[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:
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