BBC Expose' of Scientology - Monday 14 May

Also, Christianity was, at one time, seen as a cult with just a handful of rabid followers. Yes, the Scientologists (particularly Anne Archer's mad son!) seem a bit overzealous in their defense of their religion, but it is a fairly new religion. I'd imagine that most religious followers would feel that way about a moderately new religion coming under such harsh attack. That said, yep, I think they're nuts. 

So a bunch of megastar actors or lion fodder in ancient Rome...  fair comparison.

Maybe that's the answer. After half your new religion has been fed to lions for sport do you still want to join.

I caught the repeat of this show on Thursday night, and thought it was very interesting.

As to what is the difference between a 'cult' and a 'religion'...well....

1)  Religions are open about their beliefs, and do not leave everything a secret to all but the initiated

2)  Religions don't make you hand over a percentage of your earnings as a condition of membership

3)  Religions don't encourage or force you to isolate yourself from all but other members of that religion, including family

4)  Religions do not bad mouth those who have left their church or who criticise (most prey for non-believers!)

I was shocked at the behaviour of the Scientologists in this programme.  They obvously followed the reporter, sought to undermine sources by raking up past midemeanours, and were absolutely incapable of indulging in rational debate with the journalist.  I am sure that he came into the programme with an open mind, but he had no opportunity to hear the Scientologist point of view as their official reps refused to answer any pertinent question.

I hadn't realised that they are not recognised as a "church" in the UK, and are not a recognised charity either.

I'd love to know what they actually believe, but I guess I'll never know, as no one is willing to speak about it.


Vicky

they're staging a campaign in the media, apparently.

my boss, a magazine publisher, received a packet in the post yesterday that contained a letter criticisin the bbc for its lack of fairness and a dvd copy of the programme that aired last week.

but nowhere on the envelope or contents is the word "scientology" ever used.

they're staging a campaign in the media, apparently.

my boss, a magazine publisher, received a packet in the post yesterday that contained a letter criticisin the bbc for its lack of fairness and a dvd copy of the programme that aired last week.

but nowhere on the envelope or contents is the word "scientology" ever used.

This got me thinking.  Looniness aside, you have to admit that all the press is doing a bang-up job of keeping Scientology in the public eye.

No such thing as bad PR and all that....

Now that I'm free of any Scientology spam, I'd like to add that the man in the suit who followed the BBC reporter around seemed to think he was a cross between Tom Cruise and someone from The Matrix.