´óÏó´«Ã½

That YouTube clip is crazy. Sweeney blew it big time by behaving very childishly (not only in this clip but in the others I've seen from trailers also).

On the other hand, Scientology is crazier. Hubbard was a sci-fi writer who wrote fiction and, after struggling to make it, realised that the few who believed what he was writing were willing to buy his books and follow him if he made believe it was real. So he did, and intentionally turned it into a 'religion'. He was not only a liar, but an outright charlatan whose life was one huge manipulation.

At least one major point of contention between Sweeney and "top scientologist" Tommy Davis seems to have been a matter of semantics; Davis wished to use the word 'religion' and Sweeney kept pushing the word 'cult'. 'Cult' / 'religion' - who cares? Sweeney could have avoided this contention by simply allowing the nature of Scientology to speak for itself in his documentary (which I'm now intrigued to see).

What you didnt see in the clip of him blowing his top was the constant harrassment he had sufferee, phonecalls to his relatives making threats and the fact that he had just come out of a giant room showing violent and disturbing images called "the mind control room".
I dont care that he got mad, I think its about time someone did!

It's been nearly forty years since Life Magazine exposed the scam of Scientology. Here's a link to their article which will probably tell you everything you need to know about this scam. I't amazing how the same scams work generation after generation, having been long forgotten and just waiting for a new round of suckers like pyramid schemes, chain letters...and Scientology.

PT Barnum was right, there's one born every minute.

Still Sweeney as a professional doing a professional job should have maintained a professional demeanour.

The fact that he was being harrassed could have been dealt with in the program and if necessary through the legal system if he were threatened.

He gave this idiot organization a gift.

Regards,
Michael

I see it as a desperate, deliberate publicity-stunt from a so-called journalist past his peak.

Bye bye

I wouldn't say John Sweeney is past his peak! You don't get to make a film like this for panorama when you're past your peak. This film looks amazing. I'm not surprised the scientologists are launching these attacks on sweeney but the rest of us see through those attacks.

I agree with Michael. It's a pity if his film will have less impact because of him losing it so badly. In the most pessimistic scenario, the Scientologists might do well from the episode. He did give them a gift.

Ok, saw it. Pretty much as I either expected or already knew. I didn't know about the 'fair game' tactics of harresment that they employ, that seems slightly disturbing. Other than that it was pretty much the old story (which in itself is bad enough). I get a 'Yes, sure, we know and we agree' feeling from it. Not that it was bad, although the nagging on about the word 'cult' was a bit poor. Plenty of people from many religions would be insulted by the word. I give it no more than a 'neutral'. Any thoughts from others who saw it?

If anyone can point me to a location on the web where I can view the documentary, I'd appreciate it.

Unless you have had first hand experience of the scientologists you may not understand what a disturbed cult they are. They prey on vulnerable people, young students, old pensioners. I think John Sweeney did well to keep it so cool! Well done ´óÏó´«Ã½ for bringing this frightning organization to peoples attention.

Not hard to find John!

You are right about it being a highly secretive movement that seems to have been spooked by John Sweeney's investigation!!

I saw the show online at ´óÏó´«Ã½ tonite and I am very appreciative of John Sweeney and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Panorama crew for exposing this deceptive organization for what it is: A CULT.

One can view the show this week over at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Panorama's ´óÏó´«Ã½ One. Just go here, look for the video tape and click WATCH ME.

Thanks for the heads up on this show.

Having heard all about John Sweeney's "outburst" on Radio 5 on my way to work yesterday morning I watched Panorama with interest. If John Sweeney wishes to apologise for shouting at Tommy Davies that is his perogative but having seen the complete piece around the "outburst" that was broadcast I am not sure he needs to. At the start of the exchange John was quite controlled in his speach but Davies would not listen to him and spoke over him. John started to shout very loud and apparently uncontrolled but still Davies did not stop talking at, not to, him. John then reverted to speaking in a controlled manner saying something like "now will you listen to me" which he repeated in a very controlled way a couple of times. Still Davies talked over him and so John raised his voice again and shouted very loud and still Davies talked over him. At the very end of the clip John reverted to a very controlled tone repeating something similar to what he had said in the middle and still Davies spoke over him. To switch between controlled speach and shouting in the way that John Sweeney did in my view takes a lot of control and I believe that he was in control. Whether or not to shout was wise is another matter entirely but I believe that John was in control of himself. It has not affected my view of John Sweeney.
However, not based on what John reported but the way the Scientologists behaved during the piece, almost all of them, showed a paranoia beyond all reason. The will not and cannot take criticism, they would not allow the word "cult" to be used even in a question giving them the opportunity to respond openly and fairly. Clearly they, the scientologists investigated anyone who may have said something negative about them in an attempt to discredit them and make their comments worthless. They did themselves more harm in the Panorama expo than John Sweeney did himself.

