EXPLORING PERSUASION IN l HE RHETORIC

OF THE HEAVEN'S GATE CULT

by

HALEY D. DRAPER, B.A.

A THESIS

IN

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfdlment of the Requirements for the Degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

Approved

Accepted

August 2001 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to first thank my mother and friend, Anita Lee Draper. She not only brought me into this world, but has also been a pillar of strength for me throughout my life. Her courage, wisdom, and sense of humor have helped me survive graduate school and writing a thesis. Thank you, mom, I love you more every day.

My stepfather, "Howdy" Dean Geurin, has been very loving and supportive of me, even before I really deserved it. He has consistently provided the encouragement and approval I needed from a father figure. His devotion and patience went above and beyond my expectations. Thanks, Howdy, for doing everything you didn't have to do.

Jeff R, Anthony has shown me what it really means to be loved in a romantic relationship. His amazing faith in me was a source of bravery to enter and complete graduate school. I would have been lost with out his belief in my abilities. Thank you,

Jeff, for believing in me before I could believe in myself

Next, I want to thank Dr. Bolanle A. Olaniran, my thesis chairperson. He has taught me much of what I know about communication during both my undergraduate and graduate experience at Texas Tech University. Although his classroom instruction is excellent, he is even more skilled at teaching life's lessons. He has a keen understanding of what it means to be human and has helped me to grow in many ways. Thank you. Dr.

Olaniran, I am a better student and person for having known you.

Dr. Patrick Hughes has greatly contributed to the success of completing this research. His skills and abilities were really appreciated. He is a gifted professor who

11 treats every student as rare, unique individuals. I have had the benefit of his guidance

and suggestions through out the writing process. All of his help and input made this thesis possible for me. Thank you, Dr. Hughes, may the best still be yet to come for you

and your family.

Dean Robert Stewart helped to shape this thesis. His uncompromising ethics and

genuine regard for the research process have manifested themselves (hopefully) in the

following pages. I have been impressed by Dr. Stewart's teaching, honesty, and insight.

He is among the finest faculty that I have had the pleasure to work with and leam from

over the years. I truly thank you. Dean Stewart, for all your effort and energy.

I want to thank Dr. David Roach for all his enthusiasm and kind words. He

always took time for me, regardless of the situation. As an undergraduate in his Business

and Professional Communication course he really challenged me to leam. As a graduate

teaching assistant, he challenged me as a student and a teacher. Striving to reach his high

standards has improved my own. Thanks, Dr. Roach, for your warmth and compassion.

Allow me to humbly thank Leta Hamilton and Deborah Simpson. Without their

help and support I could have never made it through the past year. Thanks to each of my

graduate professors in the Communication Studies Department. They have all had an

impact on my life and my education. Thesis Coordinator Extraordinaire, Barbi

Dickensheet, also deserves thanks for her time in revising and editing this paper.

Finally, this thesis is dedicated to the loving memory of my father, Glenn Thomas

Draper, and my grandmother, Melba Frances Draper.

Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION 1

Rationale 1

Definitions 3

Cultic Organizations 4

People's Temple 6

Movement for the Restoration 8

Branch Davidian 10

Order of the Solar Temple 11

Heaven's Gate 12

II. LITERATURE REVIEW 14

The Group Process 14

Persuasive Forces 17

Comphance Gaining 22

Symbolic Convergence 23

Fantasy Themes 25

Concertive Control 27

III. METHODOLOGY 30

IV IV. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 31

The Saga 31

Fantasy Chains 32

Metaphors and Similes 33

Doomsday 35

Christian References 35

Us Versus Them 36

Rhetorical Vision 38

V. CONCLUSION 39

Discussion 39

Limitations 40

Future Research 41

REFERENCES 42

APPENDIX 47

A. DO'S INTRO: PURPOSE - BELIEF... 47

B. OVERVIEW OF PRESENT MISSION... 51

C. CREW FROM THE EVOLUTIONARY LEVEL... 55

D. '95 STATEMENT BY AN E.T.... 61

E. INCARNATING AND DISCARNATING... 67

F. EARTH EXIT STATEMENT 75

G. OUR POSITION AGAINST SUICIDE 78

H. ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR LEARNING... 80

V CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Suicide cults or "doomsday" cults have been associated with thousands of deaths

across racial and global borders (Galanter, 1989). Unfortunately, these cults often have

the characteristics of many other faith-based organizations. For instance, they operate in

groups (usually with a leader), use persuasion to gain a following, and their members

seem to adhere to a common rhetorical vision. This paper explores how these factors

negotiate the reality co-constructed among cult members. This investigation will deal

with many aspects of social psychology and how the communication process can be

manipulated to gain compliance. This study uses theory triangulation (the incorporation

of multiple explanations and ideas) to examine the communication produced by members

of the "Heaven's Gate" cult mass suicide.

Rationale

The victims of suicide cults are not only those that lose their lives, or even those

who lose family members and friends. Needless death and destruction can ripple out into

the community with devastating results. Proof of this can be found during dark periods

of human history, such as Hitler's reign of Germany. Tragedies that rob humans of their

lives should be examined to diminish the harm they cause. Research must be conducted to provide more knowledge about how suicide cults gain control over their members. This study attempts to reconstruct the meaning behind the rhetoric of "Heaven's

Gate" members to understand the cuh's persuasive appeal. Although suicide cults are not among the most pleasant of subjects in the communication field, it is necessary that research like this be conducted. The value and importance of human lives are too great to ignore any groups that treat it otherwise. Religious affiliations should not prohibit people from having a long, rich, meaningful life. In this researcher's opinion, a person's

spiritual fulfillment should provide a means by which to live. However, the freedom of religion and the right to practice a faith are among the most sacred of values. It seems that the suicide cult of the "Heaven's Gate" successfully estabhshed itself as a legitimate spiritual organization to at least 39 people. This research inquires into how communication was used to recruit and manipulate these victims.

Only taped testimonies and other communicative artifacts remain of those under study. The current investigation seeks to explore these artifacts with the tools provided by the theory of symbolic convergence. This theory identifies the fantasy themes that are the foundation of behavior. Once this foundation is uncovered, the theory of concertive control will be applied to trace the roots of motivation for the behavior. Diminishing the power and tragic impact of these groups is the first and foremost justification of the current study. This analysis should provide anti-cult groups with more knowledge to help victims. Such an inquiry could aid in the efforts of those working to minimize the risk suicide and other destructive groups can cause. Definitions

It is important to clearly define the terms and concepts this inquiry discusses.

Bormann (1972) found that the "rhetorical vision of a group of people contains their

drives to action" (p. 251). It is the motives under which the communication is operating

and this is the key focus for the current study. Conceptually, cults can be defined as an

organization espousing "radical" views and using "extreme" strategies for gaining and

keeping members. However, this definition is too loosely constructed as to not

differentiate cults from many other faith-based groups or organizations not aligned with

the popular opinion. First, "radical" could describe any thought or action that is

dramatically different from the status quo. "Extreme" can mean any thought not held by

the majority. Even those terms are too subjective. For example, many things considered

radical and/or extreme in America during the 1960's are deemed relatively normal in

2001, such as women working outside the home.

For this study, the term "cult" will be operationally defined as any group that uses

persuasion to enlist and dominate followers, depends on members for financial support,

and requires strict adherence to group norms. These groups tend to involve a clear leader

who governs autocratically. "Suicide cults" is subsequently defined as any cult (as

defined above) in which members participated in a mass death ritual, whether voluntarily or by force. The focus will remain on how these groups were able to persuade others to adopt the common worldview. Cultic Organizations

Although cults do share several qualities with other organizations, there are

characteristics that differentiate the cult from other groups. For example, a cultic groups

appear to gain complete power and control over its members. One attempt to explain

how cults have power research proposed the "BITE" model. "BITE" is an acronym for

Behavior control, Information control. Thought control, and Emotional control,

respectively (Hassan, 2000). He argued that cults tried to control people along those four

levels. It became clear during the research done by the model's creator that cults enacted

a particular type of communication. This paper affirms that notion and contends that

cukic communication exhibits enough unique qualities to afford it a unique category. A

study of the speech acts used by cults would reveal to a greater degree what

communicative tactics are used and how cultic speech acts differ between cult sects.

These types of speech acts often resemble those of religious affiliation and faith-

based organizations, as discussed earlier. Although much of the research on cults seeks

to discem the difference between the church and occult, this paper simply hopes to

explore cultic communication and how it is effective in persuading its members. Of

course, there are some striking similarities between cultic and religious communication.

Kenneth Burke (1961) explored the latter in The Rhetoric of Rehgion: Studies in

Logo logy. His examination into theology gleaned a substantial amount of knowledge and allows for further research. In this work, Burke argued that:

It should be possible to analyze remarks about the "nature of 'God'," .. .in their sheer formality as observations about the nature of language. And such a correspondence between the theological and "logological" realms should be there, whether or not "god" actually exists. For regardless of whether the entity "God" exists outside his nature sheerly as key term in a system of terms, words "about him" must reveal their nature as words, (pp. 1-2)

Burke explains how the relationship between symbols and that which they symbolize is often a source for error when studying communication. He asserts that the study of how the symbol of "God" is created and maintained is much more likely to reveal the nature of perception of the people speaking about the entity. Looking into the language of suicide cults will gain more clues as to how they perceive the world and might expose some belief systems to which they adhere.

Cults are usually considered the extreme fringe on the tapestry of religion.

Hudson (1987) delved into the rehgious history of the United States from 1607 until modem times. Among his discussion of "religion on the periphery," he refers to "The

Jesus Cult." This group gained public attention in 1967 when they established several communes and attracted a large following. The original camp was located in southern

Califomia and followers "dispersed to New Knoxville, Ohio, Rye, New York, and

Eugene, Oregon, to extend the influence of the Jesus Way" (Hudson, 1987, p. 384).

These communes had the central characteristics of a disciplined, anti-Christian lifestyle that successfully recruited and harbored many youths of the 1970s. Hudson (1987) also discovered a cultic organization called "The Children of God." David Berg was the founder and dictator of the group. This cuh was marked with "intensely rigid authoritarian discipline" (Hudson, 1987, p. 385), which is common in modem cultic communities. Several of these cuhs ended with the deaths of its members.

Unfortunately, there are recent groups which could be considered suicide cults. People's Temple

Jim Jones founded the cultic sect of the "People's Temple" in Indianapolis and

moved his followers to Califomia in 1956. Four years later, this group moved to San

Francisco. Later, in 1973, Jones and company set up camp in Jonestovm, Guyana. This

was the place where nine hundred and thirteen people enacted a mass suicide ritual

(Hudson, 1987). This ritual was rehearsed several times before the actual event. Sirens

would sound while members slept, alerting the members: "A mass meeting would

ensue.. .we would be told that the jungle was swarming with mercenaries.. .we were

given a small glass of red liquid to drink. We were told that the liquid contained poison

and that we would die within forty-five minutes. We all did as we were told" (Galanter,

1989, p. 26), reports one ex-Jones follower.

Investigations into the mass suicide revealed that a Congressman (Leo Ryan) had

been to Jonestown after receiving reports of abuse being inflicted upon the cult members.

He and three press agents were killed at Jones' request after convincing four members to

leave. This left the cult highly vulnerable to an attack by the United States government

so Jones had cyanide-fhiit punch made. Two hundred seventy-six children drank the

toxin first, then the aduhs. Jim Jones later shot himself in the head (Galanter, 1989). A

comprehensive profile of the deceased members showed that the majority were older

African American people. The charismatic Jones advocated equality for all races and this may have attracted the majority of followers. He also used fear quite often to motivate members. For instance, Jones played upon the fear of nuclear war and promised his followers that they would only be safe if they obeyed his every order (Weightman, 1983). This event left many unanswered questions about the motivations of Jim Jones and his devotees. Most of those who have attempted to speculate on the answers have concluded that the cult members probably had been resocialized and desensitized to be accustom to that kind of violence. "No casual observer could adequately explain what was happening in the minds of the Peoples Temple members when they allowed Jones to assume ultimate power over their fives" (Harrary, 1992, p. 63). The Mills who had followed Jim Jones for six years left despite treats of retaliation from Jones' "angels" who acted more like mobsters. They reported having to concede to a number of coercive tactics including signing, "blank power-of-attomey forms, and false confessions that they had molested their children, conspired to overthrow the U.S. government, and committed other crimes while members of the culf (1992, p. 63). These methods proved to be highly effective and Jones enjoyed explicit control over the members of his flock.

These strategies enabled Jones to exert a vast degree of influence on those who followed him. When Al Mills was asked why he chose to follow such a man, he answered, "Because I believed he was God, we all believed he was God" (Harrary, 1992, p. 64). This extremist leader was able to control almost every action and thought by establishing himself as the ultimate power. This dominating figure used any means by which to further his interests. He methodically utilized language to construct a reality in which his followers beheved that Jones himself was their salvation. Forensic testing of the bodies found at Jonestown suggests that a mass murder would be a more accurate depiction of the event than a mass suicide:

According to witnesses, more than one member was physically restrained while being poisoned. A little giri kept spitting out the poison until they held her mouth

7 closed and forced her to swallow it.. .A woman was found with nearly every joint in her body yanked apart from trying to pull away from the people who were holding her down and poisoning her (Harrary, 1992, p. 66).

This evidence suggests that members were not persuaded but forced to end their lives.

Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God

Nine hundred twenty-four cult members died as part of a cult in the southwestern

village of Kanungu, Uganda. The tragic circumstances of this cultic sect resemble the

Jonestown scene. Like Jim Jones, the leaders of this cult were adamant that the world

was about to come to an end. They used fear to manipulate the thoughts and actions of

the cult members and may have been responsible for a mass murder instead of suicide. In

fact, most of the bodies recovered from the scene were determined to have been dead for

over a month. As in Jonestown, children and adults were victims. Many were strangled

and mutilated but five hundred thirty people were bumed to death inside of a sealed

church (Lovgren, 2000). Some corpses were found buried under members' houses and

one hundred and fifty-five of the deceased were undemeath the house of a cult leader in

another village.

Experts who looked into the Ugandan deaths "say Africa's hardships push people

to seek hope in religious cuhs" (Lovgren, 2000, p. 34). This finding suggests that the

outside pressures help to convince members that the cult is a viable option. This is perhaps most clearly demonstrated by the horrific control Hitler exerted over most

Germans whose country was facing a severe economic depression. The members of the

Ugandan cuh were most likely seeking to improve their lives, either spiritually or otherwise. They had been instructed to communicate only in sign language and to those

8 who observed them appeared very cautious not to break the cuh's rules (Lovgren, 2000).

This type of communication may have been used to limit the vocabulary of (and hence

the exchange between) cult members to further control them.

Joseph Kibwitere, one of the major Ugandan cuh leaders, had wamed the

members that Jesus would destroy the world soon. He said only the "next generation"

would live without pain or suffering. Kibwitere argued that by adopting his cultic beliefs,

a person could be allowed to go on into the "next generation." This may have appealed

to many Africans who believe in religious texts like the Bible. In fact, much of what

Kibwitere described coincided with the book of Revelations and most likely struck a

chord with prospective members. He and his wife, Theresa, were devout Catholics who

met up with a charismatic prostitute, Credonia Mwerinde, who claimed to speak to the

Virgin Mary. In 1989, the group began with a small sect of churchgoers that believed

Credonia communicated with the holy entity. Once a few hundred members were

converted, the group began to perform odd rituals including witchcraft and orgies

(MacVicar, 2000).

One of the survivors was Juvenal Kibwitere (Joseph's son) who left the cult with his mother before the murders began. Investigations into the cult show "that members of the cuh were killed for expressing their disbelief or for requesting that the possessions they surrendered upon joining the cuh be retumed to them" (Haney, 2000, p. 1). The findings of murderous acts in Jonestown and Uganda suggest that cult members need not be persuaded by the cuh leaders. Murder does not appear to require compliance from the victim so persuasion may have only been part of the recruitment and maintenance processes in these cults while their fates were dictated and forced upon them. Exposing

the rhetorical vision being projected would still allow for better understanding of what

attracts members to the cuh that can then lead to the development of a better system for

protecting people from potential self-destruction.

Branch Davidian

A group of "Branch Davidians" engaged in a fifty-one day shooting match with

federal agents in April of 1993 at a compound located outside of Waco, TX. Eighty cult

members and four agents were dead once the match and fire that ensued had ended. The

compound was Mt. Carmel Center and the leader of this group was David Koresh. He

and his faithful followers had gathered in this place in to survive the "destruction of the

world" that Koresh had predicted. In order to investigate the reports of a large number of

firearms and explosives being harbored in the compound, the agents were attempting to

serve arrest and search warrants when the stand off began. There were arguments that

blamed the cult members and others that showed the government at fault (Stone, 2000).

Regardless of the responsible party for the final destruction, it is clear from the accounts

of ex-Davidians that Koresh was a deeply disturbed individual who preyed upon weaker

people. Research into the incident discovered that Koresh had spoken of committing

suicide about a month prior to this event (Klaidmann, 1999).

