Scientologists In Row With BBC

CmdrGravy writes "The Church Of Scientology is currently engaged in a row with the BBC, a result of an investigation by reporter John Sweeney. Sweeney is investigating the Church Of Scientology, trying to judge changes in the organization over the last few years; He's trying to discover if they've moved away from the questionable practices and secrecy they have employed in the past. The conflict centers around a YouTube video posted by the scientologists. It shows Mr. Sweeney losing his temper with a scientology spokesman. Mr. Sweeney's outburst came at the end of a tour of a scientology exhibition which attempts to portray psychiatrists as evil nazi type torturers entitled 'Psychiatry: Industry of Death' which is both gruesome and utterly unconvincing. The BBC appears willing to stand behind its reporter, in spite of the pressure brought to bear by the scientologist organization."

Re:I guess this is the end of the BBC.

[AuMatar]

SCO is in Utah. The Mormons own them.

Talk to dead space aliens

[lordperditor]

Join scientology now and you to can talk to dead space aliens.
Special introductory offer - join now for just $360,000USD.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[__aaclcg7560]

It's pretty simple. The Scientologists want to rule the world with their wacky ideas and the BBC want to rule the world with their dialect of the English language. With both of them in a hissy fit with each other, they can do neither. So you can relax, throw popcorn and laugh at them.

Re:Why

[ScaryMonkey]

There's plenty of solid scientific evidence behind Scientology; just listen to the compelling testimony from this "scientician"

(apologies to Simpsons)

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[dgun]

I heard an interview on BBC's world service about this incident yesterday with a scientology spokesman. The spokesman denied well known quotes from L Ron Hubbard and also stated that that Sweeny was making up allegations that he was being harassed by the "Church" for his documentary.

Then the spokesman boarded a space craft and flew back to Oz. Not really...I made that last part up.

Re:So? Most religions are nutty.

[suv4x4]

Yes, Scientology is nutty, but that's about normal for a religion. Could be worse. They don't have a big pedophile problem, suicide bombers, or televangelists, like some of their competitors.

Nutty? So, Scientology is in fact a mental illness, which doesn't acknowledge mental illnesses.
What a cosmic irony.

I suppose in this case you're right, we gotta be more PC to Scientologists and their "special condition".

Sam: Dude, we're tainted by the souls of aliens blown with nukes by alien space invador from a galaxy far far away!
Jim: Man, you're a f***ing idiot or something? STFU!
Sam: No, I'm a scientologist...
Jim: OH! Oh... oh buddy, sorry I had no idea. I really had no idea.. but you'll be fine, yea.. you'll be just fine.

but

[ScottyMcScott]

but but tom cruise......i mean c'mon top gun people top gun

Should I be worried?

[Belial6]

When I was just out of high school, there was a Scientology office in my town. They always had a sign out front offering a 'Free Personality Test'. On a lark, a pal and me went in and had our personalities 'tested' just to see what they were hawking. When I was done, they compared the multiple choice questionare to their chart, and drew some lines through it. They explained to me that I was doing fine, and that I was already highly Dyanetic, or whatever they called it. They then thanked me for coming in, and told me to have a nice day.

I have never been quite sure how to take that. Maybe I should have sang them the leader song...Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Leader! Leader! Batman!

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[heinousjay]

Ok, I'll call you the winner since you have the most plausible explanation. I didn't prepare a prize or anything, so don't get too excited.

Time for the obligatory...

[turing_m]

photo of L Ron Hubbard "auditing" a tomato.
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/bfm/tomato.j pg [clambake.org]

I'd say it still has a few thetans to go before it makes clear.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[JumperCable]

Say, that's a nice defrag utility on your Windows box there. Is it by any chance Diskkeeper [skeptictank.org]?

Body Thetans?

[Anonymous Coward]

Are they something like intergalactic pubic lice?

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[clickclickdrone]

I'm with you except for one thing, I read that most of the cast of My Name Is Earl are scientologists and that show is soooo sweet. I'd really miss that.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[clickclickdrone]

>well, you best remove teh windows degraf
Friend, you seem unable to get your letters in the right order. We at the CoS can help and would very much like you to come over one day for a FREE personality test. We can then help you unravel those chaotic thoughts, purify your mind and assist in the distribution of your dollars. Call 800-I-AM-A-MUG.

Re:Body Thetans?

[SQL Error]

Are they something like intergalactic pubic lice?

Now you've done it! All material on the Star Crabs is classified OT3, and most definitely not to be discussed in public!

Hang on, there's someone at the door. BRB.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[geminidomino]

The real problem with Tom Cruise movies is that they all seem to have Tom Cruise in them.

how dare you

[__aapspi39]

You all disgust me. None of you ever met or know anything about Ron Hubbard.

No one ever has achieved as much as Ron in the whole history of human existence. Astronaut, brain surgeon, Nobel Prizewinning biodynamicist, philosopher, painter, statesman, travelling salesman, charlatan, truck driver, leopardskin accessories - you name it and he did it better than any man had ever done before him.

"Light peace and universal karma to you all. L. Ron has passed into the clouds of unknowing where the Self is Unself and the mind is as unmind and all that sort of thing. L. Ron may have melted from the earth like snow, but, one thing lives on. His money. Please send cheque to address below."

