'We don't worship rabbits!' Erika Christensen tries to explain Scientology as she declares it's NOT 'the Hollywood religion'

Erika Christensen has spoken out in defense of Scientology.
The 30-year-old Parenthood star has practiced the religion since she was a child and dismissed outrageous claims made about its practice in a newly-released video interview.
Sitting down with fellow actress Joy Bryant, Christensen said: 'If I had to sum it up, the goal of Scientology is giving the person back to themselves. Like, your own power of choice.'

Misconceptions: Erika Christensen dismissed outrageous claims made about Scientology in a newly-released video interview

The interview was conducted for Bryant’s web series Across the Board.

After a day of paddle boarding, the pair sit down for a chat and Christenen is asked about what keeps her grounded.

Scientology, she says, is at the top of the list.

 

Christensen goes on to discuss what she feels are misconceptions about the church, whose followers include Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

'One, that we are some kind of closed group. Two, that we are the Hollywood religion and three, that we worship rabbits,' she said, laughing.

Girl talk: The interview was conducted by actress Joy Bryant for her web series Across the Board

'It's a study tool': Christensen goes on to discuss what she feels are misconceptions about the church, whose followers include Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley

Christensen explained she was introduced to Scientology as a young girl: her parents are also Scientologists.

Bryant asked how she might approach the topic of religion with her own children.

'I would expose to them, like, this is what I do, which is how my parents did it, because my parents are Scientologists,' she said, recalling: 'When I was like seven, they did like this demonstration. There is this thing in Scientology, it’s a study method to demonstrate things out.

'I would give them the option, of like, these are our study tools. You can use them in school, get good grades, learn,’ she said.

High-profile: The Scientology Celebrity Centre and Church in Los Angeles, California

Scientology has earned its fair share of headlines in recent months, particularly in the wake of a divorce between one of its most high-profile members, Cruise, and his ex-wife, Katie Holmes, late last year.
In an article published by Vanity Fair in September, it was alleged the secretive religious group organised an 'audition' process to find Cruise a wife, grilling dozens of young women to make sure they posed no threat to the church or its most famous member.

In the article, special correspondent Maureen Orth  claims that the project to identify a new partner for Cruise, following the break-up of his relationships with Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz, started in 2004 and was headed by Shelly Miscavige, wife of the church's top official David Miscavige.

Expose: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright makes sensational allegations about the religion in new book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief

A spokesman for Cruise and for the Church of Scientology dismissed the claims.

Pulitzer Prize winning author Lawrence Wright alleges in a book scheduled for release on Thursday Miscavige saw Cruise's potential to help expand their membership ranks shortly after the actor started the initial phase of the religion, called auditing and that the actor has since become a high-ranking member of the church.
Wright’s highly-anticipated book is based on his 2011 New Yorker article ‘The Apostate’, for which he interviewed the screenwriter and director Paul Haggis about his decision to resign from the organisation.

It examines the Church’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, the church’s finances, its relationships with celebrities and its practices.

'High-ranking': Tom Cruise has risen to high ranks within the church, according to Wright, and is among several stars following the religion - but Christensen balked at the idea its practices can only be applied by celebrities

A British version of the book has been cancelled after publisher Transworld took legal advice.

Karin Poew, a Church representative, poured cold water on its contents
‘Wright's book would be better suited for supermarket tabloids because they are nothing more than a stale rehash of allegations disproven long ago,' Poew said after the New York Post claimed to leak excerpts from the tome earlier this year.

‘It is important to note that Wright's British publisher had second thoughts, choosing not to publish Wright's book after being informed of the numerous inaccuracies and defamatory lies it contains that were told to Wright by a handful of bitter and discredited former Scientologists,' she said.