There are some members of the cult who were not at the compound when the

tragedy reared its ugly head. They report that life in the cuh was highly controlled, with

Koresh instilling fear in his followers. Violent threats were made to curb any dissention

and the group was made to continually prepare for the worid's end. Some ex-affiliates of

10 the cult claim that Koresh would frequently engage in sexual activity with any member

he chose: some were as young as twelve years old. Koresh himself claimed to be Jesus

Christ, and this gave him a powerful authority used to control the other cult members. He

was shot in the head and killed during the standoff with police (Stone, 2000). This

tragedy highlights the need for a better understanding of cultic organizations.

Order of the Solar Temple

An intemational cult that started as a new-age altemative to dogmatic religions

has been associated with three separate suicide rituals that claimed the lives of at least

seventy-three members. The founder, a Belgian named Luc Jouret, rooted the group's

ideals in the "Knight's Templar" which had been an order of Crusaders. It gained a

substantial following who "were some of the most privileged, responsible members of

society" (Walsh, 1996, p. 45). Forty-six-year-old Luc Jouret and fifty-two followers of

the "Order of the Solar Temple" were found bumed in October of 1994. The deceased

were scattered among one farmhouse and four chalets in Switzerland. Among the dead was the body of an infant. The bodies found in the farmhouse were in an underground

"chapel" wearing robes. Some of them had plastic bags tied around their faces. A former member reported that plastic bags were often part of the cult meetings and that they symbolized the separation between people and nature. It was also reported that members had to admit their sins against nature to the other members (Walsh, 1996).

Fourteen months after Jouret and the others died, sixteen more members in a cultic sect of the "Order of the Solar Temple" were found dead in the southeastem town of Grenoble, France. Fourteen followers had ingested (either knowingly or not) sedatives

11 and their faces covered with plastic bags. The bodies were found in a sunburst arrangement in a clearing near a French village. Two members set the corpses on fire, shot the daughters of a member (a two and four-year-old), and then shot themselves. Five other members of the "Order of the Solar Temple" were discovered bumed in Quebec,

Canada, in March of 1997. They had been part of the cult and killed themselves in order to be with the deceased members ("Sect Members Meet Violent End," 1994).

Heaven's Gate

In Rancho SantaFe, Califomia, thirty-nine followers of a cultic sect led by

Marshall Applewhite were found dead in their collective home. They seemed to believe that a ship behind the Hale-Bopp comet would take them to "heaven." Members were taught they their bodies were "vehicles" by which they could enter and exit the world.

These "body containers," as they referred to their bodies, were prohibited from substances like alcohol and drugs, and engaging in sexual activity. Although several technological markers (like web sites & spaceships) were evident, many of the cult's teachings reflected deep-rooted traditions of other religions like Catholicism and Hebrew scriptures (Ruether, 1997). Similarities between this cult and the Christian religion have been found, as well as dissimilarities (Steel, 1997). The binding force of faith seems to unite the cultic organizations with other spiritual groups (Marty, 1997). "Heaven's Gate" members believed that their souls were independent of their bodies and would transcend to heaven, much like the Christian notion of heaven (Hamm, 1997).

The commune of the "Heaven's Gate" cult was located in a mansion that was rented by the members for ten thousand dollars a month. They had lived and \\ orked

12 there, running an e-business from the estate under Applewhite's direction. Followers

were not permitted to have outside contact with family and friends and were required to join in the communal meals and rituals. One of these rituals was the mass suicide in

which they consumed barbiturates in food and covered their faces with plastic bags, after

dressing in all black. Members had taped their last statements and they were "evidently in

high spirits" (Corelli, 1997, p. 44). Two of the members remained alive in order to cover

the bodies with purple cloths and then they killed themselves (Pope, 1997).

13 CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

The Group Process

Cuhs not only exhibit some unique characteristics, but they also operate under the group structure. Many processes are enacted when people interact in the group setting.

One such process is called "consciousness raising," which was defined by Chesebro,

Cragan, & McCullough (1973) as "a personal, face-to-face interaction which appears to create new psychological orientations for those involved in the process" (p. 136). This occurs in many groups in which member beliefs are altered by their participation in the organization. For instance, those who attended church meetings may have their views or attitudes shaped by the congregation and its teachings. In cults, the leader(s) use this to convince followers that certain things are true. This is not always faith-based; students might have a changed consciousness from education or the exposure to ideas.

Functions of in and out-groups were examined by Yamagishi and Kiyonari

(2000), who used the "Prisoner's Dilemma" game and created opposing groups among ninety-one Japanese participants. Simulated in-group and out-group members were expected to cooperate more with other in-group members during one portion of the game

(which rewarded cooperation) than another part (which rewarded competition). It was speculated that reward motivated action more than in-group favoritism. The results indicated that even those who were highly cooperative during the first half were equally competitive during the second portion (Yamagishi & Kiyonari, 2000).

14 This reward-driven behavior seems to manifest itself in the actions and decisions of cult members. In suicide cuhs, the member could be operating under the assumption that he or she will be rewarded for their faith in the group, ft is quite possible that these members are hoping to show their uhimate conviction and dedication to the ideals and behefs of the cuh. The "reward" of such an action is typically described by the cuh leaders using evocative imagery and most often is accompanied by strict guidelines that must be adhered to in order to receive the "reward." Members are essentially promised a future, and they seem to be acting upon the belief that those promises will be fulfilled as long as they oblige to the rules and regulations of the cultic group. This could be the rationale used by cuh members who agree to extreme requests such as alienating themselves from any non-members or even taking their own lives.

The need for rewards from voluntary participation was also supported by the findings of Fine and Holyfield (1996), who looked at member alliance and cohesion inside these groups. They suggest that "participating in a sociable organization must be rewarding over time; the lack of institutional reward justifies disengagement" (p. 33).

Cohesiveness was defined as "forces which cause members to remain within a group"

(Fine & Holyfield, 1996, p. 22). Cohesion appeared high among the members of the suicide cults reviewed in this study. Most advocated the group members to live and work collectively, reinforcing this bond. Specifically, inside the "Heaven's Gate" cult, members had to eat all their meals together and share sleeping quarters. The physical closeness seems to create more psychological closeness, thus promoting group cohesiveness.

15 The number of members and how those members perceive the power of their

alliance affects the group process. Ridgeway and Balkwell (1997) looked into how group

size and status was a part of the process of "behef diffiision." They showed how status

construction theory could be used to explain how beliefs are created and spread

communicatively. These status beliefs, and their processes of construction and

distribution, seem to be rooted in the social interactions of groups themselves. Thus, how

the group views its own status is dependent upon how that status is defined and

maintained inside the group setting. An implication of these findings is that group

members tend to act upon how they perceive the group's status. So, cult members might

be influenced by the perceived power of their group. Followers may feel as though they

have more power by participating as a collective whole.

This finding was supported by other research in which group size, member status,

and identity management strategies were studied. In this study, Ellemers and Van

Rijswijk (1997) examined the identity needs of low and high-status members of various

groups. Their results showed that favoritism for in-group members was higher among

high-status members than low-status members. Low-status members tended to make

decisions based more on individual preferences while high-status ones seemed to base

their choices on the group's needs. This seems to be true in suicide cults as well where

members are often told that their participation is vital to the group, especially financially.

Member status is often inflated among cuhic communities. This may help align the members of a group since they feel an inflated sense of power.

16 Persuasive Forces

Persuasion has interested people across time and culture. Evidence of this can be

seen in the works of Plato and Aristotle, who studied how certain arguments were best

suited to certain situations. In the case of cuhs, persuasion is used to recruit and maintain

membership. Suicide cults provide insight into how the group is persuaded so effectively

that members are seemingly convinced to go against their own will to survive.

Persuasion has been studied in many different settings. Much of the literature

surrounding persuasion deals with pohtical campaigns or the scope of influence thought

to be associated with the persuasive action. Persuasive tactics seem to rely upon the use

of argument structures and appeals to various emotional responses. Success of these

tactics can be measured on the degree of change accomplished in the target audience,

although, this can be difficult to determine, and there is a high chance that other variables

could have influenced the change observed.

The study of persuasive forces led to the development of models that could be

used to explain how people interact with these forces. One such item was the Elaboration

Likelihood Model (E.L.M.) developed by Petty and Cacioppo (1986) in order to represent

the process undergone when persuasive communication influences a change. This model

was built upon two processing routes: "central" and "peripheral." The central route

involves using cognitive ability to examine a message while the peripheral route is based

on arbitrary or non-relevant message cues (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986). So, a message processed centrally will be rooted in logic and thought but, if processed peripherally, would be founded on emotions and feeling.

17 Another model is the Heuristic-Systematic Model of Persuasion (H.S.M.) that

also differentiates two processes that lead to change. One process is "systematic" which

takes the central route of the E.L.M. and the other is "heuristic" that travels the peripheral

route (Chaiken, 1980). Booth-Butterfield, Cooke, Pearson and Lang (1994) compare and

contrast the E.L.M. with the H.S.M. since both of these models claim that the

simultaneous processing meaning and message cues was possible. Basically, these

researchers wanted to see if a message's content and its cues could be processed at the

same time. The resuhs pointed to arguments and cues being exclusively processed one at

a time. Cult leaders might be successful at persuading followers to act by using

arguments that are more likely to be processed heuristically. This could explain the use

of highly emotional appeals found among the communication in a cuh (Corelli, 1997).

The H.S.M. was also used to explain how communication influences persuasion

(Sparks, Areni, & Cox, 1998). Their investigation showed "that the influence of

language style on persuasion depends on the mode in which the message is presented" (p.

116). These findings indicate that the channel, or means of communication, has a

substantial impact on how the message is shaped and delivered. People seem to interpret

the message according to the manner by which it is presented. Delivery becomes just

another factor that can be used to persuade. In each of the cults reviewed in this paper,

the leaders are highly charismatic and seemingly convinced of the thoughts they espouse.

Members of cults have reported a strong attraction to highly enthusiastic and animated

leaders (Pope, 1997). Video clips of Marshall Applewhite do show his energetic demeanor, which may have impacted the "Heaven's Gate" members.

18 It seems that communication, therefore, plays a huge role in how cultists accomplish their goals. Their appeals are designed to elicit a desired response from the receiver(s). Responses can take many forms. For instance, a study on affect and persuasion used three categories: "cognitive, emotional, and attitudinal" (Dillard & Peck,

2000, p. 461). Public service announcements were rated by one hundred and forty undergraduates who classified the ads according to the categories. The resuhs showed evidence that "emotions can exert a powerful impact on persuasion" (Dillard & Peck,

2000, p. 475). Cultic communication often shows traces of emotional appeals being used with leaders usually making references to faith, love, guilt, and fear: all of which are emotionally embedded in the receiver(s). Although Dillard and Peck's study did not focus on cults specifically, the results implicate the traces of emotional associations found in cultic communication.

The link between persuasive messages and the attitude changes has been established in much of the literature of persuasion. Many studies argue strongly that thoughts and actions are related and that an analysis of thoughts will help to understand actions. Attitude change has been defined as a particular kind of cognition that can shape an individual's worldview. When communication is able to after the attitude of a person, the chances that more specific requests will be accommodated increases (Eagly &

Chaiken, 1993). ft is more than likely that attitude and thoughts do influence the actions and perspectives of people. Cuh leaders that are successful at convincing members to adopt certain behefs are then able to use that behef to control behavior. By manipulating how their followers view the worid, the leader can best dominate the group's actions.

19 Coercion is a semi-persuasive strategy that uses threats and tends to rely on negative incentives. Some researchers have described coercion as a wolf in sheep's clothing (McGee, 1982, Artz &Pollock, 1997). Basically, coercive communication appears to persuade while it actually dictates an action by creating and enforcing a highly undesirable altemative to the action. They argue that persuasion implies the free choice of an individual who is convinced through reason and argument that a certain course of action is appropriate. Coercion eliminates ahemative choices for the individual and, therefore, it cannot be considered only persuasive. Coercive tactics often involve the manipulation of a person's vulnerabilities to maximize the effectiveness of the appeal

(Artz & Pollack, 1997).

On the other end of the persuasive spectrum is reward bargaining. One study examined imaginary rewards with a game matrix that awarded a certain number of pretend dollars for the bargains struck between the players in groups (Greenwood, 1974).

This game was designed to reveal the level of cooperation and competition among the players. It showed that "a cooperative social orientation results in significantly more successful bargains than does a competitive orientation" (Greenwood, 1974, p. 81). This could explain the upbeat and festive meetings in which prospective members are "love bombed," a term that cult experts use to describe how current followers shower perspective members with attention, affection, and friendliness. It creates an environment where possible recruits are the focus and can be powerfully attractive to people who want to be "loved" or "belong," or who desire more "esteem," in terms of

Maslow's hierarchy of personal needs (Andrews & Baird, 2000, p. 194).

20 Specific communicative strategies have an impact on the receiver response but they do not fully control the influence of a message. There are several factors which uniquely interact in order to persuade. Shepherd and O'Keefe (1984) found that a relationship between the receiver's developmental stage (maturity) and type of persuasive

tactic existed. They found "evidence that there is a string positive linear relationship

between age and level of strategy employed" (Shepherd & O'Keefe, 1984, p. 137). This

relationship indicates the response is a culmination of receiver-based qualities and

sender-based characteristics. These findings suggest that persuasion is perceiver oriented

to a large degree and this can impact how the message is then understood. It is this

understanding that seems to guide the beliefs and actions of people and cultists are

susceptible to this as well. Member of cults appear to hold the leader in higher regard

and may assign more power and force to their respective leader's communication.

Cult leaders often project the image that they are spiritual guides endowed with

special knowledge or power. This is common among cultic groups according to a

Califomia organization dedicated to fighting the influence of cults and aiding students

who have been approached by potential cuhs. This organization, R.E.V.I.V.E.,

distributes pamphlets and other forms of information that include ways to identify cults.

One of the identifiers was any group claiming to have "all the answers" to your problems.

Another cult-fighting organization, the Office of Religious Life at the University of

Southem Califomia, wams that groups who espouse a "totalitarian woridview" are also likely to be a cuh (2000).

21 Compliance Gaining

Tactics used by people to elicit an action or a change form another person are

called compliance gaining strategies. There are many variables which can affect the

success of a comphance-gaining strategy. Boster, Mitchell, Lapinski, and Cooper (1999)

expanded upon previous research which showed that compliance is more likely when the

"target" (person being requested to change or act) feels guilty. They determined that

relatively positive requests were found most successful with those parties who reported

feeling guilty. However, positive approaches were the least successful with participants

who were not feeling guilty. This, as the researchers determined, illustrated how the type

of message can moderate the relationship between compliance gaining and guilt. This

could help to explain how cultists are persuaded into enacted certain behaviors, such as a

massive death ritual.

Specific compliance-gaining strategies have also come under investigation.

Kellermann and Shae (1996) found that "threats" were the most efficient and least polite

way to request compliance. They also determined that "promises" were about as efficient

and still considered relatively polite. Both threats and promises seem to be made inside

of cultic organizations. Promises of things like happiness, truth, protection, love, and

belonging are made to prospective members while threats of punishment, discipline, and

consequences are communicated to current cultists. ft is apparent that these strategies are

used by cultic group leaders in order to gain compliance from their followers. One

instance is the rules and sanctions imposed by the various leaders of the suicide cults

reviewed earlier.

22 Other research showed that "targets" of compliance-gaining tactics "proved to be poor at reconstructing the strategic sequence of statements" (Greene, Smith, & Lindsey,

1990, p. 225). This same study found that what the participants did remember was how

the message related to the task being requested. This could help to explain how members

of a cult might dismiss the "radical" or "extreme" ways in which they are persuaded by

the leader or other members. So, although tactics seem to play a role in how compliance

is gained, there are still other influencing agents to be examined. Delivery style even

impacts how the compliance-gaining strategy is received. Two aspects of a message

delivery are verbal qualities and nonverbal qualities. When "voice intensity" and "touch"

were measured in a study designed to test these variables, Remland and Jones (1994)

found that the characteristics of the vocal dehvery had a higher degree of influence over

the targeted audience. Therefore, the enthusiasm and charisma used by cultic leaders

could be aiding them in gaining the comphance of their followers.

Svmbohc Convergence

Burke (1969) wrote about influence of communication on the symbolic creation

of reality. Tn h\^ hnnk A Grammar Of Motives, he analyzed a Keats poem. Burke

claimed that "a poem is an act, the symbohc act of the poet who made it-an act of such a

nature that, in surviving as a structure or object, ft enables us as readers to re-enact it"

(1969, p. 447). In essence, the symbols used can be reconstructed to illuminate the

meaning that they had intended to convey. This also enables the critique of any symbol,

or group of symbols, such as rhetorical artifacts.

23 There are several theories that could explain the phenomenon of cuh power. This paper has chosen to use the theory of symbolic convergence as the tool by which one

cult's communication will be explored. Symbols are constructs used to represent the real

thing. Bales (1970) argued that symbols negotiate the reality under which people

operate. This realfty is created and maintained through the use of a symbolic system. By

examining the nature of the symbols used in the Heaven's Gate cult, a look into how

reality was constructed by those symbols will be possible. These symbols are used to

represent the ideas of messages in communication. Messages being produced inside

cultic organizations can therefore be used to find the deeper, more obscure meanings and

implications of what is communicated. These underlying assumptions can help to

understand the reality under which these cult members operated. Symbolic Convergence

Theory (SCT) will be used to re-construct the rhetorical visions present in the artifacts

produced by the "Heaven's Gate" cult. This theory should help to explain the motivation

behind the members' actions and communication.

