The Separation between State and Religion

In time we will realize that Democracy is the entitlement of individuals to every right that was in its times alloted to kings. The right to speak and decide, to be treated with decency, to serve and be served by people in a State of “love” that is, to serve with one’s work for the development of ‘life’. To belong to the Kingdom of Human Beings without racial, national, social or academic separations. To love and be loved. To die at the service of the whole and be honored in one’s death, for one’s life and work was legitimately valued. To be graceful and grateful. To have the pride and the humility of being One with the Universe, One with every realm of Existence, One with every living and deceased soul. To treat with dignity and be treated with dignity for One is dignified together with All others and Life itself. To walk the path of compassion, not in the sorrow of guilt but in the pride of being. To take responsability for one’s mistakes and sufferings and stand up again and again like a hero and a heroine and face the struggle that is put at one’s feet and in one’s hands. Millions of people, millions and millions of people might take many generations to realize the consciousness of our humaneness but there is no other dignified path for the human being.

The “work” as I conceive it is psychological and political. Psychology is the connection between the different dimensions within one’s self and Politics is the actualization of that consciousness in our practical lives. Religion is the ceremony that binds the connectedness between the individual and the Universe. The separation between religion, politics and science, the arts and sports is, in the sphere of the social, the reflection of the schizophrenia within the individual and the masses. The dialogue between individuality and the "human" belongs to consciousness. The tendency to develop cults resides in the shortcomings we’are finding in life as it is structured today. “Life” has become the private property of a few priviledged who cannot profit from it because as soon as it is appropriated it stops to be “life” or “life-giving”.

We are all the victims of our own invention and each one is called upon to find solutions. The only problem is believing our selves incapable of finding them. We are now free to use all Systems of knowledge objectively, sharing them without imposing our will on each other. To become objective about our lives means to understand that the institutions that govern its experience are critically important. That we are one with the governments, one with the religious activities that mark its pace, that the arena’s in which we move our bodies and the laboratories in which we explore our possibilities are ALL part and parcel of our own personal responsibility. That WE ARE ONE WITH EACH OTHER AND EVERYTHING AROUND US and acknowledge for ourselves a bond of love in conscious responsibility. That we human beings know ourselves part of each other and are willing and able to act on our behalf for the benefit of each and every individual. That we no longer allow governments, industries, universities or any other institution to run along unchecked by the objective principles of humaneness. That we do not allow gurus to abuse their power or governors to steal the taxes and use them to their personal advantage in detriment of the whole. That we do not allow abuse from anyone anywhere because life is too beautiful to do so and that we are willing to stop the rampant crime with the necessary compassion Conscious knowledge is every individual's right. Conscious action is every individual's duty.

Blog Archive

Friday, 16 April 2010

The Personal Side of Apocalyptic Cults:A sociological analysis of

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ThePersonalSideofApocalypticCults:Asociologicalanalysisof
BranchDavidiansandHeaven'sGate
KatieVanHoey
UndergraduateStudentinSociology
TheUniversityofArizona
ABSTRACT
Cults,liketheBranchDavidiansandHeaven’sGate,havetypicallybeenviewedasthe
creationofadeviantandegotisticalindividual.Usingbrainwashingandreprogramming
techniques,thisindividualfashionsamindlesscollectivewillingtofollowhimorhereventothe
pointofdeath.However,carefulanalysisofthesocialandpersonalfactorssurroundingthe
creationofcults,apocalypticcultsinparticular,revealsadrasticallydifferentpicture.These
cultsaretheproductofnormalhumanfascinationwiththeendoftimemoldedintoextreme
apocalypticgroupingsandtendencies.Withtherightblendoflifestyles,worldviews,andhuman
gullibility,theseinitiallyharmlessreligiousgroupsweretransformedintothefanaticalcults
AmericawitnessedattheWacostandoffandinthemasssuicideunderthepassingoftheHaley
Boppcomet. Inessence,theseindividuals,bothleadersandfollowers,aremorethevictimsof
time’sandsociety’scruelarrangements,thenthewhimsofanapocalypticmadman.
