1
00:00:08,008 --> 00:00:11,279
{\an8}-Planet Earth
about to be recycled.
2
00:00:11,303 --> 00:00:15,950
{\an8}Your only chance
is to leave with us.
3
00:00:15,974 --> 00:00:19,537
-The '90s are bracketed
by two cults,
4
00:00:19,561 --> 00:00:21,915
each prepping for
the end of the world.
5
00:00:21,939 --> 00:00:25,084
-When they come busting in
on my door with guns drawn
6
00:00:25,108 --> 00:00:26,419
and pointed in the air,
7
00:00:26,443 --> 00:00:28,338
that just ain't gonna happen.
8
00:00:28,362 --> 00:00:30,632
-One trains for
an apocalyptic battle
9
00:00:30,656 --> 00:00:32,800
with the armies of Babylon.
10
00:00:32,824 --> 00:00:35,678
-The US government
on your doorstep,
11
00:00:35,702 --> 00:00:37,472
ready to get it on with you.
12
00:00:37,496 --> 00:00:42,310
-The other preps for its final
exit from Earth with aliens.
13
00:00:42,334 --> 00:00:44,479
-We were actually making
application
14
00:00:44,503 --> 00:00:47,315
for employment
on their spacecraft.
15
00:00:47,339 --> 00:00:51,486
-Their actions will send
shockwaves through the nation...
16
00:00:51,510 --> 00:00:53,821
-They were like lambs
led to slaughter.
17
00:00:53,845 --> 00:00:56,950
- that still echo to this day.
18
00:00:56,974 --> 00:00:58,660
-We're taking back our country,
19
00:00:58,684 --> 00:01:00,578
and it's gonna be biblical.
20
00:01:00,602 --> 00:01:08,602
{\an8}♪♪
21
00:01:09,486 --> 00:01:10,880
{\an8}[ Dial-up modems screeching ]
22
00:01:10,904 --> 00:01:18,471
{\an8}♪♪
23
00:01:18,495 --> 00:01:26,020
{\an8}♪♪
24
00:01:26,044 --> 00:01:28,106
{\an8}-US and Russian
military officers
25
00:01:28,130 --> 00:01:30,400
{\an8}are working side by side tonight
to ensure
26
00:01:30,424 --> 00:01:34,946
{\an8}that no Y2K bugs trigger
an accidental nuclear exchange.
27
00:01:34,970 --> 00:01:36,823
-Let's go, guys. Let's go.
28
00:01:36,847 --> 00:01:39,659
-As the '90s draws to a close.
29
00:01:39,683 --> 00:01:43,037
There's growing concern
that the Y2K computer bug
30
00:01:43,061 --> 00:01:46,541
could wreak havoc on the nation.
31
00:01:46,565 --> 00:01:49,168
-There is no one on this planet
that can say
32
00:01:49,192 --> 00:01:51,462
that the year 2000 problem
doesn't affect me.
33
00:01:51,486 --> 00:01:53,715
[ Thunder crashes ]
34
00:01:53,739 --> 00:01:56,926
-But for some religious zealots,
35
00:01:56,950 --> 00:02:01,139
the entire decade
is one long string of events
36
00:02:01,163 --> 00:02:06,936
proving the actual end of days
is fast approaching.
37
00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,313
-There's some trouble
in the Middle East.
38
00:02:08,337 --> 00:02:09,939
Let me tell you about it
just quickly.
39
00:02:09,963 --> 00:02:13,276
Iraqi and Kuwaiti troops
have clashed at the border.
40
00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,653
-The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
41
00:02:15,677 --> 00:02:18,614
brings violence
to the Holy Lands,
42
00:02:18,638 --> 00:02:22,410
tornadoes ravage
the American Midwest,
43
00:02:22,434 --> 00:02:24,454
and some of
the deadliest wildfires
44
00:02:24,478 --> 00:02:28,791
on record put California
in a chokehold.
45
00:02:28,815 --> 00:02:31,836
-There are many people now
who are sort of obsessed,
46
00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:35,256
if you will,
with the idea of the millennia.
47
00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,092
-For some small groups
of Christian Americans,
48
00:02:38,116 --> 00:02:41,620
all these events point
straight to Armageddon.
49
00:02:43,205 --> 00:02:46,309
That final battle between
the armies of Heaven
50
00:02:46,333 --> 00:02:49,187
and the forces of evil
that's prophesied
51
00:02:49,211 --> 00:02:53,775
in the Bible's
Book of Revelation.
52
00:02:53,799 --> 00:02:55,276
-It was just in the air...
The idea
53
00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:57,594
that the end of the world
was coming.
54
00:02:59,346 --> 00:03:04,827
-Whether by nuclear devastation,
environmental disaster,
55
00:03:04,851 --> 00:03:09,040
or a plague
that wipes out billions,
56
00:03:09,064 --> 00:03:11,501
they're bracing for
an apocalyptic event
57
00:03:11,525 --> 00:03:14,379
to strike sometime in the '90s.
58
00:03:14,403 --> 00:03:16,005
-Minus one minute.
59
00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:18,299
-It might be the end
of the human race
60
00:03:18,323 --> 00:03:21,594
and not necessarily the world.
61
00:03:21,618 --> 00:03:23,930
-My name is Alan R. Warren.
I wrote the book
62
00:03:23,954 --> 00:03:27,433
"Doomsday Cults:
The Devil's Hostages."
63
00:03:27,457 --> 00:03:29,477
{\an8}When people get scared,
64
00:03:29,501 --> 00:03:32,230
{\an8}they start to look
for something to calm them,
65
00:03:32,254 --> 00:03:34,482
something to soothe
their nerves.
66
00:03:34,506 --> 00:03:36,758
So what better than a cult?
67
00:03:39,428 --> 00:03:41,781
-For two cults in particular,
68
00:03:41,805 --> 00:03:44,075
their apocalyptic beliefs
will lead them down
69
00:03:44,099 --> 00:03:48,204
a parallel path
to their own self-destruction.
70
00:03:48,228 --> 00:03:51,124
-I'm sure the news media,
after we leave,
71
00:03:51,148 --> 00:03:55,670
is gonna have a heyday
comparing us to the Davidians.
72
00:03:55,694 --> 00:03:59,006
-The first is
the Waco Branch Davidians.
73
00:03:59,030 --> 00:04:02,677
-We have what appears
to be a fire going on right now
74
00:04:02,701 --> 00:04:05,513
raging at
the Branch Davidian compound.
75
00:04:05,537 --> 00:04:08,057
-The second is Heaven's Gate.
76
00:04:08,081 --> 00:04:09,975
-If you're just joining us,
our top story, of course,
77
00:04:09,999 --> 00:04:13,020
is the cult suicide
near San Diego, California.
78
00:04:13,044 --> 00:04:16,190
Officials said today
the 18 men and 21 women
79
00:04:16,214 --> 00:04:19,193
took their lives in stages
over the past few days.
80
00:04:19,217 --> 00:04:21,320
-How could these people choose
to do something,
81
00:04:21,344 --> 00:04:24,031
which, from my perspective,
made no sense,
82
00:04:24,055 --> 00:04:27,326
but from their perspective,
made total sense?
83
00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:29,203
{\an8}I'm Benjamin Zeller.
I'm a professor
84
00:04:29,227 --> 00:04:31,497
{\an8}of religious studies
at Lake Forest College
85
00:04:31,521 --> 00:04:33,207
outside of Chicago, Illinois.
86
00:04:33,231 --> 00:04:36,210
I wrote a book on Heaven's Gate.
87
00:04:36,234 --> 00:04:38,004
Alright. How to start.
88
00:04:38,028 --> 00:04:40,548
-The Mass Suicide
in Rancho Santa Fe, California,
89
00:04:40,572 --> 00:04:43,342
doesn't mark the first time
CBS News has reported
90
00:04:43,366 --> 00:04:45,553
on the cult
led by Marshall Applewhite.
91
00:04:45,577 --> 00:04:47,555
-We tend to think
about Heaven's Gate
92
00:04:47,579 --> 00:04:49,056
as a 1990s phenomenon,
93
00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,725
but to understand them,
we have to step back
94
00:04:50,749 --> 00:04:54,937
to the 1970s...
The mid-'70s when they started.
95
00:04:54,961 --> 00:04:57,940
-A mysterious couple appeared
three weeks ago
96
00:04:57,964 --> 00:05:01,486
circulating a flier proclaiming
a UFO would soon be ready
97
00:05:01,510 --> 00:05:04,447
{\an8}to take whomever would
follow them to another life,
98
00:05:04,471 --> 00:05:06,365
{\an8}another world.