The marharishi Veririshi, The Cayman Islands

"Light, peace and all the same sort of thing as from the other one with the beard. You've got to hand it to L. Ron - when it comes to pulling the wool over the eyes he was in a class of his own. I only wish I had a piece of his action.'

The Bhagwash Rujrish
Somewhere in India
(Address withheld on request)

"Life is both river and mountain, forest and sea. To know life is to be part of life. Give me your cheque immediately."
-" These words written by the greatest genius who ever lived. L. Ron Neasden, totally encapsulate the whole message that L. Ron was trying to put across to mankind.

Re:Should I be worried?

[mhughes0]

Obviously, your test showed that you weren't a suitable candidate for mass fleecing of cash, so they let you go. Since you didn't work this out, it may have been a close call :)

Re:Talk to dead space aliens

[DrXym]

To be precise, you'd spend about half a million to get to the point where they spring the space opera story on you. Once you've been suckered that far, there's a very strong psychological incentive to keep believing them, rather like the suckers who've fallen for the 419 scams.

Blizzard, take heed and adjust your price plans accordingly.

Re:Should I be worried?

[michaelnz]

Similarly, when I was in college there was a Scientology office just down the road from the dorms. One day as I was walking by I saw a sign that said 'Free Personality Test' and I thought to myself, "That it is!" and stole the sign. Undoubtedly that says a lot about my personality.

At the end of the semester I was approached by my RA who told me that the Church of Scientology had contacted him, they had seen the sign hanging up in my room through the window and they wanted it back. He seemed a little shaken and told me to get it back to them right away. When I took it back the office was empty so I left it on the desk with a note that said "Thetans made me do it."

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[Jesus_666]

And being attacked for criticizing Scientology is something that could have happened to you. For, let's say, talking bad about those Sons-of-a-Bitch here on Slashdot.

We take offense to that and will fight that accusation. There was clearly more than one bitch involved in the making of our members.

See you in court.

Sincerely,
Scientology

Re:I guess this is the end of the BBC.

[Anonymous Coward]

You added an extra "m" in "Mormons".

Not a religion

[Per Abrahamsen]

> Its a profit oriented company disguised as religion.

Is that like a "government law enforcement employee disguised as a policeman", or maybe like a "professional crop grower disguised as a farmer"?

best line from TFA:

[cultrhetor]

Scientologists believe humans are tainted by the remnants of aliens' souls who were dumped on Earth and blown up with nuclear bombs.

This amuses me. You're welcome.

Re:Time for the obligatory...

[NormalVisual]

That'd make an awesome T-shirt - "Scientology helped this tomato - imagine what it could do for YOU!"

Re:Why

[Arancaytar]

I presume they take millions from gullible artists.

But do they also claim that it is really the fault of those damn pirates? :P

Re:Why

[S.O.B.]

Classic British behaviour, don't take any responsibilities for your own actions

Rather ironic coming from an Anonymous Coward don't you think? How about you take responsibility for your actions and post with your real name.

Re:Sorry you're mistaken

[Bastard of Subhumani]

So the six nations rugby tournamnet should be renamed the 3 1/2 nations tournament? I would say you're pedantic, but you'd probably argue over the definition of that too.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[SQL Error]

I don't mind Liz. She's a good sort, and not at all stuck up... Bruce.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[Bastard of Subhumani]

Doing a Scientology-bashing documentary these days is like criticizing Michael Jackson for being weird. It's not thought-provoking, and it isn't really informing anyone

You missed off the bit about it being bloody good fun.

Re:Well, I need the explanation I guess

[MrSplog]

Morale-boosting what nows? you've got it all wrong mate, they're simply there to bring in american and japanese tourists. they bring in more stupid tourists every year than a disneyland.

Re:Why

[elrous0]

Scientology does serve one positive purpose. It's a perfect way to single out the stupidest people in Hollywood. That's quite an accomplishment in a town notorious for a population with an average IQ just slightly north of "moderately retarded."

Re:I guess this is the end of the BBC.

[clickclickdrone]

Did they turn down your script or something?

Re:I guess this is the end of the BBC.

[Ant P.]

In some ways, the BBC in the UK operates like scientology.
You have to pay them money for pretty much the rest of your life, and it's almost impossible to leave.

I guess at a stretch you could say the CoS picked a fight with an organised religion 1000 times stronger than it.

Re:Body Thetans?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Anal Thetans. Nasty little buggers.

Re:Funky

[mr100percent]

Some websites are not good sources. The KKK is one of them, as is the one you cited.

As for the Banu Qurayza, the Jewish tribe I'm assuming you're referring to, they broke the treaty with the Medinan people and literally tried to open the city gates to the enemy. According to the story, which is contested [jews-for-allah.org] as to whether or not it actually happened (it was in an account written a century later), they surrendered with the agreement their case would go to arbitration. The judge, Sa'd bin Mu'adh was an ally of their tribe, and ruled that according to Torah law (not Islamic law), the penalty for treason was death.

The prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not "rave about Jews right up to his deathbed." They tried to assassinate him more than once, despite his granting them rights and protections. He criticized them for certain of their practices that conflicted with Jewish and Islamic monotheism, but he never gave any orders to wipe them out or anything. In an Islamic state, the government gives money to build and maintain churches and synagogues, as they are also citizens.

Muslims think that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is as peaceful as Jesus, peace be upon him, which is why it upsets them so much when he is denigrated.