The Secrets of Scientology 2 of 4 - BBC Panorama Investigative Documentary

The Secrets of Scientology 2 of 4 - BBC Panorama Investigative Documentary, recorded 16.01.2011 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 whistleblower to help him reveal the dark secrets of the church, which boasts Hollywood A-listers Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its devotees.

John Sweeney revisits the Church of Scientology

In 2007, while investigating the Church of Scientology for Panorama, reporter John Sweeney had a dramatic on-camera confrontation with a church spokesman named Tommy Davis. The church was accusing the reporter of bias and it attempted to stop the documentary from being broadcast - a campaign backed by Scientology A-lister John Travolta. Sweeney has returned to investigate the church again.


Pushing John Sweeney's 'bigot' button "I never meant to shout."

Strangers had been on my tail. Scientologist Tommy Davis and his colleague Mike Rinder - my handlers - had been on my case, day in and day out.

They had taken me to an exhibit called 'Psychiatry: Industry of Death' on Hollywood Boulevard, where a Scientologist told me psychiatrists set up the Holocaust. I feared I was being brain-washed.

And then I lost it - big time.

The Church of Scientology put out my impression of an exploding tomato onto the internet which millions had a laugh at courtesy of YouTube.

It was no way for me to behave. I apologised then and I apologise now.

Shortly after that programme, Scientology & Me, aired in 2007, I received a tip-off that Mike Rinder had left the church.

Three years on and my old adversary came to me to shed some light on what had been going on behind the scenes in the days leading up to my infamous meltdown and screaming session in Los Angeles.

Now an independent Scientologist, Mike is critical of the church and of its leader David Miscavige, who was actor Tom Cruise's best man at his wedding to Katie Holmes.

Mike, 55, wanted to meet and talk about his life in the church, which he was a part of from the age of six.


'Freed'

He began by telling me about the moment when he decided to get out: "I knew as I was walking out - that was the last time I would ever talk to my wife, my children, the rest of my family. I couldn't take it anymore. When I left I felt I had been freed." (From BBC content with thanks, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9032000/9032278.stm )

For more information and to join the BBC debate Forum, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/panorama/2010/09/the_secrets_of_scientology_-_j.html .

On a personal note: I myself take no sides on this topic one way or another. This report was aired globally, and as such I present it as part of an objective debate. I myself am not affiliated to the Church of Scientology, but to aquire a better picture I have read the introductory book "Dianetics", which I found to be most intriguing. I personally recommend to anyone who wants to objectively debate (or investigate) this topic to non-commitaly read this book, just like I would recommend to anyone wanting to debate Christianity or Islam to read the Bible and the Koran respectively as the same with any religious movement. Runi Toconillo

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[laserofjustice]

It's The Sweeney!

The "ideal org" in Victoria Street, London is just like the cult it serves- a facade echoing with emptiness.

The cult recruitement "dianetics" centre in Tottenham Court Road is an empty building apart from some unpaid, overworked and unhappy looking staff who hide behind a wall of books whenever there is a protest.

Die-anetics and sLIEntology are crumbling, the truth is free.

[Tondaactress]

are you nervous about something?!?!? thats a fortune teller trick

[bongcouver]

Most people want to lead people & most people want to be lead. those are the problems most abundant in this world, and in my opinion, the biggest problems of the world since the beginning.

[kensei85]

Isn't it interesting how the mainstream media uses those kind of "button pushing" methods all the time, interrupting and talking over people?