99
00:05:06,389 --> 00:05:08,493
-Heaven's Gate
first made national news
100
00:05:08,517 --> 00:05:11,913
in the wake of a public event
they held in Oregon,
101
00:05:11,937 --> 00:05:14,916
where they literally
put posters up and said,
102
00:05:14,940 --> 00:05:16,792
"Come to this little venue,
this little Waldport Inn,
103
00:05:16,816 --> 00:05:18,920
and we're gonna have
a public meeting
104
00:05:18,944 --> 00:05:23,466
and talk about UFOs
and talk about how UFOs are real
105
00:05:23,490 --> 00:05:26,052
and the Bible is real
and the Bible is about UFOs."
106
00:05:26,076 --> 00:05:28,262
And dozens of people show up.
107
00:05:28,286 --> 00:05:30,723
-Today, there is a group
of earthlings
108
00:05:30,747 --> 00:05:33,267
who believe they're on their way
to a rendezvous
109
00:05:33,291 --> 00:05:37,480
with such a ship
for a trip to the unknown.
110
00:05:37,504 --> 00:05:39,774
-For Heaven's Gate,
the Bible was interpreted
111
00:05:39,798 --> 00:05:42,026
through the lens
of UFOs and ufology,
112
00:05:42,050 --> 00:05:45,112
these ideas about
extraterrestrial contact
113
00:05:45,136 --> 00:05:47,240
and that flying saucers
have crash landed
114
00:05:47,264 --> 00:05:49,116
and that the government
is conspiring
115
00:05:49,140 --> 00:05:51,285
to hide this from people.
116
00:05:51,309 --> 00:05:56,082
The idea that they offered
was you are not of this planet.
117
00:05:56,106 --> 00:05:57,500
You have been
on a spiritual quest,
118
00:05:57,524 --> 00:05:59,585
and that's valid...
Spiritual quest is good.
119
00:05:59,609 --> 00:06:00,795
It's good to try meditating.
120
00:06:00,819 --> 00:06:02,129
It's good to read
different texts.
121
00:06:02,153 --> 00:06:03,714
It's good to try
different religions.
122
00:06:03,738 --> 00:06:05,967
But what is better is to realize
that none of those paths
123
00:06:05,991 --> 00:06:09,887
will take you to the ultimate.
124
00:06:09,911 --> 00:06:11,389
And that is what they called
the next level,
125
00:06:11,413 --> 00:06:13,081
which is outer space.
126
00:06:16,084 --> 00:06:17,562
The idea was that
you would leave
127
00:06:17,586 --> 00:06:19,063
behind your human identity,
128
00:06:19,087 --> 00:06:21,274
your human level,
but that included your family,
129
00:06:21,298 --> 00:06:23,776
your possessions,
your loved ones,
130
00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:29,240
and join them on this... this
attempt to leave our planet.
131
00:06:29,264 --> 00:06:30,658
-[ Playing harmonica ]
132
00:06:30,682 --> 00:06:33,202
-For that, you have
to abandon your humanity
133
00:06:33,226 --> 00:06:38,082
and try to act like
a next-level alien.
134
00:06:38,106 --> 00:06:42,253
-They said they came from
evolutionary level above human
135
00:06:42,277 --> 00:06:46,549
and that they drove
physical spacecrafts,
136
00:06:46,573 --> 00:06:50,303
that we were actually making
application for employment
137
00:06:50,327 --> 00:06:53,222
on their spacecraft.
138
00:06:53,246 --> 00:06:54,890
My name is Sawyer.
139
00:06:54,914 --> 00:06:57,476
{\an8}I was part of Ti and Do's group
140
00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:01,147
{\an8}that became known
as Heaven's Gate for 19 years.
141
00:07:01,171 --> 00:07:03,024
{\an8}[ Playing flute ]
142
00:07:03,048 --> 00:07:06,235
I can do a little saxophone,
if you wanted, too.
143
00:07:06,259 --> 00:07:07,903
It's in the car, though.
144
00:07:07,927 --> 00:07:10,072
We're talking about a place
that has existence
145
00:07:10,096 --> 00:07:12,742
{\an8}outside of time
of the human kingdom
146
00:07:12,766 --> 00:07:15,077
{\an8}and outside of the environment
147
00:07:15,101 --> 00:07:17,079
{\an8}or the section of space
148
00:07:17,103 --> 00:07:20,458
{\an8}that we refer
to as the universe.
149
00:07:20,482 --> 00:07:23,919
{\an8}Ti is
Bonnie Lu Trousdale Nettles
150
00:07:23,943 --> 00:07:28,466
{\an8}and Do
is Marshall Herff Applewhite.
151
00:07:28,490 --> 00:07:32,053
{\an8}They were here to bring updates
to the Bible
152
00:07:32,077 --> 00:07:34,347
and to fulfill prophecy.
153
00:07:34,371 --> 00:07:38,392
-These are the two claiming
to be millions of years old.
154
00:07:38,416 --> 00:07:40,102
-Ti and Do actually
come to decide
155
00:07:40,126 --> 00:07:41,479
that they are two beings
156
00:07:41,503 --> 00:07:43,648
referred to
in the Book of Revelation
157
00:07:43,672 --> 00:07:45,399
as the two witnesses.
158
00:07:45,423 --> 00:07:49,737
The job of the two witnesses
is to preach the truth of Heaven
159
00:07:49,761 --> 00:07:52,657
and then to be martyred,
to be killed on the streets.
160
00:07:52,681 --> 00:07:54,742
-We're going to be martyred
at the completion
161
00:07:54,766 --> 00:07:57,203
of this testimony,
162
00:07:57,227 --> 00:07:59,580
and when we are,
after three and a half days,
163
00:07:59,604 --> 00:08:01,290
we're gonna walk up.
164
00:08:01,314 --> 00:08:04,418
Just get right up,
and you're gonna watch us.
165
00:08:04,442 --> 00:08:07,254
-Through the technology
of the extraterrestrials,
166
00:08:07,278 --> 00:08:09,090
they're going to be
restored to life.
167
00:08:09,114 --> 00:08:12,468
They can then demonstrate
to the world the reality of
168
00:08:12,492 --> 00:08:14,762
this extraterrestrial technology
and that the Bible
169
00:08:14,786 --> 00:08:19,517
is simply a record of
extraterrestrial investigations.
170
00:08:19,541 --> 00:08:24,563
-Those people who choose to go
away will be picked up by a UFO
171
00:08:24,587 --> 00:08:28,442
and they will be leaving
this earth forever.
172
00:08:28,466 --> 00:08:30,778
-Why didn't you decide to go?
173
00:08:30,802 --> 00:08:33,948
-I'm too human.
174
00:08:33,972 --> 00:08:35,574
-This was an extreme group.
175
00:08:35,598 --> 00:08:36,951
They say, "Come join us.
176
00:08:36,975 --> 00:08:38,494
We're gonna live out
at campgrounds.
177
00:08:38,518 --> 00:08:40,121
You're gonna spend
the day meditating
178
00:08:40,145 --> 00:08:42,289
and trying to overcome
your humanity."
179
00:08:42,313 --> 00:08:43,749
Didn't appeal to
a lot of people.
180
00:08:43,773 --> 00:08:45,209
And increasingly,
it was hard to get converts.
181
00:08:45,233 --> 00:08:47,586
So, at one point,
after being heckled,
182
00:08:47,610 --> 00:08:50,881
Ti stood up and she said,
"The harvest is closed.
183
00:08:50,905 --> 00:08:52,341
We're gonna turn inwards.
184
00:08:52,365 --> 00:08:53,634
We're gonna effectively
go underground.
185
00:08:53,658 --> 00:08:54,969
We're going to stop
proselytizing,
186
00:08:54,993 --> 00:08:56,554
stop holding these meetings.
187
00:08:56,578 --> 00:09:00,307
We're gonna focus
on overcoming our humanity."
188
00:09:00,331 --> 00:09:02,935
-But when one of the co-founders
succeeds
189
00:09:02,959 --> 00:09:06,230
in overcoming her humanity,
190
00:09:06,254 --> 00:09:09,316
the intended result
doesn't happen.
191
00:09:09,340 --> 00:09:11,360
-In the mid-'80s,
Bonnie Lu Nettles
192
00:09:11,384 --> 00:09:12,987
gets increasingly sick.
193
00:09:13,011 --> 00:09:15,865
She has cancer, which spreads,
194
00:09:15,889 --> 00:09:18,451
and then eventually
she passes away.
195
00:09:18,475 --> 00:09:20,536
And she does not,
as far as anyone can tell,
196
00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,496
get picked up by a UFO.
197
00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,541
-Ti's vehicle died in 1985,
198
00:09:25,565 --> 00:09:30,671
and it did change the group
in the sense that Do believed
199
00:09:30,695 --> 00:09:33,591
that Ti was his old member.
200
00:09:33,615 --> 00:09:36,427
So Do had to operate alone.
201
00:09:36,451 --> 00:09:39,388
-When that happened,
Applewhite changed
202
00:09:39,412 --> 00:09:42,558
and he started looking at things
in a different light.
203
00:09:42,582 --> 00:09:45,686
-Death of the body
or losing the body,
204
00:09:45,710 --> 00:09:53,710
losing the vehicle, essentially
has no long-term effect on me.
