Some media sources claim that Jett’s death could have been prevented had his parents, John Travolta and Kelly Preston, sought medical help for his believed condition, rather than Scientology’s ‘detoxification programme’.
This drew office banter away from the White Lies album long enough for us to brave the cold and saunter down to our local ‘Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Centre’ on Tottenham Court Road, in an attempt to debunk at least some of the myths surrounding Scientologists. Are they really all lobotomised members of the world’s biggest ‘cult’ who believe aliens to be our ancestors and have nothing but antipathy for non-believers?
With the almost uniform vilification of the Scientologist belief system (or ‘technology’) in all corners of the media, we expected to be greeted with the glazed eyes and hysterics of Tom Cruise on Oprah Winfrey’s sofa. Instead, we were affably welcomed by, dare we say it, a normal person (whose ipod revealed a penchant for Interpol, Daniel Johnston and The Sonics).
During our 200 question-long personality test and the ensuing dissection of our inner souls we found none of the malevolence or money grabbing cynicism depicted so damningly by Scientology’s detractors. Some of the questions asked by the staff were somewhat (mis)leading, for example ‘What exactly is ruining your life right now?’, and the way they referred to their ‘true science’ left little room for doubts or even innocent questions. However, this does not constitute direct brainwashing, as the press would have us believe.
That’s not to say that there’s no manipulation involved. Whilst we didn’t instantly convert, it’s easy to see how the vulnerable can be swayed and taken in; the grandiose setting mirrored a house of worship, whilst the ornate emblem loomed over the pews like an idol. Sound familiar?
Despite both filling in our personality questionnaires randomly and getting entirely different graphical results, we were given identical feedback sessions. Both of us were told that we had ’suppressed artistic potential’ which could be unlocked with ’something’ that would only be reached by reading L. Ron Hubbard’s book, ‘Dianetics’, the bible of Scientology. Whilst we aren’t as debilitatedly ‘up-and-down’ as the results would have us believe, more unstable individuals may seek the promised solace offered by Scientology.
This gives credence to actor and former scientologist Jason Beghe’s view that Scientology is an ‘addiction’. Indeed, our friends at the Centre seemed to glaze over when extolling the virtues of ‘Dianetics’ when otherwise normal in unrelated conversation. Similarly, Tom Cruise’s behaviour when talking about Scientology in some video footage bears all the hallmarks of someone on a chemical high. In Oprah Winfrey’s words, ‘The boy is gone.’
WORDS: DAN MOSS AND JESSICA RICHES
