Comments on: Jett Travolta, Scientology, and Jumping to Conclusions http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ann http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-10711 Ann Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:59:13 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-10711 A cursory read of the FAQ won't tell you that they've been known to abscond with a doctor or two if the occasion requires it. It, of course, doesn't mention that they believe MOST illness is psychosomatic and thus - requires auditing and not medical treatment. Such is the case with epilepsy and other similar diseases of the physical brain. Although they "teach" that you are not your body - they seem to think that you have a greater power over your body than is actually possible. I heard some inkling of the Travolta's having put Jett through a miniature purification rundown - a process whereby the individual is given auditing, tons of vitamins, lots of oil to drink (yuch) and then put in a sauna for long periods of time to "sweat it out." In fact it is believed by Scientology that this can flush your system of recreational drugs embedded in your fat tissues. Of course, medical science tells us that to subject a child (this was when Jett was quite young and had received his illness diagnosis) to the extreme heat of a sauna or spa is dangerous. No matter, in the name of "freedom" Scientology does all kinds of things that you'll never find in their FAQs. So if the goal was to free Jett of his illness - they succeeded. A cursory read of the FAQ won’t tell you that they’ve been known to abscond with a doctor or two if the occasion requires it.

It, of course, doesn’t mention that they believe MOST illness is psychosomatic and thus – requires auditing and not medical treatment. Such is the case with epilepsy and other similar diseases of the physical brain.

Although they “teach” that you are not your body – they seem to think that you have a greater power over your body than is actually possible.

I heard some inkling of the Travolta’s having put Jett through a miniature purification rundown – a process whereby the individual is given auditing, tons of vitamins, lots of oil to drink (yuch) and then put in a sauna for long periods of time to “sweat it out.” In fact it is believed by Scientology that this can flush your system of recreational drugs embedded in your fat tissues.

Of course, medical science tells us that to subject a child (this was when Jett was quite young and had received his illness diagnosis) to the extreme heat of a sauna or spa is dangerous. No matter, in the name of “freedom” Scientology does all kinds of things that you’ll never find in their FAQs.

So if the goal was to free Jett of his illness – they succeeded.

]]> By: Sue http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2647 Sue Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:27:03 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2647 I just recently came across your site. As a person with epilepsy, I'd like to pass on some basic information. First of all, epilpsy is not that rare. Approximately 3 million people in the United States have this medical condition, and 300,000 people are newly diagnosed annually. According to the CDC, a study of 10 states found that 1 in 100 people have epilepsy. Medication only works for approximately 60-70% of cases. The other treatment options are removal of portions of the brain, surgical seperation of the two halves of the brain, and implanting a VNS system. None of these other options has a very high success rate. Medications used to treat epilepsy, otherwise known as AED's, can have horrendous side effects. They can be toxic to various organs such as the liver and kidneys, cause severe loss of cognitive ability as well as memory, cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome which is fatal, as well as cause more seizures. Jett may have had intractible epilepsy, in which case medication was not working and all appropriate medications had been tried in mono and polytherapy. SUDEP can and does happen. Although a person's cause of death is more likely to be injury during the seizure than the seizure itself, seizures can be fatal. As mentioned in a previous posting, the brain, while seizing fails to keep the body breathing, or the heart beating. The options that I have given above for treatment are the only options currently advocated by the medical profession. There is little investigation being done into alternative treatments. And those alternative treatments that exist are not covered by insurance plans. The Travolta's may have been like many other parents that I deal with, and seeking a healthier alternative for their son. If his seizures were intractible, then his chances of dying of SUDEP were higher than the average person with epilepsy. It is always tragic when a child dies. I can only hope that the Travoltas will find some peace. I just recently came across your site. As a person with epilepsy, I’d like to pass on some basic information. First of all, epilpsy is not that rare. Approximately 3 million people in the United States have this medical condition, and 300,000 people are newly diagnosed annually. According to the CDC, a study of 10 states found that 1 in 100 people have epilepsy. Medication only works for approximately 60-70% of cases. The other treatment options are removal of portions of the brain, surgical seperation of the two halves of the brain, and implanting a VNS system. None of these other options has a very high success rate. Medications used to treat epilepsy, otherwise known as AED’s, can have horrendous side effects. They can be toxic to various organs such as the liver and kidneys, cause severe loss of cognitive ability as well as memory, cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome which is fatal, as well as cause more seizures. Jett may have had intractible epilepsy, in which case medication was not working and all appropriate medications had been tried in mono and polytherapy.
SUDEP can and does happen. Although a person’s cause of death is more likely to be injury during the seizure than the seizure itself, seizures can be fatal. As mentioned in a previous posting, the brain, while seizing fails to keep the body breathing, or the heart beating. The options that I have given above for treatment are the only options currently advocated by the medical profession. There is little investigation being done into alternative treatments. And those alternative treatments that exist are not covered by insurance plans. The Travolta’s may have been like many other parents that I deal with, and seeking a healthier alternative for their son. If his seizures were intractible, then his chances of dying of SUDEP were higher than the average person with epilepsy. It is always tragic when a child dies. I can only hope that the Travoltas will find some peace.