205
00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:57,531
-Yes, he was distraught,
but he got over it very quickly,
206
00:09:57,555 --> 00:10:00,391
and for all intents
and purposes, that I could see.
207
00:10:02,268 --> 00:10:04,872
-Now alone, as sole leader
of the group,
208
00:10:04,896 --> 00:10:09,543
Applewhite makes a profound
shift in his philosophy.
209
00:10:09,567 --> 00:10:12,546
-Do is effectively,
for members of the group,
210
00:10:12,570 --> 00:10:15,382
he is Christ reborn
and he is the second coming,
211
00:10:15,406 --> 00:10:17,218
and that's a big transition.
212
00:10:17,242 --> 00:10:20,137
And the group really has
a sudden shift towards the idea
213
00:10:20,161 --> 00:10:21,597
that, well, perhaps
214
00:10:21,621 --> 00:10:23,557
they're not gonna,
in an embodied form,
215
00:10:23,581 --> 00:10:25,810
get onto the spaceship
and fly off,
216
00:10:25,834 --> 00:10:28,312
but it might be something
in a more metaphysical,
217
00:10:28,336 --> 00:10:30,481
metaphoric, spiritual level.
218
00:10:30,505 --> 00:10:33,984
That's what opens the door
a decade later to the suicide.
219
00:10:34,008 --> 00:10:36,052
[ Birds cawing ]
220
00:10:37,428 --> 00:10:39,865
-If the death of
Bonnie Lu Nettles opens the door
221
00:10:39,889 --> 00:10:42,701
to members of Heaven's Gate
taking their own lives
222
00:10:42,725 --> 00:10:44,578
in 1997...
223
00:10:44,602 --> 00:10:46,330
-Sure, we know
it's the same Christ who...
224
00:10:46,354 --> 00:10:48,999
- then it's this man
that blows that door
225
00:10:49,023 --> 00:10:50,793
right off its hinges.
226
00:10:50,817 --> 00:10:52,878
-David Koresh was dangerous,
227
00:10:52,902 --> 00:10:55,446
irrational, and probably insane.
228
00:10:59,284 --> 00:11:00,719
-At the start of the '90s,
229
00:11:00,743 --> 00:11:02,763
the number-one book
among American Christians
230
00:11:02,787 --> 00:11:05,933
is a fictionalized account
of the end of the world
231
00:11:05,957 --> 00:11:08,644
called the "Left Behind" series.
232
00:11:08,668 --> 00:11:10,771
-It's a retelling
of the Book of Revelation.
233
00:11:10,795 --> 00:11:12,857
Hundreds of millions of people
being killed,
234
00:11:12,881 --> 00:11:16,569
{\an8}with demons and angels fighting
and meteors falling
235
00:11:16,593 --> 00:11:19,530
{\an8}and rivers of blood
and government conspiracies,
236
00:11:19,554 --> 00:11:23,617
and this was... this was
pop Christian culture.
237
00:11:23,641 --> 00:11:26,287
-The books remain
New York Times best sellers
238
00:11:26,311 --> 00:11:28,914
through the early '90s.
239
00:11:28,938 --> 00:11:34,211
And while Heaven's Gate
continues its self-exile,
240
00:11:34,235 --> 00:11:36,297
another group
preaching Armageddon
241
00:11:36,321 --> 00:11:39,967
is about to grab
the nation's attention.
242
00:11:39,991 --> 00:11:41,635
-The groups we tend
to think about,
243
00:11:41,659 --> 00:11:44,263
when we... when we're thinking
about doomsday cults,
244
00:11:44,287 --> 00:11:45,556
well, Heaven's Gate
is one of them,
245
00:11:45,580 --> 00:11:46,807
but probably the best example
might be
246
00:11:46,831 --> 00:11:48,851
the Branch Davidians in Waco.
247
00:11:48,875 --> 00:11:50,978
Both think they're interpreting
the Bible
248
00:11:51,002 --> 00:11:52,396
and thought they were standing
249
00:11:52,420 --> 00:11:56,650
at the precipice
of the... of the end times.
250
00:11:56,674 --> 00:11:59,612
-But for the Branch Davidians,
the end times come
251
00:11:59,636 --> 00:12:04,491
a little bit sooner
than they do for Heaven's Gate.
252
00:12:04,515 --> 00:12:08,954
-On February 28th in 1993,
I was sitting at home.
253
00:12:08,978 --> 00:12:11,957
I was then living in Dallas.
My phone rang.
254
00:12:11,981 --> 00:12:15,294
It was my boss who said,
"There's been a shoot-out,
255
00:12:15,318 --> 00:12:17,171
they're a bunch
of religious nuts.
256
00:12:17,195 --> 00:12:18,464
It sounds like
your kind of people.
257
00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:19,548
Get down there."
258
00:12:19,572 --> 00:12:21,800
{\an8}I'm Lee Hancock.
I'm a journalist
259
00:12:21,824 --> 00:12:25,804
{\an8}and worked for 24 years
for The Dallas Morning News.
260
00:12:25,828 --> 00:12:27,598
Let's start with David Koresh.
261
00:12:27,622 --> 00:12:29,308
Do you consider yourself
a prophet?
262
00:12:29,332 --> 00:12:32,353
-Let me say this much.
I consider myself
263
00:12:32,377 --> 00:12:34,939
someone who's found grace
in the sight of Christ.
264
00:12:34,963 --> 00:12:36,315
And if I can be a prophet to you
265
00:12:36,339 --> 00:12:38,567
by giving you a study
about the Bible,
266
00:12:38,591 --> 00:12:40,527
then, yeah, I'd say
I'm a prophet.
267
00:12:40,551 --> 00:12:45,699
{\an1}-David Koresh was the child of a
single mother who had him at 14,
268
00:12:45,723 --> 00:12:50,537
spent some time in East Texas
living with his grandmother,
269
00:12:50,561 --> 00:12:55,042
who took him to
a Seventh-day Adventist church.
270
00:12:55,066 --> 00:12:58,545
The Seventh-day Adventists
are a religious group
271
00:12:58,569 --> 00:13:02,883
that focus a lot of their
attention on the end times
272
00:13:02,907 --> 00:13:04,635
when Christ will return
273
00:13:04,659 --> 00:13:06,845
and there will be
a great conflict,
274
00:13:06,869 --> 00:13:09,640
and the believers
will go to Heaven
275
00:13:09,664 --> 00:13:13,644
and everyone else will suffer
and go to Hell.
276
00:13:13,668 --> 00:13:18,023
Well, there was an offshoot
of the Seventh-day Adventists
277
00:13:18,047 --> 00:13:20,734
called the Branch Davidians.
278
00:13:20,758 --> 00:13:24,530
-The Branch Davidian
were founded in the 1950s
279
00:13:24,554 --> 00:13:26,699
and built their new
Mount Carmel Center
280
00:13:26,723 --> 00:13:30,035
on the outskirts of Waco, Texas.
281
00:13:30,059 --> 00:13:31,829
-By the early 1990s,
282
00:13:31,853 --> 00:13:34,748
{\an8}David Koresh
had taken complete control
283
00:13:34,772 --> 00:13:37,292
{\an8}over the Waco compound.
284
00:13:37,316 --> 00:13:41,338
-He said he'd had a vision
and he was the Messiah come back
285
00:13:41,362 --> 00:13:43,549
and was the figure
286
00:13:43,573 --> 00:13:46,427
that was going to bring
the end of the world.
287
00:13:46,451 --> 00:13:48,971
-The followers started
buying into it.
288
00:13:48,995 --> 00:13:50,556
They really believed
289
00:13:50,580 --> 00:13:54,268
that he was who was being
talked about in the Bible.
290
00:13:54,292 --> 00:13:57,587
He was the new Jesus.
291
00:13:59,672 --> 00:14:01,483
-He was a very exciting figure
292
00:14:01,507 --> 00:14:04,778
and he had a photographic recall
of the Bible,
293
00:14:04,802 --> 00:14:07,990
so he could take you to Daniel
and Isaiah and then Revelation
294
00:14:08,014 --> 00:14:12,077
and back again in a way
that just dazzled people.
295
00:14:12,101 --> 00:14:14,288
-In that day, quote-unquote,
it says,
296
00:14:14,312 --> 00:14:17,791
"Lord, you will not be ashamed
for all your sins
297
00:14:17,815 --> 00:14:19,043
you committed against me."
298
00:14:19,067 --> 00:14:21,962
-And so those folks
who followed him
299
00:14:21,986 --> 00:14:23,797
absolutely believe
300
00:14:23,821 --> 00:14:26,633
that he was the Messiah.
301
00:14:26,657 --> 00:14:30,012
-Like Marshall Applewhite
over in Heaven's Gate,
302
00:14:30,036 --> 00:14:33,682
David Koresh claims
to be the second coming sent
303
00:14:33,706 --> 00:14:36,060
to help humanity reach
the next level
304
00:14:36,084 --> 00:14:39,646
after Armageddon
destroys the planet.
