The Secrets of Scientology 1 of 4 - BBC Panorama Investigative Documentary

The Secrets of Scientology 1 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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[j0nnyism]

scientology is such bogus nonsense that it astounds me with its level of human stupidity and sly underhand behaviour

[RuniScience]

@j0nnyism can't tell for sure ..."human Stupidity" is it seems humanities calling card (I doubt I require examples) But I have some experience with their "Underhand Behaviour" ... i must be fair they called and called, but at no point was I submitted to foreceful methods ... i admit their strategy was manipulative, but I could not say it was more so than lets say other mainstream Religions.. we do have to distinguish here, simply because some are socially accepteted. Not Baseless but careful.

[spongebob7285]

does a church have a head office?

[RuniScience]

@spongebob7285 >> That is a great question ... ultimately I guess the answer is '"yes" ... Otherwise it would not be a Church ... But ALAS "all lines are blocked right now..." LOL "Please wait and tender..." Have an appreciably nice Christmas dude, I really had to smile for once ... Runi Toconillo .

[wwe3466]

the 8 mile song?

[RuniScience]

@wwe3466 > no idea ... is this a published song ?

[Synthbomb99]

They forgot beck. Beck is a scientologist.

[rickmcclure1229]

This vid is a favorite on Mauritania

[criuth]

Man these psychos are scary... its not just Panorama or documentaries... its their campaigns online as well... so MANY videos attacking John Sweeney's character and dis-owning Rinder + only scientologists are allowed to comment... and they upload videos under titles of "BBCfiles" to make it seem legit, to make it seem like BBC is disowning its own employee... OH SO PATHETIC and scary :/ STOP BEING SO UNDERHANDED YOU CULTIST FUCKS... MAKES YOU LOOK VERY GUILTY :)