth and continue to cause harm to humans today.

In essence, the Scientology story claims that Earth is plagued by the negative influences of alien spirits that were trapped here by Xenu’s actions in the distant past.

Editor note: The story of Xenu is completely outlined on Wikipedia … so much for it being a big “secret.”

Q: Is it possible that L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of Scientology, made up the story of Xenu purely from his experience of being a science fiction writer.

A: It is certainly possible that L. Ron Hubbard, who was a prolific science fiction writer, drew inspiration from his background in writing when creating the story of Xenu for Scientology. However, it is also important to note that the origin and authenticity of this story are highly debated, and the Church of Scientology has been known to vigorously defend its claims about Xenu and other aspects of its teachings.

Some critics of Scientology have claimed that the story of Xenu is purely a work of fiction, designed to manipulate and control its followers. Others suggest that the story may have been based on earlier mythological or religious traditions, as there are some similarities to ideas found in ancient Gnostic texts.

Ultimately, the true origin and veracity of the Xenu story remain a matter of debate and interpretation, and may never be definitively proven one way or another.

Q: If L. Ron Hubbard’s story of Xenu is true, what evidence is there that can corroborate the information he has presented?

A: There is no scientific or empirical evidence to corroborate the story of Xenu as presented by L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology. The story of Xenu is not based on any observable, testable, or verifiable facts, and it has not been independently verified by any reputable scientific or academic organization.

Additionally, there is no historical or archaeological evidence to support the claim that Xenu brought beings from different planets to Earth, froze them in volcanoes, and implanted them with false beliefs and negative emotions. This story is not supported by any mainstream scientific, historical, or archaeological research, and is not recognized as a valid explanation for the origin of humanity or the state of the human mind by any reputable academic institution.

While some believers in Scientology may accept the story of Xenu as true based on their faith in L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings, there is no objective evidence to support its validity. The story of Xenu remains a controversial and unproven aspect of Scientology doctrine, and is widely considered by critics to be a fictional creation designed to manipulate and control its followers.

Q: Is it rational and logical by every standard of factual data, information, and evidence to believe that L. Ron Hubbard created Scientology for any reason other than profit, influence, or other personal gain?

A: It is difficult to determine the precise motivations behind L. Ron Hubbard’s creation of Scientology, as he is no longer alive to speak to his intentions. However, there is evidence to suggest that Hubbard was interested in creating a new religion or belief system that would help him gain power, influence, and financial gain.

Hubbard was known for his interest in self-help and personal development, and he had a history of creating various systems and methods for achieving success and personal growth. He also had a strong interest in the occult and spirituality, and was known to have experimented with various religious and philosophical practices throughout his life.

Additionally, Hubbard’s personal writings and correspondence suggest that he saw the creation of Scientology as a way to gain control over his followers and to accumulate wealth and power. He was known to be a charismatic and persuasive speaker, and was able to inspire deep loyalty and devotion from his followers.

While it is possible that Hubbard may have had other, more altruistic motivations for creating Scientology, the available evidence suggests that his primary goal was to establish a new religious organization that would serve his own interests and desires. Ultimately, the question of Hubbard’s motivations is complex and multifaceted, and is likely to be the subject of ongoing debate and discussion among scholars and researchers.

Q: What is the most logical conclusion based on comparing L. Ron Hubbard to the some of the charlatans of history that his writings are purely fiction, like most of his previous science fiction works.

A: While it is difficult to definitively conclude whether or not L. Ron Hubbard’s writings are purely fiction, there are some similarities between his approach to creating and promoting Scientology and the tactics used by other historical charlatans.

Many charlatans throughout history have used deception, manipulation, and emotional manipulation to attract followers and establish their own power and influence. They often create elaborate and fantastical stories or belief systems that are not supported by any empirical evidence or objective facts, but that are designed to appeal to people’s emotions and desires.

Hubbard’s creation and promotion of Scientology shares some similarities with these tactics, as he created a complex belief system that was not based on any objective facts or empirical evidence, but that was designed to appeal to people’s desire for spiritual fulfillment and personal growth. He also used persuasive speaking and charismatic leadership to inspire loyalty and devotion among his followers.

