( CNN ) -- Tom Cruise expounds on his beliefs in Scientology in a 2004 video that made its way onto the Internet this week . Tom Cruise appears with his wife , Katie Holmes , at a movie premiere earlier this month . `` I think it 's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist , and it 's something you have to earn , '' Cruise says at the beginning of the video . Cruise says he 's `` driven ... by the opportunity to really help , for the first time , change people 's lives . I 'm absolutely , uncompromisingly dedicated to that . '' The video was shown at a 2004 Scientology ceremony honoring Cruise for his humanitarian work . Church of Scientology officials said it can be viewed at any of its churches , but it created a stir this week when what the church calls a pirated and edited version appeared on YouTube . The video has since been taken off YouTube , but an interview portion remained available on the celebrity Web site gawker.com on Thursday . Watch snippets of Cruise video » . `` The Cruise Indoctrination Video Scientology Tried To Suppress '' is the title of gawker.com 's presentation . `` You have to watch this video , '' the site says . `` It shows Tom Cruise , with all the wide-eyed fervor that he brings to the promotion of a movie , making the argument for Scientology , '' which it calls `` the bizarre 20th-century religion . Watch `` Showbiz Tonight '' discussion of Cruise video » . Cruise talks over a repetitive guitar-riff soundtrack , and appears to be answering questions , though an interviewer is not seen or heard . A second part of the video , made available to CNN by the publisher of a new unauthorized biography of Cruise , shows Cruise accepting Scientology 's Freedom Medal of Valor award and exchanging military-like salutes with Scientology chairman David Miscavige to audience applause . The publisher denies leaking other parts of the video to the Web . In the video by the publisher , Cruise also salutes a portrait of L. Ron Hubbard , cited on the church 's Web site as the founder of `` the only major religion founded in the 20th century . '' Hubbard 's biography cites his accomplishments as everything from mariner and horticulturalist to author and humanitarian . In the video , Cruise puts emphasis on the latter role . A Scientologist `` has the ability to create new realities and improve conditions , '' Cruise says . On its Web site , the Church of Scientology highlights its humanitarian work , from anti-drug campaigns in places from Minnesota to Taiwan to teacher training in India . The Web site defines Scientology as `` the study of truth . '' Cruise embraces that in the video . `` If you 're a Scientologist , ... you see things the way they are , '' Cruise says . He also says he finds peace in the religion . `` The more you know as a Scientologist , you do n't become overwhelmed by it , '' according to Cruise . The unauthorized biography of Cruise is by author Andrew Morton . A Cruise spokesperson and the Church of Scientology have disputed the book , saying Morton did not seek their comment . `` Accuracy and truth were not on Morton 's agenda , '' according to a church statement . Morton denies that and says Cruise , who he calls `` a towering figure on the international scene , '' and his faith are worthy of scrutiny . `` Tom Cruise has done remarkable work for his faith over the past few years , '' Morton said . `` If it was n't for him the Church of Scientology would be a shadow of what it is today . '' E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Brad Lendon , David Mattingly and Don Lemon contributed to this report .
Scientology membership a privilege that 's earned , Cruise says . 2004 video part of ceremony honoring Cruise for humanitarian work . Scientology defined as `` study of the truth ''