
Television producer and owner of the anti-Scientology website www.xenutv.com (XenuTV), Mark Bunker, also known as Wise Beard Man, chatted online with Wikinews for nearly three hours. More than 120 people followed the interview live (many from Project Chanology), which makes this exclusive Wikinews interview our most attended IRC interview to date.
Bunker started XenuTV in 1999 and began to make videos that he provided for the Lisa McPherson Trust. Bunker has been a critic of the Church of Scientology since 1997.
In 2006, he won a  Regional Emmy Award after he and KUSI-TV news reporter Lena Lewis produced a documentary news video on the issues with the United States - Mexico border with San Diego, California.
((Wikinews)) Why don't you start by telling us about yourself and what you do.
((WN)) Tell us about your history with criticism of Scientology?
((WN)) Such as?
((WN)) Has the Church ever been convicted of any crimes?
((WN)) How would you describe yourself in the context of religions, churches, and belief systems, and what you are seeking to accomplish?
((WN)) There are other religions that practice things that are just as bad as Scientology. For example the Catholic Church, Scientology and Islam dislike/sin homosexuals. Why protest Scientology? The Catholic Church, in terms of atrocities, has likely committed more? Even Muslim extremism... Is Scientology really worth more to protest than those religions or any other?
((WN)) That was protest the crime and cover-up? Similar to your work?
((WN)) Other than your experiences with ex-members of Scientology, do you have any special qualification that would make you an expert on so-called "cults", i.e. do you have a degree in sociology, anthropology, psychiatry, psychology, theology, or any similar related subject area?
((WN)) Would that include the fields of tax law, i.e. do you have a degree in accounting, finance, law, or any similar related subject area?
((WN)) Scientology, as many members have claimed, has saved their lives. Do you think, comparing the circumstances, the good things Scientology has done, outweighs the supposed bad things it has done?
((WN)) What will it take to get Congressional Hearings to review the Church of Scientology? Specifically, their tax-exempt status.
((WN)) What, if any, changes or improvements have been made in Church policy and structure since Hubbard died, and more recently too, that might have already addressed, at least partially, issues such as Snow White, Lisa McPherson, disconnection, unrealistic promises of Scientology benefits, etc? On what do you base your answer to this question?
((WN)) I assume you mean "Lisa Clause"?
((WN)) How do you think most Church members feel about your protests? What would you say to those who would criticize your protests as misguided or the information you post and expose as untrue?
((WN)) We have a somewhat difficult question to put next...Is R2-45 Auditing a joke within Scientology, or is it actually real?
((WN)) Do they actually run camps associated with that?
((WN)) What is the next step we should take in raising the general public's awareness of the atrocities of the "Church" of Scientology. Also, besides www.xenutv.com, what are some other, reputable, citable sources of information on these abuses?
((WN)) Why does Scientology accuse people of crimes when they are asked questions?
((WN)) Why do you think Scientology dangerous? From a European (French) point of view there are many strange organizations in the United States (Nazi party, many religious groups). Why is Scientology your fight?
((WN)) And that's part of the reasons you support 'Anonymous' and — apart from DDoS — their actions?
((WN)) I've seen your response to their protest on YouTube. You almost seemed proud that a younger generation had "taken up the torch".
((WN)) What happened to Bob Minton? He is alleged to be in favor of Scientology now. Did they give him an 'incentive' to stop his protests of the Church? In a video of yours, posted on YouTube (Scientology: Clearwater Trip - Day 3 - Pt 2), Minton says that the Church attempted to "pay him money" several times. Did they finally succeed? Or was he blackmailed into shutting up?
((WN)) How many members of Scientology do you estimate are within the organization?
((WN)) What is your opinion on Free Zone Scientologists?
((WN)) What do you think Anonymous should do if Scientologists plant fake anons in a protest and act like idiots to show anons up?
((WN)) Are you going to upload the old XenuTV movies (RealVideo) to Google Video or something similar?
((DA-freakshow)) As you know now, the Anonymous Protests was extremely huge, but we are planning a second round the 15th of March. And I — a 12-year-old WILL attend, is that a good sign that so young a person wants to be involved, or is it a bad sign?
((Carbonflux)) Can you put any of this in a historical context? Have you studied the history of Scientology in relation to its "parent" organizations (cults praying on the elite) in the 18th - 20th centuries ? (Many of L. Ron Hubbard's ideas were taken directly from OTO which he was a member of in his early life for example).
((toresbe)) By sheer virtue of numbers, we have become very hard to harass, to the point of the personal risk to ourselves being almost negligible. There have been others before us with far more courage who have spoken up against far greater odds. What do you think the effect of our actions have been on these "pioneers"? (yourself included) Do you personally feel that we anons have revitalized the more "serious" efforts of those in the past who have come out with full names - and have probably gotten into problems over this? And do you believe it serves to ease the process for those Scientologists who were already considering leaving?
((jennam)) I was just wondering if you were aware of the many other abuses of other religions such as The Watchtower organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.. They do things strikingly similar to Scientology with regards to killing and abusing members and disconnection policies - now, I'm in no way in favor of the management of Scientology but it does look a little blind to me when these other so-called religions get off scot-free. Have you heard of any such allegations before? My concern is that while a step forward is good against one religion, there are others out there just biding by without no real exposure essentially letting them get away with their abuses. I was also wondering if you knew if The Profit would ever be released for viewing?
((themandotcom)) What do you say to those people that say that Anonymous and the similar groups are religious bigots?
((StevenFruitsmaak)) Isn't it strange that some countries are recognizing Scientology as an official religion while other countries pursue the Church? What would you say to lawmakers in the former country? Perhaps a short three things you need to know about the Church?
((Kakama)) What do you think of the fact that Anonymous' motivations are not a moral outrage and are in fact based on the desire to destroy something and get laughs, aka lulz? What about the fact that Anonymous regularly uses illegal activity for its purposes (though we have suspended most in this raid) and is often risque and perverted in nature? 
((Neglacio)) How do you feel about the several nicknames given to you, like Wise Beard Man (WBM), and the several slogans accompanying it? And, by the way, what music do you like?
((planetstar)) There was a bomb (hoax?) threat video on YouTube by an "elite anonymous" as he himself called himself. What would be the implications of such an attack? Could this be another plant by Scientology, and could they actually go through with it?
((Sfan00)) So you would urge Anonymous to report any such threats to the authorities?
((WN)) Anything you would like to add Mr. Bunker?

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Wikinews interviews Mark Bunker, producer of anti-Scientology website 'XenuTV'