Actress Leah Remini believes the Church of Scientology gives children "inflated egos".
The 45-year-old grew up as part of the church and while she admits it was hard being treated as a "spiritual being" rather than a child, she was still devastated to "give up everything" she ever knew, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Speaking on TV show "20/20", Remini said: "Your ego becomes extremely inflated. Because Scientologists view children as spiritual beings, you're not treated as a kid."
A defector of the church, she added: "The decision to leave is you are giving up everything you have ever known and everything you have worked for your whole life.
"I feel that people need to understand this has been my whole life. I want them to understand how it happens."