Why is Everyone Trying to Globally Speedrun in Scientology Buildings?

TikTok has been filled with Scientology “speedrun” buildings. Hoardes of people crash into Scientology churches around the world, but for what? Why are people bragging about how far they’ve gone into these buildings, and what’s there to see?

At one point, a man dressed as Gru from The Minions stood in front of a Scientology church. A bunch of people dressed as minions were also with him. He said, “Minions! Tonight, we meet Tom Cruise!”

All of the minions with him cheered. Unfortunately, the guards did not let them through.

Cruise is, perhaps, the most notable Hollywood A-lister part of the Church of Scientology. John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss are just some of the other notable names that crop up—it almost seems as though if one walks into a Scientology building, at least one Hollywood star would certainly be in there.

It’s not just happening in the United States. One Scientology building in the UK was infiltrated by a man looking for Tom Cruise. The video has been taken down, but the man tried to run into the building before he was restrained by the guards. Are they all just looking for Tom Cruise? Maybe another Hollywood actor, because why else would people be breaking in a Scientology building?

Trolling the Church of Scientology

Not all of them appear to be breaking in for celebrities. One attempted Scientology speedrun in Vancouver, Canada, featured a massive group of people wanting to break in. The speedrun failed, and they weren’t even able to go in the church. For whatever reason, even ‘Jesus’ managed to speedrun in a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard. The man, dressed in a robe and stole, broke in and run around the halls of the facility.

Other speedrunners seem to be eager to understand the map of the buildings. They brag about their longest speedruns, and social media has even started compiling layouts of Scientology building maps.

There’s one good reason that comes to mind. Since ‘Scientology speedrun’ became a trend on TikTok, people seem to take pleasure in trolling the group. The church has issued a statement, calling the act of breaking into their facilities a “hate crime.”

Strangely enough, many videos featuring the original speedruns are being taken down quickly from TikTok. Trespassing isn’t ever encouraged, but aren’t churches supposed to be open to the public? Maybe people aren’t just trolling the group.

What is Scientology all about?

Although it’s a strange approach to getting to know Scientology, perhaps people are curious about what it’s all about. Moreover, their church buildings, unlike most, have heavy security restrictions.

Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, the Church of Scientology is a practice dedicated to helping members “improve” themselves. Members go through “audition sessions” to gain access to higher levels of spirituality.

This is all public knowledge, but so many of their principles remain in the vault. Even members are not entirely knowledgeable of their organization’s teachings either. They must pay tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars for audition sessions, which is a prerequisite for church members to rise in rankings.

Its secrecy coupled with torture allegations from former members, it’s no surprise that Scientology has piqued the curiosity of many people. Stalking its ex-members, assault, imprisonment, and forced abortions are some of the allegations against the church.

Needless to say, it’s neither the most accessible church nor the most transparent one. Given what lurks in the shadows, it’s no surprise that people are trying to break in.

(featured image: Joshua Santos)

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