Heaven's Gate (ritual, Darwin, paradise, followers, experience)

[exit_and_how]

qoting Wikipedia:

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"The Heaven's Gate group achieved notoriety in 1997 when one of its founders convinced 38 followers to commit mass suicide. Members reportedly believed themselves to be aliens, awaiting a spaceship that would arrive with Comet Hale-Bopp. The suicide was undertaken in the apparent belief that their souls would be transported onto the spaceship, which they thought was hiding behind the comet. They underwent elaborate preparations for their trip; for a time, group members lived in a darkened house where they would simulate the experience they expected to have during their long journey in outer space. Heaven's Gate surfaced again in 2006 with another group of converts entitled "Heaven's Gate: The New Generation"."
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Does anyone know anything about The New Generation?
Were these the people who got left behind?

[Runt]

I hate to say it, but if you're crazy enough to believe that aliens hanging out in the tail of a comet are going to lift you off of this planet and take you away to paradise if you kill yourself, then be my guest. Go, drink that cyanide!

That being said... in response to your question, I'm fairly certain that everyone in the original Heaven's Gate died. And it doesn't surprise me overly much that there is a new group willing to follow in their footsteps; we human beings seem to be slow to learn from our mistakes, and there are always more idiots out there just waiting to earn Darwin Awards.

[exit_and_how]

Rant, you knew these people personally then?

and i think it was not cyanide because the Wiki article says:

"In preparing to kill themselves, members of the cult drank citrus juices to ritually cleanse their bodies of impurities. The suicide was accomplished by ingestion of phenobarbital mixed with vodka, along with plastic bags secured around their heads to induce asphyxiation."

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by exit_and_how

Rant, you knew these people personally then?

and i think it was not cyanide because the Wiki article says:

"In preparing to kill themselves, members of the cult drank citrus juices to ritually cleanse their bodies of impurities. The suicide was accomplished by ingestion of phenobarbital mixed with vodka, along with plastic bags secured around their heads to induce asphyxiation."

Perhaps Runt was getting these guys mixed up with the Jim Jones group. They were the ones who drank cyanide.

[Runt]

You're right, I was mixing them up with the Jim Jones group.

Still though... if you want to kill yourself for some stupid reason like ALIENS ON THE TAIL OF A COMET, then bye-bye. As long as you don't take anyone unwilling with you, I don't particularly care. Humanity is probably better off.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Runt

You're right, I was mixing them up with the Jim Jones group.

Still though... if you want to kill yourself for some stupid reason like ALIENS ON THE TAIL OF A COMET, then bye-bye. As long as you don't take anyone unwilling with you, I don't particularly care. Humanity is probably better off.

You're laughing now, but you just wait... The truth will come out soon enough.

[Runt]

Originally Posted by jonny

You're laughing now, but you just wait... The truth will come out soon enough.

Yeah... if there really ARE aliens on a comet and they're going to sell me some spiritual Truth, I probably WILL drink the koolaid with cyanide or put a bag over my head and die...

[exit_and_how]

if you were taught to respect other's beliefs, perhaps this case is a test for you - perhaps this group is beyond reason or perhaps it surpasses your ability to respect beliefs. Afterall, dying is no easy thing i'm told.

what was interesting to me was the mention of the "New Generation" and the fact that the article's neutrality has been disputed (by someone but i don't know who). it would be interesting to talk to one of these folks...

(and maybe there will be a new koolaid for the new generation - still enough time for the religious authorities to do something about it...JJ )

[Runt]

Originally Posted by exit_and_how

if you were taught to respect other's beliefs, perhaps this case is a test for you - perhaps this group is beyond reason or perhaps it surpasses your ability to respect beliefs. Afterall, dying is no easy thing i'm told.

I'm a fairly tolerant person, but there is a limit to how far even I will extend respect for others' beliefs. I have respect for the idea that there might be aliens behind a comet, and that they might take you off to some variety of spiritual paradise. I don't believe it, I find it a little hard to believe that others might believe it, but hey, I respect it. I do not, however, have respect for beliefs that promote suicide. Heaven's Gate was a death cult. There is nothing to respect about killing yourself.

Perhaps the New Generation is different. Perhaps they seek to promote a healthier spirituality. But wouldn't it be better not to associate your new faith with a group of people who committed mass suicide?

Also... apparently (according to the Religious Tolerance website) there were at least a couple surviving members, who have been continuing to "spread the message". Perhaps they are the New Generation of which you speak?

[exit_and_how]

would like to simply know how sincere these people are and how much they would stand up and fight for their beliefs if it came to that.

seem like intelligent folk to me - someone had to know about
phenobarbitol.

would also like to know if all the members had major family problems or were their upbringings just like everyone else?