305
00:14:39,670 --> 00:14:44,651
For Applewhite, that means
a trip to Heaven in a UFO,
306
00:14:44,675 --> 00:14:47,946
but for Koresh, it's a much
more violent picture.
307
00:14:47,970 --> 00:14:51,408
-He taught that if
you were going to die for God,
308
00:14:51,432 --> 00:14:53,285
you had to kill for God.
309
00:14:53,309 --> 00:14:58,540
And the outside evil forces of
the world were gonna come in
310
00:14:58,564 --> 00:15:00,709
and they were going to have
to fight
311
00:15:00,733 --> 00:15:04,254
and they were gonna go up
in a fiery battle.
312
00:15:04,278 --> 00:15:06,489
They're a laugh riot.
[ Chuckles ]
313
00:15:07,865 --> 00:15:10,177
-It's not just
their different visions
314
00:15:10,201 --> 00:15:11,887
of how the world will end
315
00:15:11,911 --> 00:15:15,599
that sets the Branch Davidians
and Heaven's Gate apart.
316
00:15:15,623 --> 00:15:18,102
-Hi, Alex. [ Laughs ]
317
00:15:18,126 --> 00:15:22,022
-It's also how they approach
their sexuality.
318
00:15:22,046 --> 00:15:23,690
-For Heaven's Gate,
319
00:15:23,714 --> 00:15:25,484
abandoning their humanity
was key because in their mind,
320
00:15:25,508 --> 00:15:28,112
it was about going...
Going beyond this earth,
321
00:15:28,136 --> 00:15:30,864
and that culminated in...
In celibacy.
322
00:15:30,888 --> 00:15:33,617
- [ Laughs ]
- Ideally, that meant
323
00:15:33,641 --> 00:15:35,160
not just sort of
external sexuality
324
00:15:35,184 --> 00:15:37,037
in terms of actually
you couldn't have sex.
325
00:15:37,061 --> 00:15:38,914
That was just the beginning.
326
00:15:38,938 --> 00:15:41,125
But the idea was that you would
eventually, after long enough,
327
00:15:41,149 --> 00:15:43,043
give up even your sex drive.
328
00:15:43,067 --> 00:15:46,505
-Welcome to "Beyond Human."
329
00:15:46,529 --> 00:15:49,258
-They wanted to be
basically space angels,
330
00:15:49,282 --> 00:15:51,927
these genderless beings who...
331
00:15:51,951 --> 00:15:54,346
Who didn't need to eat
or to sleep
332
00:15:54,370 --> 00:15:56,640
or to procreate
or even to breathe.
333
00:15:56,664 --> 00:15:58,433
It was... It was perfection.
334
00:15:58,457 --> 00:16:00,936
It's what you find in an ancient
text talking about the angels.
335
00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,689
{\an8}-These... These flesh vehicles,
I mean...
336
00:16:03,713 --> 00:16:06,984
{\an8}-Some students desired
to have their vehicles neutered,
337
00:16:07,008 --> 00:16:09,611
{\an8}and I'm one of those students
that did that.
338
00:16:09,635 --> 00:16:13,073
{\an8}And I can't tell you how free
that has made me feel.
339
00:16:13,097 --> 00:16:15,659
I've been here long enough
from the time
340
00:16:15,683 --> 00:16:19,538
I had that operation to know
the freedom that it offers me.
341
00:16:19,562 --> 00:16:24,168
-Castration in the group
was never a requirement.
342
00:16:24,192 --> 00:16:28,213
{\an8}It was always
an optional thing to do,
343
00:16:28,237 --> 00:16:29,882
and the reason for that
is because
344
00:16:29,906 --> 00:16:32,926
they don't have any sexuality
in the next level.
345
00:16:32,950 --> 00:16:35,137
They don't reproduce.
346
00:16:35,161 --> 00:16:37,598
Their bodies don't even have
the plumbing for it,
347
00:16:37,622 --> 00:16:42,477
and so we have to prepare
our mind for that ahead of time.
348
00:16:42,501 --> 00:16:44,313
Otherwise, they don't really
want us to be
349
00:16:44,337 --> 00:16:45,772
on board their spacecraft.
350
00:16:45,796 --> 00:16:50,611
And so, yes,
I wanted to be castrated.
351
00:16:50,635 --> 00:16:52,404
-There are different stories
about how
352
00:16:52,428 --> 00:16:54,698
the castrations come up.
353
00:16:54,722 --> 00:16:56,783
What everyone agrees on
is actually it was members
354
00:16:56,807 --> 00:16:58,535
of the movement
rather than Do himself
355
00:16:58,559 --> 00:17:03,290
who thought that one way to
alleviate their constant anxiety
356
00:17:03,314 --> 00:17:04,625
about controlling
their sexuality
357
00:17:04,649 --> 00:17:08,170
was simply not
to have any sexuality.
358
00:17:08,194 --> 00:17:10,714
-When Do ask me about it,
he asked me
359
00:17:10,738 --> 00:17:15,219
if I had any reservations,
and I said to him,
360
00:17:15,243 --> 00:17:19,306
"Well, my vehicle
isn't looking forward to it,
361
00:17:19,330 --> 00:17:23,060
but I'm overriding my vehicle."
362
00:17:23,084 --> 00:17:27,147
But then he said,
"Who's gonna go first?"
363
00:17:27,171 --> 00:17:30,859
And so what we did when we had
a situation like that
364
00:17:30,883 --> 00:17:35,822
where it didn't matter,
we would do a coin toss.
365
00:17:35,846 --> 00:17:38,325
And so the coin toss
was to decide
366
00:17:38,349 --> 00:17:40,452
whether we wanted
to go first or not.
367
00:17:40,476 --> 00:17:47,084
{\an8}♪♪
368
00:17:47,108 --> 00:17:52,047
-Sawyer loses the coin toss
and never gets castrated.
369
00:17:52,071 --> 00:17:55,133
But eight other members,
including Applewhite,
370
00:17:55,157 --> 00:17:57,928
do go through
with the procedure.
371
00:17:57,952 --> 00:18:01,974
{\an8}♪♪
372
00:18:01,998 --> 00:18:04,935
The Waco Branch Davidians,
on the other hand,
373
00:18:04,959 --> 00:18:07,187
have their
own questionable method
374
00:18:07,211 --> 00:18:10,065
of controlling their sexuality.
375
00:18:10,089 --> 00:18:14,444
-For the Branch Davidian, their
interpretation of the Bible
376
00:18:14,468 --> 00:18:16,697
called for celibacy
from some members,
377
00:18:16,721 --> 00:18:18,073
but it actually called
for their leader,
378
00:18:18,097 --> 00:18:20,534
David Koresh,
to take multiple wives,
379
00:18:20,558 --> 00:18:24,538
including underage women
and girls.
380
00:18:24,562 --> 00:18:26,248
-At that time,
381
00:18:26,272 --> 00:18:29,042
he started implementing
his own rules and lifestyles.
382
00:18:29,066 --> 00:18:32,170
He started having sex
with a lot of the females,
383
00:18:32,194 --> 00:18:34,423
whether they are married or not.
384
00:18:34,447 --> 00:18:37,134
This was a problem
because he started doing this
385
00:18:37,158 --> 00:18:39,344
with girls as young as 12.
386
00:18:39,368 --> 00:18:42,097
-He came up
with the "New Light."
387
00:18:42,121 --> 00:18:43,807
That was a teaching that said
388
00:18:43,831 --> 00:18:46,768
not only could
he have multiple wives,
389
00:18:46,792 --> 00:18:50,147
but no one...
No man could have wives
390
00:18:50,171 --> 00:18:52,774
and he was going to take
all of their wives,
391
00:18:52,798 --> 00:18:54,818
every member of the group.
392
00:18:54,842 --> 00:18:57,571
-Some of the members
that had their wives
393
00:18:57,595 --> 00:18:59,781
that were now having sex
with David Koresh
394
00:18:59,805 --> 00:19:03,952
or having his child,
some of them left rather upset,
395
00:19:03,976 --> 00:19:06,079
so they ended up
making complaints.
396
00:19:06,103 --> 00:19:07,789
-So how's God gonna talk?
397
00:19:07,813 --> 00:19:09,833
-Those complaints,
along with reports
398
00:19:09,857 --> 00:19:12,836
that Koresh
is stockpiling weapons,
399
00:19:12,860 --> 00:19:17,174
finally make their way
to the ATF and the FBI,
400
00:19:17,198 --> 00:19:19,968
who team up to go
and arrest Koresh.
401
00:19:19,992 --> 00:19:22,262
-Heavily armed law-enforcement
officers have now
402
00:19:22,286 --> 00:19:26,892
totally surrounded
a ranch outside Waco, Texas.