In 1970, E. G. Bormann outlined the major facets of SCT and discussed how they

influence groups of people. He revisited these in 1982 when he defended the method of

fantasy-theme, and he used research findings as support for his arguments. Bormann

(1985) further detailed the symbolic convergence theory and how human beings narrate

their lives according to symbolic (rhetorical) constructs, ft was further expanded upon in

1996 to outline the Cold War rhetorical visions as a case of paradigm. This allowed the

researchers "to mesh the findings of many previous SCT studies to discem, understand,

and explicate more fully the intricate life-cycle of a rhetorical vision" (Bormann, Cragan,

24 & Shields, 1996, p. 25). Their rhetorical reconstruction pointed out the nature of the

fantasies that chained out among those involved in the Cold War. Resuhs showed how

the symbols were negotiated in a manner that was consistent with the fantasy.

Cragan and Shields (1998) found that an apphcation of SCT rested upon five

major tenants. The first assumption that must be accepted is "the direct content of the

message conveys meaning, emotion, and motive for action" (1998, p. 96). It is

essentially how that message is nested inside a theme that can reveal the intention behind

the behavior. Secondly, "reality is cocreated symbolically" (1998, p. 96), which is why

these themes must be exchanged with one another. This exchange of fantasies allow for

symbohc convergence (the third tenant). Cragan and Shields' (1998) fourth contention is

that these themes can be exchanged through several mediums and channels of

communication. Finally, they determined that "on any subject, at least three deep

structures-rightous, social, and pragmatic master analogues-compete as alternate

explanations of symbolic reality" (1998, p. 96). Master analogues are the primary force

behind the motivation for action and are mirrored in the group's rhetorical vision.

Fantasy Themes

Fantasy themes are the pieces of the puzzle that fit together to form the rhetorical

vision of a group. They are constructed and chained-out among the members bit by bit to

create a shared, over-arching story (Littlejohn, 1999). Fantasy themes are the tools that

allow for the interpretation of communication. These themes are not fantasy to the group

members who adopt them. They "tell a story that accounts for the group's experience

25 and that is the reality of the participants" (Foss, 1996, p. 123). The reason people in

groups tend to adopt these fantasy-themes was examined by Bormann, Knutson, and

Musolf (1997). They found that the dimensions of the fantasy (such as past versus

present and bizarre versus typical) were likely a factor in whether people chose to believe

in them. The fantasy is "chained out" or spread among members of a group and becomes

the narrative under which each person operates and explains the world.

Evidence of the fantasy theme can be found in communicative artifacts that

members produced inside the organization (Bormann, Knutson, & Musolf, 1997). These

themes can help point to possible meanings being exchanged among members of a

suicide cult. Since meaning is how a person determines what action to take,

understanding how cult followers negotiate meaning in their communication is vital. A

theme is established when similar plots are used among members, or a common element

is present in member communication. Fantasies are the perceived reality of those who

adopt them and are intemalized through the chaining process. They often involve a

narrative attempt to explain the world in terms that are understood by the participants.

These can stem from common experiences and are marked with metaphors,

similes, personifications, and analogies that are designed to enhance understanding.

Cragan and Shields (1998) argue that "the fantasy theme is the message, it becomes a part

of the community's consciousness through the dynamic process of chaining and sharing"

(p. 100). These themes provide a means by which members of a group converge and

share meaning with one another. Much like any culture operates within certain norms and standards, groups Cultures must agree upon symbols systems as well to

26 communicate meaning. How these symbols are used as fantasy themes are exchanged between group members determines how they are assigned meaning.

Themes can be ftirther divided into subcategories, as described by Cragan and

Shields (1998). "Symbohc cues" are brief statements that sum up a group's attitude

toward a theme. For example, the saying "do or die" might be a symbolic cue common

among military personnel. A "fantasy type" provides a well-known plot for recent

happenings. This often shows the similarity between past and current events. "Sagas"

are narratives or explanations told over and over again. These are not the only concepts

associated with SCT but will serve as the focus for this paper's analysis of the "Heaven's

Gate" cult artifacts.

Concertive Control

One way to explain how cuft leaders manage to gain power or control over their

followers is through the tenants of concertive control theory. There are three main

qualities of concertive control that apply to suicide cuhs. For one, members co-create the

norms and rules of the group. Second, members control and monitor the behavior of

other members. Last, members identify with the group strongly and sanctions (implied

and/or explicit) for not conforming are often harsh, although justified (Papa, Auwal, &

Singhal, 1997). Tompkins and Cheney (1985) found that "posftive incentives of

security, identification, and common mission" (p. 185), could increase the degree of

influence enjoyed by group leaders. These researchers concluded that the process of

identification is so embedded in decision-making that "other options will simply not

27 come into view, and therefore will not be considered" (1985, p. 194). ft seems that some

cuftists will identify so strongly with the group that they align themselves with, that they

are unable to consider choices of action or behef that deviate from the group's identity.

When groups of people operate as a team ft requires a degree of participation from

each of the members. The participation is often in the form of task-assignment or

voluntary acceptance of duties. When members of a group feel as though they are part of

a larger, more important goal, they are more likely to place higher value on the group's

needs than on personal desires (Barker, 1999). This could be one reason that cultists

choose to pursue the cult's interests ahead of their own. Wright and Barker (2000) found

that concertive control has many benefits inside the organizational setting. For instance,

they concluded that positive rewards linked to group identification could increase

productivity and loyalty. This can be an advantage to the cult leader seeking to

manipulate and control the thoughts and actions of his or her followers. It seems that this

could help the leader to instill a sense of unity among its members which serves to

promote the group above all else. This type of thinking could have been one reason the

"Heaven's Gate" cultists felt that the group was more valuable than their own lives.

Although members are empowered to collectively create their own norms and

mles for the group, leaders operating from the concertive control perspective use a value

laden mission or vision which "members use to infer parameters and premises (norms

and rules) that guide their day-to-day actions" (Barker, 1993, p. 413). This could help to

explain why cultic organizations depend on the approval and guidance of their leaders so heavily. The vision that the leaders project can serve as the measuring standard for any

28 and all actions of the members. This, of course, could result in even more power being given to the leader. Most members of suicide cufts adhere to strict rules that reinforce the

leader's ability to control his or her followers (MacVicar, 2000). This control is then

used to manipulate the thoughts and feelings of members and ultimately their actions.

"Heaven's Gate" members seem to have adopted the rules willingly, which implies that

they could justify exchanging freedom for some other reward. This exchange could be

based on the members wishing to avoid the punishments for not conforming as well.

Communication appears to facilitate concertive control. Alder and Tompkins

argue that "concertive control depends on effective communication as a form of control

and encourages the illumination of communicative processes in the social construction of

reality. By constructing a collective reality, concertive practices facilitate the

development of organizational personalities, and therefore, lead to increased

organizational identification" (1997, p. 270). How strongly group members identify with

one another, or how salient they feel with the group, will help to determine the level of

power enjoyed by those in charge. This theory could help to explain how Marshall

Applewhite, known as "Do" to his following, could assume an authoritative role and

successfiilly dominate the "Heaven's Gate" members. The leader's role in concertive

control is one of great importance Applewhite's role will be more fully examined when

the artifacts are analyzed.

29 CHAPTER m

METHODOLOGY

By triangulating the basic concepts involved in the communication theories of groups, persuasion, symbohc convergence and concertive control, this investigation hopes to provide insight into the "Heaven's Gate" mass suicide. The artifacts used in this study are reproduced in the appendices, although each has been adapted for this paper.

They are currently available online and the hyperhnk has been provided at the end of every appendix. Most of the artifacts are excerpts from the book, "How and When

Heaven's Gate May Be Entered", published by "Heaven's Gate" as an anthology of their history. This book can currently be accessed in its entirety at: http://www5.zdnet.com/yil/higher/heavensgate/book/book.htm

Other artifacts included video transcripts and member statements that were part of the cuh's web site as published by them originally. However, the documents are now posted on mirror sites established to allow access to this information. Each artifact was chosen based on its ability to reveal the rhetorical vision being projected and its relevance to the group members of the "Heaven's Gate" cuh. A single researcher sifted through the data to find evidence of fantasy themes and persuasive tactics. This evidence was then compared with the knowledge of groups and concertive control as an attempt to explain the mass suicide. This combination of approaches should provide a unique ensemble of insight into the workings of this cuh. Such insight should improve the knowledge gathered about how cults gain and dominate members.

30 CHAPTER W

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

The Saga

"Do's Intro: Purpose-Behef' (see Appendix A), was written by Marshall

Applewhite as an invitation to prospective followers. He compares himself to the

Christian notion of "Jesus" and states that he is "in the same position to today's society" as was Jesus in his time. He describes how only people who followed "Jesus" would reach salvation and in turn only those that follow the principles of the "Heaven's Gate" group will go on to the next level. He claims that "Heaven" is just actually the "next level" and that people have created religion to avoid assuming responsibility for their own lives. This becomes the over-arching narrative of the cult that is repeated often.

This description of the group's mission also addresses why people have difficulty believing in the "truth" as described. One reason that "Do" offers that the standards and cultural norms of today's society "are designed, established, and maintained by individuals who were at one time 'students' of the Kingdom of Heaven" who (like fallen angels) rebelled. They inhabit the Earth and make up all the evil forces present in the world. It is asserted that the only way to overcome "evil" is to refuse to accept the worid as these "evil" spirits want you to see it. In other words, Applewhite blames all that is bad on those who could somehow not fulfill their obligations to "God" and created a common enemy for his group members. This might have also served as an incentive for the rigorous cuhic life since those who fail to "complete their missions" are deemed

31 "evil." Members most likely wanted to avoid being part of the "evil" forces and desired a place among those in the "Kingdom of Heaven." This story becomes a saga, being repeated through out the testimonies of many members (see Appendices B, C, D, E, & F).

The sharing of these fantasies allows the chaining out of the "saga."

Fantasy Chains

"Do's" (Marshall Applewhite's) ideas seems to have chained out in "Jwnody's"

essay that sums up the mission of the "Heaven's Gate" cuh (see Appendix B). His or her

discussion of the "next level" is consistent with the space age metaphors used by all the

members of this sect. The "beyond human" phrase is used consistently and implies the

same meaning as the "next level." This could have lead members and recruits to believe

they were entering a more advanced place than "this world." The member "Jwnody"

wrote of the group's history and stated that the earliest member "picked and prepped the

bodies." This appears to be a science-fiction spin on the rehgious idea of a planned

destiny. This could have allowed members to co-create a reality in which group

members became used to the idea of another person controlling their lives.

The exft statement of a member called "Srrody" (see Appendix F) showed further

evidence of a fantasy being shared among the "Heaven's Gate" members. Although this

piece was not dated, it was part of the compilation of exit statements written by members

who later took their lives in Califomia in 1997. This person's description seems to be a justification for suicide and was much like the other exit statements left behind. Among

the statements made by this follower is "if you have a soul you know that you are

32 miserable, overburdened, unsatisfied, leading a purposeless life-waiting to die". This implicates a person's soul for any dissatisfaction that people might experience. By doing so, members may have sought to overcome the trappings of life by killing themselves.

Those who do not experience the pains of the soul "have never knew life" or "have already died." This argument can then be addressed to both satisfied and dissatisfied people, ft seems that this would allow for a broader span of people to be convinced that they could gain from following the "Heaven's Gate" cuh.

Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes are often used to perpetuate the fantasy theme.

Applewhite and his wife call themselves the "admiral" and the "captain", which places them in higher "rank" than the others (see Appendix B). They are reported to have undergone over fifteen years of "classroom time" on this "other level" (see Appendix B).

This makes it sound as though it was an experience which gave them special knowledge and rights. "Retumees" are described and the reality is painted as though the human level and the "next level" can be entered and exited somewhat freely (see Appendices A, B, C,

D, E, F, & G). This may have made the idea of leaving "this world" more persuasive to the cultic "crew" by making their suicide look like a "journey" from which they could retum. The word "home" is used in a way that suggests these people believed that "this world" was actually the "joumey" from which they could retum. Again, the metaphor is used as an attempt to make the message easier to accept.

33 More metaphors are used by Applewhite in the "Earth will be recycled" piece ( see Appendix C) that seemed to be designed to maximize the leader's control over the group.

For instance, he claims that members must "connect" with the "teacher" or

"representative". He sets the stage for a dramatic narrative in which he and his wife

(before her death) are the main characters. This could have allowed followers of theirs to

perceive the Applewhite's as highly powerfiil creatures who could "lead" them to a

"corrupt-free worid". Members are referred to as "children", which infers dependence on

the "older members". This shared fantasy allows for the leader to exert complete and

ultimate control over the destinies of the "Heaven's Gate" cuh. Bodies are again called

"vehicles" and the "next level" is glorified by members' communication (see Appendices

A, B, C, D, E, & F).

Nature metaphors were present in a member's writings with references to

"seasons" (see Appendix E). This follower described "the human cycle" as a constant

process of growth and death much like a perennial plant. This may have made the idea

of "recycling" their bodies more acceptable to the members. They could have related the

way in which the seasons bring death and life in a cyclical pattern. Beyond nature, the

leaders presented a reality in which members' fate ultimately depended on their

assistance. "Jnnody" argues that souls can only enter into the "next level" through the guidance "and tutorship of a Representative(s) sent from that Kingdom." These

"representatives" are "Do" and "Ti," the leaders who claimed to have been from another level of existence (see Appendices A, B, C, & D). This could have made the other members feel dependent on Applewhite and his wife.

34 Doomsday

As was found in other suicide cults, the "doomsday" appeal was apparent.

Applewhite argued that the "worid's end" was imminent and the only way to avoid destruction was to join his "crew" (see Appendices A, B, C, & D). This claim may have convinced some that in order to live they must adopt his viewpoints and accept the doctrine. Evidence that others accepted this fate can be found with member's claiming the "worid's end" (see Appendices E, F, & G). Fear tactics are often highly persuasive and could have aided the leaders "Do" and "Ti" in motivating their fleet to embrace the group's ideas. The "next level" then is created as a preferable altemative to the

"destructive end" awaiting the Earth. Applewhite seems to have successfully altered the symbolic reality of his members to reflect this vision. References to the "impending doom" of the Earth are peppered through out the ideas of members and were likely used to instill fear in the followers who might have been tempted to leave the group.

"Recycled Earth" seems to be a "symbohc cue" since it is used so frequently.

Christian References

Many characteristics of the "Heaven's Gate" communication show footprints of

Christian ideas. "Do" explains the group's history as including Jesus Christ (see

Appendix A). This could have been used to establish the cuh's identity as a legitimate organization, ft also provides the members with a common frame of reference and history that enables the group to be highly cohesive. This cohesion could have prevented the members from going against the group's mass suicide. "Do" refers to the "Kmgdom

35 of God" as another dimension outside of this world (see Appendix C). This idea of the

"Kingdom" is found in other artifacts that remain consistent with "Do's" ideas of

"heaven" (see Appendices D, E, F, & G). hi an essay titled "fticamating and

Decamating" (see Appendix E) a member of the "Heaven's Gate" group began with references to God, Jesus, and ways in which the Christian faith has identified for ascending to Heaven. References are made to "God" and to "Do" as separate but equally inspiring characters in many instances and "Lucifer" is discussed (see Appendix D).

Us Versus Them

Applewhite outlines the major tenants of the cult in a list format and explained the

"genderless" nature of his kind. Gender came to play an important role with members removing sexual organs from their "body-vehicles" in order to achieve this nature. Men and women members wore the same clothes, had the same haircuts and shared sleeping quarters. Diminishing the sexual differences between members of his own sect may have allowed Applewhite further control by creating an in-group and an out-group. By making his members appear and conform to a gender-neutral environment, he gained control over yet another facet of his "crew."

A member, "Srrody," discussed the reasons the group has for "exiting earth at this time" (see Appendix F) and refers to "Do" as her "Father." "Do" and his family

(followers) are seen as highly powerful by the other members. One wrote that he or she

"wanted to be close to them, to be a part of them" (see Appendix E). The nature of the relationship is discussed in familial terms, which may have strengthened the ties between

36 members. Also, the leaders are regarded as supreme beings whose "awakenings" have allowed for these people to be accepted into the group. The statement is concluded with

"we will be watching and waiting to assist for as long as we can". This projected that those who had gone to the "next level" would still exist, implying that death is the beginning to life. This appears to be a "fantasy type" since all the members who adopt a certain type of thinking are bestowed with certain quahties.

What is quite seemingly contradictory, this group published a statement that claims they do not support suicide (see Appendix G). The argument is that "suicide would be "to tum against the next level" which means to not embrace the group's ideas and reality. Again, the image of the "body-vehicle" is maintained, the "doomsday" image is upheld, more Christian references are used, and the science-fiction fantasy is present. Even more telling are the comparisons made to the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents. It seems as though even the group recognized its affiliation with other sects of the cultic community.

