We've all been there – you move into a house, the neighbours introduce themselves and invite you round for dinner, then next thing you know they're yelling at you about E-Meters and the threat of Xenu stealing your body-thetans.

Most people would have expected David Beckham to know this more than anyone, because his neighbour is Tom Cruise. However, in a new interview David Beckham has gone to huge lengths to make it clear that Tom Cruise absolutely doesn't shove his Scientology beliefs down David Beckham's throat and, although David Beckham respects Tom Cruise's religion, neither Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes have ever tried to force him into Scientology. Unless you'd count burning the phrase 'JOIN US' in giant letters onto David Beckham's lawn as 'forcing', of course. Which we're legally entitled to point out is something that Tom Cruise has never done, by the way, although he might want to think about it if he's serious about getting David Beckham to join this Scientology lark.

Of all the unlikely friendships we've ever encountered, the relationship between Tom Cruise and David Beckham must rank as one of the weirdest. Something tells us that David Beckham's sparkling wit wasn't what made Tom Cruise decide to introduce him to baby Suri, and David didn't rush to Los Angeles at Tom Cruise's behest for the down-to-earth normality his new friend would provide. So what is it? Some have suggested that Tom Cruise and David Beckham were able to bond because they're both insanely wealthy publicity magnets, while others have guessed that Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes are the real friends and that Tom and David are merely a by-product of that.

And then there's Scientology. As the Jesus of Scientology, people expect that Tom Cruise has a responsibility to recruit as many high-profile names to the religion as he can. If this is the case, then there aren't many bigger figures globally than David Beckham. And you could argue that if Tom Cruise ever managed to recruit David Beckham to Scientology then the religion would be swamped by millions of youngsters who idolise Beckham enough to follow his every move, even the one that charges them thousands of dollars to believe stories about alien souls getting dropped into volcanoes. It'd also explain why Tom Cruise threw a party for David Beckham on his arrival to Los Angeles and why he also wants them to hook up for some fun soon.

But, in a staggering turn of events, David Beckham has said that Tom Cruise has never tried to make him join Scientology at all. David told Arena:

"We respect their religion. We respect everything they do and believe in. But they have never turned around to us and said, 'You have to be a part of this', because that's not what they're about. It's never been about that. There's been nothing shoved down our throats because friends don't do things like that. They are amazing people who are just so positive about life and they have been great to us."

 That means… that means David Beckham and Tom Cruise are friends with each other because they simply enjoy each other's company? Ugh, that's weirder than the religion thing.

Read more:

David Beckham's Respect For Scientology – Mirror