Heaven's Gate (Part 8)

Heaven's Gate (Part 8)

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Things to beware of in 1997:

President's who never seem to be IN their countries, countries who tend
to lend millions/billions when they are IN debt, the proliferation of
military armaments worldwide, and countries with white pyramids who
wouldst rule.

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Cult offered 'weird' Web messages

BY JEFF RISTINE AND DANIEL DE VISE
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. - Long before carrying out their mass suicide in
Rancho Santa Fe, devotees of the Heaven's Gate cult amused, annoyed and
intrigued fellow Internet users with opaque comments hinting at their
paranormal view of life.

A Heaven's Gate article distributed in August generated particular scorn.
It presented itself as a communication from a reincarnated Jesus Christ
promising to soon depart this world in a "next level mothership."

A shorter, more cryptic message, posted in June to Usenet newsgroups on
subjects ranging from guns to Star Trek, carried what appeared to be an
advertisement for the then-obscure Heaven's Gate Web site.

"UFOs and Space Aliens - Sorting Good From Bad," it offered. "Final Warning
for Possible Survivors."

Internet user Doug Natelson, contacted by e-mail Thursday, said he
remembered "being struck by just how nutty it was, even on the Net-kook
scale."

"Naturally, I'm horrified by what happened," he said of the mass suicide.
"It's tragic, and I am genuinely concerned that we'll see more of this sort
of thing leading up to the turn of the century."

Elsewhere, anonymous cyberspace orators reacted to the dark news with a mix
of passion, parody and pathos.

"I just LOVE cult suicide," wrote a 38-year-old New Jersey woman, in a chat
room devoted specifically to the event. "They are nuttier than a ton of
fruitcakes. Though I gotta say, maybe they are right and everyone else is
wrong."

The unsigned Heaven's Gate article from the self-styled Messiah drew
similar derision last summer.

"The Jews and Christians promote lies - unknowingly," read its headline,
all in capital letters. "The Jews say they love my father - the Christians
say they love my father and me - but in fact, they deny us both."

"I came to Earth some 2000 years ago from another physical, biological
Evolutionary Level as the expected "Messiah,' or Jesus, and for this
current mission, returned to this level, this planet and entered into a
human body some 24 years ago, Earth-time," said the message.

After preparing "disciples" for membership in the "NEXT WORLD, the
Evolutionary Level Above Human," the writer said he would make his
"departure via a "Next Level' mothership."

Responding Internet users heaped ridicule upon the message.

"Jesus Christ, it's you! How ya doing buddy? It's me, Cleopatra," wrote
one.

"This kind of stuff is embarrasing to those of us who have chosen a
spiritual life," said a more serious writer in the same newsgroup. "Hey,
person, please get some help ... medical, spiritual, whatever it takes."

An Internet user named Steve said Thursday he tried to contact the group
last year but never heard back.

"What a sad end for so many young people," said Steve. "Throughout history
we have cycles of doomsday suicides, we seem to be in the midst of another
... What a tragedy and waste." Online responses to the June message also
were dismissive.

"Ahh, Millennialism. I weep for the future," said a writer.

But another reader who checked out the group's full "Heaven's Gate" site on
the World Wide Web seemed less harsh.

"Great site," he said to others in the alt.alien.visitors newsgroup. "It
sure explains a lot! But requires people have an open mind, which is
something I haven't seen much of in this newsgroup."

Thursday, even chat rooms normally devoted to courtship set aside their
prurient concerns to dwell on the deaths.

On another Internet bulletin board, a San Diego student pleaded for
understanding.

"I feel these individuals did what they believed was right for them," said
Paula McBride. "They followed their beliefs. We now have a responsibility
not to make a circus of this and a mockery of them. ... Don't try to figure
it out. It is OK. They harmed no one."

(CNS reporter Frank Klimko contributed to this report.)