403
00:19:26,916 --> 00:19:28,727
-To Koresh and his followers,
404
00:19:28,751 --> 00:19:33,565
the arrival of armed federal
officers outside their compound
405
00:19:33,589 --> 00:19:35,025
is the confrontation
406
00:19:35,049 --> 00:19:38,320
they've been preparing
to fight all along.
407
00:19:38,344 --> 00:19:42,366
-It looks like David Koresh's
prophecies are coming true.
408
00:19:42,390 --> 00:19:46,244
You know, there is Babylon,
the US government,
409
00:19:46,268 --> 00:19:48,979
on your doorstep
ready to get it on with you.
410
00:19:53,275 --> 00:19:55,128
{\an8}-♪ There's a mad man
living in Waco ♪
411
00:19:55,152 --> 00:19:59,925
♪ He's bowing his knee to bed ♪
412
00:19:59,949 --> 00:20:04,388
♪ Won't you help, Mr. Sheriff? ♪
413
00:20:04,412 --> 00:20:07,808
♪ So we won't fail ♪
414
00:20:07,832 --> 00:20:10,268
-The Federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms,
415
00:20:10,292 --> 00:20:12,979
after a months-long
investigation,
416
00:20:13,003 --> 00:20:17,734
was going in with a major
operation to arrest Koresh
417
00:20:17,758 --> 00:20:20,362
{\an8}for gun violations
and search the compound
418
00:20:20,386 --> 00:20:23,365
{\an8}for evidence of illegal weapons.
419
00:20:23,389 --> 00:20:25,659
In their search warrant,
420
00:20:25,683 --> 00:20:28,870
they included allegations
of child abuse.
421
00:20:28,894 --> 00:20:31,665
He's sleeping
with underage children
422
00:20:31,689 --> 00:20:36,211
and he may be leading them
in a suicide pact.
423
00:20:36,235 --> 00:20:43,093
The problem was that Koresh and
his group had been tipped off,
424
00:20:43,117 --> 00:20:45,720
so they had an hour to prepare,
425
00:20:45,744 --> 00:20:49,182
And when the ATF pulled up
426
00:20:49,206 --> 00:20:53,228
to this remote compound
on a barren plain,
427
00:20:53,252 --> 00:20:56,398
the Davidians
were ready for them.
428
00:20:56,422 --> 00:21:00,902
I mean, they had enough weaponry
for a small army
429
00:21:00,926 --> 00:21:05,365
and enough weaponry to take on
the federal government,
430
00:21:05,389 --> 00:21:07,409
which they did.
431
00:21:07,433 --> 00:21:09,202
-Sounds like they're firing now.
432
00:21:09,226 --> 00:21:11,037
And he says that y'all
are making the move
433
00:21:11,061 --> 00:21:12,873
and they're gonna defend
themselves
434
00:21:12,897 --> 00:21:15,041
to the last men,
so [speaks indistinctly]
435
00:21:15,065 --> 00:21:16,293
[ Gunfire ]
436
00:21:16,317 --> 00:21:19,671
[ Speaking indistinctly ]
437
00:21:19,695 --> 00:21:21,465
-We're trying to stop
the ambulance.
438
00:21:21,489 --> 00:21:24,092
- Why?
- We're trying
to stop the ambulance.
439
00:21:24,116 --> 00:21:26,094
-We're trying to stop
the ambulance now.
440
00:21:26,118 --> 00:21:28,180
Hold your fire.
Please hold your fire.
441
00:21:28,204 --> 00:21:32,058
-4 agents were dead,
17 were wounded.
442
00:21:32,082 --> 00:21:36,271
A number of Davidians,
including Koresh, were wounded.
443
00:21:36,295 --> 00:21:39,774
Two were actually killed
by ATF gunfire.
444
00:21:39,798 --> 00:21:40,984
-Well, I've been hit through...
445
00:21:41,008 --> 00:21:43,862
Ah! Watch out. Okay.
[ Groans ]
446
00:21:43,886 --> 00:21:45,405
I've been... I've been hit
to the stomach,
447
00:21:45,429 --> 00:21:47,657
and I think it broke
my pelvic bone.
448
00:21:47,681 --> 00:21:52,454
-With Waco, the most important
element is who shot first...
449
00:21:52,478 --> 00:21:56,208
{\an8}Was it the ATF
or was it the Waco compound?
450
00:21:56,232 --> 00:21:59,628
-The Davidians would later say
and Koresh would later claim
451
00:21:59,652 --> 00:22:01,963
that ATF shot first.
452
00:22:01,987 --> 00:22:03,840
-And there's still a fight
about that today.
453
00:22:03,864 --> 00:22:06,259
There's still people
that take sides.
454
00:22:06,283 --> 00:22:10,180
If you think that the ATF
did the first shot,
455
00:22:10,204 --> 00:22:13,767
it's because you... you feel
the government is intrusive.
456
00:22:13,791 --> 00:22:17,270
And if you're on the other side,
then you think, of course,
457
00:22:17,294 --> 00:22:18,980
the Waco,
they were the bad people.
458
00:22:19,004 --> 00:22:21,399
David Koresh
was holding them hostage
459
00:22:21,423 --> 00:22:24,444
and he's the one
that did the first shot,
460
00:22:24,468 --> 00:22:27,489
so it's his fault.
461
00:22:27,513 --> 00:22:29,366
-After that first gunfight,
462
00:22:29,390 --> 00:22:33,912
federal officers
lay siege to the compound...
463
00:22:33,936 --> 00:22:37,958
{\an8}while the media lay siege
to the federal officers.
464
00:22:37,982 --> 00:22:41,127
{\an8}-This was day 16 of the standoff
in central Texas.
465
00:22:41,151 --> 00:22:43,838
{\an8}-The tense standoff
between cult leader David Koresh
466
00:22:43,862 --> 00:22:46,258
{\an8}and federal agents
is now entering its fourth week.
467
00:22:46,282 --> 00:22:49,553
{\an8}-This was the 48th day
of the standoff between...
468
00:22:49,577 --> 00:22:51,972
-To help contain the situation,
469
00:22:51,996 --> 00:22:57,978
the ATF and FBI call in support
from the local military base.
470
00:22:58,002 --> 00:23:00,480
-There was a point the head
of the hostage rescue team said,
471
00:23:00,504 --> 00:23:03,233
"Well, I'm gonna bring in
an Abrams tank."
472
00:23:03,257 --> 00:23:07,404
And so literally they ordered
an Abrams tank to come up.
473
00:23:07,428 --> 00:23:12,367
The problem with that was
that if you are a Davidian
474
00:23:12,391 --> 00:23:16,329
looking at this army
amassed outside
475
00:23:16,353 --> 00:23:20,292
with the biggest tank
in the US arsenal, you know,
476
00:23:20,316 --> 00:23:25,755
it looks like David Koresh's
prophecies are coming true.
477
00:23:25,779 --> 00:23:29,509
Koresh taught his followers
and they fervently believed
478
00:23:29,533 --> 00:23:32,137
the only way to get to Heaven
479
00:23:32,161 --> 00:23:37,100
was to go with him
through this fiery ending
480
00:23:37,124 --> 00:23:40,312
where they knew
that they were gonna die.
481
00:23:40,336 --> 00:23:43,481
-When they come busting in
on my door with guns drawn
482
00:23:43,505 --> 00:23:45,108
and pointed in the air
483
00:23:45,132 --> 00:23:47,110
and someone fire at me,
then I'm gonna lay down
484
00:23:47,134 --> 00:23:49,279
and die for anybody.
485
00:23:49,303 --> 00:23:51,948
It just ain't gonna happen.
486
00:23:51,972 --> 00:23:54,451
-After a 51-day siege,
487
00:23:54,475 --> 00:23:56,411
federal agents
bring it to an end
488
00:23:56,435 --> 00:23:59,855
by driving a tank
straight into the compound.
489
00:24:03,275 --> 00:24:05,420
News networks from all over
the world beamed their
490
00:24:05,444 --> 00:24:08,947
live coverage
to millions of households.
491
00:24:11,075 --> 00:24:14,638
Also watching are members
of Heaven's Gate.
492
00:24:14,662 --> 00:24:18,224
{\an8}-Well, we began to see
on the news the experience
493
00:24:18,248 --> 00:24:20,060
{\an8}in Waco, Texas,
494
00:24:20,084 --> 00:24:23,063
{\an8}with the Branch Davidians
and David Koresh.
495
00:24:23,087 --> 00:24:25,940
We were following the news
every day on that.
496
00:24:25,964 --> 00:24:28,777
At one point,
we were watching TV,
497
00:24:28,801 --> 00:24:30,820
and that's when
the fire started.
498
00:24:30,844 --> 00:24:34,491
-We have what appears to be
a fire going on right now
499
00:24:34,515 --> 00:24:37,202
raging at
the Branch Davidian compound.
