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Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

thebodyintl.com

111–120 of 136 posts

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#111
post #13

The article makes it look like the existence of this cult is an extremely widely-known fact and thus it doesn't need much introduction. But I only learned about it after clicking this link. It weirds me out that some people are so amenable to this kind of thing, enough to kill themselves.

There are many human weaknesses, the desire for meaning in life leads some people to be susceptible to this kind of thing both causing it and falling victim to it.

The meaning of life is that which is assigned by the one living it. Liberating once you realize that no one has any answers for you. Like He-Man said, "I have the power."

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#113
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your ICQ number is lower than mine by a little bit, jealous.

My ICQ is even lower (1508789) but I envy his old skool website.

1303789 (the wierdest flex).

It's wild that that number is wedged so deeply into my brain, like a lot of things that were on my mind as a teenager. Makes me want to make sure my kids are doing something worthwhile when they're that age (which I know is futile of course).

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#114
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did… did you email them? Why? What did they say back?

On a semi related note, Ted Kaczynski is still alive and was responding to letters as of November. He got moved to a medical prison last month so I'm not sure how well he's doing, but it is utterly fascinating to be able to correspond with people who are both intelligent and insane.

Ted is insane?

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#115
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No? Again, I'm non-US.

Also read about Waco, if you’re into this sort of thing: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_siege

That's quite a bit more complicated than just another suicide cult. From your link:

> Increasingly aggressive techniques were used to try to force the Branch Davidians out. For instance, sleep deprivation of the inhabitants through all-night broadcasts of recordings of jet planes, pop music, chanting, and the screams of rabbits being slaughtered. Outside the compound, nine Bradley Fighting Vehicles carrying M651 CS tear gas grenades and Ferret rounds and five M728 Combat Engineer Vehicles obtained from the U.S. Army began patrolling. The armored vehicles were used to destroy perimeter fencing and outbuildings and crush cars belonging to the Branch Davidians. Armored vehicles repeatedly drove over the grave of Branch Davidian Peter Gent despite protests by the Branch Davidians and the negotiators.

...

> Criticism was later leveled by Schneider's attorney, Jack Zimmerman, at the tactic of using sleep-and-peace-disrupting sound against the Branch Davidians: "The point was this—they were trying to have sleep disturbance and they were trying to take someone that they viewed as unstable to start with, and they were trying to drive him crazy. And then they got mad 'cos he does something that they think is irrational!"

...

> At around noon, three fires broke out almost simultaneously in different parts of the building and spread quickly; footage of the blaze was broadcast live by television crews. The government maintains the fires were deliberately started by the Branch Davidians. Some Branch Davidian survivors maintain that the fires were accidentally or deliberately started by the assault.

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an atheist Heaven's Gate claims are as legitimate (and outlandish) as those of Christians or Buddhists, whose to say they aren't reborn on an alien planet? So let's call it "assumed perished".

Catholicism strictly forbids suicide, I grew up being taught you could go to hell if you commit suicide. I assume it is similar for the other mainstream branches of Christianity. I'm no longer religious, and I understand where you are coming from questioning what ought to qualify as a cult versus a religion, because there are some cases where the difference isn't too clear (besides membership numbers). But any belief…

> But any belief system that is actively encouraging suicide has clearly crossed a line.

Does "handle these venomous snakes, God will protect you" count?

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#117
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I witnessed two police and retired police shootings in California. I also knew the 16 year old that axe murdered his entire family in vista, ca. I chose to leave the state, and now the worst I see is a dead deer 3 times a year. Chances are something unsettling has happened within 500' of you, some time in history. Don't let that weigh you down, in thoughts or body.

>Chances are something unsettling has happened within 500' of you, some time in history. Meanwhile in Europe…

> Chances are something unsettling has happened within 150m of you, some time in history.

Better?

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Catholicism strictly forbids suicide, I grew up being taught you could go to hell if you commit suicide. I assume it is similar for the other mainstream branches of Christianity. I'm no longer religious, and I understand where you are coming from questioning what ought to qualify as a cult versus a religion, because there are some cases where the difference isn't too clear (besides membership numbers). But any belief…

> But any belief system that is actively encouraging suicide has clearly crossed a line. Does "handle these venomous snakes, God will protect you" count?

"Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death". So not quite, but I see your point. Thanks for the laugh (sincerely).

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you were a teen or older when it happened, and lived in the US, it was pretty big news. I can still reach my cousin-in-law on an AOL email named after the comet mixed with his last name. Yes, it was cathartic to type this out and hit post.

I was 19 and watched absolutely zero cable or network news in 1997. I have been learning of events from that time that I had no idea occurred or where on the news. I had a life, and therefore no time to watch anything. Sort of like these days. I watch PBS News Hour a few times a week to keep up. Even that's a chore.

> I had a life, and therefore no time to watch anything.

Great! And good for you trying to stay informed despite a different definition of what constitutes a fulfilling life. Some of us enjoyed following news more closely, even during our teenage years.

Re: Left Alive And Unchanged: The Heaven’s Gate Website

#120
post #28

An interesting detail is on the bottom of the webpage ( https://www.heavensgate.com/ ) they have this hidden text (perhaps an old SEO hack?): >Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate Heaven's Gate ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo ufo space alien space alien space alien space alien space alien space alien space alien space alien space alien space ali…

Ah the craigslist "vehicle for sale" technique
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