Theapocalypticimaginationhasbeenabenchmarkofsocietyforgenerations.Imagesof
heavenandhellappearinourstories,movies,songs,andartwork.Self-proclaimedprophets
revealtheirpredictionsabouttheendoftimefromstreetcorners,churches,andthrough
televisionprograms.MillionsofpeopleplacetheirtrustinthewordsoftheBibleandeagerly
awaittheParousiaorSecondComingofJesusChrist.Millionsmoreturntootherancienttexts
andteachingshopingtocreateanexacttimelinefortheendoftime.Ashumans,weareboth
intriguedandfrightenedbytheunknown.Wenaturallyseektodiscoverthatwhichishidden
fromus,notsolelytosatisfyourcuriosityandalleviateourfearbutinthehopeofgivinglife
meaning.However,forafew,thissearchleadsthemdowntheroadtoapocalypticsectslikethe
BranchDavidiansandHeaven'sGatewheretheimmediacyoftheapocalypsedemandsa
dramaticlifestyleshift,oftenendinginaritualsuicideorsacrificeoflife.Realizingthis,the
questionisn'tsomuchwhypeoplejoinapocalypticcultsbuthownormalhumanfascinationwith
theendoftimeismoldedintoapocalypticsects.
Thetransformationfrommerefascinationtoultimatedevotionisn'tadefinitivetwelve-
stepprocess.Rather,itiscontingentuponahostofindependentvariablesbeingpresentinsome
formattherighttimeandintherightorder.Likeacombinationlock,onlythecorrectsequence
ofpersonalandsocialcircumstanceswillopenthedoortoextremeapocalypticbeliefsand
devotion.Inthewordsofoneman,
"Peopleendupjoiningcultswheneventsleadthemtosearchforadeepersense
ofbelongingandforsomethingmoremeaningfulintheirlives.Theydoso
becausetheyhappentobeinthewrongplaceatthewrongtimeandareripefor
exploitation.Theydosobecausetheyfindthemselvesgettingcaughtintheclaws
ofaparasitebeforetheyrealizewhatishappeningtothem."(Long,20)
Therefore,itisn'tasmuchaboutthestudentbeingreadyforthemasterasitisaboutthestudent
andmasterbeingreadytogether.
Ironically,theroadtoapocalypticcultsbeginsmuchliketheroadtoanythingelse,with
elementsofthatindividual'sownworldview.Peoplenaturallydevelopasetofbeliefsor
assumptionsabouttheworldthathelpguidethemintheirdailyinteractionwithothers.
Sociologistsrefertothisasanindividual'suniverseofdiscourse.Thismatrixofinformation
affectseveryaspectofthatindividual'slife:histhoughts,hisbehaviors,andevenhisattitude.
Givenitsall-encompassingnature,conversiontoacompletelydifferentuniverseofdiscourse
becomesunlikely.Therefore,leaderslikeDavidKoreshandDomusttapintoelementsalready
presentinpeople'sworldviewsandseekonlytomodifytheirbeliefs.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,
21-22)
ThevastmajorityofpeoplewhoultimatelybecamemembersofHeaven'sGatewere
whattheNewAgemovementreferstoas"seekers".Thesearepeoplewhobecomedisillusioned
withtraditionalreligiousbeliefs,likeJudaismandChristianity,andsearchforspiritual
understandingontheirown.Theytypicallyhaveexperiencedawidevarietyofpersonal
problems,includingdivorce,illness,death,orrejection,andareseekingawaytocometoterms
withthepainanddevastationtheseproblemshavecaused.Asaresult,mostseekerssimply
bouncefromoneNewAgefadtoanother.Yet,asRobertW.Balchpointsout,thissearchfor
solutionsleavesseekersvulnerabletoresourcefulteachers."Perhapsthegreatestironyinthe
NewAgemovementisthatseekerswhoplacesuchahighvalueontheindividualpursuitoftruth
continuallyfallunderthespellofspiritualteacherswhoprovidethemwithprepackagedsetsof
beliefsinexchangefortheiridentity."(ZellnerandPetrowsky,6)Therefore,elementsintheir
worldviewpre-disposedthemtoaccepttheradicalteachingsofDoandTi.
ThesamevulnerabilityispresentwithinDavidKoresh'sfollowers.TheBranch
DavidiansgrewoutoftheSeventh-DayAdventistChurchstartedbyEllenG.White.White
basedthemajorityofherreligiousdoctrineontheideasofWilliamMiller,withonerather
importantexception.WhereasMillerhadbelievedthatChristwasreadyfortheworldtoendin
themid-1800s,WhitebelievedthatChristhadmerelyenteredintoastateofAdventtoprepare
forhisSecondComing.UsingtheBookofRevelationashersourceofinspiration,shealso
insistedthatGodwouldsendaseriesofprophets,oneforeverygeneration,whoalonehadthe
powertointerprettheBible.EachprophetwouldrevealmoreabouttheBible'struththanthe
prophetwhocamebefore,progressivelyunravelingthemysteriesoftheBookofRevelation.
(Daniels,128-129)Thistwist,alongwithseveralothers,leftthegroupsusceptibletothe
unorthodoxprophesiesofDavidKoresh.