John Sweeney made a mistake in losing his temper, but his actions were no surprise considering the continuous provocation of an extrememly irritating and plainly rude Tommy Davis. If I want to make a judgement about Sweeney's reporting, I would look to the catalogue of his excellent reportage prior to this documentary, and even here, his dogged determination to continue despite scientologist interference stand in his credit. Well done John, Davis deserved everything he got.

John Sweeney showed extreme restraint in the face of a constant barrage of propaganda, outright lies and what was tantamount to verbal abuse from the vicious and frightening Tom Davis. How he managed to blag the job as Spokesman for the entire organisation beggars belief as he quite obvioulsy has issues, particularly talking over people he is 'conversing' with.

Yes Sweeneys piece was biased, there is no doubt, but it did go to show what an extremely sinister and dark force the church of Scientology is becoming.

Hello,

I saw the video on youtube and I was really shocked. Yes I was really shocked, but not because of the poor man being treated so badly, but because of scientology! He couldn't do something against that, he really hadn't an alterative! Everybody of us, and I say everybody, would have reacted the same, when you would have been chased I think you would also get mad of that, and besides I think it's very brave to deal with scientology, you know they chase you your whole life and don't repose... It's a big big problem of our time today, and so we shouldn't denounce him, because we don't know how we would have reacted! If Scientology notices that they suceed with such practics then they'll do such things again and we have to stop them! We have to demonstrate them that they can't do those things, that we don't accept it! When we are angry with Sweeney then we support Scientology at the same time! And although Sweeney wasn't 100 per Cent right, it's only human and Scientology is 100 per Cent NOT right so we should decide: Who should we support a man who acted only human and was treated badly or an organisation who doesn't only use human practics and is 100 per cent not right and very dangerous? So I think that we shouldn't denunciate him if we don't know everything what happened the days before, and we shouldn't judge because of this ONE video! That's my oppinion.

Well done John Sweeney !.I have just watched the panorama episode on-line and can only come to the conclusion that this CULT is pure evil run and organised by wicked evil people hating mobsters in brooks brothers suits.The so called celebs should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for allowing themselves to be brainwashed by these immoral,dishonest bullies.The ´óÏó´«Ã½ should carry out another investigation of them as soon as possible.What was the senior policeman doing opening their new London centre?that is frightening and should also be investigated.Let us hope that someone picks up the baton from John Sweeney.

i think we should send this link to Tom Davis. Might make him think twice at what he belives in......then again, no, he's too dumb.

I watched the panorama footage of scientology and me. I think John Sweeney was very good at his job and think Tommy Davis is a nutter! I think John's next programme should be a follow up which digs up dirt on that rat Tommy. I think Tommy showed himself in a bad light as he was constantly raising his voice and could not take criticism - he debating skills were terrible and he just looked like an idiot. John Sweeney should be congratualted for showing how the CULT of scientology wrecks people's lives!

I SUPPORT JOHN SWEENEY ON HIS CONFLICT WITH SCIENTOLOGY. SCIENTOLOGISTS ARE THE MOST NARROW-MINDED PREJUDICE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD !!! SCIENTOLOGY IS FIXED ON TRYING TO RUIN SOCIETY, NOT HELP IT. SCIENTOLGISTS DISLIKE ANYBODY THAT IS NOT A SCIENTOLOGIST. NO BRAIN OR NO THINKING IS INVOLVED OR NEEDED TO BE A SCIENTOLOGIST. SCIENTOLOGY IS STUPID AND IS MADE FOR STUPID PEOPLE. CASE CLOSED !!!

"I see it as a desperate, deliberate publicity-stunt from a so-called journalist past his peak.

Bye bye"

I see your post as a desperate attempt by a cultist to do damage control for a group of money grubbing creeps!

I think Sweeny handled everything amazingly. Who cares about the explosion? He handled it admiringly up until that point and lasted a hell of a lot longer then anyone else could have with all these scientologist 'representatives'following him round! How would you have reacted? I just can't believe the hypocracy and madness of these people, and that people like this exist. And the fact that they have 'celebs' gloryfying this movement is ridiculous.