Cults Part3: Killing in the Name of...(part 1)
April 25th 2008 05:26
Cults Part3: Killing in the Name of...(part 1)
Killing is almost universally condemned unless in circumstances of self defence. War may seem like the exception but it is often versed in the language of self defence and even armies these days are described as defence forces. Killing that is obviously not self defence is seen as repulsive and yet it goes on in epidemic proportions. How is that we can find perfectly ordinary people involve in the absolutely extraordinary level of human degradation? How is that we can find people with highest of ideals, motives and piety transforming themselves into monsters without the slightest empathy for their victims?
In looking at this subject I decided to take a broader look than to just focus upon the ceremonial oddities of a few cults. There is an argument that terrorists can also be seen as versions of destructive cults and even mass killing armies in a similar vein. I will deal with this in detail another post but for now it is easier to look at why people murder in the name of cause rather than argue over who does it more often.
Mass Suicide
Mass suicide is has had a long history and is in the case of the Masada (first century AD) the mass suicide of 936 people was a response to siege by the Romans. When the Romans breached the wall of the fortress they found everyone dead either by suicide or murder rather than face capture or slavery. This single act has been pawed over by historians and used both as propaganda and as an example a fanaticism. The objective of the act was to rob the Romans of victory and to make a statement that would be heard back in Rome.
It is the statement of greatness and power that seems to dominate mass suicide. Jim Jones created Jonestown where 900 people died in mass murder suicide was another example of desperation turning into a statement. Jim Jones’ cult of the Peoples Temple was being investigated by US congressman Leo Ryan when something went terribly wrong with his white wash PR tour. A few people came forward to report abuse to Ryan and within a short period of time the murder suicide plot was hatched. Those who tried to escape were shot and others were made drink poisoned with Valium Chloral Hydrate and Cyanide, 70 of the victims examined had needle marks and cyanide in the blood stream. A tape recording made at that time has an argument between Jim Jones and another person who disagreed with the suicide. Eventually the person gave up after being shouted down by the crowd. The only survivors were those that escaped to the jungle or pretended that they were dead.
The Heaven’s Gate Cult was based upon UFO’s and promised to take people away in the spaceship. Some of the male members voluntarily underwent castration in order to prepare for their genderless life on a spaceship that trailed behind the comet called Hale-Bopp. 39 people committed suicide by mixing the sedative Phenobarbital with vodka then covering their heads with plastic bags. The bodies were discovered all dressed in black jumpsuits with white Nike’s and short cropped hair. There bags were packed as if in preparation for a journey and many had a $5 note in their pockets.
The Solar Temple also left 74 people dead in murder suicides. They follow some rituals of the Ancient Templers.
The Movement for the Restoration of the 10 Commandments left 750 dead in Uganda. The suicides apparently took place in a party atmosphere where crates of poison drinks were consumed.
The commonality in these groups is not the fact that they were religious rather that was the least common thing about them. Heaven’s Gate was a UFO cults and the other, Jim Jones a Biblical preacher, the Solar Temple were copying rituals of the Masonic Lodges and the Movement for Restoration of the 10 Commandments was a cult that had split from the Roman Catholic Church. On the surface their motive also seems very different. Jonestown occurred after Jim Jones realised that his empire was under threat and so he reacted by trying send a message to the world. The Movement and the Solar Temple were concerned with an impending disaster or apocalypse. Heaven’s Gate was using suicide as a passage to evolution. Yet there is a common point in each of these and that is one of suicide being permissible for extraordinary reasons.
The link between Masada and Jonestown is one that is made in the minds of the cult’s leaders. In the case of the Heaven’s Gate Cult they did refer to the Masada in there writings. The sense of the escape from terrible persecution or the escape to a better world can seem like the same objective. The answer to both problems is offered by the destructive cults in the form of self execution.
We may think that such groups are so removed from mainstream think that they do seem alien but are they? When people invoke call for suicide to escape the torments of life perhaps they are in some small way agreeing with the suicide cult mentality. And if faced with a threat, or a deception that make life seem unbearable to the mass population how long would it take for there to be a call for mass suicide?
And when the spaceship comes we will all be happy.
Killing is almost universally condemned unless in circumstances of self defence. War may seem like the exception but it is often versed in the language of self defence and even armies these days are described as defence forces. Killing that is obviously not self defence is seen as repulsive and yet it goes on in epidemic proportions. How is that we can find perfectly ordinary people involve in the absolutely extraordinary level of human degradation? How is that we can find people with highest of ideals, motives and piety transforming themselves into monsters without the slightest empathy for their victims?
In looking at this subject I decided to take a broader look than to just focus upon the ceremonial oddities of a few cults. There is an argument that terrorists can also be seen as versions of destructive cults and even mass killing armies in a similar vein. I will deal with this in detail another post but for now it is easier to look at why people murder in the name of cause rather than argue over who does it more often.
Mass Suicide
Mass suicide is has had a long history and is in the case of the Masada (first century AD) the mass suicide of 936 people was a response to siege by the Romans. When the Romans breached the wall of the fortress they found everyone dead either by suicide or murder rather than face capture or slavery. This single act has been pawed over by historians and used both as propaganda and as an example a fanaticism. The objective of the act was to rob the Romans of victory and to make a statement that would be heard back in Rome.
Jonestown - 900 dead.
It is the statement of greatness and power that seems to dominate mass suicide. Jim Jones created Jonestown where 900 people died in mass murder suicide was another example of desperation turning into a statement. Jim Jones’ cult of the Peoples Temple was being investigated by US congressman Leo Ryan when something went terribly wrong with his white wash PR tour. A few people came forward to report abuse to Ryan and within a short period of time the murder suicide plot was hatched. Those who tried to escape were shot and others were made drink poisoned with Valium Chloral Hydrate and Cyanide, 70 of the victims examined had needle marks and cyanide in the blood stream. A tape recording made at that time has an argument between Jim Jones and another person who disagreed with the suicide. Eventually the person gave up after being shouted down by the crowd. The only survivors were those that escaped to the jungle or pretended that they were dead.