In1935,VictorHouteffbrokeawayfromtheSeventh-DayAdventistsaftertheyrejected
hisclaimsofpropheticleadership.Alongwithasmallbandoffollowers,hemovedtoWacoand
establishedtheDavidianSeventh-DayAdventists.Beforehisdeathin1955,hepredictedthat
thegroupwouldonedaypossessasix-lettername.Hiswifealsopredictedthathewouldrise
fromthedeadexactlyonethousand,twohundredandsixtydaysafterhisdeathoronApril22,
1959.Amazingly,itwasonthatdatethatbothpredictionscametofulfillment.Itwasn’ther
husbandwhoarrivedonApril22,1959.Instead,itwashissuccessorBenjaminRoden.Atthat
time,heblessedthegroupwiththetitleofthe"Branch"Davidians.Throughouthisleadershipof
thegroup,hereferredtohimselfasthe"FifthAngel".WhenLoisRoden,hiswife,gained
control,shebecamethe"SixthAngel".Itwasherpredictionthatthe"SeventhAngel"would
cometopowerin1984thatpre-disposedtheBranchDavidianstotheleadershipofDavid
Koresh.(Daniels,129-133)Sincepreviouspredictionsaboutprophetshadbeenfulfilled,itwas
reasonableforthemtoassumethatthisonewouldbeaswell.
However,theseflexibleelementsalonearen'tenoughtocreateapocalypticsects.They
aresimplythebroadpre-existingpersonalandsocialconditions.Instead,theprogression
towardsextremeapocalypticbeliefsrequirestheadditionofacharismaticleader.Inthiscase,
charismaislessaboutthepersonalmagnetismoftheindividualandmoreaboutthestoryhe
weavesaroundhimself.Theseindividualsmustconvincethegroupthattheyareworthytobe
followed,inessencevalidatingtheirauthorityoverthegroup.Theformationofcharismatic
authorityhingesuponthebeliefthattheindividualpossessesextraordinaryabilitiesandthathis
teachingsaredivinely-inspired.(BromleyandMelton,81-82)Ultimately,hemustbethehuman
portalthroughwhichdivineteachingsorrevelationsarehandeddowntohumanityfrom
supernaturalbeings.
TotheBranchDavidians,DavidKoreshwasthenextpropheticleaderofthegroup.In
theireyes,hisarrivalandsubsequentseductionoftheirleaderLoisby1984wasthefulfillment
ofLois'prediction,makingKoresh,thenVernonHowell,the"SeventhAngel"andleaderoftheir
group.(Daniels,130-133)Yet,inpractice,Koreshwasmorethanasimpleprophet.Hewas
alsobelievedtobetheMessiah.(Long,24)Assuch,histeachingswereimmediatelyaccepted
asdivinely-inspiredfortheywerethewordsofthesonofGod.
DoandTi,theleadersofHeaven'sGate,establishedtheirauthoritythroughtheapproval
ofClarenceKlug,thefounderofSelf-Initiation.Self-Initiationwasanotherapocalypticgroup
withbeliefssimilartothoseheldbyDoandTi.Inthisgroup,Klugwasconsideredtobe
"secondtoGod".Hewasinconstantcontactwithtwelvespiritguideswhorevealedtohimthe
secretscontainedwithintheBookofRevelation.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,5)Thus,anythinghe
didorsaidwasconsidereddivinely-inspired,includingchoosingtofollowDoandTi.(Zellner
andPetrowsky,19-20)Bydoingso,hisauthoritywastransferredtothem,allowingthemto
assumeleadershipofthegroup.
Asaresultofthisdivineinspiration,charismaticleaderstendtofeelasenseofpower
whichgrantsthempermissiontogoagainsttherulesofsocietyandeventhegroupitself.In
essence,theybegintobelievethattheyarethelaw.(Long,54)However,charismaticauthority
isn'twithoutitslimits.Sinceitiscontingentupontheperceivedtruthoftheleader'sstory,it
neverbecomesabsolutefact.Whatthegroupbelievestodaycouldeasilybequestionedif
elementsofthatstoryappearfaultytomorrow.Thus,charismaticleadershipmustbeconstantly
legitimized.(BromleyandMelton,85)Thisnever-endingprocessoflegitimatizationplaces
limitsonaleader'ssupposedfreedomfromtherules.First,hisleadershipisconstantlytestedby
themembersofthegroup.Itistheirbeliefthathisclaimsandteachingsareabsolutetruth.
