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Order of the Solar Temple

Order of the Solar Temple. RELS 225 Cults and New Religious Movements. Background. 1805 Bernard- Raymond Fabre- Palaprat founded the Order of the Temple 1966 Sovereign Order of the Solar Temple . Founding. Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret in 1984 Morin Heights , Quebec

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Order of the Solar Temple

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  1. Order of the Solar Temple RELS 225 Cults and New Religious Movements

  2. Background • 1805 Bernard- Raymond Fabre-Palaprat founded the Order of the Temple • 1966 Sovereign Order of the Solar Temple

  3. Founding • Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret in 1984 • Morin Heights, Quebec • two villas as personal residences. • Di Mambro • born in France • skilled clock maker and jeweler • interested in esoteric religions at a young age • created “Foundation Golden Way” • Luc Jouret • born in Belgium in 1947 • Studied medicine at a University in Brussels • strong interest in “freemasonry, the Albigenses, Cathars” and • Di Mambro invited Jouret to speak at the Golden Way • On homeopathy

  4. Members of Solar Temple • 200-300 established members • journalists and the disgruntled ex-members’ criticism led to closed doors • Canada and Switzerland • early 1990’s, approximately 100 members recruitment targeted reputable people • spokesman Quebec mayor Gilles Devault • 15 employees of Hydro Quebec • police agent Daniel Tougas expelled for his association with the Solar Temple

  5. Beliefs • members belonged to “the pivotal elite” which “has been removed from the collective by superhuman effort” • did not belong to the “human world but rather, to the race of Gods”. • couples must separate if one was not a member

  6. Claims • Di Mambro and Jouret were members of the “14 Century Christian Order of the Knights Templar” during a previous life. • Di Mambro’s daughter, Emanuelle was “the cosmic child” and would safely lead them to another place after their death. • conceived without sex, when Joseph pointed a magical sword at his wife’s throat. • the child with power to “rebuild the Temple and prevent the Apocalypse”.

  7. Activities • assist the arrival of the New Age • meditative and occult disciplines • elaborate rituals to achieve enlightened state of consciousness. • dress in white mantles, wear a red cross around their neck while walking side by side into a round room. • Under their robes are long swords • raise them together towards the light.

  8. Teachings • “soul travel between earthly existence and eternal transcendence” • claim to “bridge the gulfs of separation between this world and other realms, between the historical present and other times, between finite life and infinite immortality”.

  9. Escalating Crisis • transporting firearms • Economic problems • embezzling money • convinced members to donate to the Solar Temple • for “life centers” in Canada and Chiery. • actually spent on personal expenses and living costs • suspicions of Di Mambro and Jouret • Some members began distancing themselves from the group • leaders “had reached a point that they could no longer accept the questioning of or disagreement with their views” • Therefore began teaching “transition”

  10. Transition • leaders claimed to direct members to escape to the world of higher reality. • All members were elite • “heirs to an uncommon destiny” • “invested with a cosmic task to fulfill”. • believed that they would become gods upon death

  11. Tragedy: September 1994 • Murders • Dutoit family • Di Mambro said theirson Emmanuelwas Antichrist • Boy killed by wooden stake stabbed through heart • Parents also murdered

  12. Tragedy: October, 1994 • Fire in Quebec villa • 5 burned bodies • 3 of them stabbed to death • Mass suicides, murders and fires • simultaneously in Switzerland and Quebec • Di Mambro and Jouret planned deaths of many members, including their own • Quebec deaths • 15 ‘inner’ circle members by the use of poison • 30 by bullets or smothering • 8 others killed as traitors • Another 48 members in a mass suicide • Some with plastic bags over their heads,

  13. Investigation • a cassette tape of a conversation between Di Mambro and Jouret about their intended “departure” • building in France equipped with same fire-activating device as in Switzerland and Quebec. • Remote detonatation • October 13th 1994: discovery of Luc Jouret and Di Mambro’s charred bodies

  14. Tragedy: December 21, 1995 • 16 more members took their own lives

  15. Tragedy: March 22, 1997 • 5 more members took their own lives

  16. Comparison to Jonestown and Waco • intentionally organized death by “transit”, public and authorities fearful • Police worried of repetitions at new moon, equinox or anniversary

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