500
00:24:37,226 --> 00:24:42,582
-And we're watching it live
and we were all aghast
501
00:24:42,606 --> 00:24:44,209
that that happened
502
00:24:44,233 --> 00:24:46,878
and that, you know,
all the military presence
503
00:24:46,902 --> 00:24:50,090
and everything
that was happening there.
504
00:24:50,114 --> 00:24:54,344
-You had this national trauma
aired live
505
00:24:54,368 --> 00:24:58,181
on national television.
506
00:24:58,205 --> 00:25:00,892
You knew when you watched
that fire,
507
00:25:00,916 --> 00:25:04,521
you were watching
more than 70 people,
508
00:25:04,545 --> 00:25:08,775
including more than
two dozen children,
509
00:25:08,799 --> 00:25:12,386
dying in that fire
right over your lunch hour.
510
00:25:14,388 --> 00:25:17,909
-In the wake of Waco,
Do Applewhite believed
511
00:25:17,933 --> 00:25:21,913
that the government was going
to come get them and kill them
512
00:25:21,937 --> 00:25:23,998
and that ultimately
this was an okay thing
513
00:25:24,022 --> 00:25:25,917
because this is what
would resolve the problem
514
00:25:25,941 --> 00:25:27,627
of how to get themselves
to the next level.
515
00:25:27,651 --> 00:25:31,631
-He talked about
how we might buy
516
00:25:31,655 --> 00:25:35,385
a... a rifle or two
517
00:25:35,409 --> 00:25:38,555
and use it...
Not against anybody,
518
00:25:38,579 --> 00:25:42,392
but to pose a threat so that
519
00:25:42,416 --> 00:25:46,312
if the government thought of us
as a fanatical cult
520
00:25:46,336 --> 00:25:49,691
and that knew that we had
weapons, that they might
521
00:25:49,715 --> 00:25:54,112
be the instrument
of our exiting our vehicles.
522
00:25:54,136 --> 00:25:57,073
-Look at the camera.
You look great.
523
00:25:57,097 --> 00:26:01,661
-But suicide by cop
was never a possibility.
524
00:26:01,685 --> 00:26:05,373
-They had no interest,
no ability to use weapons.
525
00:26:05,397 --> 00:26:07,834
But ultimately, the government
had no interest
526
00:26:07,858 --> 00:26:10,837
in coming to get this group.
They didn't break any laws.
527
00:26:10,861 --> 00:26:14,966
This was a movement that paid
their library fines in the week
528
00:26:14,990 --> 00:26:16,593
before their suicides.
529
00:26:16,617 --> 00:26:20,096
There was no interest
from anyone in raiding them.
530
00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:22,182
-For Heaven's Gate,
a violent standoff
531
00:26:22,206 --> 00:26:25,351
with law enforcement
wasn't in their future,
532
00:26:25,375 --> 00:26:28,229
which forces Marshall Applewhite
to come up
533
00:26:28,253 --> 00:26:30,899
with an alternate plan
for his members to,
534
00:26:30,923 --> 00:26:34,068
as he puts it,
"shed their vehicles."
535
00:26:34,092 --> 00:26:36,154
-This is your chance. I'm here.
536
00:26:36,178 --> 00:26:37,763
I can take you out of here.
537
00:26:42,184 --> 00:26:43,787
-The website says the group
started in 1975 in Houston
538
00:26:43,811 --> 00:26:45,580
and refers to this article
in The New York Times
539
00:26:45,604 --> 00:26:46,790
about the recruiting efforts
of Marshall Herff Applewhite.
540
00:26:46,814 --> 00:26:50,376
-In 1993,
just months after Waco,
541
00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,796
Heaven's Gate
stages their comeback
542
00:26:52,820 --> 00:26:55,215
when they take out
a full-page ad
543
00:26:55,239 --> 00:26:57,926
in a national newspaper.
544
00:26:57,950 --> 00:27:00,887
-The group bursts into
public consciousness again.
545
00:27:00,911 --> 00:27:02,222
{\an8}They do it in a couple of ways.
546
00:27:02,246 --> 00:27:05,058
{\an8}One is this 1993 USA Today ad,
547
00:27:05,082 --> 00:27:08,478
{\an8}which they take trying
to explain that they're back
548
00:27:08,502 --> 00:27:10,897
and that they're offering
the one chance for humanity
549
00:27:10,921 --> 00:27:14,734
to escape our planet
and to achieve immortal life
550
00:27:14,758 --> 00:27:18,238
in this perfected next level,
heavenly state.
551
00:27:18,262 --> 00:27:20,240
-We don't know if we're gonna
take these flesh
552
00:27:20,264 --> 00:27:22,367
bodies onboard that craft
553
00:27:22,391 --> 00:27:25,829
or if we'll leave
these flesh bodies behind.
554
00:27:25,853 --> 00:27:28,081
-This time around,
Heaven's Gate starts
555
00:27:28,105 --> 00:27:31,543
blending their message
with pop culture.
556
00:27:31,567 --> 00:27:33,169
-There were members of the group
who said,
557
00:27:33,193 --> 00:27:36,256
"Hey, let's try to repitch
everything we're saying
558
00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:37,590
with the lens
of science fiction.
559
00:27:37,614 --> 00:27:40,093
Instead of calling Do
Jesus Christ,
560
00:27:40,117 --> 00:27:44,764
let's call Joe the captain."
561
00:27:44,788 --> 00:27:48,184
-That year, "Star Trek:
The Next Generation" is pulling
562
00:27:48,208 --> 00:27:52,438
in an average of 20 million
viewers per episode,
563
00:27:52,462 --> 00:27:53,815
and members of Heaven's Gate
564
00:27:53,839 --> 00:27:57,277
become some of
the show's biggest fans.
565
00:27:57,301 --> 00:27:59,571
-They all had emblems
on their shirts,
566
00:27:59,595 --> 00:28:01,656
just like they were part
of "Star Trek."
567
00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,242
-Now, if you would
hold your patch,
568
00:28:04,266 --> 00:28:07,954
maybe we can zoom in
on the patch that... Great.
569
00:28:07,978 --> 00:28:09,789
-It's laughable now,
570
00:28:09,813 --> 00:28:11,791
{\an8}but people really believed it.
571
00:28:11,815 --> 00:28:14,151
{\an8}They were really into it.
572
00:28:17,279 --> 00:28:21,634
-We watched "Star Trek:
Next Generation,"
573
00:28:21,658 --> 00:28:25,471
I guess you could say
religiously.
574
00:28:25,495 --> 00:28:28,308
And Do enjoyed them because
he thought
575
00:28:28,332 --> 00:28:32,520
that it was a good example
of a crew
576
00:28:32,544 --> 00:28:35,631
in the next level
working on a spacecraft.
577
00:28:37,716 --> 00:28:42,947
In a next level crew,
there are no human behaviors,
578
00:28:42,971 --> 00:28:44,240
there's no competition,
579
00:28:44,264 --> 00:28:48,995
there's no relationships,
no ego.
580
00:28:49,019 --> 00:28:50,538
-We're gonna sail around
and we're gonna
581
00:28:50,562 --> 00:28:53,541
take care of planets
and help civilizations,
582
00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:55,793
and we're going to bring
peace and tranquility
583
00:28:55,817 --> 00:28:57,837
and we're gonna bring
this sort of utopian ideal,
584
00:28:57,861 --> 00:28:59,839
which goes back to
Gene Roddenberry's vision
585
00:28:59,863 --> 00:29:01,531
for "Star Trek."
586
00:29:04,660 --> 00:29:08,681
-Heaven's Gate also starts
exploring a real-life technology
587
00:29:08,705 --> 00:29:12,352
that's just beginning
to change the world.
588
00:29:12,376 --> 00:29:15,813
{\an8}-Ti and Do were always
encouraging us to upgrade.
589
00:29:15,837 --> 00:29:20,360
{\an8}And so we got into technology
and eventually became
590
00:29:20,384 --> 00:29:22,862
the business known
as Higher Source.
591
00:29:22,886 --> 00:29:26,199
-Higher Source was a Web design
and hosting company
592
00:29:26,223 --> 00:29:29,285
that would create websites.
They had a number of clients.
593
00:29:29,309 --> 00:29:31,329
You have to remember,
this was... this was a time
594
00:29:31,353 --> 00:29:32,747
before there was software
595
00:29:32,771 --> 00:29:34,165
which was easily automated
making a website.
596
00:29:34,189 --> 00:29:35,917
If you wanted to make a website,
597
00:29:35,941 --> 00:29:37,210
you had to know HTML,
598
00:29:37,234 --> 00:29:38,795
you had to know Java,
JavaScript.
599
00:29:38,819 --> 00:29:41,589
And these were all skills
that they learned.
600
00:29:41,613 --> 00:29:44,050
And these were skills
that paid really,
601
00:29:44,074 --> 00:29:46,970
really well back in the '90s.
602
00:29:46,994 --> 00:29:49,514
This was a way in which
the group could afford
603
00:29:49,538 --> 00:29:51,349
to live comfortably.