Therefore,hemustbepreparedtovalidateanyofhisclaimswithaction.Ifsomethingis
predictedtohappen,itbetterhappenorhaveasufficientreasonfornothappening.Secondly,his
leadershipislimitedbyanyancienttextswhichthegroupholdsacred.Theinterpretationsand
teachingstheleaderpassesontohisfollowersmustbereasonablysupportedbythewordingof
thesetexts.Therefore,thedegreeoffreedomaleaderhasinthisareadependsuponhis
creativityandtheambiguityofthetexts.(Long,54)
TheBranchDavidians,Self-Initiation,andHeaven'sGatewereallbaseduponthe
apocalypticteachingfoundintheBookofRevelation,atextfullofambiguity.Peoplefor
generationshavespeculateduponandattemptedtodecipherthesignsandsymbolscontained
withinit,hopingtounlockthetruetimelinefortheendoftime.Asthenextpropheticleaderof
theBranchDavidians,Koreshwasthesoleinterpreterofthesesignsandsymbols.Heviewed
himselfasGod'srighthandmanwhoalonehadthepowertointerpretandultimatelyopenthe
sevensealsintheBookofRevelationbringingabouttheendoftime.(Daniels,136)
ClarenceKlug,ontheotherhand,taughtthattheBookofRevelationwasn'tasetofend-
of-timeprophesies.Instead,itwasaguidetospiritualalchemywhichtaughtpeoplehowtoopen
thesevenchakrasorenergycentersofthebody,locatedalongthespineandatthetopofthe
head.Assoonastheywereunlocked,thatindividualwouldinstantaneouslybecomeaballof
lightandascendintoheaven.Ashetoldit,thisancientpracticehadbeenencryptedand
preservedintheBookofRevelationforfuturegenerationstofind,butonlywiththehelpofan
inspiredleader.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,3)ThatinspiredleaderwasKlugwhoalonehadthe
powertodecodetheseancientpracticesandrevealthepathtoheaven.
AtthesametimeKlugwasleadingyoungseekerstowardspiritualenlightenment,Doand
Tiwereexperiencingtheirownspiritualtransformationswhich,ultimately,culminatedinan
UFO-basedinterpretationoftheBookofRevelation.DowasbornMarshallHerffApplewhite
andTiwasbornBonnieLuNettles.Uponmeetingforthefirsttime,theyfeltanimmediate
spiritualconnectionwhichtheytooktomeanthattheywerespiritualsoulmates.Monthslater,
ApplewhitehadavisionwhichhefeltcallinghimtoadoptaChrist-likeroleinsocietyand
NettleshasavisionpointingtotheextraterrestrialnatureofMarshall.Then,in1973,thetrue
messageofthesevisionsbecameapparent.TheyweretheTwoWitnessesprophesiedaboutin
Revelations11.(BromleyandMelton,210-211)Itwastheirjobtospreadthetruemessageto
theworld.
ThismessageusedtraditionalChristiandoctrineandrecastitincontemporaryNewAge
termsanyStarTrekfancouldunderstandandrelateto.(Daniels,209)Longago,humans,inthe
formofaseed,wereplantedontheearthbyservantsoftheFather'sKingdom.Theseseedswere
togrowandripenhereonearthbeforebeingharvesteduptoheaven.Accordingtothem,Jesus
wasn'tasaviorbutaharvester.HewassenttoearthtogatheruptheFather'shumancrop.His
missionwasunsuccessful,however,becausethefruitwasn'tyetripe.Thus,Jesusascendedto
hisUFOinthecloudsandreturnedtotheNextLevel.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,2)Atthattime,
theapostleswereunabletounderstandthetruenatureofJesus'visittoearth.Theadvanced
technologyusedbytheNextLevelwasbeyondtheirprimitiveunderstanding.Yet,now,afew
chosenpeopleortheapostlesoftodayarebeingofferedasecondchancetodiscoverthetruth.
(ZellnerandPetrowsky,18)
However,Applewhite'sandNettles',nowGuineaandPig,firstattemptsatrevealingthis
truthtotheworldwereunsuccessful.PeoplewereunreceptivetotheideaofJesusasaharvester
ratherthanasavior.Then,in1974,Guineawasimprisonedforsixmonthsafterfailingtoreturn
arentalcartheyhadborrowedtospreadtheirmessage.Together,thesetwodifficultieswere
seenasasignthatSatanwasaliveandwellintheworldandproofofthetightholdhe
maintainedonpeople.Disappointedbythisrealizationbutstillintentonpromotingthetruth,
theyprintedfliersupabouttheirbeliefsanddistributedthemamongvariousNewAgegroupsin
thearea.(BromleyandMelton,212)ItwasthisflierthatlinkedClarenceKlugwithGuineaand
Pig,ultimatelyleadingtotheformationofHeaven'sGate.