A hst of rules and regulations points out the major and minor violations that are prohibfted for the "Heaven's Gate" cult (see Appendix H). The offenses set up an environment where members are not allowed to used their own judgment, lie to one another, be sexually aroused in any way, and a number of other actions that most people undertake normally. Each one of these rules afforded Applewhite more dominance and control over his "crew." ft is clear that collectivism is a tenant in these ideas with several references to how "others" were to come before the "self" Some of the rules distinguish between members and non-members, further separating the in-group from the out-group.

37 Rhetorical Vision

ft seems that Marshall Applewhite was successftil in creating a common rhetorical vision among his followers. The evidence of shared fantasies repeating themselves throughout the members' communication is proof that the ideas espoused by

"Do" were not only accepted, but enacted. Through persuasion he was able to manipulate the social reality of this group. He became the lead character of this reality and determined the destiny for all of those involved, ft seems most likely he manufactured a story that would gain him access to the most power over followers. It is the recognition of such strategies that can allow individuals to retain their personal power in the face of similar tactics.

The vision adopted by the members of the "Heaven's Gate" cult indicates that a rightous master analogue was in place. Throughout the various fantasy themes there is evidence that a strong moral conviction guides their actions and decisions. Among the many claims is that "the human condition was intended only as training ground" (see

Appendices A, C, & D) which could indicate that this group sees life as temporary

(conditions are temporary). Training would also be indicative of some demand for improvement or preparation for something. Bodies are described as the "vehicle for the spirit" and compared to computer software. This would show how members felt that they could manipulate their bodies (abstaining from sex, alcohol, etc.) and use them to exit this worid. This could have de-sensitized members to using life as they would use a tool.

This may have made ft easier to discard that tool when they felt the "next level" could be reached.

38 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

Campbell (1970) stated "theories of symbohc behavior explain that he (man) is rhetorical because he is the symbol-using or signifying animal" (p. 97). ft is the assumption of rhetorical theories that people can persuade and be persuaded, although it has been explained in a wide variety of ways (Campbell, 1970). Communication symbols were used in a manner that gained the "Heaven's Gate" cult a following. In addition to these symbols, the rhetorical vision may have been persuasive since many of the fantasy-themes included elements of a Utopia. This may have attracted people seeking an improved condition of living and/or those who could not identify with mainstream or established religions. The communicative artifacts they left behind can only point to the reasons for such a ritual to be enacted. The analysis revealed that symbolic convergence appears to have occurred among the members, although other variables contributed to their acceptance of the cultic community.

Discussion

When the symbolic convergence theory has been applied to religious cults, it has been found that they tend to project a conspiracy plot that instills paranoia in members

(Cragan & Shields, 1998). This investigation finds that while the conspiracy plot was present, other factors contributed to the "Heaven's Gate" mass suicide. Factors like group identification, persuasion, and concertive control, seem to be manipulated by cuhic

39 leaders to gain and keep a following. By explaining how the members of the "Heaven'.

Gate" cuhic group become convergent on their ideas and beliefs, these factors were explored, ft is the recognition and understanding of the complex naftire of suicide cults

that could help to explain other phenomena. Things like employee motivation, brand

loyahy, group pressures, and credibility can be better understood when viewed through

the assumptions of SCT. So this research not only added to pool of rhetorical knowledge,

but can be applied to more common situations as well. Although this inquiry was unable

to help the actual subjects of this study, this compilation of cultic research could aid those

working to counter the efforts of cultic organizations.

Limitations

Symbolic convergence theory is just one way in which an examination of cultic

communication can be conducted. Like any other theory and tool, it has its advantages

and disadvantages. One limitation was the artifacts themselves. Analyzing textual data

for communication can be problematic since non-verbal elements are missing. Another

limitation of this study was access into the communication itself Although the artifacts

were produced by "Heaven's Gate" members, richer information might have been

gleaned through another means. The online information was published for an outside

audience, which may have altered how the information was presented. The nature of

cultic groups limits how research hke this can be conducted since many moral and ethical

issues arise. Finally, media and press releases dominated the literature surrounding cults themselves while more scholarly research in this are has yet to be conducted.

40 Future Research

More explorations into the persuasion of cuhs are needed. The forces that interact to lure people into these groups need to be understood so that potential targets of cults can be better prepared. It can no longer be thought that only the weak or idealistic people who elect to participate in these organizations. Future studies could delve into the transcripts of the "Heaven's Gate" videos using a method similar to SCT and find more data to analyze accordingly. Other research could use an altemate method of analysis that might reveal other insight not found in this study. In fact, a number of different measures could be used to gather more knowledge in this area. Other types of organizations could be examined using this project's methods to gain a number of valuable insights as well. This paper hopes to be a springboard for future efforts aimed at teasing out the complex relationship between cultic groups and their persuasive appeals.

More research could provide the knowledge necessary to ensure that future tragedies do not occur and that no more lives are lost.

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46 APPENDIX A

DO'S INTRO: PURPOSE-BELIEF

WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS-THE

SIMPLE "BOTTOM LINE"

47 DO'S INTRO: PURPOSE - BELIEF WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS - THE SIMPLE "BOTTOM LINE"

Two thousand years ago, a crew of members of the Kingdom of Heaven who are responsible for nurturing "gardens," determined that a percentage of the human "plants" of the present civilization of this Garden (Earth) had developed enough that some of those bodies might be ready to be used as "containers" for soul deposits. Upon instruction, a member of the Kingdom of Heaven then left behind His body in that Next Level (similar to putting it in a closet, like a suit of clothes that doesn't need to be worn for awhile), came to Earth, and moved into (or incarnated into), an aduh human body (or "vehicle") that had been "prepped" for this particular task. The body that was chosen was called Jesus. The member of the Kingdom of Heaven who was instructed to mcamate into that body did so at His "Father's" (or Older Member's) instruction. He "moved into" (or took over) that body when it was 29 or 30 years old, at the time referred to as its baptism by John the Baptist (the incarnating event was depicted as "...the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove" - Luke 3:22). [That body (named Jesus) was tagged in its formative period to be the receptacle of a Next Level Representative, and even just that "tagging" gave that "vehicle" some unique awareness of its coming purpose.]

The sole task that was given to this member from the Kingdom of Heaven was to offer the way leading to membership into the Kingdom of Heaven to those who recognized Him for who He was and chose to follow Him. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" meant - 'since I am here, and I am from that Kingdom, if you leave everything of this world and follow me, I can take you into my Father's Kingdom.' Only those individuals who had received a "deposit" containing a soul's begirming had the capacity to believe or recognize the Kingdom of Heaven's Representative. They could get to His Father only through total reliance upon Him. He later sent His students out with the "Good news of the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," and His followers could then help gather the "flock" so that the "Shepherd" might teach others what was required of them to enter His Father's House His Father's Kingdom - the Kingdom of Heaven - in the literal and physical Heavens - certainly not among humans on Earth. Leaving behind this world included: family, sensuality, selfish desires, your human mind, and even your human body if it be required of you all mammalian ways, thinking, and behavior. Since He had been through this metamorphic transition Himself from human to Level Above Human - under the guidance of His Father He was qualified to take others through that same discipline and fransition. Remember, the One who incarnated in Jesus was sent for one purpose only, to say, 'If you want to go to Heaven, I can take you through that gate - it requires everything of you.'

Our mission is exactly the same. I am in the same position to today's society as was the One that was in Jesus then. My being here now is actually a continuation of that last task as was promised, to those who were students 2000 years ago. They are here again, continuing in their own overcoming, while offering the same fransition to others. Our only purpose is to offer the discipline and "grafting" required of this fransition into membership in My Father's House. My Father, my Older Member, came with me this time for the first half of this task to assist in the task because of its present difficulty.

Looking to us, and desiring to be a part of my Father's Kingdom, can offer to those with deposits that chance to connect with the Level Above Human, and begin that fransition. Your separation from the world and reliance upon the Kingdom of Heaven through its Representatives can open to you the opportunity to become a new creature, one of the Next Evolutionary Level, rightfrilly belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven.

WHY IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE OR ACCEPT US

We don't know if you beheve in the real existence of negative or "lower" forces. If you do. then you may be able to understand or relate to some of what we are about to say. It seems that how your "programming" permits you to see or identify those forces, determines the limit of your acceptance or understanding. Many believe that there are "evil" acts or even "evil" individuals, but would draw the line before they would

48 believe in evil spfrits, evil discamates, negative influences, malevolent space aliens, "Luciferians" or Satan and his fallen angels. ' '

The generally accepted "norms" of today's societies - world over - are designed, established, and maintained by the individuals who were at one time "students" of the Kingdom'of Heaven -"angels" in the making - who "flunked out" of the classroom. Legends and scripfrires refer to them as fallen angels. The current civilization's records use the name Satan or Lucifer to describe a single fallen angel and also to "nickname" any "evil presence." If you have experienced some of what our "classroom" requfres of us, you would know that these "presences" are real and that the Kingdom of God even permits them to "attack" us in order for us to leam then fricks and how to stay above them or conquer them. The space aliens, or Luciferians, use the discamate spirits (the minds that are disembodied at the death of a body) as their primary servants - against potential members of the Kingdom of God. These "influences," or discamates, are constantly "programming" every human "plant" (vehicle or body), to accept a set of beliefs and norms for behavior during a Hfetime. From our point of view, this "programming" finds that body, and the vast majority of all human bodies, barely usable by students of the Kingdom of Heaven.

As the above example can serve to testify, the "lower forces" would through then "norm" concept what is "socially acceptable," what is politically correct - have you not believe in spirits, spirit possession, negative space aHens, Satan, etc. They would have you beheve that to even dabble in these ideas is of the "occult," Satanic, or at the least, giving credence to "fringe" topics. Thaf s where they would also categorize any mental search of Eastem religions, asfrology, metaphysics, paranormal, UFOs, etc., etc. In other words, they (these space ahens) don't want themselves "found out," so they condemn any exploration. They want you to be a perfect servant to society (THEIR society ~ of THEIR world) ~ to the "acceptable establishment," to humanity, and to false religious concepts. Part of that "stay blinded" formula goes like this: "Above all, be married, a good parent, a reasonable church goer, buy a house, pay your mortgage, pay your insurance, have a good line of credit, be socially committed, and graciously accept death with the hope that 'through His shed blood,' or some other equally worthless religious precept, you will go to Heaven after your death."

Many segments of society, especially segments of the religious, think that they are not "of the world," but rather that then "conversion" experience finds them "outside of worldliness." The next statement that we will make will be the "Big Tester," the one that the "lower forces" would use to clearly have you discredit or disregard us. That statement is: Unless you are currently an active student or are attempting to become a student of the present Representative from the Kingdom of Heaven - you ARE STILL "of the world," having done no significant separation from worldliness, and you are still serving the opposition to the Kingdom of Heaven. This statement sounds - to humans who have been so carefully programmed by the "lower forces" - arrogant, pompous, or egotistical at the least - as if by taking this stand we had something to gain - as if we were seeking recognition as "Deity" or as self-appointed prophets.

That Luciferian programming has tmly been effective, for we don't even want to voice to you the statement in question. However, believe it or not, it is only for your sake - the sake of prospective recipients of the Kingdom of Heaven - that we must "tell the tiiith," openly identify to you as Representatives of the Kingdom of Heaven, well aware of the "fallout" of that position.

The hard facts or bold statements in a nutshell, that are so difficult to accept or "digest" - come down to: If you want or ever expect to go to Heaven - here is your window. That window opportunity requires: 1) an incarnate (as human) Representative of the Kingdom of Heaven; 2) that all who hope to enter Heaven become active sttidents of that Representative while the Representative is present; 3) those who endure the "fransition classroom" until it ends (adequately bonding or "grafting" to that Representative) w ill go with that Representative - literally LEAVE the human kingdom and Earth as He is about to do. Staying behind, for any significant period, could jeopardize that "graft." That window to Heaven will not open again until another civilization is planted and has reached sufficient matiirity (according to the judgment of the Next Level)

49 We can't blame you for "buying into" the "Luciferian" program. What else has been available during those periods when no Representative was present? Almost nothing save some warnings in the Scriptures, i.e., Luke 20:34-36, Luke 21:23, Mark 12:25, and Mark 13:17-19. Check these out.

Another fact is that what someone is into during the time a Representative is not present really doesn't matter that much, except that they are found unprepared when One comes - the only time when the Kingdom of Heaven can be offered to you.

The dilemma is we are here and most humans are thoroughly "hooked" to humanity. However, the same "grace" that was available at the end of the Representative's mission 2000 years ago is available now with our presence. If you quickly choose to take these steps toward separating from the world, and look to us for help, you will see our Father's Kingdom. It is clear to all of us, that to the Anti-Christ - those propagators of sustained faithfulness to mammalian humanism ~ we are, and will be seen as, their Anti-Christ. This is certainly to be expected, and it will not delay our retum to our Father's Kingdom. It might even accelerate that retum. We will, between now and our departure, do everything we can for those who want to go with us. But we cannot allow them to interfere with or delay our retum to Him.

The Present Representative Do

rhttp://www. wave.net/upg/gate/infro.htm)

50 APPENDDC B

OVERVIEW OF PRESENT MISSION

BY JWNODY-A STUDENT

51 OVERVIEW OF PRESENT MISSION BY JWNODY -A STUDENT

The documents contained m our book present a mnning account of materials we have printed and published in relationship to our mission on this planet, spanning the past two decades. To help you understand who we are, we have taken the liberty to express a brief synopsis m the vemacular of a popular "science fiction" entertainment series. Most readers in the late 20th Centtiry will certainly recognize the intended parallels. It is really quite mteresting to see how the context of fiction can often open the mind to advanced possibilities which are, in reality, quite close to fact.

Excerpt from Exfraterresfrials Retum with Final Warning (located in Section 5):

"An 'away team' from an Evolutionary Level Above Human, an 'Adnural,' and His 'Captain' and crew, during the 1920's to 1950's picked and prepped the human bodies which they would wear for the task we are about to describe. They came into those bodies in the 1970's - the Admiral and Captain fust. They began rounding up then crew m '75 and assistmg them in the process of entermg and taking charge of their own assigned human bodies. They called their crew together by means of a public statement and meetings (over about a 9-month period). The media, typically hastily judging them, tagged them the 'UFO Cult,' because of then expectation of leaving aboard a spacecraft (UFO) at the completion of their task. The Two then took the ones who followed them into seclusion, completely separate from the world for almost 17 years, not only completing their 'awakening' or adjustment to their human bodies and this primitive civilization, but also took them through a 'metamorphic' classroom experience of changing over their consciousness and behavior to match with that of their distant culture from whence they had come."

Those 17 years of seclusion ended for us in 1992. From 1975/1976 until we went public again in 1992, we were very much "lifted out" of this world - literally. In 1988, however, we did write the '88 Update, including, quite appropriately, some updated thinking. We also took this opportunity to set the record sfraight with a written account of our history, refiiting many of the false reports and outright lies widely circulated and published by the media back in 1975. We sent it out far and wide for "those who had ears to hear." But it was clearly part of the Next Level's design to keep us protected and secluded a while longer, so we remained hidden and virtually unfindable for several more years.

In the early 1990's, we began to get clear signals that our "classroom time" per se was nearly over, but that some involvement with the public was about to begin. So, we started the painful and arduous task of trying to figure out how to re-interface, communicate, with a human civilization which by this time had become quite foreign to where our thinking had evolved. Nevertheless, in early 1992, we had our "coming out." We did a series of satellite TV broadcasts, entitled Beyond Human - The Last Call, and for the first time in 17 years, we corresponded for a brief period with those who opted to write to us. And a very interesting phenomenon occurred. Although we thought we were presenting our information to the "public at large," much to our surprise, those who watched and responded were almost entnely our own "lost sheep" that is, crew members who had previously dropped away, having been overcome in earlier years by the temptations of an increasingly decadent civilization. They now were desperately seeking a way to reconnect. And they did.

After these rettimees had a period of time to readapt to the ways of the classroom/Next Level, we once again set out to offer our information to the public. Our dilemma was multifaceted: How do we present the information in a credible fashion, when to most, our Tmth is definitely stranger than any fiction? How do we avoid being seen as rehgious, in order to not "ttim off those who rightfully despise the hypocrisy of what religions have become? At the same time, how do we acknowledge our past associations with this civilization which are primarily recorded in your Bible, so as to offer those who are waiting for prophecy to

52 be fiilfilled, enough clues to put it together? As you read our vanous presentations, you will see our manN attempts to speak m tongues" - to speak in several languages and to several sfratas simultaneously. '

A fact that we take for granted but which may take some explanation for others, is that the Next Lexel does not always let us m on the overview of their sfrategy. "Next steps," timetables, and even conceptual understandings are given to us only on a "need to know" basis. Without a doubt, the Next Lex el has had an exfremely detailed lesson plan designed for our personal growth. In retrospect, it is quite evident how the premattire mfroduction of more advanced concepts and understandings early on would have completely "blown" the cfrcuifry of the comparatively primitive human computers (brains) we were using. Consequently, new steps and understandings were presented throughout our awakening in a careftilly calculated sequence. By this method, the hmited human mechanism could, with some effort, be reprogrammed to accept and assimilate the advanced, non-human perspectives we were receiving. As a result, you will notice that throughout our materials, our understandings are constantly being updated and refmed as our cfrcuifry adapted. One "fact" we leamed early on is that what is tmth for us today may be just a stepping stone to a higher understanding that may be given to us tomorrow. Our elementary lesson plan was, of course, exfremely fiiisfrating for our Teachers - who literally were not permitted to access the mind/knowledge and even the memories that were previously then own (in the Next Level), but which were not a compatible match with then temporary human condition and current task assignment. Furthermore, conscious remembrance of too much knowledge too soon could potentially be an interference and liability to their plan - our growth pattern. The nony here is that they w ere likely the ones who, before coming into these bodies, designed these "limitations" into then task so, they had only themselves to blame. This is a bit of what we would call Next Level humor.