604
00:29:51,373 --> 00:29:52,892
By the end
of the group's existence,
605
00:29:52,916 --> 00:29:54,644
they were in a gated community,
606
00:29:54,668 --> 00:29:57,981
they were in a mansion which
they could comfortably rent.
607
00:29:58,005 --> 00:30:00,650
-It's during this time period
that Heaven's Gate
608
00:30:00,674 --> 00:30:03,736
manages to attract
a few new members.
609
00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:05,989
-The Heaven's Gate cult
recruited young members
610
00:30:06,013 --> 00:30:08,366
across the country.
This video was taken
611
00:30:08,390 --> 00:30:10,493
at a recruiting session
in New Hampshire.
612
00:30:10,517 --> 00:30:13,621
-We're talking about a place
that has a real existence
613
00:30:13,645 --> 00:30:14,914
outside of time
614
00:30:14,938 --> 00:30:16,791
of the human kingdom
and outside...
615
00:30:16,815 --> 00:30:22,088
-One person who signs on
is 21-year-old Gail Maeder.
616
00:30:22,112 --> 00:30:25,675
-There's our... So we're getting
a little shadow on her, so...
617
00:30:25,699 --> 00:30:27,552
There. Great.
618
00:30:27,576 --> 00:30:31,973
-My sister was very much
a hippie bohemian at heart.
619
00:30:31,997 --> 00:30:33,766
There was always
a lot of tie dye
620
00:30:33,790 --> 00:30:36,436
and that type of thing.
621
00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:37,729
I'm Dan Maeder.
622
00:30:37,753 --> 00:30:41,274
{\an8}I am Gail Maeder's
younger brother.
623
00:30:41,298 --> 00:30:44,444
{\an8}You know, my first indication
that anything had gone wrong
624
00:30:44,468 --> 00:30:48,656
with my sister
was when we received the flier
625
00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:53,286
from the the group
she had joined.
626
00:30:53,310 --> 00:30:55,455
-"Dear Mom and Dad,
just a little note
627
00:30:55,479 --> 00:30:57,498
wishing everyone there the best.
628
00:30:57,522 --> 00:31:00,501
I think my choices in life
might puzzle you at times,
629
00:31:00,525 --> 00:31:02,462
but I really want you
to be aware that I'm doing
630
00:31:02,486 --> 00:31:06,215
exactly what I want to
and it makes me very happy."
631
00:31:06,239 --> 00:31:07,633
- Can you hear okay?
- Yes.
632
00:31:07,657 --> 00:31:10,261
- Okay.
- Thank you again.
633
00:31:10,285 --> 00:31:12,096
{\an8}I know you said this might
be your last interview,
634
00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,974
{\an8}and if it is, I'm so grateful
that you're doing it with me.
635
00:31:14,998 --> 00:31:19,771
{\an8}-I don't know how good we can do
for you, but we'll try.
636
00:31:19,795 --> 00:31:23,775
Gail was very much afraid
of dying.
637
00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:26,402
When our cat died,
she didn't want to see him.
638
00:31:26,426 --> 00:31:27,779
When her grandfather died,
639
00:31:27,803 --> 00:31:30,990
she didn't want to go
to the funeral.
640
00:31:31,014 --> 00:31:33,743
I guess with everybody,
it's a fear of unknown,
641
00:31:33,767 --> 00:31:37,830
and I think maybe that was why
she was a little bit afraid.
642
00:31:37,854 --> 00:31:40,917
Heaven's Gate believed
that by being in this group,
643
00:31:40,941 --> 00:31:44,504
you could overcome anything
on this earth.
644
00:31:44,528 --> 00:31:47,507
You would go to Heaven,
board a spaceship.
645
00:31:47,531 --> 00:31:51,844
You would never know death.
You would never know pain.
646
00:31:51,868 --> 00:31:55,264
-Right about the time
that that flier showed up
647
00:31:55,288 --> 00:31:59,918
is when our entire lives
became cults.
648
00:32:01,378 --> 00:32:03,231
-Worried about Gail's safety,
649
00:32:03,255 --> 00:32:05,066
the Maeder family travels
from their home
650
00:32:05,090 --> 00:32:10,404
in Long Island to Ohio
for an anti-cult convention.
651
00:32:10,428 --> 00:32:12,115
-At 13 or 14,
652
00:32:12,139 --> 00:32:14,700
my parents started bringing me
to the cult conventions
653
00:32:14,724 --> 00:32:17,036
and some part of the back
of my brain is thinking,
654
00:32:17,060 --> 00:32:18,746
"Well, if you ever start a cult,
655
00:32:18,770 --> 00:32:20,164
you're gonna want to know this,"
656
00:32:20,188 --> 00:32:22,917
so I was paying attention.
657
00:32:22,941 --> 00:32:26,754
And that all paid off the day
that she did call,
658
00:32:26,778 --> 00:32:31,384
and we all knew what to say,
what not to say.
659
00:32:31,408 --> 00:32:33,094
-She said,
"Is there anybody else
660
00:32:33,118 --> 00:32:34,637
who would like to speak to me?"
661
00:32:34,661 --> 00:32:37,473
And my mother was there.
She says,
662
00:32:37,497 --> 00:32:39,350
"Hi, honey, how are you doing?
663
00:32:39,374 --> 00:32:41,060
When are you coming home, baby?"
664
00:32:41,084 --> 00:32:43,938
And she said,
"Probably never, Grandma,"
665
00:32:43,962 --> 00:32:45,481
and my mother said... broke down
666
00:32:45,505 --> 00:32:47,942
and she said, "Oh, no,
you can't do that, honey.
667
00:32:47,966 --> 00:32:51,362
I have to see you.
I have to see you."
668
00:32:51,386 --> 00:32:54,782
-I met Gail in 1994
669
00:32:54,806 --> 00:32:56,701
while we were holding
public meetings.
670
00:32:56,725 --> 00:32:59,704
She was in the group
that I was an overseer of.
671
00:32:59,728 --> 00:33:02,832
Gail was a young vehicle.
672
00:33:02,856 --> 00:33:05,168
But people can make
a big mistake
673
00:33:05,192 --> 00:33:06,794
by thinking that a young vehicle
674
00:33:06,818 --> 00:33:11,591
can't be very advanced
in their soul development,
675
00:33:11,615 --> 00:33:14,927
and I believe that she was.
676
00:33:14,951 --> 00:33:18,806
-After Gail joins Heaven's Gate,
two things happen...
677
00:33:18,830 --> 00:33:21,726
Sawyer leaves the group to deal
with personal issues
678
00:33:21,750 --> 00:33:25,062
he feels are preventing him
from reaching the next level
679
00:33:25,086 --> 00:33:29,108
and Applewhite finally receives
the sign from the heavens
680
00:33:29,132 --> 00:33:33,404
that he spent the past
two decades waiting for.
681
00:33:33,428 --> 00:33:38,326
-They believe that there's a UFO
traveling behind that comet
682
00:33:38,350 --> 00:33:41,603
as it's coming close to Earth
and using the comet as a shield.
683
00:33:45,565 --> 00:33:47,001
-In the mid-'90s,
conspiracy theories
684
00:33:47,025 --> 00:33:50,004
start to go mainstream.
685
00:33:50,028 --> 00:33:53,507
After Waco, fundamental
Christians become convinced
686
00:33:53,531 --> 00:33:56,385
that the government
is out to get them.
687
00:33:56,409 --> 00:33:57,637
-It is a millennium.
688
00:33:57,661 --> 00:33:59,472
You've got a lot
of conspiracy theorists.
689
00:33:59,496 --> 00:34:01,307
Quite frankly,
you've got a lot of people
690
00:34:01,331 --> 00:34:04,310
who have a certain belief
that this millennium
691
00:34:04,334 --> 00:34:08,189
is going to be a holy war
or a hate war.
692
00:34:08,213 --> 00:34:12,109
-But for people who believe
in the existence of aliens,
693
00:34:12,133 --> 00:34:16,054
it's NASA that they believe
is conspiring against them.
694
00:34:18,473 --> 00:34:21,786
Then, in the summer of 1995,
695
00:34:21,810 --> 00:34:26,832
two amateur astronomers
named Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp
696
00:34:26,856 --> 00:34:30,628
spot something NASA
has seemingly missed...
697
00:34:30,652 --> 00:34:34,757
A massive comet
30 miles in diameter
698
00:34:34,781 --> 00:34:37,510
hurtling through space.
699
00:34:37,534 --> 00:34:41,180
And Heaven's Gate believes
there's a deeper truth
700
00:34:41,204 --> 00:34:43,057
that's attached to it.
701
00:34:43,081 --> 00:34:45,142
-The story of the end
of Heaven's Gate
702
00:34:45,166 --> 00:34:48,312
cannot be separated
from the claims
703
00:34:48,336 --> 00:34:52,191
that Hale-Bopp Comet
had a companion.
