They battled with the legal constraints imposed on them by the bbc and were unable to include things they had wanted to appear most notably david miscavige beatings, but all. Ron hubbard 19111986, beginning in 1952 as a successor to his earlier selfhelp system, dianetics. The bbc man, the scientologist and the youtube rant. John sweeney has apologised for the outburst against a scientologist which was filmed and then put on the videosharing website youtube.
John sweeney is an awardwinning journalist and author, currently working as an investigative journalist for the bbcs panorama series. In 2007, while investigating the church of scientology for panorama, reporter john sweeney had a dramatic oncamera confrontation with a church spokesman named tommy davis. Sweeney was filmed losing his temper during a panorama programme on scientology in 2007. Why church of scientologys gravest threat is the net a beautiful machine for free speech, says bbc reporter. I always wanted to write this book about scientology. Scientology has fought many battles to keep its secrets off the web, now they are using it to attack my investigation.
The introductory books of dianetics and scientology contain new discoveries that you can use to achieve the personal happiness and freedom that come from truly understanding yourself. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with both current. The program gained particular controversy before and during filming due to unresolved differences on content and approach between sweeneys production team and scientology spokesman tommy davis, who did not want detractors or perceived. John sweeney talking about his book church of fear at leeds sceptics. Back in 1995, when the net was still young, the late robert vaughn young, an exscientologist, said the internet would be to scientology what vietnam was to the us. As sweeney delved into l ron hubbards mysterious pseudo religion and found himself hounded and harassed, the groups continued denial that it is a cult seemed laughable. Scientology hides from grave allegations behind the mask of. He is also the owner of the brave new workshop comedy theatre in minneapolis, americas oldest comedy theater. Aug 06, 2016 footage released by the scientologists before the bbc documentary was screened, showing a redfaced sweeney losing it and shouting you listen to me, you were not there at the beginning of the. A journalist at panorama, the bbcs flagship current affairs series, has been reprimanded for losing his temper and screaming with rage during the making of an investigation into the church of scientology. Scientology and me is a television documentary first broadcast on 14 may 2007 as part of the bbcs panorama series.
John sweeneys panorama film scientology and me, to be screened on monday at 8. John sweeney is best known as the bbc reporter who became briefly famous for breaking down into a rage with a member of the church of scientology, accusing them of attempting to brainwash them. John sweeney has posted a response to scientology s youtube assault on the bbc website. Jan 12, 20 the books author, bbc journalist john sweeney, ranting during filming for a panorama documentary on scientology became a youtube hit fair dos, but, for some reason, many remain unconvinced. John sweeney revisits the church of scientology bbc news. John sweeney takes on church of scientology in new film media.
Prior to its airing, video footage filmed by the church of scientology was released on youtube and on dvd that showed sweeney shouting at scientology representative tommy davis during a visit to cchrs exhibition psychiatry. Sweeney has also written a book the church of fear which goes into scientology, and the background to his two programmes about the church, in great detail. Piers morgan calls scientologists gutless cowards in john sweeney interview. The church of scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business or a new religious movement. Scientology, hollywood and the prison of belief, knopf doubleday publishing group, 448 pp.
In it, reporter john sweeney visited the united states to investigate whether the church of scientology was becoming more mainstream. Before joining the bbc in 2001, sweeney worked for twelve years at the observer, where he covered wars and revolutions in more than sixty countries including romania, algeria, iraq, chechnya, burundi and bosnia. John sweeney unplugged scientology books and media books. In it, reporter john sweeney visited the united states to investigate whether. Feb 14, 2008 he features in john sweeneys heavyfooted panorama documentary, losing his temper at sweeney for repeatedly calling scientology a sinister cult.
From 1982 to 2007 rinder served on the board of directors of csi and also held the post of executive director of its office of special affairs, overseeing the corporate, legal and. John sweeney, the journalist who has been investigating the church of scientology for almost a decade, addresses a conference in dublin next week sat, jan 31, 2015, 08. Hes helped free seven people falsely accused of killing babies, starting with sally clark, reported on wars, revolutions and trouble around the world, gone undercover to zimbabwe, chechnya, twice, and. Of all the books that have been written about scientology recently, if i had only one shot to communicate to someone what scientology was all about, i would give them john sweeneys church of fear. I apologised then and i apologise now, i was an idiot and i was wrong to lose it, said sweeney of his infamous rant, which he has compared to. Bbc newsman john sweeneys book calls scientologys pope. John sweeney, bbc reporter for panorama, really loosing it. The church was accusing the reporter of bias and it attempted to stop the documentary from being broadcast a campaign backed by scientology alister john travolta. John sweeney panodrama and his scientology epic rant youtube.