Yet,thesimpleformationofagroupbaseduponapocalypticideologydoesn'tguarantee
theformationofanapocalypticcult.Dozensofgroupseachyearareformedasaresultoftheir
beliefsabouttheendoftime.Butfew,ifany,resultintheextremesacrificialtendencies
AmericawitnessedatthestandoffinWacoorintheritualsuicidesofHeaven'sGate.Something
abouttheverynatureofgroupitselfchangesasaresultoftwospecificpersonalandsocial
dynamics:pluralisticignoranceandsocialimplosion.Pluralisticignorancereferstoacondition
inwhichnoone,besidestheleaderofthegroup,reallyknowswhatisgoingonwithinthegroup.
Communicationislimitedinsuchawaythatpeopleareunabletoactivelyquestionorraise
doubtsabouttheteachingsoractionsoftheleader.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,13)
DavidKoreshsuppressedcommunicationfirstbyseparatingthemenfromthewomen
preventingthemenfromknowingtheexactdetailsofhissexualexploitswithunderagegirls.
Secondly,heimplementedstrictdisciplinaryprocedureswhichincludedbanishmentfromthe
compound.Anyoneevensuspectedofquestioningauthoritywaspunished.ClarenceKlug,on
theotherhand,activelysoughttodispelquestionswhentheywereraisedbyofferinggeneric,
incontrovertibleanswers.Hewouldtellthem,first,thattheprocessofself-initiationtakesyears
tocompleteandthatitsimplywasn'tpossibleforthemtograsptheentireprocesswithinthefirst
fewweeksormonths.Secondly,heequatedthoughtsandintelligencewithhindrancestoself-
initiation.Thus,anyonewhochosetothinkforthemselveswassimplysettingthemselvesback
andthatwaswhytheycouldn'tfeeltheprocessworking.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,13-14)
Similarly,DoandTiusedlackofknowledgeabouttheNextLevelandthediscouragementof
individualitytosuppressquestionsanddoubts.Thekey,theysaid,toenteringtheNextLevel
wasacompleteabandonmentofhumanity,includingthoughtsandemotions.(Daniels,208)
Ultimately,pluralisticignoranceactstounifythegroupbyforcingthemtodependsolely
onasingleleaderfortheanswerstoeverythingfromthepersonaltothesocial.Inthewordsof
ElizabethGleick,"...suchgroups[cults]haveseveralfeaturesincommon.Chiefamongthemis
themembers'dependenceonasingle,messianicleaderwhofrequentlymakesallthedecisions
thatgoverntheirlives.Rationalthoughtisdiscouraged,oftenbymind-numbingritualsand
sensorydeprivation.Recruitsaresmotheredwith'love',thenmanipulatedthroughguilt."(Long,
99)ThisultimatedevotiontoasingleleaderleadstowhatsociologistWilliamBainbridgeterms
socialimplosion.Socialimplosionreferstothedramaticincreaseinsocialtieswithinagroupat
theexpenseofthoseoutsideofthegroup.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,9)Thistransformationfrom
anoutwardfocustoaninwardfocusforgesthesegroupsintocohesiveunits,bothinthoughtand
inaction.Forthemostpart,membersofapocalypticgroupsviewthemselvesas"saints"and
"elect"whileatthesametimeviewinganyoneoutsidethegroupas"Satan"or"theAnti-Christ".
Itis,thus,theirjobtoprotectthetruthwhichhasbeenentrustedtothemfromtheenemy,often
timesatanycost.(BromleyandMelton,62)
Thisgroupcohesionisfurtherfacilitatedbyavarietyofpersonalandsocialmechanisms.
MembersoftheBranchDavidianswerehousedtogetherinagiantcompoundinasemi-deserted
partofWaco.Thisphysicalseparationfromtherestofsocietyonlyreinforcedtheemotional
andmentalseparationtheseindividualsalreadyfelt,drawingthisgroupclosertogether.
MembersofKlug'sSelf-Initiationgroup,ontheotherhand,were"materially"setapartfromthe
restofsociety.Asasymboloftheirdesignationasamemberofthe"elect",Kluggaveeach
memberofthegroupacrystaltoweararoundhis/herneck,acopyofhisbookWorldsApart,and
asmallvialofprostaglandintoopentheenergycentersofthebody.(ZellnerandPetrowsky,9)
Thesetrinketsbecame,inessence,atangiblereminderoftheiruniqueness.