But back to our overall chronology. On May 27, 1993, we took a much more overt step toward the conclusion of our task. We published a 1/3-page ad/statement in both the national and intemational editions of USA TODAY, entitied "UFO Cult" Resurfaces with Final Offer (see Section 5). And again the ball was rolling. We were definitely in the public eye. This ad/statement, with slight variations, entitled Last Chance To Advance Beyond Human (see Section 6), was then reprinted in altemative newspapers, weekly newspapers, and various magazines around the country as well as overseas (listed in Section 5). During the months that followed, we maintained an ongoing correspondence with, as well as provided video tapes and written materials to, those who wrote to us with sincere interest.

Then, in January of 1994, once again, we sold all of our worldly possessions except for a few cars and changes of clothing, and set out cross-counfry holding free public meetings from coast to coast for 9 months (meeting locations listed in Section 6). In addition, we did countless newspaper, radio, and TV interviews. It became clear to us, during the course of these meetings, that our primary purpose for being out there at this particular time, was not to relate to the public in general, but to locate our additional crew members, whom we now refer to as the "second wave." Then addition to our class in 1994 nearly doubled our numbers. It was quite evident to them and to us that we were of the same family, of the same mind. And once again, we realized that this was all part of a greater plan that was unfolding according to the design of those in the Next Level responsible for this current civilization "experiment." What some might call the "second rapttne" or snatching away, found all of us, both the first and the second wave, removed from the world, entering into what we would describe as an accelerated version of the "metamorphic classroom," lasting over a year before our once again "coming out."

Then on September 25-26, 1995, from a secluded location, we issued a statement that went out "on line" - around the globe, for our sixth public interaction. The statement entitled "Underco\'er 'Jesus' Surfaces Before Departtire" was posted to the World Wide Web and to 95 UseNET newsgroups on the Internet, potentially reaching milhons simultaneously. And in keeping with our policy of "speaking in tongues," on October 11, 1995, we posted a higher, more generic ttanslation, entitled "'95 Statement by an E.T. Presently Incamate ." The response was exfremely animated and somewhat mixed. However, the loudest voices were those expressing ridicule, hostility, or both - so quick to judge that which they could not comprehend. 1 his

53 was the signal to us to begin our preparations to retum "home." The weeds have taken over the garden and tmly disturbed its usefiilness beyond repair - it is time for the civilization to be recycled - "spaded under."

And so this brings us before the public once again, with our "farewell legacy." At the time of this writing, we do not yet know the extent of this seventh, and we suspect final, pubhc involvement. Our book, an anthology of our materials, beguis "phase one." Nothing is predetermined. The response of the world to the Next Level will be monitored very carefully. What happens next remains in the balance.

It has been given that what you do with this - how you respond to us - is sfrictly up to you.

(http://www.wave.net/upg/gate/ovrview.htm)

54 APPENDDC C

CREW FROM THE EVOLUTIONARY

LEVEL ABOVE HUMAN OFFERS

LAST CHANCE TO ADVANCE

BEYOND HUMAN

55 CREW FROM THE EVOLUTIONARY LEVEL ABOVE HUMAN OFFERS LAST CHANCE TO ADVANCE BEYOND HUMAN

The following statements could sound very presumpttious. However, these facts can come into focus or "prove" themselves if they are seriously explored a step at a time. They could also sound very "doomsdayish." Though, in tiiith, they may be the most joyous "sound of music" to the ears and eyes of those who have been waiting for them.

The Earth's present "civilization" is about to be recycled - "spaded under" - in order that the planet might be refrnbished. The human "weeds" have taken over the garden and disturbed its usefiilness beyond repan.

The human kingdom was designed (created) as a steppmg stone between the animal kingdom and the Evolutionary Kingdom Level Above Human (the tme Kingdom of God).

It is the soul that can progress from the human kingdom to the Kmgdom Level Above Human. Both kingdom levels have then own unique physical "contamers" (bodies) for the souls that reside in that kingdom level.

As the human goes out to "choose" servants from within the animal kingdom, from beasts of burden to seeing-eye dogs - if that animal grows to find pleasure only in serving its master, no longer identifies as an animal, but sees itself as a family member in that human family, and its behavior is pleasing to that human - the two become bound together. The human family then provides the body (a human infant) for that soul to enter, allowing it to move up into the human evolutionary kingdom. (This is not to suggest that all humans are containers for souls moving up from the animal kingdom, for most humans are containers for human kingdom retumees still bound to that family unit.) In a more realistic way, periodically a Member of the Kingdom Level Above Human receives instmction to incamate among humans to seek out the souls that have been "tagged" or given a "deposit" (an "implant") of knowledge concerning the TRUTH about the Evolutionary Level Above Human. That knowledge finds each recipient wanting to "separate from the pack," and prepares him to recognize the Teacher or Representatives sent from the Kingdom Level Above Human. When he/she connects with that Teacher - an "Older Member" in that Kingdom - he is then offered further instmction in knowledge and behavior that can open the door of service to him. If that human changes to the degree that he no longer desires any human behavior and he pleases that Member of the Kingdom Level Above Human, a bond is formed between them and a body belonging to that new Kingdom is provided for that soul to move up into.

Both the human kingdom and the Kingdom Level Above Human - the tme Kingdom of God - are physical and biological. However, the human kingdom is made up of mammalian bodies - "seed-bearing" plants or "containers" - while the Kingdom Level Above Human is made up of non-mammalian, non-seed-bearing bodies or contauiers for souls. The Kingdom Level Above Human's "children," or young, are those who have graduated from the human kingdom under the tutorship (midwifing) of a Member of the tme Kingdom of God who has been through that fransition bonded to His Father - at a previous time.

A "sttident" or prospective "child" of a Member of the Level Above Human can, with the help of his Older Member(s) from that Kingdom Level, overcome or rise out of all human-mammalian behavior - sexuality and gender consciousness - and all other addictions and ties of the human kingdom. Older Members, as^^ experienced "clinicians," are necessary to take souls through this "weaning" - this difficult "withdrawal" from humanness and binding "misinformation" concepts. The sttident must complete this change to the point of abhorring human behavior before his soul can become a "match" with a biological body of the true Kingdom of God - for that new, genderless body is designed to frinction at a far more refined level.

The Evolutionary Level Above Human, the tine Kingdom of God, the "Headquarters" of all that is, is a many-membered Kingdom which physically exists in the highest, most distant Heaven - a non-temporal place (outside of time, and therefore with etemal life). It is the only place from which souls, life, and all

56 creating originates. Being non-temporal, it was, is, and forever will be - a concept that temporal creattnes are not designed to comprehend. This "Next Level" Kingdom designed the "temporal" world outside its "borders" and designed temporal creattires for souls to mhabit while in the human "classroom." If the soul survives and moves forward through all its tests along the way it can, with the help of a Member of the Level Above Human, lose its temporal characteristics and become a part of then non-perishable, non- cormptible world. However, all other souls who reach a certain degree of cormption (having of then own free will chosen to become totally separate from then Creator, whether knowingly or not) will engage a "self-destmct" mechanism at the Age's end.

The term "TRUE" Kingdom of God is used repeatedly because there are many space alien races that through the centuries of this civilization (and in civilizations prior) have represented themselves to humans as "Gods." We refer to them collectively as "space alien races m opposition to the Next Level," what historically have been referred to as "Luciferians," for then ancestors fell into disfavor with the Kingdom Level Above Human many thousands of years ago. They are not genderless - they still need to reproduce. They have become nothing more than technically advanced humans (clinging to human behavior) who retained some of what they leamed while in the early fraining of Members of the Level Above Human, e.g.. having limited: space-time fravel, telepathic communication, advanced fravel hardware (spacecrafts, etc.), increased longevity, advanced genetic engineering, and such skills as suspending holograms (as used in some so-called "religious miracles"). The Next Level - the tme Kingdom of God has the only tmly advanced space-time fravel vehicles, or spacecrafts, and is not interested in creating phenomena (signs) or impressive frickery.

These malevolent space races are the humans' GREATEST ENEMY. They hold humans in unknown slavery only to fulfill their own desires. They cannot "create," though they develop races and biological containers through genetic manipulation and hybridization. They even fry to "make deals" with human governments to permit them (the space aliens) to engage in biological experimentation (through abductions) in exchange for such things as technically advanced modes of fravel - though they seldom follow through, for they don't want the humans of this civilization to become another element of competition. They war among themselves over the spoils of this planet and use religion and increased sexual behavior to keep humans "dmgged" and ignorant (in darkness) while thinking they are in "God's" keeping. They use the discarnate (spnit) world to keep humans preoccupied with their addictions. These negative space races see to it, through the human "social norm" (the largest Luciferian "cult" there is), that man continues to not avail himself of the possibility of advancing beyond human.

Just as the biological body is the "container" for the soul, the soul is the "container" for Mind ("Spirit"). Mind franslates into the brain as information (knowledge). Information is available to humans from only two sources - the mind of the adversarial space races - or the Mind of the Kingdom Level Above Human. The mind of the adversarial space races yields misinformation (promoting the behavior and concepts of this cormpt world). The Mind from the tine Kingdom of God yields tme information (though the space races and then servants would reverse this interpretation). As we change, in the progression of overcoming humanness the percentages change - of which mind occupies our soul - Tmth increases as misinformation decreases. If one chooses to revert back to humanness, the process reverses - the Tmth is aborted as the soul becomes more filled with mammalian mind. [The word "Tme" or "Tmth" is defined as the most accurate perception available at any given level of understanding, changing at the level of the eye of the beholder.] That Next Level Tmth can even be taken from us if we abuse it. When our "eye becomes single" or our soul is filled only with the Mind or "Spirit" from the tine Kingdom of God, it becomes pure or "Holy" Mind ("Spirit").

The design of the tine Kingdom of God permits the presence of an adversial element during a human civilization as the primary catalyst for growth. Without it, we would have no choices our tree will could not be exercised. Our right choices are what find us in alignment to receive a "deposit" of recognition when the Tmth is offered.

57 Two thousand years ago, the Kingdom Level Above Human appointed an Older Member to send a Representative (His "Son"), along with some of then beginning sttidents, to incamate on this garden (These sttidents had brief periods of association with and guidance from Members of the Kingdom Le^ el Above Human during the early generations of this civilization.) While on Eartii as an "away team" ^ynh then "Captam," they were to work on thefr overcoming of humanness and tell the civilization they were visiting how the tine Kmgdom of God can be entered. The humans under the confrol of the adverserial space races killed the "Captain" and His crew, because of the "blasphemous" position they held and quickly ttimed the teachings of the "Captain" (the Older Member's "Son") into watered-down Counfry Club religion - obscining the remnants of the Tmth.

Again an "away team" from the Level Above Human incarnated in the 1970's in the mattne (adult) bodies that had been picked and prepped for this current mission. This time the "Admiral" (the Older Member, or "Father," mcamate in a female vehicle) came with the "Captain" and his crew. As the two Older Members put out a "statement" and held public meetings over about a 9-month period in 1975-76 to bring then crew together, the media tagged them the "UFO cuh" because of then expectation of leaving aboard a spacecraft ("cloud of light") at the completion of then "overcoming." The two Older Members then went into seclusion with then crew (sttidents), "lifting them out" of the world for almost 17 years (not accepting any new students), making Earth's surface then classroom. This isolation was absolutely necessary, for the degree of then overcoming of sexuality, addictions, and ties to the human envnonment has to be taken to the pomt of matching the nunimum behavior and consciousness requnements of the Kingdom Level Above Human. Only then would then new "Next Level" bodies be ftmctional. They resurfaced briefly for about a 3-1/2-month period m 1992, allowing some of their "dropouts" to rejoin them.

This changeover (sufficient "overcoming" to mherit Next Level bodies) is nearing completion, and before this "away team" returns, representatives of the "Class" are mstincted to put this mformation before the public. The Next Level will determine the fiiture of each individual soul according to its response to this information and the Next Level's Representatives.

These space alien adversaries, for the most part, are about to be "recycled" as this human civilization is "spaded." They know that "mmor has it" that their days are numbered. They refuse to believe it and are desperate to recmit souls from the human kingdom into then "heavenly kingdom." There are many "counterfeit" heavens, and each "heaven" is at this time collecting "names in then book," forcing a stand of allegiance, polarizing each individual's commitment to his chosen "God."

When Members of the Level Above Human are physically present, the opposing forces work the hardest against them in order to support their own position. They do almost anything to keep humans from following the path toward the Evolutionary Level Above Human. They "tum up the heat" at this time in the area of mammalian behavior, primarily sexuality and the family. This has become such an overwhelming presence in the Earth's atmosphere that even some of the crew that came with us were lost to its temptation. Don't forget that when the adversaries were expelled, they had to condemn the tme Kingdom of God in order to support their own desires, and see it simply as another path - mhumane and radically uncompromising.

When this present "away team" leaves (which will be very soon), the Tmth will go with them. You cannot preserve the Tmth in your religions. It is present only as long as a Tmth bearer (Older Member from the tme Kingdom of God) is present. It can only be your ftiture if you have received the gift of recognition and you "reach out and grab" ftirther nourishment while it is offered. The Tmth can be retained (without significant dilution) only as one is physically connected with the Next Level, through an Older Member, and that relationship requires sustained, constantiy upgraded perception and behavior.

Humans of this civilization have periodically been given laws by the Next Level to upgrade their beha\ lor. For example, the laws given to Moses were elementary "commandments" designed to make order and to raise the standards of a very "young" (primitive, barbaric) society. Then some 2000 years later, the Level

58 Above Human, through Jesus' teachings, brought major updates (far more demanding): the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37) - "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and his wife and children and brothers and sisters - and even his own Hfe also - he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). Those wanting to go with Him had to do as He did. His teachmgs clearly spelled out the requnements (the acttial formula) for making the literal and difficult fransition from the human kingdom into the Kingdom Level Above Human.

When a soul which has previously received the gift of life is awakened by its Older Member(s) in a particular incamation or "season" (well after adolescence), it is picking up in its lessons where it left off at the end of its previous time with an Older Member. What any mdividual participates in prior to that "awakening" is of no real significance. If a soul had previously overcome such human characteristics as family ties and relationships, then just prior to its awakening, or rejoining with its Older Member, he is seen by those around him as suddenly becoming unstable, for he is compelled to once again separate from those imposing ties and seek to connect with what he had previously sought or coimected with.

Now, at the close of this Age, every significant soul of this civilization has retumed (and is to some degree in or attached to a physical body) to reap its reward. Its desnes and attachments determine which heaven it is going to (by what it chooses to not overcome or what it clings to, and which "God" it looks to - one that increases its humaimess or one that offers a way out of its humarmess). Most who think they are for the tme Kingdom of God are in fact working for the opposing side - the counterfeit "gods" - and will want to condemn us.

Today's leaders in the "indusfrialized world," though claiming to be democratic, self-righteously dictate to the rest of the world thefr own ideas of what are acceptable practices and behavior.

- Money RULES! The monetary systems, through indebtedness, ownership, and insurance (all against God's ethic for man), bind man to servitude. The powers behmd the money have discovered man's most tempting addictions, and through advertisement, movies, television, radio, and publications, feed these addictions with the excitement of sex, dmgs (legal and illegal), and all manner of violence, to ensure their contmued monetary power. Under the guise of "the social norm," this same world also imposes its distorted religious concepts and values. Their selfish pursuits cormpt and pollute the physical envnonment of all their "subjects" as well.

- The pure information brought by every Representative sent by the Level Above Human is the same - total renunciation of the human world and human ways is required for enfry into the ttne Kingdom of God. However, all religions that were originally based upon the information these Representatives brought have been targeted by major misinformation campaigns by the adversarial space races to the point that only a frace of the pure mformation remains in any of these religions' teachings and practices.

- The tine "Jews" - God's chosen people (the overcomers) - can no longer be found in a genetic sttain - a race - or a religion.

- The tme "Israel" - where God's chosen people (the overcomers) reside - cannot be found in a geographical location.

- The frue "Christians" cannot be found among the religious who put human family values on the ultimate pedestal. They claim to know Jesus (Yeshua) as then "Messiah" or "Savior" - even though He never had a wife or children, nor would He accept as His disciple any who would not leave all attachments and ties to this world in order to leam from Him. Any fruly committed to His family or God's ways, are today seen as "cults" and a threat to all of the above social norms and systems.

59 When the Next Level sent a crew 2000 years ago, the world "cleansed" or "saved" then world from its "blasphemy" and merely got the crew then boarding passes back to the tme Kuigdom of God on the tme "Enterprise" (spaceship or "cloud of light"). If you seek to cleanse the world of our "blasphemy" this time, you will simply be the instinment of our "days bemg shortened" while desfroying your "last chance" in this civilization to advance.