Years ago, john sweeney and the brave new workshop began sharing the skills and behaviors of improvisational theatre with companies worldwide. In sweeneys rumpled sitting room, bike in the doorway, books everywhere, photos on the walls cheerfully. Sep 27, 2015 footage of john sweeney losing it with church spokesmen tommy davis and mike rinder during a now infamous episode of panorama has attracted more than seven million hits on youtube. Why church of scientologys gravest threat is the net. A profile of awardwinning panorama journalist john sweeney. Apr 01, 2017 for over 10 years, awardwinning british journalist john sweeney investigated the church of scientology. Inside the weird world of scientology sweeney, john on. John sweeney worked as a newspaper journalist for more than two decades before he moved into broadcasting. There were no histrionics from john sweeney this time but a second look at scientology underlined the insidious aspects of the controversial organization. Sweeney became a youtube sensation in 2007 for losing his temper with a senior member of the church of scientology. Scientology and me, a panorama investigation into scientology written and presented by sweeney, was aired on bbc one on monday, 14 may 2007. Awardwinning journalist john sweeney investigated the church for more than half a decade. In a career that has spanned over 30 years, british journalist, john sweeney, has covered countless conflicts in such far flung places as burundi, rwanda and bosnia. Footage of john sweeney losing it with church spokesmen tommy davis and mike rinder during a now infamous episode of panorama has.
Rinder claims he was living in the hole for over two years when he was suddenly pulled from his prison and sent on a mission to london to defend the church against john sweeneys film, scientology and me in march 2007. But he said that at the time he was worried he was losing his mind. John sweeney l ron hubbards church is under increasing attack, but by calling itself a religion scientology is shielded from scrutiny thu 7 feb 20 10. Reform and the psychology of totalism by robert jay lifton losing reality by. Journalist john sweeney filmed a documentary, scientology and me, which was shown on 14 may 2007 as part of the bbcs panorama series. John sweeney inside the weird world of scientology thursday, june 27, 20 at 7. Scientology and me is a television documentary conducted by reporter john sweeney, which aired on the bbc program, panorama on 14 may 2007. What do tom cruise and john travolta know about scientology. Journalist john sweeney on his spy thriller cold books. John sweeney talks the church of fear, which comes out today. Scientologys alien space cathedral described in john. John sweeney s panorama film scientology and me, to be screened on monday at 8. Jeff wasel the bbc news published an article this week about a wholly uncharacteristic act of scientology generosity. John sweeney has published his first spy thriller, cold i have a passion for the ordinary good things in life, eating and drinking, and telling jokes with family and friends, and that everybody.
A clearsighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of scientology by the pulitzer prizewinning author of the nowclassic study of alqaedas 911 attack, the looming tower. Awardwinning journalist john sweeney investigated the church for more than half. He started out, in his own words, as a worm doing the shopping guide at the sheffield. His first novel, elephant moon, was published to much acclaim in 2012. By that time, the hubbard association of scientologists international hasi had already been operating since 1952 and hubbard himself had already been selling scientology books and technologies. Ron hubbard, his wife mary sue hubbard, and john galusha. The bbc man, the scientologist and the youtube rant bbc the. John sweeney unplugged scientology books and media. It has also been consistently raised against tyrants and terrorists and gangsters sweeney, who retains a. Tom cruise and john travolta say the church of scientology is a force for good. His hobby is falling off his bike on the way back from the pub.
Since a description of sweeney losing his temper was included in tv guide listings for the documentary, the bbc already knew. Scientology is an extremely secretive movement and sweeney s documentary. Here sweeney uncovers exactly what lead to that breakdown, which he is apologetic for throughout the book. Panorama john sweeney losing his temper bbc one youtube. In advance of the broadcast, the church of scientology released a 40second video clip of sweeney losing his temper and screaming in the face of their spokesman tommy davis at. If you have seen john sweeneys pioneering panorama specials, this books is. The programme gained particular controversy before and during filming due to unresolved differences on content and approach between sweeneys. John paul sweeney born 7 june 1958 is a british investigative journalist. The church and the movement have been the subject of a number of controversies, and the church has been described by government inquiries. Nov 05, 2014 sweeney has also written a book the church of fear which goes into scientology, and the background to his two programmes about the church, in great detail. By john sweeney bbc news footage of john sweeney has been posted on youtube panoramas editor the battleground is youtube and scientologys weapon is a clip of me losing it in the mind control section of a gruesome exhibition. Sweeney lost his temper while visiting the church of scientologys.
