Heaven's Gate

I mentioned in the lecture on 'Heaven's Gate' that I thought this particular New Religious Movement (NRM) was not particularly succesful in regards to the number of people who joined this NRM, particularly when you consider the numerous attempts to recruit people. For example in 1975 130 meetings were organised in the USA and Canada. The group was established for over 20 years when the suicides occured in 1997 there were 39 people who attempted the suicide (two actually survived - not happy that they were resucitated).

The other factors regarding this NRM and others studied in the It Shouldn't be allowed lectures is that there are some interesting minor similarities. Both David Koresh and Marshall Applewhite were dismissed as lecturers from Universities. The reasons given for their dismissal are different but the reasons given are not definitive but rather the reasons given are based on assumptions.

I think that the comments made in the book 'Exploring New Religions' by George Chryssides in regards to the influence of films such as "E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "the first landing on the moon" is very valid. There were also weekly television programmes such as Star Trek.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MYZD7Y-PDEk

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=o1V4vDMHVQc&feature=related

And finally a comedic view for light relief.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=o1V4vDMHVQc&feature=related