Many say they live only for the "Harvest Time" - the "Last Days" - the "Second Coming." These have all arrived! There are souls - some of you, here now - who have received a deposit of recognition, and that knowledge finds you desnous of cormecting and bonduig with the Next Level. Those who ha\ e that deposit of Life will believe what we say, and know who we are. If they contmue in that belief- sustain that Life (though the opposing space alien races will do anything to prevent them from ninturing that gift) they will be protected and "saved" from the approaching recycling and "spading under" of the civilization. They will have nothing to fear, nor will they know DEATH - even if they lose then human body. That continued belief will one day find them a member in the Level Above Human, in a physical body belonging to the tme Kingdom of God - the Evolutionary Level Above Human - leaving behind this temporal and perishable world for one that is everlasting and non-cormptible.

Today's Next Level Crew

(http://www.wave.net/upg/gate/lastchnc.htm)

60 APPENDDC D

'95 STATEMENT BY AN E.T.

PRESENTLY INCARNATE

61 '95 STATEMENT BY AN E.T. PRESENTLY ESICARNATE

1. In the early 1970's, two individuals (my task partner and myself) from the Evolutionary Level Abo\ e Human (the Kingdom of Heaven) mcamated uito (moved into and took over) two human bodies that \\ ere in then forties. I moved into a male body, and my partiier, who is an Older Member m the Level Above Human, took a female body. (We called these bodies "vehicles," for they simply served as physical vehicular tools for us to wear while on a task among humans. They had been tagged and set aside for our use since their birth.)

2. We brought to Earth with us a crew of students whom we had worked with (nurtured) on Earth in previous missions. They were in varying stages of metamorphic fransition from membership in the human kmgdom to membership ui the physical Evolutionary Level Above Human (what your history refers to as the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven).

3. It seems that we arrived in Earth's atmosphere between Earth's 1940's and early 1990's. We suspect that many of us arrived in staged spacecraft (UFO) crashes and many of our discarded bodies (genderless. not belonging to the human species), were refrieved by human authorities (government and military).

4. Other crews from the Level Above Human preceded our arrival and "tagged" - placed a deposit "chip" in each of the vehicles (bodies) that we would individually incamate into, when that instmction would be given. These "chips" set aside those bodies for us.

5. We feel that while we were "out of body" between arrival and incamation, we were thoroughly briefed and were taken through an extensive preview of places and events that would assist our individual incamation process of bringing our mind our consciousness into the vehicle (body) and overriding the mind of the human "plant" (or container) that each of us was to use. This incamation process is very difficuk and caimot be done without the help of Older Members of the Evolutionary Level Above Human who have not only gone through the metamorphic fransition to completion themselves, but who have also assisted others through this fransition before (acting as "midwives" for some in the shedding of their human-creature characteristics while preparmg to be bom as new creatures into the Next Evolutionary Kingdom).

6. The tine Kingdom of God the real physical Kingdom of Heaven - the Evolutionary Level Above Human - are completely synonymous. As a genderless Kingdom, it "reproduces" or adds to its Kingdom membership through the use of this metamorphic process. This Next Level Kingdom created all that is - including all the paths that lead to decay and destmction, for the creattires it creates are created with free will an ever-present option to choose the direction to take at any juncttire or moment of decision. 7. The metamorphic "birth" into the Level Above Human occurs as follows: In any given civilization on a fertile planet such as Earth (and Earth has had many periodic/cyclical civilizations), the Level Above Human plants all the new life forms (including humans) for that civilization in a neutral condition so that they have a chance to choose the direction of then growth. The Level Above Human - or Next Level - direcdy (hands on) relates significandy to the civilization at its beginning stage, and subsequently (\Mth teu exceptions) at approximately 2000-year intervals (48-hour intervals from a Next Level perspective) until that civilization's final "Age."

8. Each time the Next Level relates directly to any portion of that civilization, "deposits" containing "souls" (the "seed" or "chip" with a program of metamorphic possibihties) are placed m many human plants^ i his deposit is potentially the "gift of life" into the physical and real Evolutionary Level Above Human. 1 hese deposits are given or made only when members of the Level Above Human are assigned to diicct \ re ate to (be incamate m) the civilization. Only these Representatives can "nurture" those deposited souls u.th Next Level thinking, behavior, and all the information reqmred to effectively flutt ott all human/mammahan characteristics of the old creattire. (A potential creattire of the Next Level cannot amy

62 to human ways any more than a butterfly can cling to caterpillar ways.) So, when a Representative from that Kingdom is present - that "Rep's" nurturing (teaching) is a "window" for exitmg the human kingdom for all who have been given deposits/souls. These deposits are made only m vehicles (bodies) that are "old enough" - having grown or mattired enough - for self-determination or responsibility.

9. Humans with deposits containing souls can likely be identified at this time as some of those who are rapidly losing respect for this world or its "system." They are, from the estabhshment's point of view, being irresponsible or anti-social - and will be seen by the world as duped, crazy, a cuh member, a drifter, a loner, a drop-out, a separatist, etc.

10. Not only is the body, in a sense, the temporary container for the soul, but even more importantly - the soul is the housing or container of the new creature. The soul has its own "brain" or "hard drive" that accumulates only information of the Next Level - mundane as well as theoretical or philosophical. The soul also becomes part of the new physical body of the new creature, though it is seldom seen by human eyes. Therefore, when a soul is a part of a new deposit, it has very little information and is as a very small Next Level "fetus." As it develops or grows in size, it necessitates the abortion of the human mind, which is in a container beside it. If you think of a glass vase that has two balloons in it, one balloon is the human mind, the other is the Next Level mind. When the Next Level makes a "soul deposit," it is like placing the second balloon in the glass vase. So, when metamorphosis begins, the human mind (balloon) is all but filling the container, and the Next Level mind or soul is all but empty. As the Next Level mind increases - and the soul begins to grow larger - the human-mind container or balloon decreases until, if the Next Level mind successftilly makes it to "term," the human deflated balloon is discarded and the Next Level balloon (with Next Level mind) is all that fills the container, or glass vase. That soul with its Next Level mind has by then become a physical body in a new species (the Level Above Human), needing only a new physical outer shell, which it receives as a "quartermaster issue" upon physically entering the Next Level. The final act of metamorphosis or separation from the human kingdom is the "discormect" or separation from the human physical container or body in order to be released from the human environment and enter the "next" world or physical environment of the Next Level. This will be done under the supervision of Members of the Next Level in a clinical procedure. We will rendezvous in the "clouds" (a giant mothership) for our briefing and joumey to the Kingdom of the Literal Heavens.

11. Metamorphosis is not ordinarily accomphshable during only one period of visitation from the Level Above Human. Therefore, the deposit task at each visitation includes deposits with "programs" for retumees who are still in "forward motion."

12. At the end of the Age or civilization (where we are now), it seems thatall souls that were deposited in^ any part of the present civilization are brought back. Between visitations, "faithful" souls are "put on ice," so to speak - in the keeping of the Level Above Human, to be re-deposited and again incarnated during the next visitation. So, at this time we have both "faithful" souls who might be in the third "ttimester" of their metamorphosis preparing for the final test before "emerging" in then new physical body belonging to the Next Level, and we also have all those souls who have "fallen away" during this civilizatton's visitations. Even they now have a chance at reinstatement.

13. The requirement is the same for all who might expect to find themselves in the safekeeping of the LCNCI Above Human - each must proceed in the forsaking of all human ways, ties, addictions, thinking gender behavior (sexuality), and be in the forward motion of becoming this new creattire (literally and physica > belonging to the Kingdom Level Above Human). (Some in the class have chosen on their own to hav e their vehicles neutered in order to sustain a more genderless and objective consciousness ) The overcoming process can only be accompHshed m the care, keeping, and ttitorship of the present (incamate) Representative(s) of that Next Kingdom.

63 14. Humans in any given time seem to fall m one of three categories: i) Humans without deposits - those who are simply "plants" (a part of the various levels of human "plant" life) containing the mind or program of then genetic mformation combined with then bram's uiterpretation of the information of then current body's experiences, ii) those with deposits/souls who are receiving nourishment from the present Rep(s) toward metamorphic completion, and iii) those with deposits/souls who are not m a classroom nor in a dnect relationship with the Representative(s) from the Level Beyond Human, having: a) not been confronted with the information and the Rep(s), or b) been confronted but have chosen not to "pursue."

15. Now that we are here again, how an individual responds to us and our information will, in fact, judge that individual as to whether he or she will or will not have a ftirther relationship with the Next Le\ el. In other words, coming in contact with this information will force a decision for all with souls, and the stand they individually take will judge or determine their future. Remember, even those who have fallen away are being given an opportunity at this time to be reconciled or reinstated.

16. Those with souls - who fall away - become a part of the opposition to the Next Level. Once, in a prior civilization, records suggest that a thnd of the class fell and the sfrongest, and thereby leader of those fallen, was called "Lucifer" (or Satan). Even today they occupy the near heavens as what humans refer to as "space ahens." They also burrow in bases underground and participate in genetic manipulation and hybridization with humans, and attempt to recmit (while remaining among the "unseen") those humans ^^ with souls who are unstable or weak in then pursuit of the tme Kingdom of Heaven. These "Luciferians" (for the most part from the "unseen" world) started all religions and masquerade as "gods" to humans. They offer to humans (who are unknowingly praying to them) whatever material gains they desire. These "Luciferians" and then devotees preach "Heaven on Earth," "Peace among men," and a long and healthy life in the human condition, and are determined to take the steps to make the inhabitants of the planet subservient to then "ideal" mammalian ethic - destinctive to the nattnal evolutionary processes, and abhorrent to the Kingdom Level Above Human. These "fallen angels" unknowingly also SERVE the Next Level - for as the aspnants to the Level Above Human apply the necessary effort to rise above this world - they gain the sfrength to enter the "Next World."

17 Where the space ahens have a major sfronghold in playing "God" is through those humans with the most power. The power is the sfrongest among the very rich and the very righteous ^heir self-styled religion) who accept that it is then ("God-given") responsibility to maintain the worid s stability - judged, of course, by whatever actions are necessary to mamtam and increase that power^ These powerftil individuals have a loose-knit world-wide "club" that for the most part dictates who then Pnmary "monopoly" players are - those leaders in the "sigmficant" or sfrong societies or culttires. Governmen leXs °he very rich and the worid's righteous or "moral" leaders, need each other to accomplish their "^^^^^r really deterLne what is "right" and "wrong" for t Wlaje . a w o e f. they frust then overview (and needless to say, it is motivated, for it makes he 'fj^J^^^^^^^ powerful, while offering sufficient "moral consciousness" to nurttire a g^^^^^^ ^^^^"^^^^ ™''^^ call" franslates down to every level of society's sfructtne, i.e., its laws, its P^J"^^^-^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^, .^e intolerance. The governments' law enforcers see to it that ^^^hmg is peirmt^ed o g^^^^^^^^ mles of the "big bedfellows" morality which is no morality at all, but ^^^ ^^ 1 ^^?^^^°^^^^^^^^^ protect the money flow, secure the power players, and sustam the J^^^P^f J^^w^^^^ • con ol group that isn't nLely, totally submissive to then social mles, -^^^^ ^^^ t ev nteasonou. mechanism," or questions its righfriess, is seen as subversive, radical, anti-social, a cult, - or potentially "terrorists."

18.1, ,s a fac. of record .ha. a number of space alien groups oi"'^^f;^Z:^^^^'<^^ .he pas. few decades for vanous reasons. These ranged from "^^^'^ J^ ™X^ i',;", LLen." All of .eclmology for unin.errupted genetic experimen.at.on - to missions of sp.rin.al enhfeh.c

64 these activities are far beneath Next Level interests or activity and are, in fact, diversionary efforts of the space aliens to have humans look to them at a time that our rettun presence was imminent.

19. The space aliens have very successfiilly, through then religions, totally conftised the humans' concept of "God" or "Deity." (These rehgions were begun as major distortions immediately following any visitation of the Next Level.) The Next Level abhors religions, for they bind humans more thoroughly to the human kingdom, using sfrong misinformation mixed with cosmic or universal consciousness of Creation, about which, in tinth, they know nothuig. Some of then Christians say that God was incamate as Jesus ' though He knew that His Father was clearly a separate entity, even when His Father's mind was in Him. Luciferians now answer the Christians' (as well as all other religions') prayers or requests as they promote enriching then human lives and having them seek a "Heaven on Earth" and a type of Second Coming that would clearly be abominable to the Next Level. Only the Luciferians could have Christians believing that Jesus promoted family values, becoming better humans, estabhshing professional religious instittitions, and looking for the Second Coming of some flowing-robed, peace-and-love manifestation of their artists' conceptions. Most religious thmk of a Kingdom of God, though it doesn't register to them that that Kmgdom has many members. They feel that if you acknowledge "many members" in the Kingdom of God, then you would be acknowledgmg a pantheism. Any time any member of the Next Level is assigned a task to relate to humans dnecfly, since he is of the Kingdom of God, he is rightfiiUy "God" to them, for he is the member of the Evolutionary Level Above Human ("Kingdom of God") who is relating to them. This is not to say that there is not in the Next Level a "Chief of Chiefs" or one who is Supreme. Luciferians have had humans spnitualize and elevate that spnitual feeling for the word "God" so that no member of the Next Level would want to identify as one of those members of the Kingdom of God. The irony is that humans pray to the masquerading "gods" - space aliens - who have many "superior" beings in their different races and subraces. So, humans are unknowingly praying to different "gods" of many "gods." Of course, none of these are, in fact, "Gods" - other than self-appointed. (They are simply humanoid remnants from previous civilizations that are allowed to exist as a part of the balance of positive and negative presences, and allowing a full range of free-will options.) The Next Level is not into rituals, or spiritual inflation of stature, though it's tme that younger members leam to be respectful and acknowledge the wisdom and serviceability of Older Members ui the Next Level. Where one can fall from progressing in the Next Level is to slip into believing that he can grow on his own. The only way an individual can grow in the Next Level is to leam to be dependent on his Older Member as that source of unlimited growth and knowledge. So, any younger member in good standing, forever remains totally dependent upon (and looks to) his Older Member for all things.

20. Since this is the close of the Age, the battle in the Heavens with then servants on Earth will be the means of that closing and the spading under of the plants (including the humans) of this civilization. "Weeds" are now getting rid of weeds - from gang wars to nations involved m ethnic cleansing. This is simply a part of the natural recycling process which precedes a restoration period of the planet in preparation for another civilization's beginning.

21. If you connect with this information - if you attempt to connect with us in your desire to leave your humanness behind and link with the Evolutionary Level Above Human - you may encounter uhat seems to be insurmountable tests. You can imagine the "fallout" of your separation. You may even be faced with the possibility of losing the body you are "wearing" m the demonsfration of your faithfiilness. We can take you through all of these frials - they are designed to offer you sttength and resolve.

22. If you expect to go with us in our spacecrafts headed for our "world" and the only ttue Kingdom LCN cl Above Human, you will likely have to physically engage in preparedness and readiness for that depai ture. That readiness should not be interfered with by the servants of this world. I find it all but impossible to ^ present these fruths to you in a way that might stand a chance to survive the avalanche of thoughts from opposition that would do anything in then power to prevent your separation from then u oi Id and > ou physical life in it. I hope that my Older Member's mercy will give you sfrength. If you care to speak o nic in your thoughts, I answer to "Do" (pronounced Doe). The name itself means nothing, but 1 connect u.th

65 for it was agreed upon for my usage by my Older Member "Ti" (pronounced Tee). Ti stayed with me, setting an example and preparmg me for this present responsibility until 1985, and then separated from her borrowed human container and retumed to the Next Level. (If we're not mistaken, our entire classroom task here from 1975 until the present has only been about 30 minutes by Next Level reckoning.) If you have grown to hate your life m this world and would lose it for the sake of the Next Level, you will find tme life with us - potentially forever. If you cling to this life -— will you not lose it? rhttp://www.wave.net/upg/gate/95upd96.htm)

66 APPENDDC E

INCARNATING AND

DISINCARNATING

BY JNNODY

67 INCARNATING AND DISCARNATING BY JNNODY

When a man asked Jesus, "What shall I do that I may mherit etemal life"? Jesus said, "You know the commandments," and named several. The man said he had observed them from youth. Jesus then told him he lacked one thing: "Sell what you have, give to the poor, and you shall have tteasure in Heaven, and come take up the cross and follow me." The man didn't feel that he could do that. The point is that Jesus, as a Representative of the Kingdom of God, did not say, "After you die, you will go to Heaven, if you belie\e on Me." Jesus knew that wasn't tine because He brought the formula for getting into the Kingdom of Heaven, which He told this man. Jesus also knew of the presence of discamate spirits, for He cast out many. So, if a human does not go to Heaven after death, and there are discamate spirits that circulate on the planet, then what is the missing piece to the puzzle? Perhaps this discussion will help fill in the gap.

