There are funerary customs specific to Scientology, the longtime religion of John Travolta and his family, amongst some other well-known faces. A hallmark of Scientology is the belief that humans are immortal spirits, or thetans who have lived many lifetimes and whose potential is unlimited.
A funeral, therefore, focuses on the departed by addressing him or her directly during the service, urging the departed to move on to better times.Â
A sociology professor offered more insight about what might happen at the funeral. According to Stephen Kent of the University of Alberta, “It’s a pretty basic ceremony. Scientologists like to hold them in Scientology chapels, officiated by a Scientology minister.”
Someone will likely offer readings from Scientology founder and science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. The 16-year-old’s body may lie in state, or his ashes may be present, or perhaps just a photo will be displayed. The church is flexible on this point, Kent says, because, “the body is relatively unimportant. It’s the thetan that is attached to the body that is the focus. The purpose is to wish the thetan well on its future journeys and luck in future incarnations.”
Nonmembers of the church are not banned. If the funeral is private, the family may extend invitations to people who are not Scientologists.
Afterward, the mourning Travoltas may be encouraged to undergo evaluation by church officials to purge lingering negative feelings about Jett’s untimely death. And there will be no talk of a heaven, as Scientologists do not believe they go there after death.
As of this morning, a local mortuary in the Bahamas has said that a viewing of the youth’s body may take place in Freeport tomorrow, with a funeral service expected later in Ocala, Fla.
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