Our Presentation...

Personally, I think our presentation went quite well, particularly as we hadn't rehearsed it in full many times. We played a short video beforehand, during the break, to give the group a brief idea on what Heaven's Gate was about.

The presentation seemed to last for the length of time required, and I think we covered all the points needed in the criteria. There is not a great deal of information available for Heaven's Gatem because not only were they quite a small group, they are no longer in existence, and there's not much published literature on the group. Therefore, we tried to cover as much ground as possible with not a great deal of information, unlike groups like Jonestown.

I think once we had finished our presentation, most people watching were rather confused about Heaven's Gate, as were we until we studied it in depth. Before taking this module, I had heard of a few of the NRMs we studied, but I had never heard of Heaven's Gate before, despite the fact that their suicide only occurred 10 years ago. We chose this group as they were rather unusual, believing in UFOlogy, and we wanted to gain a greater understanding of why they all ended theirs lives in order to ascend to TELAH. Only one question was asked by the audience, and that was by George.

I have enjoyed this module, for it has opened my eyes to groups that exist around us, that often, the world and the media only become aware of when mass deaths have occurred, and then it's too late. I've been shocked by what people will believe once a charismatic believer has instilled ideas into them, and most of these groups will cut all ties with family and friends, and give all their material possessions to the group's leader. Whether it's a case of members being "brainwashed" or actually believing in their group's prophesy we will never know, but I think that initially, these NRMs offer a way of life that is idealistic to certain people,and once they are enticed into the group, they rarely leave, for their way of life becomes controlled by other individuals, often to the extent that they will end their own lives in the name of their religious beliefs.

Claire Lloyd.

0622669.