If you are into hip hop music and/or culture you sort of have no choice but to be accepting of religions other than your own. Most hip hopper would likely identify themselves as Christian but its not uncommon at all to run into many Muslims or Five Percenters. One thing you won’t run into is Scientologists. That’s may be about to change as hip hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh has declared himself a a follower of Scientology.

If you aren’t familiar with Scientology, it has some strange aspects and mythology such as new members are scanned with a device to find out how many of a certain microscopic creature live in their bodies. The amount of these creatures is relevant to a person’s spiritual power. They also believe that aliens flew around space and even landed on our planet in spaceships that look very much like jumbo jets. Yes, that sounds very much like the plot from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace but that is actually part of their beliefs and and a big reason why people make fun of Scientology and it’s followers.

Fresh was introduced to Scientology by Miss Jones who had got put on by the late Isaac Hayes. Hayes had become a follower a few years ago and even left the show South Park after the shows creators decided to poke fun of Scientology on several episodes. Though Fresh started checking it out with Miss Jones, she didn’t find it her cup of tea.

“I am the first Hip-Hop artist to do it. Isaac Hayes was a former coworker of Miss Jones and he told her about it. I went with her to one of the classes. Miss Jones stopped going but I continued. I found it fascinating. It changed how I thought. I’ve learned how to look at things and not judge them but respect them and use it in a way that people understand that I respect them, show them love and respect their reality.”

Doug E. Fresh is quick to defend himself and his new religion from those who question his choice to be part of something that up until now was thought to be reserved for deranged Hollywood stars (*cough cough Tom Cruise cough).

“Scientology is not a White religion. It is not just for White people. Scientology is not written with disrespect toward God. It doesn’t worship something that is evil. It is scientific, mathematical, and spiritual. The Black community has to check it out and see what’s there. I’m not saying it’s for everyone, but you have to take a look. You may be amazed at what you get.”

[Essence via AllHipHop]