The Secrets of Scientology
This is a very disturbing video documentary for the BBC programme Panorama, by reporter John Sweeney.
BBC reporter John Sweeney's last investigation into the Church of Scientology resulted in an explosive confrontation with church officials.
This time, in a Panorama Special, one of those officials has turned whistle blower to help him reveal the dark secrets of the church, which boasts Hollywood A-listers Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its devotees.
There were no histrionics from John Sweeney this time but a second look at Scientology underlined the insidious aspects of the controversial organization.
As Sweeney delved into L Ron Hubbard's mysterious pseudo religion and found himself hounded and harassed, the group's continued denial that it is a cult seemed laughable.
This is a so-called church, yet so much of its treatment of non-believers smacks of paranoia, notably the revelation that Sweeney’s 2007 ‘exploding tomato’ impression was encouraged.
Flashbacks to his previous investigation were overused and there was no scene capable of reaching the infamy of his red-faced screaming fit.
But with former ‘church’ spokesman Mike Rinder at Sweeney’s side, the lengths to which the religion of the stars will go to discredit its critics – including dividing families - became horribly clear.
To SOME GUY :
We all have opinions and experiences and our own definitions of Truth and other Mysteries and Unknowns of life don't we ? You obviously have stated yours but I don't agree at all. The thing is, I can disagree without reducing the beliefs and experiences of others to fit my own parameters. Can you ?
The crazy part was "Yes we still believe in Scientology even after what happened to us"
CRAZY.........You haven't seen nothing yet
Who gets convinced that a "church" supposedly out to do good in the world would release personal and confidential info on it's members, ex or not, in an effort to discredit them is a place to go for spiritual health and enlightenment?
Scientology officials openly and harshly attack anyone they see as an enemy. If they are all so "clear" from practicing the teachings of L. Ron, how can they justify being so petty and vindictive?
And... what kind of entity claiming to be making a "better and good" world for everyone charges something as base as money to be join them?
Requiring that your members pay fees to is not a religion. It might be some type of half-a**ed, self proclaimed "self help" group. Or a private club for dumb a**es.
But a sincere religion or philosophy out to better humans and the world? No. Just no.
This was an interesting doco. What was missing was the information in depth that would allow people to get more accurate information about the reality of the Scientology organisation.
Actually, it is no different to many "Religious" organisations - and Hubbard himself was against the "conversion" to a "Religion". Tax reasons, not legal security.
He actually knew he had miscalculated the growth potential of the original Group - Dianetics.
It simply got out of control.
People should remember that its early intention was to eliminate the falsity of "big R" Religions and in particular...... psychiatry.
Bloody Brilliant! Enjoyed this film Thoroughly. Well Done .Got the truth now .
Just like every religion, it's based in brainwashing, mind control, and brute force to get people in, or certain people out
wow, real corrupt **** going on. It's actually very sad how they keep their hooks in people thru intimidation and blackmail. :(
" Things that make you go mmmmm!!"
i came away from this film knowing as much about scientology as i had known before i saw it. the filmmaker is not, in any sense, deep. i don't even know who is the head of the "church" -- everyone kept referring to "they" but no specific individual/s were ever mentioned. he neglected to define the term "cult" and, even though people generally know what is meant, it should have been spelled out, with examples documented. this was, after all, a documentary ... wasn't it?
What this cult does bring to light in a positive perspective is how society can easily manipulate the gullible.
Scientology is a cult. but its just as illogical as any other main stream religion like Christianity.
John , fair play to you for keeping your cool for so long I would have lost it with that prick long before you did.
scientology , you have to be having a laugh. all i have to say is look at the founder. l .r hubard. im not going to waste my time writing any more, enough said...
why was my other comment deleted?
Didn't you get the memo: Scientology is an International Scam. And that's all that it is...
