I was surprised to learn that 39 members of Heavens Gate commited suicide just for the beliefs of Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. The beliefs of Applewhite and Nettles to me were a bit bizarre as they both believed that there was an Evolutionary Level Above Humans (TELAH) and that there was a spaceship behind the Hale-Bopp comet. If i was a member and was told this i would find it hard to believe as there is no real scientific evidence except amateur sightings to prove that UFOs or spaceships exist.
I was also informed in the lecture that the group members had to accept that Nettles and Applewhite were the "Two Witnesses" as mentioned in Revalations 11. This is hard for me to believe as you can't just say you are the "Two Witnesses" without being told by God. Nettles, however; did claim that she had visions of the Virgin Mary but just to be told this as member for me is still not enough to justifie me commiting suicide.
When looking at Heavens Gate it is clear to me that it was individual deviance rather than group deviance. I think it is individual deviance as Applewhite was claimed to have been admitted to a hospital with mental problems (which incidentally was where he met Nettles) which shows that he was not of sound mind when he convinced 38 members and himself to commit suicide.
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Daniel Lloyd 0600618
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