Scientologists supposedly believe that the late Kirstie Alley reached "superhuman" status after she made it to the church's highest level of learning.
Alley sadly passed away aged 71 following a battle with cancer. The news of her death was announced by a statement from her children True and Lillie Parker.
It read: "We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce, and loving mother has passed away. She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead."
Alley is most well known for her role in the 80s sitcom Cheers, where she played Rebecca Howe for 147 episodes.
The actress was raised as a methodist, before joining the church of Scientology in 1979 to help with her drug addiction, as reported by Page Six.
The report continues to explain that due to her longstanding relationship with the church, she was elevated to the highest level of learning - Operating Thetan Level VIII.
Speaking to the publication, Tony Ortega - who writes the long-running Scientology blog The Underground Bunker - explains what this meant for her position in the church.
"OT VIII is the highest you can go on the ‘Bridge to Total Freedom," he explains. "It can cost between $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 to go all the way up and it can take you 20 years.
"Scientologists are told that, if they can reach OT VIII, they will be ’cause over matter, energy, space, and time,’ which translates to various superhuman abilities, including being impervious to disease."
Ortega continues to explain that this could tie into Alley's death, as Scientology's first book, Dianetics, gives the message that "most human ailments are psychosomatic and can be cured," and therefore members of the church are unlikely to seek medical help and instead look to Scientology for the solution.
Leah Remini - a former member of the church and who now publicly denounces her former religion - offered her condolences to Alley's family, but also blasted the church's response to medical conditions.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Remini said: "While it has been reported that Kirstie sought conventional cancer treatment, which gave her a fighting chance, the majority of Scientologists do not seek treatment until it’s too late.
"Scientologists are convinced they can cure themselves of diseases like cancer. It’s one of the more sinister things they promise. And because Scientology claims to be an exact science, not a faith, its members are brainwashed into believing these false claims as guarantees."
Ortega notes that the church will not stop followers from seeking medical attention for diseases such as cancer. The religion is, however, against psychiatric care and psychiatric drugs.