The Secrets of Scientology
Encyclopedia
The Secrets of Scientology is a documentary
which was broadcast on 28 September 2010 as part of the BBC
's Panorama
documentary strand. Presented by John Sweeney
it is a follow up of his 2007 investigation into the Church of Scientology
and features interviews with former high-ranking members of the organisation.
presented the hour long program which was a follow up to his 2007 documentary Scientology and Me
in which he travelled to Los Angeles
to investigate Scientology
.
Among those interviewed include Mike Rinder
a former long-term member of the organization and one of its officials who was assigned to "handle" Sweeney during his 2007 program. Rinder, who left the Church soon after the previous documentary confirms Sweeney's suspicions that he was followed by the organisation during the making of that programme. He tells the reporter; "You were being followed [...] It would have come under my purview, no doubt whatsoever." Rinder, a member of the church since the age of six, talks about how he was subjected to "disconnection
", a process by which his family cut him out of their lives.
Another Church of Scientology official interviewed during the programme is Amy Scobee
, who joined the Church at the age of 14 and was a member of its Sea Org
which runs the organisation's day to day operations. Scobee tells Sweeney of how details of her sex life before she was married were leaked to a newspaper after she left and criticised Scientology.
As with the 2007 documentary, Sweeney and his team were once again followed by people filming them during their visit to the United States, although, on this occasion the filming is much less covert. However, those filming refuse to answer Sweeney's questions when he approaches them and about who they are and their purpose. On his return to the United Kingdom the BBC receives photographs of Sweeney in a farewell embrace with Amy Scobee from Carter-Ruck
, the Church's UK lawyers, something which Sweeney welcomes as proof that those following him were working on behalf of the Church.
. It was the most popular program broadcast in the 9pm hour.
selected the film as its recommendation for "Pick of the day"; it was also recommended by The Daily Telegraph
, The Daily Mail, Bristol Evening Post
, and Wales on Sunday. David Chater of The Times
called Mike Rinder a "whistleblower
", commenting, "Mike Rinder, erstwhile spokesman for the Church of Scientology and the former head of its Office of Special Affairs, has turned whistleblower and describes the operation against Sweeney last time round." Fiona Mayhem of Watch With Mothers assessed the documentary as, "a bit of a disappointing effort which could have been made more entertaining ... or more informative, by exploring more what it is about the tenets of the cult that former members still hold so dear. Still, for those with no prior knowledge of the religion, this was a decent starter pack." Paddy Sherman of the Liverpool Echo
called the documentary an "in-depth look at the workings of the church". The Guardian
referred to is as "a very disturbing video documentary for the BBC programme Panorama". In an analysis of the documentary for Catholic Online, associate editor Randy Sly noted the program's ratings success in the UK, and commented, "People in England seemingly can't get enough when it comes to revelations about Scientology."
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
which was broadcast on 28 September 2010 as part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
documentary strand. Presented by John Sweeney
John Sweeney (journalist)
John Sweeney is an award-winning journalist and author, currently working as an investigative journalist for the BBC's Panorama series.- Investigative journalism :...
it is a follow up of his 2007 investigation into the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
and features interviews with former high-ranking members of the organisation.
Production
Reporter John SweeneyJohn Sweeney (journalist)
John Sweeney is an award-winning journalist and author, currently working as an investigative journalist for the BBC's Panorama series.- Investigative journalism :...
presented the hour long program which was a follow up to his 2007 documentary Scientology and Me
Scientology and Me
Scientology and Me was a television documentary broadcast 14 May 2007 as part of the BBC's Panorama series. Reporter John Sweeney visited the United States to investigate whether the Church of Scientology was becoming more mainstream...
in which he travelled to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to investigate Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
.
