When we took a photo of John Sweeney pouring a cup of tea on a visit to London, we didn’t know that in a few years he’d not only be a best-selling author of multiple books, but that he’d become known for reporting from the Battle of Kyiv in an orange wool cap
Sweeny is a hoot. Please stay safe in the Ukraine, and out Russian war crimes. Having outed $cientology, you have great practice dealing with criminal syndicates.
John knows the pain and debilitation caused by their disconnection even without himself experiencing it. He’s another of the growing number of journalists that understand how destructive this is. And that it goes on in America of all democracies is very hard for most to understand.
It’s to bad our constitution didn’t single out what qualifies as a religion. That’s tough, I understand but without that, it would be better to have been left out completely.
Also kudos to John for fully taking advantage of scientologies shenanigans as his work moves forward. We don’t see the whole picture in the day to day news. But in all cases scientology ends up at the bottom if we just wait long enough. Just look at the majority view! Even people the have left long ago are embarrassed to have once supported such a vile man as lrh.
Sweeney & Ortega, a couple of folk heroes who are at last seeing the crumbling demise of Scientology & Miscavige. You’ve both more than paid your dues.
The comeback statement when Scientology pushes psychology/psychiatry crimes, is to say to Scientologists:
"So doing exorcism of the souls/spirits which Xenu (pronounced ZEE NEW) dumped onto earth and and doing your Scientology exorcism called OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is better than psychology/psychiatry??!!"
"So your Scientology exorcism steps OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to exorcise Xenu's dumped spirits/souls off your bodies is the correct handling for people who are in need of psychology/psychiatry?!"
"So your Scientology exorcism is correct, and that psychology and psychiatry is not correct?"
"Isn't Scientology down on psychology/psychiatry because your solution is exorcism to remove Xenu's spirits and souls off your human body which you believe is mankind's real problem?"
"So you Scientologists are good on doing your exorcism of Xenu's dumped souls/spirits off your human bodies, versus getting people with mental health problems to go to psychologists or psychiactrists?"
"So you Scientologists are good on kooky Xenu's dumped souls exorcism (your OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 exorcism steps you cannot publicly admit you do, but you do do a whole lot of exorcism of Xenu's dumped souls don't you now), versus psychology and psychiatry? "
Eternal thanks for professional journalists, and Hail Xenu (ZEE NEW), for taking on Scientology.
Sweeney is so appreciated, his book is well worth reading, re-reading. Sensible humorous.
The Ann Archer gotcha moment, her setting herself up, and John looking like she was really brainwashed and she was clueless, was all time best interview moment he's ever done. "How dare you....." Ann said.
John is a great storyteller; I loved his analogy to the gladiators and being given the "thumbs up" by the British public. I really admire his bravery and willingness to speak truth to power. At the same time, he acknowledges his own faults and speaks with great compassion toward Tommy Davis. I hope you will check in with him again!
I think one of the "holds" which Scientology "has" over Marty Rathbun, are Marty's "good" which Marty still thinks he did, mainly the IRS tax exemption years, that was majorly Marty's main baby work, leading up, of course Miscavige pulls the final weighty moves, but Marty was all over herding the lawyers and on top of all behind the scenes pedantic details for the IRS "win."
Marty's not given up that "feather in his cap" and his thought that this was the right thing, for Scientology, to gain this religious tax exemption.
People's lofty accomplishments for Scientology, are sticklers to them when they detach and have to reframe their lofty accomplishments for Scientology, and reframe those accomplishments for Scientology not so beneficial or righteous for humanity.
But for sure, Marty's got his "case" as John believes, that's for sure true majorly for Marty's life through Marty's in and out and supportive counter attack dog role today. (A normal citizen would open up their "channel" for comments, and converse on the points of argument, at least.)
Excellent story benefit, the Pakistani Intel Official, who sees/hears about the John Sweeney YouTube moment, and then learns the details of the YouTube screaming moment, and the official caves and lets John go through the checkpoint.
Sweeny is a hoot. Please stay safe in the Ukraine, and out Russian war crimes. Having outed $cientology, you have great practice dealing with criminal syndicates.
Sweeney is a wonderful storyteller, the perfect interviewee. Thanks to both of you.
I truly apprreciate that he refers to Miscavige as a sociopathic bully/thug, because...HE IS.
And his description of Tommy Davis as a " butler " is actually charitable, because he's really
just an errand boy and a bully.