]]> By: Edward http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2574 Edward Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:41:10 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2574 Brian, An excellent post on the subject of "being skeptical about things we suspect are true" and especially in the area of taking joy in suffering - inexcusable under any circumstances. Re medicine and Scientology and their FAQ, I think myself that there is a lot of emphasis on the word "physical" in their FAQ. So my question would be (unrelated to Jett T.): exactly which illnesses are physical, according to a Scientologist? Just as a crazy example: if Scientology defines cancer as a non-physical illness then their FAQ still holds true but they would not seek professional medical care for it. Brian,

An excellent post on the subject of “being skeptical about things we suspect are true” and especially in the area of taking joy in suffering – inexcusable under any circumstances.

Re medicine and Scientology and their FAQ, I think myself that there is a lot of emphasis on the word “physical” in their FAQ. So my question would be (unrelated to Jett T.): exactly which illnesses are physical, according to a Scientologist? Just as a crazy example: if Scientology defines cancer as a non-physical illness then their FAQ still holds true but they would not seek professional medical care for it.

]]> By: NightHiker http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2547 NightHiker Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:58:35 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2547 Sorry for double posting, but I thought of a good analogy: If you are a doctor and you see the child of a vegan couple with malnutrition, I doubt anyone (but vegans, of course) would call you a bigot if you thought to investigate how appropriate their diet was. In the end, you might find out the kid had a congenital defect and the diet was not responsible for the malnutrition, but you need to investigate the most likely cause first. Sorry for double posting, but I thought of a good analogy:

If you are a doctor and you see the child of a vegan couple with malnutrition, I doubt anyone (but vegans, of course) would call you a bigot if you thought to investigate how appropriate their diet was. In the end, you might find out the kid had a congenital defect and the diet was not responsible for the malnutrition, but you need to investigate the most likely cause first.

]]> By: NightHiker http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2546 NightHiker Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:50:50 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2546 Rosie, "But despite my unpleasant experiences with practioners of these two faiths, I don’t go around and spewing bigoted comments about those who practice these and other religions. I like to believe that I’m just not that disgusting. Or bigoted." Emotional retorts are not a good substitute for objective reasoning. To suspect that atheists might be imoral just because they don't believe in god is bigotry. To suspect that religious people (be them scientologists or christians) might have behaved in accordance to their religion's creeds is a reasonable assumption. Rosie,

“But despite my unpleasant experiences with practioners of these two faiths, I don’t go around and spewing bigoted comments about those who practice these and other religions. I like to believe that I’m just not that disgusting. Or bigoted.”

Emotional retorts are not a good substitute for objective reasoning. To suspect that atheists might be imoral just because they don’t believe in god is bigotry. To suspect that religious people (be them scientologists or christians) might have behaved in accordance to their religion’s creeds is a reasonable assumption.