We feel that planet Earth is a garden. The Kmgdom of God designed and created it, and planted it with a variety of hfe forms, including human, and tends it as the Gardeners. The only harvest that is of any significance to that Kingdom is the harvest of souls. Human bodies are just containers designed for those souls. Those containers also serve as the lesson ground for those souls. We also feel that the human condition was intended only as a fransitional fraining ground - a proving ground for potential new members of the Kingdom of Heaven. The creatures (the bodies and then spirits) on the planet were created with all the free-will options oft a) going awry, separatuig from God, amounting to nothing, and being recycled; b) overcoming the human condition and leaving it by becoming members in God's Kingdom; or c) becoming part of the opposition and fulfillmg that part of the design.

The "Kmgdom of God," the "Evolutionary Level Above Human," the "Next Level," and the "Kingdom of Heaven" are all synonymous terms for the same advanced level of existence above the human kingdom. This Next Level - the Kingdom of God - is a many-membered Kingdom, a physical level of existence in deepest space (outside of man's concept of time) beyond this human level - advanced physically, technologically, behaviorally, ethically, genetically, and in the wisdom and knowledge of service in the Creator's worid. When we refer to the "opposition," we speak of groups of space aliens (historically referred to as Satan and his angels, whom we call "Luciferians" slightiy advanced, human-equiv alent races). They reside in the near heavens, and use and abuse Earth and its inhabitants for their own ends (biological and mineral resources, genetic manipulation, and winning souls to their side). One major difference between the Next Level members and the Luciferians is that members of the Evolutionary Level Above Human are genderless.

Enfry into the Kingdom of God or the Next Level does not automatically occur at death of the body (vehicle), regardless of the seeming "goodness" of that individual's life. The Next Level increases their membership (in the Kingdom of Heaven) through a metamorphic process, by periodically offering to humans who "catch then eye," an opportmiity to become containers be the "wombs - for new creature of the Next Level (potential new members in then world). A soul must enter that Kingdom consciously, only after a classroom period of leaming the ways and behavior of the Level Above "^"^"'^"^l.^.^"!^^ human ways and behavior, while m the physical presence and ttitorship '^'^'^'''''"'^^^1^'^^^^^ that Kingdom The pomt is that souls who can make that fransition have to consciously know the ttuth (the facts) about where they are going, what they had to leave behind, and who they ^[f^fl^^ "^(t^^^^,^^,^ ^^ Representative) through the fransition into that Kingdom This is the only ••f7^. (^^J^l^^^^/;;^;^ ^^^ humans, for periodicdly, the garden is "spaded under" m preparation for another cycle of human civilization. At that time all those who have not been "set aside" by the Kmgdom of God w ill be part recycling or "spading under."

Wha. is LIFE and what ,s DEATH? Who gives l.fe and who .akes..? "/b^;,^;;,^;^*;^^:^,,:, „,- .ncluding humans, are considered "planis" in .he eyes of the K.ngdom o God. The hum " bo i. often refer ,o as .he "plan.") .s a perennial offshoot of a l.v.ng s.ra.n a ^^^jf^^^^ ,000 consequence .0 .he Nex. Level as far as l.fe or dea.h .s concerned. The Representanv

68 years ago said, "And do no. be afraid of fliose who kill the body bu. canno. kill A, «„„. K . u ,. ^ of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." '• *"" "'^" ^' ^^^'"^

We define life and death as i. rela.es .0 .he body, .he spiri., .he soul, and .he mind m somewha. d.fferen. "ro~;tir °"^ •''^'"^^'^'^"^'^ THE BODY

The body (the flesh and bones) is the temporary "suit of clothes," a container, a "vehicle" for the "spnit" If we make the analogy to a computer, then the body is the hard drive or hardware and the spirit is the software - the informational mind. Another good analogy is to see the body/vehicle as a car and the spmt as the driver. The car's design and capabilities are specific to the kind of car it is. But it still takes the "mind" behmd the wheel to make the car fimction as it was designed. Most humans identify with the physical vehicle (body), while members of Our Father's Kingdom identify with or as the soul What you see in the mirror (the body) - is not "you." The spnit is the real "you" and continues to live in the spirit worid after the body dies, with your memories, programming, habits, and addictions.

There is a very real, physical, genetic, ancesfral strain that is like a vine, with each vehicle (body) like the leaves. When a body "dies," the family "vine" is not seriously affected, any more than a botanical plant is that affected when one of its leaves falls. Like the perennial cycle of the plant, which in its season grows, blossoms, goes to seed, then withers and dies, the human cycle is much the same. Being perennial, the rootstock is not affected by the "death" of an individual plant, or more accurately, a part of the plant, at the end of its season.

Each human vehicle has in its genes what amounts to the sum of the genetic information that has accumulated and been passed dovm from its ancestors since the beginning of that sttain - all their positive and negative characteristics, weaknesses, potential diseases, sfrengths, addictions, talents, ways of thinking, as well as physical fraits of appearance, coloring, etc. The genes are like computer chips that store information. This genetic programming amounts to the body's programming - giving it "a mind otits own." It has its own desires - kind of like a living computer that doesn't ever quite shut down, even when it's in a sleep state. It has desires that manifest in ways of wanting certain foods, certain experiences, or certain habits or pleasures that it has been subjected to by its own inherited genetic programming, the environment around it or time-share spirits (which will be discussed next). Inherited genetic characteristics or programming unfold in a time-capsule progression as the body matures from infant to old age. What any individual does, affects their genetic sfrain, and is physically passed on if they have offspring or if they influence another's actions or thinking. Repetitive behavior is stamped or recorded on the genes and that preference is passed dovm to offspring. The saving grace is that also through repetition the genes can be "reprogrammed" and addictive behavior and negative characteristics can be tumed around - that is, can be licked and thereby not passed dovm, or is passed on as "confrolled."

One additional point: A child does not "belong" to the parent(s), any more than the apple belongs to the free. A parent cannot say, "You are my child - you have to take care of me when 1 get old," any more than the free can say to the farmer, "That is my apple," when the farmer comes along to pick it.

THE SPIRIT

It could be said that a spirit is bom each time a vehicle (body) is bom, and progresses in its de% elopment, knowledge, programming, and identity along with the vehicle (body). In other words, the spirit grows m exact parallel to the vehicle's growth, and as the vehicle's consciousness is affected by genetic characteristics and its environment, the spirit takes on that information, that "software." Ihe spirit normallN leaves the vehicle at its termination and continues to live in the spirit world. The only exception to this is when a soul leaves the human environment and goes to the real world of the Next Level, with a

69 Repeentative of tha Level. If a young child- body dies, a young child-spnit is bom mto the "discamate world - a spmt is nothmg more, nothmg less than the intelligent programming sum content of the mind (both conscious and subconscious) of the biological container (body) before its demise So where the individual's consciousness is - where his frust and beliefs are - at the termination of his body that is where his consciousness will be when he enters the spnit world.

As spfrits from the discamate worid move into a vehicle, they are "incamating," - an "mvading" spirit moves in of its own accord, either to time-share or m an attempt to take over aid claim the vehicle as its own. When these spfrits move out of a body they are "discamating." The spirit finds itself without or outside of a body as a resuft of death or mcapacitation of the body (such as a coma), or when, as a "time- share" discamate, it moves out of a body. Discamates do not mcamate or move mto a host body at the bnth of the body. They only come in when what they are interested m can be accomphshed by the functional capabilities of the plant. Therefore, remcamation at bnth, in the sense that many religions believe, is a completely inaccurate concept. A spnit is bom with the body - any reincamation or incamation w ould be done by "invading" spirits who would attempt to use the body for then own satisfaction or purposes.

Without a vehicle, the spirit is not able to experience sensation - a vehicle (with its sense of taste, touch, feeling, pleasure, smell, etc.) is requned. Because the spnit is left with the same consciousness it had w hile in a vehicle, then the addictions it had are also still active. In order to satisfy those desires, the spirit finds it must enter a vehicle and talk the body into, or con the body into, carrying out its wishes. Since it appears that each time a vehicle is bom, a new spnit is bom, and when the vehicle is terminated, a new spirit enters the discamate, this means that for every vehicle (body) that has been bom since the beginning of this civilization, that same number of spirits are presently in the discamate or spirit world. At this point in the civilization, most humans tolerate, if not depend on, several unseen occupants, in a "time-share" arrangement, in addition to their own rightfiil spirit - the mind emanation of the body. Many of these discamates are deceased family members who remain close to the family sfrain. Some spirits become bitter after losing their vehicle, because the spnit world is not up to their expectations. Others, w ho expect to "go to Heaven" see the spnit world as "heaven," and other spirits as angels. These spirits will sometimes act in a guardian-angel role.

For the most part, these time-share discamates could be seen as helpfiil - some assisting with career, others with romance, or sports, or homemaking, and so on. "Inspnation" (in-spirit-ation) is nothing more than ideas given by discamates. The more prominent a person is, the greater the number of discamates and the sfronger then presence is. In that sense, the "plant" or the host body becomes more of a "medium" for discamates with ambitious agendas. What, in general, is accepted as the "personality" of an indi\ idual is made up of the combined characteristics of the participating discamates along with the host's own spirit/software. Most, if not all, humans host multiple time-share discamates, but it is when these discamates are inharmonious or dissimilar that they are more easily recognized and seen as problematic. ^^ When this occurs, the individuals are often spoken of as having "multiple personalities" or "schizophrenia, in human clmical circles. "Past-life readings" might reveal the story-telling of ttme-share discarnates, but in reality, the concept of "past lives" is not at all reliable. If past-life readings were accurate, how do you explain the thousands of people who have claimed to be "King Tut," Cleopatra, Jesus, John the Baptist, etc.? One of the dangers we see with past-life readings is that the questions posed by the past-lite reader open the door to old discamates who you might have previously risen above or mn aw ay. Opening those doors pulls those discamates back, and the possibility exists that you might have to deal with those serious problems or hurdles again.

If .he vehicle/spirit is permissive and .. adopts the behav.or of the "t.me-share" spirit as »;"«hmtM.;™^^ to continue with and chooses to repeat, that behavior becomes a part of .ts own Pr°g'amm.ng or sot.uare package." In other words, the behavior and desires of the time-share sp.r.t are added o th program/consciousness of the spir.t that belongs to the vehicle. The '"^f'"8.''"™"; 'J^'iP^, """°\,, ieam lessons from .ts .nfiuence on, or use of a veh.cle, though the veh.cle/sp.r.t ca„ learn and dian,., .\n

70 "mvadmg" spnit(s), because of its sfrength, can dominate the behavior of the vehicle Howe%er anv vehicle/spmt that is sfrong enough can choose to resist the "influence" of any potential tnne-share spmt.

An interesting observation is that as an individual's body grows older and becomes less excitina to the mvading or time-share spnits, those spfrits leave and move into other younger vehicles taking With them the influence of then interests and talents. The personality of the aging individual then appears to wane and lose mcentive. In a similar way, if someone has been imprisoned (for a violent act, for example) the pleasures most spfrits would enjoy would not be available in prison, but the animal, more base simation of the prison would invite other spnits to cohabit m that vehicle. The nony is that for death-row inmates, for example, you can kill the body of the person who committed the crime, but you're doing nothing but shoving those violent, time-share spfrits that influenced that human to commit the crime, into a condition of taking over another plant (body). In other words, you haven't solved the problem at all - the spirit has made a fool of you. You may have only hastened the spnit's activities by freeing it from its imprisoned bod\-, enablmg it to go outside the prison and find a free, willmg body in order to murder again. Killing the bodies only frees the spirits.

How many hfe forms move into the discamate? It is very possible that every living creattne on the planet has a spirit. A spnit is as physical as the wind or as breath - when it is still you don't notice it, but w hen it begins to move you notice it. For example, the spirits of the herds of buffalo or dinosaurs that roamed the land continue to roam, with the consciousness of the mass (weight) of the vehicle they wore. They can come together, en masse, and stampede as a sfrong wind. The winds that roar through at times could likely be those spnits acting according to their "programming" to migrate. On the other hand, the spirits of insects can still be pesky to humans, and lower life form spirits (plant and insect) may have varying degrees of negative, destmctive influence on humans, as parasitic spirits causing diseases.

THE MIND

We define mind as "collective mformation." Many humans define mind as the brain, which is confusing and inaccurate. All "mind," or information, comes from two sources (though it certainly would not be recognized as such): a) the Next Level - the Kmgdom of God, or b) the opposition - the Lower Forces - Lucifer, Satan, or the Luciferians and then naive servants. Hence, the concept of tmth vs. falsehood, genuine vs. counterfeit. That "collective information," or mind, is what fills the "container" and eventually determines whose side you are on or which "worid" or evolutionary level you are a part of- one leads to a real Heaven, the other leads nowhere or to eventtial annihilation. Only Next Level mind has lifc-gi\mg nourishment (potentially everiastmg). All information other than that which comes from the Kingdom of God has no Hfe or life-giving qualities (has no opporttmity for an acttial futtne). You can build on Next Level "mind" in like manner to building on computer software.

When speaking of the Trinity - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the "Holy Spirit," or "Holy Ghost," refers to the mind, the information, the Tmth or facts from the Next Level (which includes instmctions and procedures appropriate to the Kingdom of Heaven). The word "Holy" designates the Next Level quality of information that is in that mind. Another term indicatmg the source as being from the Level Above Human is "Divine." These are appropriate usages by humans when referring to the Next Level. However when today's so-called Christians say they are "filled with the Holy Ghost," it is ^j^^^^ ^^''^ r°'>; Zwn en point of view - it usually means nothing more than a visit from disembodied Earth-bound spirits (show n.ai.

at that).

THE SOUL What is Life? Life is something that is sustainable, has a futtire, can go on^ ^^^^';,';^ l\^^J.^';^^ ,„d sustainable, you therefore potentially have etemal life. But, if you have if ^^'^ f^; ' ^ ° l^ If from you'rUective you can see the end, then J^^J^^^^^^^ is no software packages other than that of the Kingdom of God - the Next Le\ ei y

71 sustainable funire to be found m this world, it is found only in the Next Level. The human vehicle/spmt IS a plant - a very temporal plant. Just because the human plan, has movement, noise, and acti™v do s no, mean it has sustainable life; any more than a robot, just because it has energy - whether solar or electric and temporary activity, has life Life is aningredient that is missing in a garden, except when an individual of the Next Level brings it m, plants it, and nourishes it. And that ingredient always has potential sustainability - even unlimited.

The Kingdom of God, bemg a genderiess Kmgdom, "reproduces" or adds to its Kingdom membership through the use of a metamorphic process. The metamorphic "bnth" into the Level Above Human occurs as follows: In any given civilization on a fertile planet such as Earth (and Earth has had many periodic/cyclical civilizations), the Level Above Human plants new life forms (including humans) for that civilization in a neufral condition so that they have a limited option to choose the dnection of then growth. (Though at times the Next Level permits some space-alien groups to do some planting as well.) The Le\ el Above Human dnectly (hands on) relates significantly to the civilization at its beginning stage, and subsequenfly (with few exceptions) at approximately 2000-year mtervals (approximate!) asliours from a Next Level perspective) until that civilization's final "Age" or "harvest."

Each time the Next Level relates directly to any portion of that civilization, "deposits" containing "souls" (the "seed" or "chip" with a program of metamorphic possibilities) are placed in many human plants. This deposit is potentially the "gift of hfe" into the physical and real Evolutionary Level Above Human. These deposits are given or deposited only when members of the Next Level are assigned to directly relate to (be incamate in) the civilization. Only these Representatives can "nurture" those soul deposits w ith Next Le\ el thinking, behavior, and all the information requned to effectively "fluff off all human/mammalian ways. If a "seed" (deposit) has not been planted in the vehicle/spirit, then the vehicle/spirit is simply a temporar> container. A human being is significant for the first time, from the Kingdom of God's point of view, when a new creature of the Next Level begins - when germination has begun the "deposit" being the seed and the information (mind) from the Next Level being what germinates the seed.

As we mentioned earlier, the human vehicle/spfrit, for the most part, is connected to the family vine of its ancestors (that vine is its root system) and draws a significant amount of its sustenance from that vine. When a human vehicle/spirit is given a soul deposit, an acmal new creature has its beginning. In order to survive, this new creature must draw its sustenance (nourishment) from the Next Level meaning it must break its ties to the vehicular family vine and literally "graft" to the family vine of the Next Level. That new creattire has to desire to leam and willftilly has to "draw" or "feed" (be nourished with information) from the Next Level in order to sustain its life.

This "soul program" has the potential to become an "encasement" for Next Level mind or information that can develop into a physical body more "subtie" or less dense (from a human physics perspective) than the human body. The more Next Level mmd the soul brings in, while it simultaneously aborts from the x cliicle all mind that is not of the Next Level, the sfronger, the larger, the less subtie that body, or membrane encasement, becomes. When it starts to grow, it becomes physical (though not easily discernible by human analysis) - a new inner body. If the individual continues in his growth, becoming viable and a match tor a vehicle (body) of that Next Kingdom, then when the human flesh body is "dropped," that soul or inner body" will have a chance to move into a Next Level body (vehicle or suit of clothes) that has been prepared specifically for it. It might be possible that when the soul is "ripe" or "viable" ^^^^^ sufficient Next Level mind. It has become what could be called a Next Level body without its outer shell °7";^^,^i^J^f^;; , f spnit that has not been given a "soul deposit" or the potential for this encasement is of a diffe nt quality altogether and has not begun to grow a Next Level body.) If a soul finds favor with the f ";^'^^; Heaven, it is put "on ice" to be replanted m a garden like Earth at a specif^^c uture um n the c - ™ development. At that time, a vehicle would be given a deposit and set aside ^r that soul s u . 1 ha c p or deposit would be different for the "rettimee" - a different program and different capac y - a yxcn as a "first time" deposit. (See also point number 10 m the '95 Statement by an E.T. Presuul> Incamate, Section 1, Page 4.)