TheformativeyearsofHeaven'sGatewerecharacterizedbyaplethoraofunity-forming
mechanismsincludingisolation,highly-stylizedorritualisticprocedures,andalongattrition
process.Duringthefirstyear,membersofthegrouplivedanomadic,seeminglyunattached
lifestyle.TheytraveledfromoneplacetoanotherspreadingDoandTi'smessage.Theysleptin
isolatedcampgrounds,beggedforfoodandmoney,andhadabsolutelynocontactwiththeir
friendsorfamily.Evenmusic,books,drugs,andsexwerebannedinanefforttoleavebehind
theirhumanity.Yet,soon,membersgotdiscouragedbythelackofnewrecruitsandleftthe
group.Realizingthis,DoandTidecidedtostopspreadingthemessageandbeginpreparing
theirfollowersfor"graduation"orascensiontotheNextLevel.(BromleyandMelton,213-214)
Member,then,movedintosuburbanhomesor"crafts"andsupportedthemselvesby
workingaswaitressesorcomputerrepairtechnicians.However,lifewasanythingbutnormal.
Lifewithinthe"crafts"wasdesignedtoimitatelifeonaspaceship.Therewerestrictprocedural
guidelinesfornearlyeverything,includingusingtherestroomandsleeping.Theconceptof
privatepropertywaseliminated.Anythingonepersonearnedorboughtwassharedbyall.They
wereevenrequiredtowearauniform,symbolizingtheirplaceamongthechosenfew.This"life
onaspaceship"metaphorroutinizednearlyeveryaspectoflife,includingbehaviorwhilein
public.Theyweretolimittheirinteractionwithothers,maintainaunisexappearance,andclaim
tobepartofamonastery.(BromleyandMelton,214-217)Thisrountinizationoflife,combined
withphysicalandmentalisolationaswellasthenearlytwenty-twoyearattritionprocess,forged
ahighlypersonalandemotionalbondbetweenfollowerandleader.Inthisprocessofcastingoff
one'shumanity,anindividualtradedthemultiple,mediocreattachmentstotheworldforasingle,
intensecommitmenttoDo.Infact,thiscommitmentwassostrongthatDo'sfollowerssimply
couldn'timaginelifewithouthim.(Daniels,209)
Thelife-alteringcommitmentsandbondsformedbysocialimplosiondefinitively
transformgroupssimplybaseduponapocalypticideologyintoapocalypticsects,completewith
extremeapocalypticbeliefsandsacrificialdevotion.Inessence,theirapocalypticworldviewis
sonarrowlydefinedandsotightlywrappedaroundthegroupthatitbecomesall-encompassing
andconcrete.Theyrefusetoevenentertainthepossibilityofotherbeliefsormodifytheir
existingbeliefstoaccommodatenewinformation.Theirworldviewisabsolutetruthandassuch
completelynon-negotiable.(Long,50-51)Yet,asironicasitseems,thisultimatedevotionisas
muchfortheindividualasitisfortheleader.Inthistight-knitcommunityofdevotedfollowers,
groupmembersfind"...anunexpectedsenseofpurpose,asthoughtheywerebecomingapartof
somethingextraordinarilysignificantthatseemedtocarrythembeyondtheirfeelingsofisolation
andtowardanexpandedsenseofrealityandthemeaningoflife."(Long,15)
Thisall-encompassingworldviewalsoprovidesthe
impetustolinkextremebeliefswith
extremeactionswhencrisisstrikes.Inevitably,eachgroup'sapocalypticideologywillbe
challengedeitherbyexternalsocialconditionsorpersonaltragediesthatwillforcethemtoplay
theirapocalyptichands.FortheBranchDavidians,thischallengecameintheformofMarc
Breault.DisillusionedwithKoreshafterdiscoveringthisobsessionwithunderagegirls,Breault
leftthegroupandreturnedtohishomeinAustralia.Fromhere,hewasintentonexposingthe
secretsoftheBranchDavidianstothepublic,particularlythesexualinductionsofunderagegirls
intotheHouseofDavid.Usingaccusationsofstatutoryrapeandchildsacrifice,heattemptedto
motivategovernmentofficialstoarrestKoreshandwasunsuccessful.Refusingtogiveup,he
enlistedthehelpofDavidJewellwhowasthefatherofKiri,oneofKoresh'sbrides-to-beinthe
HouseofDavid.Theensuingcustodybattlecombinedwiththeinvestigativestorybroadcastby
theAustraliantelevisionshowACurrentAffairinJanuaryof1992beganwhatwastobethe
