Scientology releases new ad campaign, promises to fix your life

Just trying to get in a little food porn, that's all, when up pops a slick-looking commercial with a soothing, all-knowing voiceover. Is this a chick-targeted Nike ad, or yet another suggestion that I talk to my doctor about a happy pill that might be right for me? A minute ago, I was watching Chef Duff whip up a cake in the shape of the Taj Mahal, and now I'm being confronted with Big Life Issues like "Who am I?" and "What's my truth?" If I wanted to ponder the existential, I wouldn't be watching Ace of Cakes. I'd switch over to The Real Housewives. But I digress. The source of my confusion? Ads for the Church of Scientology that are airing now on the Food Network and three dozen other cable channels. (See one spot embedded here, and a couple more here). Make of them what you will—creepy, yeah?—but I think the recession-era timing of these ads is no accident. Could they help the science-fiction-based "religion" gain some ground as people grapple with the trashed economy and the soul searching that it's triggered? According to Wired, the TV ads are part of a larger campaign that covers cable, satellite dish networks, news sites and—shocker!—Wired.com. Response to the ads so far has been mostly, "WTF?" And those are the kinder Tweets. Decide for yourselves, and I'll try to hold onto what's left of my sugar high.

—Posted by T.L. Stanley