72 That soul program makes advancement beyond the human kmgdom possible, and mcludes a "separate rom-the-world" program. It also allows the soul to go places, survive in certain exten^ns"f the C^ nearby space) that spnits without souls are not allowed to go. So, the space aliens seek out sods wX deposi s, particularly those who have been m this classroom If a soul ttmis the other way when t c mes m contact with Next Level information or the Representative, then the germniation of the Next Lex el b^dv does not occur, and the soul, for all mtents and purposes, is of no worth to the Next Level and is "dead" It has made Its choice not to be of service (usually because of the reluctance or slowness to ;elmqmsh human characteristics and ties), and the Next Level has no use or place for it. But to the space aliens it's a good product - ft is a 'wise" product because it is not interested in the Next Level's information and is advanced beyond the naive human worid. This means that every space ahen had once received a deposit and was once a sttident or potential sttident of the Next Level, but chose to go against them, or away from them at the least.

So, the only proper application of the term "death" is the termination of the soul, and onl\ the Kingdom of God can kill the soul. Therefore, the human body does not experience "death" - it can be terminated or "dropped." Dymg gets you nowhere (m terms of a Heaven). The Next Level even conttols the time a vehicle spends on the planet, and when that end time comes, something in the vehicle breaks down w hich is labeled "heart disease," "cancer," etc. It is out of ignorance that humans would say someone "died" instead of "they dropped thefr vehicle." The concepts of the spnit worid and dropping the body are not well accepted ui the Christian U.S., though many so- called "less-civilized" culttires know it as fact.

Recently, Dr. Kevorkian stood frial for helping terminally ill individuals "drop then vehicles." At the trial it was never brought up that the individual - the spirit - cannot be killed by other humans (or e\ en space aliens). Those terminally ill individuals, whom Kevorkian helped, had faith that they would continue on, with relief from the pain and breakdovm of the vehicle they were wearing. It certainly is their right to do so. It seems obvious that no one really believes that they are the spirit/soul, or euthanasia wouldn't be an issue. We stand for a liberal euthanasia program - if someone wants to drop their vehicle, they should have a right to do so. Why is it honorable to die for your counfry, serving whatever regime is in power, but not for other or higher reasons? And why should governments have the power to sentence humans to "death" as if their authority is equal to or above God's? Or, why is it right to "kill" a "plant" in the womb? There is "plant" life m the male and m the female, and when they come together it is still "plant" life. There was "life" before the womb - it does not just begm at conception or birth.

Jesus was not a religious man. He was a man from the only real potential fumre in another world, an evolutionarily advanced level of existence - the Next Level. He incamated into a human vehicle (down an evolutionary notch - the equivalent of a human soul incarnating into a dog's vehicle). He had overcome tlic human level at a distanfly previous time. "Jesus" did not incamate mto the body of a newborn babe. The vehicle was simply tagged for His use at a later time when it had grown and developed enough for His advanced mind to be able to use it. He left his vehicle in the Level Above Human and incamated into the vehicle that was named "Jesus" around the time of his baptism by John the Baptist (depicted as when the spnit fell upon him as a dove from Heaven). Likewise, Ti and Do incamated into vehicles that had been picked and prepped for them, when those vehicles were in then 40's. These vehicles had been set aside lor them since their birth.

The Bible says, "There is nothing new under the sun." The most advanced achievements of humans to date in space exploration, genetics, computer science (artificial intelligence), medicine, music, arts, entertaimnent, weapomy, etc. are grade-school level m comparison to what the Next Le-l as o^^^^ and there is evidence that this level of advancement had been reached by other P-^^'^"^,^'" '^^^^ °" °;,!",,,,, planet. The Next Level created this garden and everything on it. Humans can do nothing ^^^^ ^^^ engineer" what "God has wrought." And humans will be allowed to advance only so ar^ ^his adwn.cm.n, has occurred, in particular since Ti and Do came into this atmosphere. When we go, that N.xt LCNCI presence will leave also.

73 Christians hope for a "personal relationship" with Jesus, but that can be accomphshed only when there ._ is a physical presence of those Representatives from the Kmgdom of Heaven on the planet. The members of this class have a personal relationship with the present mcamate Representatives, Ti and Do. Unforttmateh, outside of this class, all one has is the illusion of that relationship. Our anger is with the space aliens and with the humans who have been then best puppets - including Paul and today's religious leaders. These space aliens have insulted and behttled the Next Level, then Creators, from day one when the serpent (Luciferians) convinced Adam and Eve that by eatuig the fiiiit from the forbidden "ttee of life" they "would not die...but would be as gods knowing good and evil." Understand that these space aliens are in jail, the\ have been confined to this garden and its nearby space "neighborhood" because of past "crimes" against the Kmgdom of God. Some of the space aliens are not cognizant of then misdeeds; they belie\ e they are doing the right thing and are being helpfiil to humans. Others know exactly what they are doing. They w ill be recycled along with the rest of the life forms on the planet, though possibly on a different time table. The\ know their death is approaching, so they are doing all they can to work against the Next Le\ el. The Bible says, " a wicked and adulterous generation looks for mnaculous things, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." We have seen that sign, because we have done it, we have been through that "hourglass" in the fransition from human to the Kingdom of God. If you had done what I have done then you would know what I know. I have been with Ti and Do, I have been thefr child, I have served the Next Le\el through them and with them. I am witness to who they are. I am exttemely thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this classroom, and their student, a potential new member of the Evolutionary Level Above Human.

May 6, 1996

rhttp://www5.zdnet.com/vil/higher/heavensgate/book/a48.htm)

74 APPENDDC F

EARTH EXIT STATEMENT

BY SRRODY-A STUDENT

75 EARTH EXIT STATEMENT BY SRRODY -A STUDENT

WHY WE MUST LEA VE AT THIS TIME

Have you fried to cross the border mto Mexico or take even an infrastate plane tnp on short notice with only carry-on luggage lately? Have you fried to cash a check without "proper id" or an existing account or buy a car and pay cash for it? Probably not. Most people use credit cards, aren't cautious m en m^ personal mformation to government or authority figures, and live accordmg to a "normal" pattern of behavior How did these things become "normal?!"

Not that long ago, bankmg instittitions were suspect, individual privacy was expected, government was a tool of the populace, and God was sought after and looked to, not mstittitions. Now, to step outside the routuie is to become a deviant, a suspected dmg dealer, or even a terrorist - someone to be kept under scmtiny. You have unlimited "freedom" if you use your credit card, if you pay a percentage to the government, if you aren't too religious, if you, if you.... We live in a worid of platittides and shallow li\es. If you search your soul, if you have a soul, you know you are miserable, overburdened, unsatisfied, leading a purposeless life - waiting to die. Either that, or you are just playing out a routine, living for the next indulgence, seekuig a greater buzz or stimulus that will further mute whatever conscience or understanding you might once have had. You have accepted bemg frapped with no hope of escape and either rationalized that existence or become numbed to it ~ living out some fantasy. Either you never knew life or you have aheady died.

Some are fighting the more obvious shackles, having "seen through" this or that conspiracy or global plot - whether it be government or corporate experimentation on then own citizens (e.g., reports of DDT testing in the '50s, Tuskegee syphilis in the '70s, genetics on inner city babies in the '90s, etc.) or misdirected blame to cover mistakes or hidden agendas as voiced by various pafriot/militia groups, but they are still only seeing the most obvious deceptions. They, too, still cling to values and lies that were instilled by the enemies of then Creator long ago (family, sexuality, independence,...) - the details of which can be lound in our record. Heaven's Gate, for those who seek tmth and its fiill realization: Life.

Why must we leave now? We can no longer live and function here by the standards of our Father's house. You have forgotten your tine Creator. You either identify with your temporal flesh rather than see it as just a contamer that could be filled with His Mind or Spirit, or choose to draw in the mind of His enemy and proclann yourselves gods or part of a "cosmic consciousness" rather than tackle the difficult birth pangs of literal overcoming of the human condition. Even the so-called Christians and Jews choose to follow ritual, "counfry club" religion, or some fantasy "savior" that would enrich then current human existence by "just believing on him" rather than face up to the literal overcoming that is necessary for ttansition. I'm afraid that even those "bom-again" aren't bearing the mind that we would identify as of our Father's House - you ttim a blind eye to why you were created in the first place. This is not to put you down, but a reminder o\ what you could become and become a part of Your permissiveness of His enemy has made our continued existence here impossible, for to stay here we would have to become more as you (human plants) rather than better prepared to dwell in His Kingdom - we would have to choose death rather than Lite.

WHY I WANT TO LEA VE AT THIS TIME

A number of less personal reasons can be found m "why we must leave at this time^" '\':^'^l^Z^, reasons for wanting to leave at this time come not from any sense ^'^'f'/''''^^^^^^^^^^ suspect. Quite the confrary, it is a profoundly joyous time for me-- the fulfillment of c^cr^thln, 1 ha^c always hoped for - to dwell in the Creator's house and be called by Him, a son.

My Father, you all know of The last time we were here nearly 2000 years ^^y^^;"^:;^,^ knowledge of the reality of His Father's house and what it took to be bom into it. You didn

76 and the task was too difficult for most, so you tumed it into a religion - Christianity. 1 don't know how 1 was so fortanate, maybe I was less into the world than some others, or just happened to be m the n'ht p ace at the right time and knew a good thmg when I saw it. I don't even know when that first encounte"wa?h doesn't matter. But I grew to love this mdividual. His Father, and His Family with aU Lt 1 am All wanted to do was be close to Them, to be a part of Them.

Some of you will have enough sense to recognize Them as Members of the Kmgdom of God beanna the same message they have always brought - franslated at whatever level you could apply it - spoon fe^'edino those of us who could take the nourishment they had to offer. This visit, both my Father and Grandfather ^ came, working closely with us m an extended classroom for over 20 years. When my Grandfather's \ehicle finally gave out, it was a real wake-up call for me - the realization that my teachers may not be able to teach me all I needed to know and apply before then vehicles gave out from the intolerable conditions here. The nearly 12 years since that event have been very accelerated ones, not only for us, but for the planet as well ~ as more and more of the facade of this place is stripped away, as lies are laid bare, and the ttuth comes to tight. Many times. Do (the name my Father goes by this time around) would sttuggle to keep His vehicle going, just to give us more time, just to give more of you more time. You have no idea how badh He just wanted to retum Home to the heavens, to His Older Member's House - how hard it was for Him to find any motivation to stay even one more day - much less 1 l-y4 more years. It would ha\ e been perfectK okay with Ti (the name of my Grandfather) for Him to go ~ the heavens know how much effort He has exerted for your sakes and how poorly you responded - how quickly you dismissed what you only superficially knew.

Well, His efforts more than paid off as far as I am concemed. And as the comet Hale-Bopp brings closure to this visitation, perhaps even this civilization, I am so filled with joy — not only for myself and my classmates, but with the pride that only a son can have for His Father, who has pulled off a Next Le\cl miracle that any of us made it out of this world alive. These last few days, we have been touring areas that were significant to Ti and Do's awakening and allowing individuals in the class to re-examine if there's anything that might hold any attraction for any individual. What we found was that things that hold the interest of humans and which once even did the same for our vehicles, now seem such a waste of time. Everything of this world has been offered us, and I can honestiy say, "Thanks, but no thanks." My Lord is sufficient by Himself (though He would point to His Father, and so on up the line).

There may be some of you who will read this and not just judge by appearance but recognize the possibility that what we have done is tine just as we have expressed it. Some could even be accelerated by our exit, even as we were accelerated by Ti's, and use this opporttmity to join us. If so, we will be watching and waitmg to assist for as long as we can. Good luck.

March 18, 1997

(http://www.levelabovehuman.org/misc/exitsrr.htm)

77 APPENDIX G

OUR POSITION AGAINST

SUICIDE

78 OUR POSITION AGAINST SUICIDE

We know that it is only while we are in these physical vehicles (bodies) that we can leam tiie lessons needed to complete our own individual fransition, as well as to complete our task of offering the Kingdom of Heaven to this civilization one last time. We take good care of our vehicles so they can fimction well for us in this task, and we try to protect them from any harm.

We fiilly desfre, expect, and look forward to boarding a spacecraft from the Next Level very soon (in our physical bodies). There is no doubt in our mind that our being "picked up" is inevitable in the very near fiiture. But what happens between now and then is the big question. We are keenly aware of se\ eral possibilities.

It could happen that before that spacecraft comes, one or more of us could lose our physical vehicles (bodies) due to "recall," accident, or at the hands of some nate individual. We do not anticipate this, but it is possible. Another possibility is that, because of the position we take in our information, we could find so much disfavor with the powers that confrol this world that there could be attempts to incarcerate us or to subject us to some sort of psychological or physical torture (such as occurred at both Ruby Ridge and Waco).

It has always been our way to examme all possibilities, and be mentally prepared for w hatever ma\' come our way. For example, consider what happened at Masada around 73 A.D. A devout Jewish sect, after holding out against a siege by the Romans, to the best of their ability, and seeing that the murder, rape, and torttire of then community was inevitable, determined that it was permissible for them to evacuate their bodies by a more dignified, and less agonizing method. We have thoroughly discussed this topic (of willful exit of the body under such conditions), and have mentally prepared ourselves for this possibility (as can be seen in a few of our statements). However, this act certainly does not need serious consideration at this time, and hopefiilly will not in the futtire.

The frue meaning of "suicide" is to ttim against the Next Level when it is bemg offered. In these last days we aS^ oled on two primary tasks: one - of making a last attempt at telling the tmth about how the Next Lvelmav be entered (our last effort at offering to individuals of this civilization the way to avoid ticidO and to -1 king advantage of the rare opportunity we have each day to work individually on our personal overcoming and change, m preparation for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

(http-//www.wave.net/iipp/pate/letter.htm)

79 APPENDDC H

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR LEARNING

CONTROL AND RESTRAINT, A SELF-

EXAMINATION EXERCISE

80 ADDITIONAL GUIDEUNES FOR LEAJ^^G CONTROL AND RESTR^.INT, A SELF-EXAMESfATION EXERCISE MAJOR OFFENSES 1. Deceit a. Douig an act "on the sly." b. Lying to my teachers or any of my classmates. c. Keepuig an offense to myself, not exposing it the same day 2. Sensuality - permitting arousal m thought or in action (not nippmg it in the bud) 3. Breakmg any insti^ction or procedure knowingly.

LESSER OFFENSES

1. Taking any action without using my check partner. 2. Tmstuig my own judgment - or using my own mind. 3. Twisting procedures for my ovm benefit. 4. Responduig defensively to my classmates or teachers. 5. Criticizing or finding fault with my classmates or teachers. 6. Allowing blatant or lingering negativity, accepting the position of "I can't." 7. Permitting physical or verbal abuse (outbursts, harsh words, sarcasm, swearing, anger, hurtful teasing, loss of temper) toward classmates. 8. Allowing jealousy towards any classmates or comparing myself to others. 9. Stayuig in my own head, havmg private thoughts, not staying open with my partner - separateness. 10. Puttuig myself first, wanting my own way, rebelliousness - selfishness. 11. Entertaming inappropriate fears and worries, e.g.: Am I going to be asked to lea\e the class? Will our rest or consuming be adequate for my needs? 12. Inappropriately offering suggestions, second-guessing, or jumping ahead of my teachers. 13. Exaggerating vehicular symptoms. 14. Allowing anxiety, sfress, tension, hyperness to affect my performance. 15. Picking or choosing certain tasks. 16. Having likes or dislikes. 17. Permitting laziness or slothfulness. 18. Procrastinating, havuig misplaced priorities, or poor timing. 19. Permittmg lack of confrol over emotions to the point that it interferes with my work or rest or is a disfraction to others. 20. Participating in exfremes in sensitivity - either blatantiy insensitive or overiy sensitive to the point of hurt feelings, either hurting my feelings or the feelings of others. 21. Desiring attention or approval - wanting to be seen as good. 22. Using inadequate resfraint (responding or acting too quickly, voice volume, noise level with tcct, doors, or other objects). 23. Engaging in familiarity, casualness, gossip, lack of resfraint with others. 24. Being too aggressive or pushy. 25. Exercising poor confrol of thoughts mnning through my head, being easily disttacted. 26. Lacking in effort and commitment. 27. Permitting impatience or intolerance. 28. Being vain about my appearance, vibrating femininity or masculinity in any way. 29. Having inappropriate curiosity. . ff.„c.. ,ncf.-„i nf 30. Identifying with influences - using the "I" or "me" pronoun in application to an offense instead ot recognizing that it was an influence using me. 31. Overexamination - finding a negative where there isn't one.

(http://www5.zdnet.conVvil/higher/heavenspnte/book/2-6.htm)

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