May 20, 2007...11:13 am
Scientology and the BBC
Despite being very busy with exams I still felt compelled to write this and link a video on youtube regarding the battle between Panorama (BBC) and the Church of Scientology.
It isn’t usually my style to refer to topics regarding current affairs since this site deals with gender issues predominately, but I feel very strongly about this topic and felt a blogger’s need to write about it.
For the full story on the incident please follow this link here or simply google the title above for a more indepth understanding on the events mentioned on this blog.
I find it unjust of the Church Scientology to attack BBC Journalist John Sweeney by publishing footage of him losing his temper and shouting at a senior member of Scientology on youtube. I find it unjust because the clip did not show the full context surrounding the incident, and I believe it was a sneaky and petty-minded attempt on the part of the Church of Scientology to discredit him and to prevent his documentary on Scientology from being shown. Thankfully the BBC still went ahead with the documentary which is a triumph for freedom of speech in many respects.
I felt frustrated that most of the videos on youtube did not show any of the context leading up to John Sweeney’s outburst, since I wanted to understand why a BBC journalist will react in such a dramatic fashion. I found it very unusual as most BBC journalists are usually very professional and highly composed… although it has to be said that even journalists can be human sometimes 
(I know, I know, cheap shot!)
Even though I cannot condone his reaction, I found the following clip included more of the context of the situation. So it made the reason for Sweeney’s outburst easier to understand. I thought I should share it.
And if you are interested enough to try and understand all perspectives I will invite you to look at the link to Scientology’s point of view on the incident so here are both the documentary and the original youtube video posted by scientology.
In closing, I will defend to the death the right for followers of the Church of Scientology to believe what they will. However, it is also my view that a part of such freedom means the Church of Scientology (or any other organization) will never be (and should never be) immune to criticism. It is also my personal view that we all have the right to express our views and criticisms without being harassed, intimidated and discredited as a consequence. Any organization that resorts to any such means to silence critics is nothing but a bully.
10 Comments
May 20, 2007 at 2:20 pm
[...] was prompted to write about this after my friend Emmah commented over at EngenderTruth. If you don’t know the Sweeney vs Scientology story, click that link above and do a little [...]
May 22, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I read about that. There are other religions that react like this too. I’m very glad the church I go to is more about the word than a church. Formalized religion sucks. When they prevent people from getting proper health care or administering it, I believe they need to get exposed.
May 23, 2007 at 8:00 am
[...] Luka nails it. And I love the new work she’s done on her blog. A much cleaner look. [...]
May 23, 2007 at 9:45 am
Yes, the church of scientology does worry me greatly because of their huge power base of lawyers and front line organizations. Thankfully more and more people are waking up to how dangerous scientology is and see it as a cult.
I also greatly admire people who are ex-scientologists that speak out against scientology - bear in mind, that as they speak out they are more than likely being hounded and followed by secret agents, their past dragged up and used against them, their families (if they were also scientologists) cut off from them and refusing to associate with them. I cannot think of a worse crime than separating families, or anything more hurtful than having your own kin refuse to speak or have anything to do with you.
Kudos to the people who speak out against this organization, I hope their courage will someday bring them fruit. I also hope that Scientology will be exposed for all and that those people who have committed crimes within the organization are brought to justice for the things they have done against the humanity they proport to “save”.
May 23, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Great video. My heart was racing by the end. Last summer, my ex and his new friend were in the city with my sons, walking to a baseball game. My older son (14 at the time), got behind the rest, after stopping to look in the window of a used record store. The used record store (now vacant), is next door the nondescript Church of Scientology ‘Reading Room.’ As it is just 3 blocks from my work space, I’ve been past it dozens of times. When my ex looked back to see where A was and encourage him to hurry up, he was just in time to see him disappear inside the Church. He darted back and ducked inside, and within that 30 seconds, a Scientologist had his hand on A’s shoulder and was leading him to a table.
Creepy, creepy, creepy. Had the children been with me, there would have been a scene. The video reminded me that I have a tendency to be prejudiced against any religion which recruits (or proselytizes) publicly. I’m now inspired to find out more about our local branch.
http://www.themacweekly.com/articles/20070223/11093
May 23, 2007 at 3:21 pm
That does sound like a creepy story Zog *shivers* … your son got a lucky escape in my view.
I would encourage anyone to read up more about scientology because it isn’t just a fad religion, it is a very very very powerful organization, with a lot of fingers in a lot of pies.
When I first heard of it, I didn’t really know much, but I have since read a lot and I am shocked at how powerful they have become. Also shocked at some of the atrocities that they have been able to get away with.
However, I don’t want to say too much, these are simply my viewpoints, you are all intelligent enough to come to your own conclusions.
May 23, 2007 at 4:57 pm
My children have an unfortunate tendency toward pathological politeness and deference. I’m afraid they got it from me, and I need to break them of it, or at least teach them balance, for their own safety.
May 24, 2007 at 9:42 am
@Z that’s a rather sad link.
-wolfe
May 28, 2007 at 4:15 pm
It was rather pathetic, wasn’t it? Not the glitzy and forceful and sinister face of Scientology shown in the BBC clips Luka provided. Even still, the funding is there in a big way. The real estate that the Scientologists occupy in Minneapolis has got to be extraordinarily pricey ~ their retail neighbors were evicted to make way for million-dollar lofts, but the Scientologists and the new station remain on that block. When you peek inside, there’s very little beyond displays of LRH’s books, utility tables and folding chairs to be seen. Oh, and last week, a slightly incongruous bouquet of helium balloons adorned the window.
May 28, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Yes, they own a lot of companies which manage to rake in the money, they have a lot of financial clout which they wield almost expertly against those who criticize Scientology. So, without a doubt the funding is there in a huge huge way.
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