]]> By: Julian http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2545 Julian Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:47:02 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2545 If you can't separate yourself from what you believe you can't be much of a man. We have every right to criticize the merits of people's beliefs, the beliefs themselves and the damage they can lead people to do. Part of the free exchange of ideas is weighing them against others to see how they hold up. If you can’t separate yourself from what you believe you can’t be much of a man. We have every right to criticize the merits of people’s beliefs, the beliefs themselves and the damage they can lead people to do. Part of the free exchange of ideas is weighing them against others to see how they hold up.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2544 Lisa Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:44:36 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2544 The problem with the tragic death of Jett Travolta is this: Although all the circumstances are unknown, I can tell you as a former member of scientology (1970-1987) that they absolutely HATE any form of drug intervention, except drugs like antibiotics, and especially psychiatric drugs. There may have been some change since the time I was "in" but I doubt if there has been much of a shift. Most likely, they recommended basic scientology "auditing" , vitamins, and a quiet environment; which may not have been enough to keep him stable. Scientology believes in "making the able more able" and privately holds the handicapped in low regard, ie, they must have done something to "pull in" that sort of condition, or they are a "degraded being" not really worthy of the effort to help. These are the types of arguments that were used against people when I was a scientologist when it suited scientology executives to minimize the influence of a friend or loved one. When the friend or loved one attacked scientology, they are deemed a "suppressive person" whose most basic nature is regarded as evil in the extreme. Such is the quality of balance in their skeptical nature. Former scientologists know what I mean, and current scientologists who have been around for a while get very uncomfortable with these types of facts, because underneath it all, they are questioning what they see, and they don’t like the implications of the possible truth. So the death of Jett Travolta is a big question mark to me. I wish it were not so. I know that the Travolta family loved their son, but only someone who has been in scientology for a time can know the pervasive influence of this religion over the most basic sensible qualities of human nature. That makes this type of event all the more tragic for the victims of scientology. The problem with the tragic death of Jett Travolta is this: Although all the circumstances are unknown, I can tell you as a former member of scientology (1970-1987) that they absolutely HATE any form of drug intervention, except drugs like antibiotics, and especially psychiatric drugs. There may have been some change since the time I was “in” but I doubt if there has been much of a shift. Most likely, they recommended basic scientology “auditing” , vitamins, and a quiet environment; which may not have been enough to keep him stable.

Scientology believes in “making the able more able” and privately holds the handicapped in low regard, ie, they must have done something to “pull in” that sort of condition, or they are a “degraded being” not really worthy of the effort to help. These are the types of arguments that were used against people when I was a scientologist when it suited scientology executives to minimize the influence of a friend or loved one. When the friend or loved one attacked scientology, they are deemed a “suppressive person” whose most basic nature is regarded as evil in the extreme. Such is the quality of balance in their skeptical nature.

Former scientologists know what I mean, and current scientologists who have been around for a while get very uncomfortable with these types of facts, because underneath it all, they are questioning what they see, and they don’t like the implications of the possible truth.

So the death of Jett Travolta is a big question mark to me. I wish it were not so. I know that the Travolta family loved their son, but only someone who has been in scientology for a time can know the pervasive influence of this religion over the most basic sensible qualities of human nature. That makes this type of event all the more tragic for the victims of scientology.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2542 Max Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:35:53 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2542 Love the believer, not the beliefs. Love the believer, not the beliefs.

]]> By: Artoo45 http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2539 Artoo45 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:43:00 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2539 Rosie, criticism does not equal bigotry. Rosie, criticism does not equal bigotry.

]]> By: Rosie http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/01/08/jett-travolta-scientology-and-jumping-to-conclusions/#comment-2535 Rosie Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:49:43 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=845#comment-2535 I had no idea that the bigotry toward Scientologists was so viral . . . and disgusting. I don't love Scientology. I had an unpleasant experience with one who tried to recruit me. But I also had some unpleasant experiences with Christians who tried to get me to "embrace the Faith". But despite my unpleasant experiences with practioners of these two faiths, I don't go around and spewing bigoted comments about those who practice these and other religions. I like to believe that I'm just not that disgusting. Or bigoted. I had no idea that the bigotry toward Scientologists was so viral . . . and disgusting. I don’t love Scientology. I had an unpleasant experience with one who tried to recruit me. But I also had some unpleasant experiences with Christians who tried to get me to “embrace the Faith”.

But despite my unpleasant experiences with practioners of these two faiths, I don’t go around and spewing bigoted comments about those who practice these and other religions. I like to believe that I’m just not that disgusting. Or bigoted.

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