apocalypticendoftheBranchDavidians.(BromleyandMelton,153-158)
Inresponsetotheseexternalthreats,Koreshwasforcedtoadoptasiegementalityin
ordertoprotectthelegitimacyofhisauthoritywithinthegroup.Itwasclearthattheendwas
near.Inanefforttoprepareforit,hebegantostockpileweapons.(BromleyandMelton,158-
159)Thisstockpilecontainedfifty-ninehandguns,twelveshotguns,ninety-fourrifles,andforty-
fivemachineguns.Italsocontainedonemillion,eighthundredthousandroundsofammunition,
adozensilencers,andatonofhandgrenadeparts.(Long,32)Then,inMayof1992,aUPS
driverdiscoveredthatoneofthepackagesbeingdeliveredtotheBranchDavidianscontained
emptygrenades.ThisdiscoveryplacedtheBranchDavidiansontheradarscreenofBATFand
FBIofficers.AstheylearnedmoreaboutDavidKoreshfromthestoriesofex-memberslike
MarcBreault,theydecidedtotakeaction.(BromleyandMelton,159-165)
Yet,evenbeforetheBATFandFBIraidtookplace,Koreshknewwhenitwasgoingto
happen.Oneoftheemployeesfromanambulancecompanythegovernmentrentedfromleaked
theinformationabout"OperationTrojanHorse"toalocaltelevisionstation.They,inturn,sent
acameramantoconfirmtheaccuracyofthistip.Onhisway,thecameramanaskedalocal
postmanbythenameofDavidJonesfordirectionstoKoresh'scompound.Ironically,this
postmanhappenedtobeoneofKoresh'sbrother-in-lawsandwordgotbacktohim,givinghim
plentyoftimetoprepareanapocalypticscenariofortheBATFandFBI'sarrival.(Long,39-40)
Astheeventualstandoffprogressed,Koresh'sprophesiesabouttheendoftheworldwere
becomingarealityintheeyesofhisfollowers."Theworld,itseemed,reallywasruledby
Antichrist.ThefinalbattlewithBabylonwasathandand,giventheglobalmediacoveragethe
eventreceived,itmusthaveseemedthatKoreshwaswhatheproclaimedhimselftobe:themost
importantpersonintheworld."(Daniels,135-136)Byunintentionallyfulfillinghisprophesies,
theBATFandFBIfurtherentrenchedthegroup'sbeliefthatKoreshwastheMessiahandthatthe
endoftheworldhadindeedarrived.Thisassurancewasallthemajorityofmembersneededto
takeuparmsagainsttheenemy,anddefendtheirleaderevenindeath.FortheBranch
Davidians,theircrisiswasexternallyprecipitated.ThefailureoftheBATFandFBIofficersto
acknowledgeDavidKoreshasareligiousfanaticinsteadofastreet-wisethugultimately
transformedthisconfrontationintoanapocalypticevent.(Long,45)
ForHeaven'sGate,ontheotherhand,theircrisiswasinternallyprecipitated.In1995,Ti
diedoflivercancerandtheideaofphysicalascensiondiedwithher.SinceTinolongerhasa
physicalbodyinwhichtocarryheruptotheNextLevel,thegroupwasforcedtore-evaluate
theirreligiousbeliefs.EitherTiwasn'tgoingtotheNextLevel,whichwascompletely
unacceptabletomostofthegroup,oraphysicalbodywasn'tneededforascension.Ultimately,
DodecidedthatitwasthesoulwhichprogressedtotheNextLevel,notthebody.(Bromleyand
Melton,217-219)
Inamemoentitled"CrewFromtheEvolutionaryLevelAboveHumanOffers–Last
ChancetoAdvanceBeyondHuman",themembersofHeaven'sGaterevealtheintricaciesofthis
newapocalypticinterpretation.Humansarethe"steppingstone"betweentheanimalkingdom
andtheNextLevelortrueKingdomofGod.Whenananimalislovedbyahumanfamily,that
familyprovideshimwithahumanvesselintheformofaninfantforhissoultoascendinto.
However,theyclearlypointoutthatnotallhumansarethevehiclesforanimalsouls.Sometimes
theyaresimplythevehicleforNextLevelsoulsreturningtotheearthforonereasonoranother.
Atappropriatetimesthroughouthistory,NextLevelguidesaresenttoearthtoleadthechosen
humanstoagreaterunderstandingoftheirultimatedestiny.Ifthesehumansdiligentlyfollow
theguide’sinstructionsandarewillingtoletgoofhis/herhumanity,anewbodywillbecreated
intheNextLevelfortheirsoultoascendintoto.Attheendoftime,allcorruptsoulswill
initiateaself-destructsequence.(Daniels,212-214)Byrelinquishingtheneedforaphysical
body,groupsuicidebecameanapocalypticpossibility.