I don't think the journalist overreacted at all when he dealt with that guy. I know if I had some random dude stalking me at every turn I'd get pretty heated. You can only push someone so far before they lose their cool. You're either a saint or a liar if you say that wouldn't push you over the edge. If they didn't have anything to hide and they were a legit organization they wouldn't need to send those dummies out to stalk critics.
@ N: Thank-you :) Yes, you are right, I am a good person and the majority of people in Scientology are. My point is that one cannot judge it by what is shown in that documentary. There is a link in a post of 'elesceptico' below which gives another side to it. That documentary is not an objective look. It involves less than a handful of people and is not what is dealt with in Scientology on a day to day basis.
I do not 'believe' in Scientology. It is methods to improve your life and others you would like to assist. The methods work and in my experience are the most precise and effective I know of. As I want have the tools to be able to help those who want to bring out the best in themselves so they can do the same for others, I am a Scientologist.
The problem as I have said below is that there are those dedicated to spreading the negative around. Most people unfortunately do not look for themselves to get a balanced picture of what really is.
Have a look and then make up your mind.
Peace :)
All religion is no longer nessesary !
@ Sebastian Veldman: sorry for the delay. I have been away. The reason I asked you if you have ever done Scientology is to find out if you have any other data besides what you have been told via critics on the net.
Your reality is made up by what you see and hear. If all I did was read critical things of Scientology but never LOOKED at IT, I would only get one side.
Every day, people go into Scientology churches and receive counselling and come out brighter and happier and live better lives. Every day, people learn how to help others and do so and all are better off as a result. This occurs all over the world and is why people do it.
Now, having said that, there are disagreements and people get upset. That is unfortunate, but you cannot look at only that and say that is Scientology. There are those who forward only that kind of stuff to intentionally make it look bad.
So, I am not going to tell you what to think, you can go and look for yourself and see what positives you can see and get an accurate picture.
All the best :)
One thing I don't understand about Scientology. If it claims to be a religion, why does it cost someone to be helped by it. Organized religions around the world do charitable work and help millions of people free of charge. Just as an exsample, I can walk into a catholic church looking for guidence and I would be givin books and counsel free of charge. Why is it when you walk into an establishment of scientology, ( I have done this) They try to sell you help. They were trying to sell me books. As someone who is agnostic and doesn't follow any organized religion, it seems to me that scientology is mostly interested in money and its image, rather than helping people.
At least they aren't murdering people over it like christians and muslims.
That soundtrack was boss.
@ Sebastian Veldman: I am very happy to respond to your comment. Before I do may I ask you what experience you have had with Scientology personally? I ask so I can answer you appropriately. Have you ever had auditing or done a course?
Looking forward to your reply then I will answer you in detail.
OK. I am a Scientologist, who is part of the Church. Here is what I have to say. The side of Scientology you saw there is the arm that deals with legal, attacks, critics and so on. That is not the Scientology I know and deal with daily. I am not even going to comment on their methods. I just want to balance the picture by saying that Scientology is simply a straight look at life. What it is, who we are, how we get into a less than optimum state and most importantly, what exactly to do to get to how we want to be. It works. Concentration on the Xenu thing is simply an effort to make it look stupid by taking the most unreal thing and highlighting it. That is a very small part of Scientology.
My point is this; for anyone who would like to bring out the best in themselves there is something to be gained in Scientology. It is impossible that in L. Ron Hubbard's 50 years of research that he came up with nothing. The technology is there to be used and can be done without ever setting foot in a Church. There are books in Libraries and now even web sites that have videos showing how to use the info. Before you have anything to say about my post, check out this link: [link removed].
I do Scientology not only to improve my life but also because as I have a more positive influence around me and that helps everyone. Untimately, what the future holds is what we (humanity) do to create it. The more people who are positively contributing, the better it will be. I believe that Scientology does more good than bad, by far. This is not to say that I am so blind as to think that everyone in it has never done any wrong, but we need to look at the whole.
Xemu sounds like the Abrahamic god