Zombie Dogs

Off the top of my head: 1) If humans have a soul and animals do not. 2) If the soul departs the body at death. 3) If the soul cannot go back in...

...then this wouldn't work on humans. I'd be curious to get a theologian's opinion on this.

Also: what does the chosen image say about the author's view of bringing creatures back to life? Rhetorically, at the end of the article this procedure is quoted as being a beneficial life-saving procedure. But the picture and even the word used to identify re-animated creatures (zombie) don't go happily hand-in-hand with that former way of looking at it.

Since we're on Tom, can someone please ask him to comment on this quote in five minutes or less?

Those that reach the higher levels (Operating Thetan III) within the Church of Scientology will learn all about Xenu, the evil intergalactic ruler who implanted "thetans" or alien spirits, in earth's volcanoes 75 million years ago, after which they escaped and invaded human bodies. The ultimate belief of Scientology is that you are possessed by the spirits of aliens murdered 75 million years ago by "Xenu" and you have to exorcise these spirits. The cost of reaching OT III approaches $360,000.
Wikipedia

I guess if I bought into this, I'd be jumping around on Oprah's couch too. Thanks for Matt Lawless for passing the quote along.

Why do we all hate Tom Cruise?

Reminds me indirectly of two movies that peer behind that proverbial curtain: Sunset Boulevard (called by EW "Wilder's blackest joke), and Woody Allen's Purple Rose of Cairo, which examines celebrity worship.

Also indirectly, it makes me curious (and even a little nervous) about where the culture of entertainment is headed. Reality TV was one new chapter -- what's the next?

Finally, I've half-considered that Cruise's relationship with Holmes might not be the grand conspiracy its whispered to be. He may be shallow enough that his on and off-screen lives, together with the publicity around both, aren't as separable as we might think.

And maybe I shouldn't even waste my time thinking about it...