Yet,theideaofgroupsuicideremainedrelativelyundiscusseduntilthelate1990swhena
seriesofpersonaltragediesforcedthemtofulfilltheirapocalypticpredictionsthroughritual
suicide.OnNovember15,1996,apictureoftheHaleyBoppcometwaspostedontheInternet
alongwiththecaption"Flash!!!ThisPictureJustIn!!!WhatonearthcouldthatSaturnlike
imagebetotherightofthecomet?"(Daniels,200)Accordingtotheownerofthepage,Chuck
Shramek,theobjectwasaverifiableUFOfour-timesthesizeofEarth.Thisimagegenerateda
mediawhirlwindandspawnedanumberofapocalypticprophesies.(Daniels,200-204)And
althoughitwasproventobeahoax,Heaven'sGatetookitasasuresignthattheendwasnear.
ThearrivalofthisUFOcombinedwithDo'sfailinghealthandthelackofnewrecruitsprompted
thegrouptofinalizetheirsuicideplans.(BromleyandMelton,220-223)
HaleyBoppbecamethe"marker"bywhichtheysettheirdeparturetime.(Daniels,212)
OnMarch23,1997,theHeaven'sGatesuicidesbeganwiththesametypeofroutinizationthat
characterizedtheirliveshereonearth.Itwasonlyfittingthattheirdeathsmirroredtheirlives.
Thesuicideswerespreadoutoverathree-dayperiodwithonegroup"ascendingtotheNext
Level"eachday.Theremainingmemberswereinchargeofstraighteningupafterwardsto
ensureuniformityofthe"graduationceremony".Onthefinalday,threestudentsstayedbehind
toassistDoinhisascentbeforeundergoingtheirown.(BromleyandMelton,224)Amixtureof
barbituratesandalcoholwasusedtoknockthemoutbeforeultimatelycommittingsuicideby
suffocation.Aroundeachmember'sheadwasaplasticbagsecuredattheneckwitharubber
band.Theywereeachdressedinablackuniformandcoveredwithapurpleshroud.Ontheir
shoulders’restedacolorfulpatchwiththewords"Heaven'sGateAwayTeam"andnexttoeach
bedwasatravelbag."(BromleyandMelton,209)
Whileitissociety'sbeliefthatthesethirty-ninemenandwomenwerebrainwashedinto
committingritualizedsuicide,itclearlyisn'tthisgroup'sownbelief.Anothercharacteristic
featureofapocalypticgroupsisthe"inversionofeverydaylogic".Accordingtothemembersof
Heaven'sGate,itistherestofsocietythathasbeenbrainwashedbySatanintorejectingthetruth
offeredbyDoratherthanacceptingit.Itisalsotherestofsocietythatultimatelycommitted
suicidebyturningtheirbacksontheNextLevelwhenitwasbeingofferedtothem.(Daniels,
211)Fromstatementslikethese,theall-encompassingnatureoftheirworldviewbecomes
obvious.Clearly,everythingintheirliferevolvedaroundtheirextremeapocalypticbeliefs.
Certainly,theclimaticendofboththeBranchDavidiansandHeaven'sGatewastragic
anddidn'tdeservetohappen.However,neitheronewastheresultofbrainwashingorextensive
manipulation.Instead,theyweretheresultofnormalhumanfascinationwiththeendoftime
beingmoldedthroughaseriesofpersonalandsocialcircumstancesintoanapocalypticsect.
Time'scombinationlockplacedtherightsetofvariablestogetherattherighttimes,allowing
studentstofindcharismaticleaderswhothroughtheirdivinely-inspiredauthoritywereableto
facilitatepluralisticignoranceandsocialimplosioncreatingatight-knitcohesivecommunitythat
waswillingtosacrificethemselvesforthesakeoftheirbeliefsintimesofcrisis.Inessence,
apocalypticgroupsareasociallyconstructedphenomenonratherthantheproductofoneman's
deviantcreation.
WorksCited
Bromley,DavidG.andJ.GordonMelton,eds.Cults,Religion&Violence.NewYork:
CambridgeUniversityPress,2002.
Daniels,Ted,ed.DoomsdayReader:Prophets,Predictors,andHuckstersofSalvation.
NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress,1999.
Long,RobertEmmet,ed.ReligiousCultsinAmerica.NewYork:H.W.Wilson
Company,1994.
Zellner,WilliamW.andMarcPetrowsky.Sects,Cults,andSpiritualCommunities:A
SociologicalAnalysis.Westport,Connecticut:Praeger,1998.
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