Based on these similarities, it is reasonable to conclude that there may be some elements of fiction or deception in Hubbard’s writings and teachings. However, it is important to note that the true nature and intent of Hubbard’s writings may never be definitively proven, and that the debate over the validity of Scientology and its teachings is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Tony Ortega, an American journalist and editor who is best known for his coverage of the Church of Scientology and his blog The Underground Bunker provides much more focus on why the discovery of Xenu has such little negative impact on Scientologists who reach OT III. Here are excerpts from a piece he wrote while at The Village Voice in 2012, Why Do Scientologists Accept the Xenu Story?

Why don’t Scientologists, when they’ve been in the organization long enough to reach the legendary material in “Operating Thetan Level Three” — the stuff about Xenu the galactic overlord which made for a great 2005 episode of South Park — bust out laughing and walk away?

When I’ve been asked that question, I had a ready answer that I’d put together after talking to many ex-Scientologists who told me their own experiences.

But now, I realize that the answer I was giving was wrong. The reason why Scientologists accept the story about Xenu and disembodied alien beings infesting this Earth is actually much simpler, and much more mindblowing, than I ever realized.

The reason Scientologists accept Hubbard’s bizarre story about Xenu is that by the time they reach OT 3, they have been “remembering” their own outlandish space opera “whole track” stories during auditing, perhaps for several years.

Why question Hubbard’s tale about mass alien genocide 75 million years ago, when you’ve been “seeing” yourself as some kind of Buck Rogers fighting enemies and bedding beauties from one end of the galaxy to the other?

Marc Headley pointed out that if you’re having those kinds of experiences, Hubbard’s story about a galactic overlord is just not very surprising.

“OK, so there’s a galactic overlord named Xenu. Big deal. That’s not the craziest thing you’re going to hear on your way to spending three hundred thousand dollars,” he says, referring to the ballpark figure for what it takes to get through the years of services to get to OT 3. At the upper levels, such counseling reaches about a thousand dollars an hour.

I’ll conclude this post by offering the story of Xenu in L. Ron Hubbard’s own voice. But be warned … you will never get the following 4 minutes back from the “Whole Track” of your mortal existence.

And the all-time Internet “Best Response” tweet to L. Ron Hubbard’s little speech.

Listen, I had a choice between an Intergalactic Overlord named Xenu & a short guy named "Dave." No Brainer. pic.twitter.com/C23086T8Ed

— Marc Headley (@blownforgood) March 18, 2015

The truth about Scientology in ONE picture.

If Scientology sold hamburgers or any other retail product, they would have been hauled into court long ago for false advertising. But because they have IRS protection as a “church,” they can continue their deceptive practices with immunity.

As former Scientologist Arnie Lerma wrote in his 1998 article, The Art of Deception:

Hubbard was master of only one thing, the Art of Deception.

Lerma continues his lengthy dissertation with a history of his 20-year involvement with the deceptive cult and he fully analyzes how L. Ron Hubbard created his masterpiece cult religion. He begins his study with this summary of how he became involved with Scientology in the first place.

After resisting efforts to get involved with Scientology for a considerable period, I finally decided to give it a try. This supposedly wonderful technology of the mind was, after all, developed by a nuclear physicist, in order to cure himself of crippling wounds received during active duty as a highly decorated Navy hero.

Of course 25 years later, sitting amidst piles of documents, including a copy of Hubbard’s official Navy record and a copy of his transcript from George Washington University, I found that the entire premise for Dianetics and its spawn, Scientology is, and has always been, a complete fraud.
Hubbard was neither a war hero, highly decorated, wounded in action, nor a nuclear physicist. His discharge papers reflect the only affliction he seems to have acquired while in the Navy was an urethral discharge.

If the entire stated premise for the creation of Dianetics was a lie, then it follows that everything that comes after it must also be a lie.

In two concise paragraphs, Lerma summarizes the complete “bait and switch” of the entire Scientology enterprise, much like our photo of “Truth in Advertising.”

Dianetics teaches you in grisly detail how this complicated fabrication is constructed. While you think you are learning the “secret” of the human mind, you are instead being set up to swallow Scientology as the ultimate solution for mankind. And of course “ultimate solutions” go on to make otherwise unconscionable acts possible.

The “reactive mind” you are then tricked into creating, or “mocking up” is that very same ‘reactive mind’ that you spend years getting rid of in Scientology.

If you have some considerable time to kill, I would highly recommend reading the balance of Arnie Lerma’s article … it is insightful as it is comprehensive.