Cult, Religion, or Movement?

The various channels of BBC TV provided an interesting comparison this evening.

 

First up was Panorama, on BBC 1, with John Sweeney’s item on Scientology. The old joke goes: "what’s the difference betweeen a cult and a religion? Answer: about 2,000 years". How true this is. I think Sweeney – despite his totally understandable lapse – showed very clearly that Scientology is dangerous guff. Guff, because L. Ron Hubbard very successfully dreamed up this garbage, and dangerous, because Tom Davis was very clearly employing psychological tricks to unsettle Sweeney.

 

But following this dip into the cesspool of Scientology, came an unexpected bracing from BBC Four with Scouting For Boys. Yes, the jokes are all too easy (scouting for boys?), but ultimately, the philosophy (note: not religion) of Baden-Powell came across as life-affirming. There is something positive about wanting to improve people’s sense of citizenship, and wanting to improve life for all. As his grandson said – he was a bit of a nutter, but it was clear that his heart was definitely in the right pace. Given the choice between people such as Tom Davis and Baden-Powell, then give me Baden-Powell every time.