The Heaven’s Gate Cult was based upon UFO’s and promised to take people away in the spaceship. Some of the male members voluntarily underwent castration in order to prepare for their genderless life on a spaceship that trailed behind the comet called Hale-Bopp. 39 people committed suicide by mixing the sedative Phenobarbital with vodka then covering their heads with plastic bags. The bodies were discovered all dressed in black jumpsuits with white Nike’s and short cropped hair. There bags were packed as if in preparation for a journey and many had a $5 note in their pockets.
The Solar Temple also left 74 people dead in murder suicides. They follow some rituals of the Ancient Templers.
The Movement for the Restoration of the 10 Commandments left 750 dead in Uganda. The suicides apparently took place in a party atmosphere where crates of poison drinks were consumed.
The commonality in these groups is not the fact that they were religious rather that was the least common thing about them. Heaven’s Gate was a UFO cults and the other, Jim Jones a Biblical preacher, the Solar Temple were copying rituals of the Masonic Lodges and the Movement for Restoration of the 10 Commandments was a cult that had split from the Roman Catholic Church. On the surface their motive also seems very different. Jonestown occurred after Jim Jones realised that his empire was under threat and so he reacted by trying send a message to the world. The Movement and the Solar Temple were concerned with an impending disaster or apocalypse. Heaven’s Gate was using suicide as a passage to evolution. Yet there is a common point in each of these and that is one of suicide being permissible for extraordinary reasons.
The link between Masada and Jonestown is one that is made in the minds of the cult’s leaders. In the case of the Heaven’s Gate Cult they did refer to the Masada in there writings. The sense of the escape from terrible persecution or the escape to a better world can seem like the same objective. The answer to both problems is offered by the destructive cults in the form of self execution.
We may think that such groups are so removed from mainstream think that they do seem alien but are they? When people invoke call for suicide to escape the torments of life perhaps they are in some small way agreeing with the suicide cult mentality. And if faced with a threat, or a deception that make life seem unbearable to the mass population how long would it take for there to be a call for mass suicide?
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
These 'cult leaders' are consumate psychopaths, who weave their spells into the heads of the naive and impressionable people, those of little ego looking for anything to give them a sense of meaning, of hope, who all fly like unsuspecting moths into the psychopath's flame.
However, it is equally abhorrent that nations, while correctly accusing, lambasting and taking economic and military action against some nations, that transgress human rights, also silently sit by, or at best murmur a demur, about other equally despicable but 'favoured' nations that commit atrocities which come close to equalling the Nazi regime in the height of its madness.
We in the West are collectively, because of omission of protest and action, complicitous to the suffering, being caused right now across the world, and by our fellow Commonwealth 'brothers', and other allies.
Much of our involvement, in past major campaigns, we can justly stand up for and be proud of, like Gallipoli and especially Aussie action at Villers Bretonneux, which was successful.
However, not everyone evaluates us by our illustrious war past, but by our more recent and current deeds, or lack of them.
Just ask the people of the Middle East for their perspective on our glorious war traditions, compared to how we have treated them over the past 90 years.
In their eyes, when we speak grandly and proudly on this day ANZAC Day, they could not be blamed for thinking we are but simple hypocrits and bigots, one and all.
It makes me feel ashamed to be a Westerner.
cheers
fog
cheers
fog
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
There is a lot in what you have to say and perhaps I cannot respond to everything satisfactorily.
However I am not ashamed to be a Westerner any more than my is ashamed to be a non-Westerner.
Destructive cults do have many of the echoes of a badly run society or self serving political leaders.
I have planned to cover terrorists in another part of "Killing in the Name of..." Sometimes we can see many of the same traits of narcism in many corrupt groups.
Regards
Damo
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Sleezer's World
Raven
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
I must have said too much.
However there will be another part for 'Killing in the Name of...'
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Just how massive a suicide are we talking here, Damo? An entire community? City? State/Province? Nation?
It wouldn't work, you know. Not even in feudal Japan, where at least most of the people were on the same page. People can't even agree on who gets to park where, let alone all killing themselves at once...that's the best and worst of human nature. Even the above-mentioned brainwashed cult members had those among them who refused (or tried to refuse) mass suicide. Hence the shootings.
I seem to recall that Congressman Ryan was investigating the Jonestown cult at the repeated urging of a group of concerned parents of cult members, I also recall reading that Congressman Ryan himself was shot, along with a few cult members he had agreed to take out with him, on the airport tarmac as they were leaving.
This is an interesting premise. Do continue, please.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
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Sleezer's World
But, I see the same finality in the approach of Jihad taken by Islamic extremists now. Instead of kool-aid they're drinking in the poisonous spiel and rhetoric of self serving mullahs and strapping on bombs; when the real war isn't with the "evil kafir's" but with evil hearted men, including Muslims.
Gang and mob mentality isn't all that much different either.
Raven
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I think you are referring to the last line in my post.
Is that correct?
I wrote it as an open question for the reader to decide themselves. So expected there to be a variety of views.
If you have seen 'On the Beach' you may know what I mean.
Or could it be phrased as mass voluntary euthanasia?
Just an ironic question mind you.
Raven
Unique but not unthinkable.
Some terrorist groups call suicide attacks as 'Giving your life for the cause' rather than killing yourself.
The herd mentality or the heroic mentality can both be exploited in the hand of a clever leader.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Sleezer's World