BBC Panorama: Scientology & Me

11 May 2007  

On Monday 14th May at 8.30pm, the BBC will be screening a Panorama documentary Scientology & Me on BBC One.

John Sweeney investigates the Church of Scientology, endorsed by some major Hollywood celebrities, but which continues to face the criticism that it is less of a religion and more of a cult. Some former members claim the Church uses a mind control technique to put opponents at a psychological disadvantage. During the course of his investigation, Sweeney is shouted at, spied on, visited in his hotel at midnight and chased around the streets of LA by strangers in hire cars.

Scary biscuits.

As an aside, I saw this mentioned in the most recent NSS Newsline email. If you’re interested in secular issues in the UK, you can sign up to receive this weekly free email newsletter on the National Secular Society’s web site. You can also join the NSS too, and help boost secularism in the UK.

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8 Responses to “BBC Panorama: Scientology & Me”

  1. TW on May 11th, 2007 9:55 pm

    Looks like an interesting programme. As an aside:

    … it is less of a religion and more of a cult …

    I didn’t realise there was a difference :-)

  2. Yergle on May 11th, 2007 10:07 pm

    Thought these would be good to add.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elw9e9LJIwQ – Scientology’s Military
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW8ZqGSkXjI – Scientology and Children’s RPF
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZjNFZFxU6c – Ex-Scientologist talks about criminal methods
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvfW2RpGtaI – About Xenu and finances
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkpnYR_Sz9Y – Formation of Sea Org
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZHZIdwY3nk – Recruitment and Blackmail
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou82SuPR03o – Scientology and cameras
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocw90W44Boc – “What are your crimes?”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYS7SpFTEI- Scientology harrassing a German critic

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsg7D7HyCQ – Investigation into Scientology’s Narconon, Fox 13 part b
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVviXHJTr_Q – Investigation into Scientology’s Narconon, Fox 13 part b

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27tOJJ1S8ZI – Expose into Scientology’s ties to Narconon part 1
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOu-Yg-Wtww – Expose into Scientology’s ties to Narconon part 2
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27tOJJ1S8ZI – Expose into Scientology’s ties to Narconon part 3

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDwq7EC4HQ – Undercover audio from Scientology’s Volunteer Ministers bragging about keeping psychiatrists away

    Yep, Scientology is a fucked up cult

  3. nullifidian on May 12th, 2007 12:26 am

    I’ve heard it said that the difference between a religion and a cult is that a cult is the other guy’s religion. ;-)

  4. Luana on May 12th, 2007 2:05 am

    Censoring people who have different ideas seems to me common practice of the BBC Panorama show. There is way more meat to the bone that this clip, I bet:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxqR5NPhtLI

    I found one more and both look like they are off some presentation:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkOcK3rZHls

  5. Jay Tunder on May 12th, 2007 4:40 am

    Watch this video clip to see “Scientology and Me” BBC Panorama Reporter John Sweeney go insane on camera while filming the show.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxqR5NPhtLI

  6. AF on May 13th, 2007 12:55 am

    Actually, there’s a big difference between a cult and a religion. A cult doesn’t even necessarily have to be a religion — witness political cults like the National Labor Federation or the LaRouche movement.

  7. [...] to my last post which noted John Sweeney’s BBC Panorama documentary about Scientology, he has written an [...]

  8. Why Dont You Blog? : Bad Journalist on May 14th, 2007 9:16 am

    [...] two posts on Nullifidian’s blog (here and here), and a bit on BBC News 24 this morning, I couldn’t help but start to feel sorry for [...]

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