Journalist john sweeney is best known for his explosive work on scientology. He worked for the observer newspaper, and the bbcs panorama and newsnight series. I wanted to explain to people that i was wrong to lose my temper. Sweeney remarked that he lost his temper due to days of. May, 2007 a journalist at panorama, the bbcs flagship current affairs series, has been reprimanded for losing his temper and screaming with rage during the making of an investigation into the church of scientology. The first scientology church was incorporated in december 1953 in camden, new jersey by l. Bbc one panorama scientology and me bbc reporter john sweeney losing his temper. This is sweeney in relaxed, informal and iconoclastic mode but still deadly serious on the subject of. Inside the weird world of scientology by sweeney, john. The program gained particular controversy before and during filming due to unresolved differences on content and approach between sweeney s production team and scientology spokesman tommy davis, who did not want detractors or perceived enemies of the. Feb 09, 2020 watch john sweeneys clash with a member of the church of scientology on panorama.
As often in life, i snapped over something completely different and quite trivial. Panorama editor sandy smith said he was disappointed by sweeneys actions, and sweeney himself took. May 11, 2007 john sweeney has posted a response to scientologys youtube assault on the bbc website. From his gleaming halo, to his screeching tomato, right down to his iridescent poo, bbc journalist john sweeney is a hero of mine. Inside the weird world of scientology is published by silvertail books and is available in paperback. Feb 15, 2017 scientology and me is a television documentary conducted by reporter john sweeney, which aired on the bbc program, panorama on 14 may 2007. John sweeney and his brilliant producer sarah mole did a masterful job of putting this together. Scientology, hollywood, and the prison of belief by lawrence wright. Scientology hides from grave allegations behind the mask.
You can watch john sweeneys presentation in a video window after the break. He features in john sweeneys heavyfooted panorama documentary, losing his temper at sweeney for repeatedly calling scientology a sinister cult. John sweeney befriends exscientologist spy mike rinder. May 10, 2007 desperate lies of the bbc reporter john sweeney, pilloried on youtube as the exploding tomato, proves once again that you can lead him to the truth, but you cant make him think. Prior to its airing, video footage filmed by the church of scientology was released on youtube and on dvd that showed sweeney shouting at scientology representative tommy davis during a visit to citizens commission on human rightss exhibition. Sep 26, 2010 in 2007, while investigating the church of scientology for panorama, reporter john sweeney had a dramatic oncamera confrontation with a church spokesman named tommy davis. He is the author of six previous books including the novel elephant moon. Mr sweeney, who wrote a book about scientology called the church of fear, said his meltdown had made him famous and even helped when arrested in pakistan. Apr 28, 2016 desperate lies of the bbc reporter john sweeney, pilloried on youtube as the exploding tomato, proves once again that you can lead him to the truth, but you cant make him think. It was most notoriously employed against the official spokesman of the church of scientology in 2007.
I poke crocodiles, if crocodiles they be, in the eye with a stick. John sweeney has apologised for the outburst against a scientologist. Watch john sweeneys clash with a member of the church of scientology on panorama. A new book released this week by bbc newsman john sweeney makes use of secret electronic communications that portray scientologys leader, david miscavige, berating his underlings in texts with phrases like you suck. They battled with the legal constraints imposed on them by the bbc and were unable to include things they had wanted to appear most notably david miscavige beatings, but allinall this a damning indictment of scientology. That doesnt quite comport with his mellow comment in the middle of the shouting but i have no reason not to accept his account. This book is an indepth analysis of an investigation into the scientologists i cannot give them the title of church because i do not believe an organisation so focussed on money should be given that honour by john sweeney and the panorama team from the bbc. Ron hubbard is hardly one to inspire confidence, its elongated. Rinder defended scientology leader david miscavige, but miscavige was unhappy with the documentary. John sweeney has posted a response to scientologys youtube assault on the bbc website. Feb 03, 2015 journalist john sweeney is best known for his explosive work on scientology. Before tom cruise, john travolta was the biggest celebrity scientologist, joining during the mid70s when he was on the cusp of fame.
His film, scientology and me, on the controversial organisation supported by hollywood believers like john travolta and tom cruise remains one of the most watched and talked about panoramas of recent years. John sweeney is an innovation behaviorist, speaker and author. May 12, 2007 john sweeney s panorama film scientology and me, to be screened on monday at 8. Since i am not a scientologist, i do not agree with it being classified a religion. Ron hubbard scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction writer l. Feb 07, 20 john sweeney l ron hubbards church is under increasing attack, but by calling itself a religion scientology is shielded from scrutiny thu 7 feb 20 10. Sweeney ceased working for the bbc in october 2019. Desperate lies of the bbc reporter john sweeney, pilloried on youtube as the exploding tomato, proves once again that you can lead him to the truth, but you cant make him think.
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