Information On "Higher Source"

The New Cult Awareness Network (Bought by Scientologist) Recommends 'Experts' Regarding 'Heaven's Gate' Suicide; List Includes Gordon Melton

The "New" Cult Awareness Network, March 27, 1997

[Note: WARNING! The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was recently bankrupted and bought up by Scientology. We strongly recommend you do not contact them for assistance.]

Information gathered by CAN indicates that the originators of the “Higher Source” group were Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Trousdale Nettles respectively a psychiatric patient and a psychiatric nurse. The group was established in 1975 under the name of “The Total Overcomers.”

CAN is urging investigation into the presence of drugs at the Rancho Sante Fe mansion of the Higher Source and the pychiatric backgrounds of the group. Of interest is that psychiatric drugs were also found in large quantities at Jonestown and drugs were manufactured by and administered to members of the Japanese-based Aum Supreme Truth.

Mass suicide has repeatedly been found to be rooted in a bible-based apocalyptic view of the world. This view holds that one can reach an afterlife, a heaven or a paradise-like location, and they believe suicide is a shortcut to attain this eternal life. “Mix extreme apocalyptic views with use of psychiatric drugs, and you have a cocktail for disaster,” said CAN president Isadore Chait.

CAN urges that the investigation into the suicides include:

1. What drugs were present in the mansion and what drugs were being taken by the deceased.

    

2. Who prescribed them.

    

3. Whether the leader took psychiatric or other drugs and urged them on others.

    

4. Whether psychiatric treatments were delivered to the leaders or members of the group.

   CAN is continuing its own investigation into the background of the leaders of the group and will keep the media informed. In the meantime, CAN warns that the mass media beware of fanatical anti-religious statements being made, painting all religions or groups with the same brush stroke and creating further hysteria.

   Experts who are well schooled in religion and sociology must be relied on for statements and comments.

   Such experts include:

   Dr. George Robertson:
   Chairman of the Cult Awareness Network
   Vice President Maryland Bible College
   (410)488-2606

   Dr. J. Gordon Melton:
   Executive Director
   Institute for the Study of American Religions
   University of California, Santa Barbara
   (805)961-0141
   
   Dr. Jim Richardson:
   Center for Justice Studies
   University of Nevada-Reno
   (702)784-6270

   Dr. Newton Maloney:
   Professor of Psychology
   Fuller Theological Seminary
   (818)584-5200
   
   Barry Fisher:
   Religious Liberty attorney
   (310)557-1077

   Dr. John Saliba:
   Professor of Religious Studies
   University of Detroit
   (313)993-1687
   (313)993-1653 (FAX)

   Don Sills:
   President World Council on Religious Liberty
   (801)734-1230

   William Bainbridge:
   National Science Foundation
   Sociology Dept
   (703)306-1756
   To see strange Web site by William Bainbridge click here

   Nancy Ross:
   Religious liberty attorney
   Ross & Green - Washington DC
   (202)638-4858
   (202)265-4886

   Dr. James E. Woods:
   Professor of Church/State Studies
   Baylor University
   (817)755-1510
   (817)753-4691

   Oliver Thomas:
   Counsellor on Religious Liberty
   National Council of Churches
   (423)977-9046

   Dr. Lonnie Kliever:
   Chairman
   Dept of Religious Studies
   Southern Methodist University
   Dallas
   (214)768-2102

   Barry Lynn:
   Executive Director
   Americans United for the
   Separation of Church & State
   (202)466-3234

   Brent Walker:
   General Counsel
   Baptist Joint Committee
   on Public Affairs
   (202)544-4226

    

    

    

   
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