Mass suicides: The Order of the Solar Temple

In keeping up with previous postings of mass suicides, I’m posting about anoyher cults suiced group, who commited suicides in numerous areas, separate from one another, but following as the group before them.The Order of the Solar Temple or Ordre du Temple Solaire  in French, was a secret society based upon the modern myth of the continuing existence of the Knights Templar . It was started by Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret in 1984 in Geneva . Murders and suicides have been associated with the cult: “A 1994 Canadian murder of a 3-month-old boy, ritually sacrificed because he was identified as the Anti-Christ. In October of the same year, 48 adults and children were found dead, shot in the head, victims of a mass suicide in a Swiss underground chapel that was found lined with items of Templar symbolism.” (1,Brains.org)

The had a whole belief system, a book to be followed, of course followers, and a whole “governemnt” if you will, of men that decides and negeated the activites and belifs spread. The writing "Peronnik", written by member Robert Chabrier, a book, listing aims of the Order of the Solar Temple that include: establishing "correct notions of authority and power in the world"; an affirmation of the primacy of the spiritual over the temporal; assisting humanity through a great "transition"; prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus as solar god-king; and further a unification of all Christian churches and Islam.” (2, wikipedia) There were Solar Temple lodges in Canada, as well as in Australia, Switzerland, Martinique and other countries. Ritual acts were a mix of early Protestant Christianity and New Age philosophy adapted with Freemason rituals. Jouret sought attractive, wealthy and influential members, it was said that several affluent Europeans  persons were secretly members.(2, wikipedia)

The cult had levels of membership:

1. The central authority was the Synarchy of the Temple, whose membership was secret:
2. The top 33 members were the Elder Brothers of the Rosy Cross and were headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland.
3. The Council of the Order formed Lodges which were run by a Regional Commander and three Elders.
4. Progression in the Order was by levels and grades, with three grades per level :

ascending order–

• The Brothers of Parvis
• The Knights of the Alliance
• Brothers of the Ancient Times

The Lodges had altars, rituals and costumes. Members were initiated at each stage of advance in level, in ceremonies which involving jewellery, costumes, and the payment of initiation fees. Members wore Crusader-type robes and were to praise a sword which Di Mambro claimed was an authentic Templar artifact, given to him in a previous life.(2,wikipedia)

In October 1994 infant Emmanuel Dutoit, at three months, was killed at the group's centre.The baby was stabbed over and over with a wooden stake. It’s said Di Mambro ordered the murder, he identified the baby as the Anti-Christ described in the Bible. “He believed that the Anti-Christ was born into the order to prevent Di Mambro from succeeding in his spiritual aim.”(2,wikipedia) This is something that a serious deviation from sense, because the nactualy killing of a baby for spiritual means, thinking its evil, and the whole community agreeing with this, I see, as a form of “brainwashing” in a sense, which we have talked about before. Any person, or mother for that matter, to sit back and watch that, obviously has a cold heart for sensitivity and morality. A few days later, Di Mambro and twelve followers performed a ritual Last Supper. A few days after that, in Switzlerland— 15 inner circle members committed suicide with poison, 30 were killed by bullets or smothering, and 8 others were killed by other causes. the victims were found in a secret underground chapel lined with mirrors and other items of Templar symbolism. “The bodies were dressed in the order's ceremonial robes and were in a circle, feet together, heads outward, most with plastic bags tied over their heads; they had each been shot in the head.”  They were drugged before they were shot. Also, bodies were found in three ski chalets; several dead children were together. This was all disocvered by police, who were responding to a fire created by electronical devices. The dead wrote Farewell letters saying they were leaving to escape  "hypocrisies and oppression of this world." They obviously belived in their practices so much to have such organization in killing themsleves, and taking bthe lives of their own children at that.“All the suicide/murders and attempts occurred around the dates of the equinoxes and solstices in some relation to the beliefs of the group.” (2,wikipedia)

“On 23 December 1995, 16 bodies were discovered in a star-formation in the Vercors region in France. It was found later that two of them shot the others and then committed suicide by firearm and immolation. On the morning of March 23, 1997, five members  took their own lives in Saint-Casimir, Quebec. A small house exploded into flames, leaving behind five charred bodies.” (2, wikipedia) The continual killing, and taking of ones own life contunues, upon seeing others do it. I don’t know if that could have something to do with the number of istances in cohercing othe orders to commit suicide or kill, but people of the same group of beliefs will have an easier time with following the acts of their peers. I think this has to do a lot with the consistancy of the grouping, because the more people who have to follow, the more likely it will be for a person to follow along when they are being taught certain belifs, are vulnerable to the social system they are in, and will likely follow along to fit it and go along with those who they assimilate as equal to them in their living situations.

http://tea-and-skeletons.tumblr.com/post/18390087252/the-order-of-the-solar-temple

link above-picture depicting the underground chapel to which they practiced and commited suicide.

my self made picture, symbol of cover of book on Solar Temple events by James Lewis

1. http://brainz.org/10-most-notorious-suicide-cults-history/

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Solar_Temple