Cruise became involved in Scientology in 1990

Cruise is shown discussing how he wants to spread the message of Scientology, saying: "You're in the playing field or out of the arena".

In the edited video, which features the Mission Impossible theme, he says a Scientologist driving past an accident is "the only one who can really help".

A Scientology spokeswoman said the full video could be seen in its churches.

What appeared on the internet was a "pirated and edited" version of an acceptance speech Cruise had made in 2004 after receiving a "freedom medal" from the International Association of Scientologists, she said.

'Drug rehabilitation'

In the nine-minute edited version of the video, which has appeared on websites including video-sharing site YouTube, Cruise says: "Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else.

It's rough and tumble and it's wild and woolly and it's a blast

Tom Cruise on Scientology

"As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help."

He said of being a Scientologist: "It's rough and tumble and it's wild and woolly and it's a blast.

"It's a blast. It really is fun because there is nothing better than going out there and fighting the fight and suddenly you see things are better."

He added: "We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, we are the authorities on improving conditions... we can rehabilitate criminals... we can bring peace and unite communities."

'In or out'

Cruise said he wished "the world was a different place" and that he would "like to go on vacation and go and play".

Let's really get it done - let's have enough love and compassion and toughness that we're going to do it and do it right

Tom Cruise

"That's what I want to be and there's times I'd like to do that but I can't because I know. I know."

He said Scientologists had no time for "spectatorism" but instead had "a responsibility to educate and create the new reality".

"You are either in or you're out," he said.

He added: "We have that responsibility to say, 'Hey, this is the way it should be done because we do it this way and people are actually getting better and let's get it done'.

"Let's really get it done - let's have enough love and compassion and toughness that we're going to do it and do it right."

'Sick stuff'

The Church of Scientology International spokeswoman said Cruise's speech had been made "before an audience of 5,000 church parishioners and their guests".

Cruise had been "honoured for his efforts in championing world literacy", the spokeswoman added.

Last week, Cruise's lawyer branded a new biography of the actor "sick stuff".

Bert Fields said Tom Cruise: An Unauthorised Biography by British author Andrew Morton - published in the US on Tuesday - was full of "tired old lies".

They included the "nutty" claim that Cruise was second-in-command at the Church of Scientology, he added.

The book's publisher has said it stands by the book and the author.