Gawker 
Enter your username and password.
New York, 10:27 AM
Mon Dec 7
15 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
Tipline: 646-214-8138
Editor-in-Chief:
Gabriel Snyder |
West Coast Editor:
Richard Rushfield |
Contributing Editors:
Valleywag:
Ryan Tate |
Media:
Hamilton Nolan |
Politics:
Alex Pareene |
Investigations:
John Cook |
Entertainment:
Brian Moylan |
Nights:
Adrian Chen |
Azaria Jagger |
Ravi Somaiya |
Weekends:
Foster Kamer |
Video Editor:
Richard Blakeley |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
07/30/09
07/29/09
07/30/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012140.ece
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
And yeah, I know it's some sort of deep-seated self-hatred that really doesn't make sense to the rest of us, but jeez, what a sad and pathetic life that must be.
It's not shocking to me that these particular individuals would be attracted to Scientology. Just like any other cult, they prey on the weak, the depressed, the disturbed and the confused, offering them false hope in return for the paltry sum (in the case of Scientology) of millions.
07/29/09
07/29/09
Isn't that what the hail bop cult (Heaven's Gate) thought as well?
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
All right, carry on, as you were.
07/29/09
That's almost forever.
Of course, the "contract" has some small print at the bottom reminding you that it isn't actually legally binding.
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
06/11/09
Do you think Jett's the only one who has died this way? Do your research, Heribert Pfaff was only given vitamins for his seizures, and he ended up dying from a heavy attack.
Any "religion" that withholds medication, denies the existence of psychological sickness, and says all ailments can be cured with vitamins, exercise, and sauna sessions is bound to have problems. Just go to [whatstheharm.net]
Problem is, people either don't know about these deaths and choose to ignore them. Finally, when there's a Scientology-related death in the public eye, we ignore the death and its cause and instead yell at everyone who does. I feel for the Travoltas, I do, but I also feel for everyone else Scientology has killed and abused. How many more must die?
06/11/09
People keep repeating this as though it were fact, but it is PURE SPECULATION. And probably false speculation to boot. The Travoltas' own publicist has stated that Hett was on anti-seizure meds in the past, but was temporarily removed from taking the latest ones he'd been perscribed because it was causing him liver problems. If Scientology beliefs had anything to do with it, they wouldnt' have put him on ANY of thos meds in the first place, would they?
Re: Yes, maybe the medication had side effects, but there are anti-seizure medications that don't cause liver damage.
Here, I will quote from the comment by momof3wildkids above: "Seizure meds can mess up your liver and triglycerides. My friend's daughter has a severe seizure disorder -- as many as 13 per day. They may have to take her off her Rx because it is messing up her liver so horrendously. This is the 4th med they have tried this year."
Obviously, finding meds that don't cause serious side effects can be difficult. From what I understand, people who suffer seizures often have to removed from one course of meds until another is tried/found. This is apparently what was going on with the Travoltas. You make it sound like getting around the side effects is so simple, but from what I've read, it's not.
06/11/09
Also for all of those saying that they don't "remember the Travoltas denying it", you obviously have not done your research. While John rarely approached the subject, his wife Kelly was terribly vocal about it. She even went on a talk show (Montel Williams) to deny that he had autism and to attack the psychiatric and mental health professions.
It's very, very sad when this happens, but that does not mean that the issue should not be examined. That is the only way to ensure that other children are not hurt in the future.
06/11/09
06/11/09
What the hell is wrong with you people? This is an idiotic belief that Scientologists hold. People have died, and will continue to die from it, and you think we should just drop it?
By ignoring this issue, you are merely assuring that others will die from this ignorant Scientology disbelief in modern medicine.
Victims include Jett Travolta. They also include Elli Perkins, whose 2nd generation schizophrenic son was being treated with vitamins by a quack Scientology "doctor." She was stabbed 77 times by her own son.
They include Linda Waliki's father, sister and mother, who survived a knife attack while the other two did not. Linda, too, was schizophrenic in a Scientology household, being treated Scientologically.
Yes, sympathy for Travolta is in order. However, I cannot see sparing his feelings while other lives are at stake. If anything, this stupid belief system needs more exposure, not less. Hopefully others will learn from these mistakes.
06/11/09
Whacky Scientology beliefs that cause harm should be exposed, I agree. But those whacky Scientology beliefs pretty clearly aren't to blame in this case.
The attitude of you and many others posting here seems to be: "We have to spread negative publicity about Scientology at all costs — even if it means slandering two innocent, grieving parents. That's the right thing to do because Scientology is evil."
I disagree. Stick to legitimate, factual criticisms of Scientology. Leave these two innocent, grieving parents out ot if.
06/11/09