Tom Cruise and Scientology's "Silent Birth"

Tom Cruise has been practically shouting from the rooftops about his love for his pregnant fiancee, Katie Holmes. But when their much-anticipated baby is born, the superstar dad probably won't say a word.

Followers of scientology believe that the practise of quiet birth or absence of talk and other noise in the delivery room is more healthful for mother and baby.

According to the tenets of Scientology, known as ''Dianetics,'' words -- even loving ones -- spoken during birth and other painful times are recorded by the ''reactive mind,'' or subconscious. Those memories, adherents feel, can eventually trigger problems for mother and child.