“...Scientology’s dark nonsense will fizzle out.”
Yup - totally agree.
John knows the pain and debilitation caused by their disconnection even without himself experiencing it. He’s another of the growing number of journalists that understand how destructive this is. And that it goes on in America of all democracies is very hard for most to understand.
It’s to bad our constitution didn’t single out what qualifies as a religion. That’s tough, I understand but without that, it would be better to have been left out completely.
Also kudos to John for fully taking advantage of scientologies shenanigans as his work moves forward. We don’t see the whole picture in the day to day news. But in all cases scientology ends up at the bottom if we just wait long enough. Just look at the majority view! Even people the have left long ago are embarrassed to have once supported such a vile man as lrh.
Sweeney & Ortega, a couple of folk heroes who are at last seeing the crumbling demise of Scientology & Miscavige. You’ve both more than paid your dues.
What a great interview, John Sweeney is such an intelligent, decent and funny man.
Thank you Tony for giving your readers the opportunity to take the piss out of that dark, evil cult every single day.
The comeback statement when Scientology pushes psychology/psychiatry crimes, is to say to Scientologists:
"So doing exorcism of the souls/spirits which Xenu (pronounced ZEE NEW) dumped onto earth and and doing your Scientology exorcism called OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is better than psychology/psychiatry??!!"
"So your Scientology exorcism steps OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to exorcise Xenu's dumped spirits/souls off your bodies is the correct handling for people who are in need of psychology/psychiatry?!"
"So your Scientology exorcism is correct, and that psychology and psychiatry is not correct?"
"Isn't Scientology down on psychology/psychiatry because your solution is exorcism to remove Xenu's spirits and souls off your human body which you believe is mankind's real problem?"
"So you Scientologists are good on doing your exorcism of Xenu's dumped souls/spirits off your human bodies, versus getting people with mental health problems to go to psychologists or psychiactrists?"
"So you Scientologists are good on kooky Xenu's dumped souls exorcism (your OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 exorcism steps you cannot publicly admit you do, but you do do a whole lot of exorcism of Xenu's dumped souls don't you now), versus psychology and psychiatry? "
Eternal thanks for professional journalists, and Hail Xenu (ZEE NEW), for taking on Scientology.
Sweeney is so appreciated, his book is well worth reading, re-reading. Sensible humorous.
The Ann Archer gotcha moment, her setting herself up, and John looking like she was really brainwashed and she was clueless, was all time best interview moment he's ever done. "How dare you....." Ann said.
Tommy's parents have to pass, then Tommy years ahead, might sit down for a pint with John.
Tommy's got the same horrible bad impossible choices, be a full citizen, and lose his parents per Scientology's nasty straitjacket rules.
Phenomenal chat/podcast. Thank you John and Tony.
John is a great storyteller; I loved his analogy to the gladiators and being given the "thumbs up" by the British public. I really admire his bravery and willingness to speak truth to power. At the same time, he acknowledges his own faults and speaks with great compassion toward Tommy Davis. I hope you will check in with him again!
https://twitter.com/johnsweeneyroar
Five star interview!!
This pays for a years worth of membership to this substack!!!!
I think one of the "holds" which Scientology "has" over Marty Rathbun, are Marty's "good" which Marty still thinks he did, mainly the IRS tax exemption years, that was majorly Marty's main baby work, leading up, of course Miscavige pulls the final weighty moves, but Marty was all over herding the lawyers and on top of all behind the scenes pedantic details for the IRS "win."
Marty's not given up that "feather in his cap" and his thought that this was the right thing, for Scientology, to gain this religious tax exemption.
People's lofty accomplishments for Scientology, are sticklers to them when they detach and have to reframe their lofty accomplishments for Scientology, and reframe those accomplishments for Scientology not so beneficial or righteous for humanity.
But for sure, Marty's got his "case" as John believes, that's for sure true majorly for Marty's life through Marty's in and out and supportive counter attack dog role today. (A normal citizen would open up their "channel" for comments, and converse on the points of argument, at least.)
Hail John Sweeny's psychiatrist, and hail the Professor of Psychiatry who reviewed John's psych report. Hurray!
Hail Humphrey Hunter!
Excellent story benefit, the Pakistani Intel Official, who sees/hears about the John Sweeney YouTube moment, and then learns the details of the YouTube screaming moment, and the official caves and lets John go through the checkpoint.