Contents
In The Secrets of Scientology, Sweeney interviews several individuals connected with the organisation and investigates allegations by former Scientology followers that the church sought to divide their families, something the church denies.Among those interviewed include Mike Rinder
Mike Rinder
Michael "Mike" Rinder is an Australian Scientologist who was a former chief spokesman of the Church of Scientology. Rinder served as Executive Director of the Office of Special Affairs and was a director of the Church of Scientology International...
a former long-term member of the organization and one of its officials who was assigned to "handle" Sweeney during his 2007 program. Rinder, who left the Church soon after the previous documentary confirms Sweeney's suspicions that he was followed by the organisation during the making of that programme. He tells the reporter; "You were being followed [...] It would have come under my purview, no doubt whatsoever." Rinder, a member of the church since the age of six, talks about how he was subjected to "disconnection
Disconnection
Disconnection, when used in Scientology, is a term used to describe the severance of all ties between a Scientologist and a friend, colleague, or family member deemed to be antagonistic towards Scientology. The practice of disconnection is a form of shunning. Among Scientologists, disconnection is...
", a process by which his family cut him out of their lives.
Another Church of Scientology official interviewed during the programme is Amy Scobee
Amy Scobee
Amy Scobee is a former member of the Church of Scientology. She had spent much of her time in its Sea Org, a body which oversees the church's day to day operations. She wrote Scientology: Abuse At the Top.She joined the Church at 14...
, who joined the Church at the age of 14 and was a member of its Sea Org
Sea Org
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
which runs the organisation's day to day operations. Scobee tells Sweeney of how details of her sex life before she was married were leaked to a newspaper after she left and criticised Scientology.
As with the 2007 documentary, Sweeney and his team were once again followed by people filming them during their visit to the United States, although, on this occasion the filming is much less covert. However, those filming refuse to answer Sweeney's questions when he approaches them and about who they are and their purpose. On his return to the United Kingdom the BBC receives photographs of Sweeney in a farewell embrace with Amy Scobee from Carter-Ruck
Carter-Ruck
Carter-Ruck is a British law firm founded by Peter Carter-Ruck.According to their website they specialise in libel, privacy, international law and commercial litigation....
, the Church's UK lawyers, something which Sweeney welcomes as proof that those following him were working on behalf of the Church.
Ratings
The Secrets of Scientology was a ratings success for Panorama and the BBC in its initial broadcast; with MediaTel Newsline reporting, "The Panorama special, which saw reporter John Sweeney get an insider's view of the organisation, attracted more than five million peak viewers and a 20.3% average audience share during the all-important 9pm to 10pm slot." The documentary performed better than simultaneous programming for 71 Degrees North71 Degrees North
71 Degrees North is a TV series on ITV which began broadcasting on 11 September 2010. 10 celebrities must battle it out to see who will make it to the 71st parallel north, with challenges along the way. Mazda formerly sponsored the show, Continental tires are the current sponsors...
. It was the most popular program broadcast in the 9pm hour.
Reception
In a review of The Secrets of Scientology, Metro commented, "Thankfully, there was exemplary investigative journalism on show, with the BBC man unbowed by closed avenues of inquiry or alleged surveillance." JOE.ie highlighted the documentary as its "Pick of the night" in television. The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
selected the film as its recommendation for "Pick of the day"; it was also recommended by The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, The Daily Mail, Bristol Evening Post
Bristol Evening Post
The Bristol Evening Post is a newspaper covering news in the city of Bristol, including stories from the whole of Greater Bristol, Northern Somerset and South Gloucestershire....
, and Wales on Sunday. David Chater of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
called Mike Rinder a "whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
", commenting, "Mike Rinder, erstwhile spokesman for the Church of Scientology and the former head of its Office of Special Affairs, has turned whistleblower and describes the operation against Sweeney last time round." Fiona Mayhem of Watch With Mothers assessed the documentary as, "a bit of a disappointing effort which could have been made more entertaining ... or more informative, by exploring more what it is about the tenets of the cult that former members still hold so dear. Still, for those with no prior knowledge of the religion, this was a decent starter pack." Paddy Sherman of the Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
called the documentary an "in-depth look at the workings of the church". The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
referred to is as "a very disturbing video documentary for the BBC programme Panorama". In an analysis of the documentary for Catholic Online, associate editor Randy Sly noted the program's ratings success in the UK, and commented, "People in England seemingly can't get enough when it comes to revelations about Scientology."
External links
- The Secrets of Scientology at BBC Online
- The Secrets of Scientology