scientology

melekalikimaka

i'm not seeing much in the search on this. basically i'm doing a project, will require if possible, an interview with a scientologist, and an anti scientologist, i have no idea how to start, bit sceptical approaching the church from what i hear from experiences, it will be an unbiased look at contrasting views, not going taking sides or nada. anyone any experience with either side?

Daftendirekt

Can't say I have have any experiences with Scientologists or anti-Scientologists but a quick Google throws up a link to an ex-Scientologist forum.

Also, if you try and find someone who participated in Project Chanology they might be able to give you some info.

Sorry I can't be any more help. Good luck!

Dades

You won't find any Scientologists in here, and I very much doubt you'll find one anywhere that will do an interview.

The Mad Hatter

Dades wrote: »

You won't find any Scientologists in here, and I very much doubt you'll find one anywhere that will do an interview.

Not unless it's very much on their terms.

OP, don't know if you've ever seen any scientology documentaries, but you have to be damn brave to do them, especially if you have any kind of public profile.

The BBC Panorama documentary from a couple of years back was very good, and highlighted some of the really scary aspects of the cult. Also you see a BBC journalist completely blow his top (though I think he was justified in doing so, given what he'd had to endure just before).

robindch

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

The BBC Panorama documentary from a couple of years back was very good, and highlighted some of the really scary aspects of the cult. Also you see a BBC journalist completely blow his top (though I think he was justified in doing so, given what he'd had to endure just before).

I think that was John Sweeney, wasn't it? He can be very good, but I wouldn't have placed him in the first rank of BBC reporters and I wouldn't have put it past him either to have intentionally helped the situation come to its inevitable conclusion.

BTW, while scientologists are pretty cagey about giving interviews, a lot of other fringe movements have adapted very well to the bland here's-one-side/here's-the-other-side style of reporting. It provides notionally equal airtime to people which is completely out of proportion to the attention that should be paid to their nutty views. Hence in critical debates, we hear far too much of people like Declen Ganlay and Libertas, the anti-climatologist and anti-vaccine cranks and so on.

strobe

melekalikimaka wrote: »

i'm not seeing much in the search on this.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/search.php?searchid=10427315

Theres been a few dozen threads man, if you go through them there are a few people that say they are former members and plenty of anti-scientologists. Try dropping a couple of them a PM.

For the anti-Scientology side you should talk to Mike Garde at Dialogue Ireland.
http://www.dialogueireland.org/

He's had a good bit of experience with Scientology, and can speak with more authority than the random guys in Project Chanology.

Also to get an interview with actual Scientologists you'd have to tread very carefully.

fitz0

Theres a few films made about Scientology. The Profit is the only one I can think of right now. If you look around certain websites you can get the Scientology induction videos. They're extra creepy.

fitz0

fitz0 wrote: »

Theres a few films made about Scientology. The Profit is the only one I can think of right now. If you look around certain websites you can get the Scientology induction videos. They're extra creepy.

The Profit is a terrible film.

Not only in acting and writing, but they also imply that L. Ron had magic hypnotic powers.

I'd recommend "the Bridge".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_%282006_drama%29
It's a much more accurate view on Scientology.
And has good actors and writers.

fitz0

King Mob wrote: »

The Profit is a terrible film.

Not only in acting and writing, but they also imply that L. Ron had magic hypnotic powers.

Really? Good job I've put off watching it for so long, don't think I'll bother at all now.

krudler

Just watch Battlefield Earth, thats the best religion induction video ever

Rb

Mele, I don't know how much you currently know about scientology but personally I would refuse to undertake such a project. The best chance you have at interviewing someone connected with scientology is one of the people who have escaped it, such as those who talked on RTE/The Late Late previously, who could give you an insight into the organisation and the evil behind it.

I wouldn't advise you to try contacting a current scientologist, have you seen the leaked video of Tom Cruise talking about the topic of Scientology? That's the kind of tripe you can expect, and should you not paint them in a good picture you could find yourself being harrassed by the organisation in a very troubling way.

With regards to people against Scientology, maybe contact the guys behind Xenu.net and see if they'd give an interview.

fontanalis

There's a freakshow for the metally ill office on Abbey Street where they offer "personality tests" without saying they're Scientologists.

Lillylilly

fontanalis wrote: »

There's a freakshow for the metally ill office on Abbey Street where they offer "personality tests" without saying they're Scientologists.

Oh my God, we got roped into this one day. My boyf thought it would be fun to go and get a personality test off them. We were just rambling down Abbey street and they asked us in. The test is just a number of "tick the boxes", and yet they think they know you afterwards. The bloke said I'd been "taken advantage of by men", "had issues with trust" etc. Neither of which were true. They seem to pray on those who lack in self esteem. At the end, they tell you that you should come to meetings, read certain books etc. It's only at that point that they tell you they are scientologists. You should go along there!!

fontanalis

Lillylilly wrote: »

Oh my God, we got roped into this one day. My boyf thought it would be fun to go and get a personality test off them. We were just rambling down Abbey street and they asked us in. The test is just a number of "tick the boxes", and yet they think they know you afterwards. The bloke said I'd been "taken advantage of by men", "had issues with trust" etc. Neither of which were true. They seem to pray on those who lack in self esteem. At the end, they tell you that you should come to meetings, read certain books etc. It's only at that point that they tell you they are scientologists. You should go along there!!

I did end up there, how do you think I know about the test?

Dades

fontanalis wrote: »

I did end up there, how do you think I know about the test?

It wasn't an order, just a general suggestion, so relax.

Everyone here knows about the test despite the fact that most people have never been near a Scientologist.

The Mad Hatter

robindch wrote: »

I think that was John Sweeney, wasn't it? He can be very good, but I wouldn't have placed him in the first rank of BBC reporters and I wouldn't have put it past him either to have intentionally helped the situation come to its inevitable conclusion.

I don't remember. And to be honest, he was the only one who yelled, but it was just after being exposed to a rather nasty propaganda feature that "linked" psychiatrists to the holocaust.

Lab_Mouse

This is what they use against the church's enemies..fair game they call it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_%28Scientology%29

Nut jobs.Be very warey of interviewing them

fontanalis

Dades wrote: »

It wasn't an order, just a general suggestion, so relax.

Everyone here knows about the test despite the fact that most people have never been near a Scientologist.

it's a pity there's no sarcasm text.

Dades

fontanalis wrote: »

it's a pity there's no sarcasm text.

I agree.

themadhair

Scientologist interviews tend to go like the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9er239WAXow

@ OP
I can do your anti-Scientology interview if you want. The best bet for getting an interview in Ireland is Gerard Ryan. Drop me an email (narconon@yahoo.co.uk) and I can pass on his number to you.

themadhair

http://www.mediafire.com/?yi40hrtenln
^ Just to give the OP an indication of the type of policies Scientologist PR spokespeople will be going by when giving you an interview.