704
00:34:52,215 --> 00:34:59,115
This idea that there was
a giant planet-sized UFO
705
00:34:59,139 --> 00:35:00,700
trailing Hale-Bopp Comet
706
00:35:00,724 --> 00:35:03,577
and that NASA and the government
were conspiring
707
00:35:03,601 --> 00:35:06,289
to hide it from the people.
708
00:35:06,313 --> 00:35:07,790
Members of Heaven's Gate said,
709
00:35:07,814 --> 00:35:12,545
"Aha, there's the marker
we've been looking for."
710
00:35:12,569 --> 00:35:16,632
-For Applewhite,
this is his ticket to the stars.
711
00:35:16,656 --> 00:35:19,385
-You can follow us,
712
00:35:19,409 --> 00:35:22,305
but you cannot stay here
and follow us.
713
00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:25,683
-Some members of Heaven's Gate,
I think, clearly did believe
714
00:35:25,707 --> 00:35:27,226
that the companion was real.
715
00:35:27,250 --> 00:35:29,562
Others believe that
there was something there,
716
00:35:29,586 --> 00:35:30,938
but it wasn't something
we could see.
717
00:35:30,962 --> 00:35:33,399
It was on...
On a vibratory level.
718
00:35:33,423 --> 00:35:35,276
We couldn't...
We couldn't actually see.
719
00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:38,779
It wasn't unreal.
It just wasn't visible.
720
00:35:38,803 --> 00:35:42,366
What they all agreed on was that
we were all paying attention
721
00:35:42,390 --> 00:35:43,826
and that this was their chance
722
00:35:43,850 --> 00:35:45,661
to show the world
the truth of their message.
723
00:35:45,685 --> 00:35:50,541
-We don't care to be aborted
by the body that we're wearing.
724
00:35:50,565 --> 00:35:56,839
We care more to abort it,
in proof to our Heavenly Father
725
00:35:56,863 --> 00:35:59,342
that we're ready
to leave this place.
726
00:35:59,366 --> 00:36:02,762
-They thought a door was open...
Well, a gate.
727
00:36:02,786 --> 00:36:04,764
They thought the gates
of heaven was open.
728
00:36:04,788 --> 00:36:07,183
This was their chance
to leave the planet
729
00:36:07,207 --> 00:36:09,018
they didn't want to be on.
They didn't want to be here.
730
00:36:09,042 --> 00:36:10,936
They didn't see themselves
as human.
731
00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:13,022
They didn't see our planet
as worthwhile.
732
00:36:13,046 --> 00:36:16,442
They didn't see our society
as worth saving.
733
00:36:16,466 --> 00:36:17,735
This was the millennial group
734
00:36:17,759 --> 00:36:21,322
and this was
the end of the world.
735
00:36:21,346 --> 00:36:23,824
-The website says,
"If you study our material,
736
00:36:23,848 --> 00:36:26,494
you will understand our joy,"
737
00:36:26,518 --> 00:36:28,287
but instead,
many are having difficulty
738
00:36:28,311 --> 00:36:29,747
comprehending that,
739
00:36:29,771 --> 00:36:31,457
how a group of people
can kill themselves
740
00:36:31,481 --> 00:36:34,877
in the belief that the afterlife
can be found on a UFO.
741
00:36:34,901 --> 00:36:37,505
-How do you feel about
what is ahead for us?
742
00:36:37,529 --> 00:36:39,882
{\an8}-Oh, this...
743
00:36:39,906 --> 00:36:42,951
{\an8}this is the happiest day
of my life. [ Laughs ]
744
00:36:46,621 --> 00:36:49,892
{\an8}-For those that
we've left behind,
745
00:36:49,916 --> 00:36:52,436
{\an8}we're going on to something
greater and better
746
00:36:52,460 --> 00:36:55,523
{\an8}and that we hope that someday
you will understand this
747
00:36:55,547 --> 00:36:57,215
{\an8}and you might join us.
748
00:36:59,175 --> 00:37:00,820
{\an8}-Maybe they're crazy,
for all I know,
749
00:37:00,844 --> 00:37:02,863
{\an8}but I don't have any choice
but to go for it
750
00:37:02,887 --> 00:37:06,158
{\an8}because I've been on this planet
for 31 years,
751
00:37:06,182 --> 00:37:09,245
{\an8}and there's nothing here for me.
752
00:37:09,269 --> 00:37:11,747
{\an8}-We wanted to let you know
that you might need
753
00:37:11,771 --> 00:37:14,834
{\an8}to get someone else to finish up
your website right now
754
00:37:14,858 --> 00:37:18,629
{\an8}and that we might see you
all again and then we might not.
755
00:37:18,653 --> 00:37:22,007
{\an8}But we hope that you remember us
as we were
756
00:37:22,031 --> 00:37:23,634
and not how other people
are going to try
757
00:37:23,658 --> 00:37:25,469
and tell you that we are.
758
00:37:25,493 --> 00:37:29,432
And one last thing we'd like
to say is 39 to beam up.
759
00:37:29,456 --> 00:37:31,100
Thank you.
760
00:37:31,124 --> 00:37:39,124
{\an8}♪♪
761
00:37:40,884 --> 00:37:43,946
-On this Easter Sunday,
a day for celebrating life
762
00:37:43,970 --> 00:37:46,449
and rebirth, the struggle
goes on to understand
763
00:37:46,473 --> 00:37:50,161
how 39 people
could have chosen death.
764
00:37:50,185 --> 00:37:54,206
-The Heaven's Gate exits took
place over a three-day period.
765
00:37:54,230 --> 00:37:57,209
They dressed in...
In their uniforms,
766
00:37:57,233 --> 00:37:59,837
and then, in ritual order,
767
00:37:59,861 --> 00:38:02,506
they... they committed suicide.
768
00:38:02,530 --> 00:38:05,176
They ingested poison.
769
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,386
-They thought
they would just fall asleep
770
00:38:07,410 --> 00:38:13,058
and then wake up their souls
on the spaceship.
771
00:38:13,082 --> 00:38:17,146
-They tied bags over their heads
and suffocated to death.
772
00:38:17,170 --> 00:38:20,232
This was the method recommended
by a euthanasia handbook
773
00:38:20,256 --> 00:38:22,193
that they had picked up.
774
00:38:22,217 --> 00:38:24,945
The last two people didn't have
anyone to clean up for them,
775
00:38:24,969 --> 00:38:28,223
{\an1}so they were found with the with
the bags still over their heads.
776
00:38:31,184 --> 00:38:33,787
-Danny saw it first,
and he was the first one
777
00:38:33,811 --> 00:38:36,040
to call in
to the medical examiner,
778
00:38:36,064 --> 00:38:39,335
and he said, "I think
my sister's in this cult."
779
00:38:39,359 --> 00:38:42,463
{\an8}-Well, I just want to let
everyone know how lucky
780
00:38:42,487 --> 00:38:44,798
{\an8}and happy I feel to be here
781
00:38:44,822 --> 00:38:48,469
{\an8}and let you know that
what we're about to do,
782
00:38:48,493 --> 00:38:54,391
certainly nothing to think
negatively about.
783
00:38:54,415 --> 00:38:56,936
We're all choosing
of our own free will
784
00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:59,605
go to the next level
with Ti and Do.
785
00:38:59,629 --> 00:39:01,524
And they are certainly
not what...
786
00:39:01,548 --> 00:39:06,153
-It was very strange watching
my sister's goodbye video.
787
00:39:06,177 --> 00:39:09,823
Aside from the voice, I would
never have guessed it was her.
788
00:39:09,847 --> 00:39:13,994
She looked that different
with the short hair
789
00:39:14,018 --> 00:39:17,790
and just so pale and so gaunt
790
00:39:17,814 --> 00:39:20,251
that she... had it not been
for the voice,
791
00:39:20,275 --> 00:39:23,045
I wouldn't have recognized her.
792
00:39:23,069 --> 00:39:26,924
-I guess that's really
all I want to say.
793
00:39:26,948 --> 00:39:30,469
-It was hard
and it's still hard, so...
794
00:39:30,493 --> 00:39:32,179
And I think it will remain hard
795
00:39:32,203 --> 00:39:36,475
until I see her again someday.
796
00:39:36,499 --> 00:39:40,437
-I understand the pain that her
parents and loved ones
797
00:39:40,461 --> 00:39:45,276
are experiencing by that,
but I did not feel sad
798
00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:49,822
when I found out that
they left their vehicles behind
799
00:39:49,846 --> 00:39:53,325
because I didn't think
they were dead.
800
00:39:53,349 --> 00:39:55,160
I thought their vehicles
were dead,
801
00:39:55,184 --> 00:39:57,580
and it's not real to me.
802
00:39:57,604 --> 00:40:00,708
That we're not our vehicles.
803
00:40:00,732 --> 00:40:04,545
-Despite the tragic deaths
of members of Heaven's Gate
804
00:40:04,569 --> 00:40:09,049
and the Waco Branch Davidians
before them,
805
00:40:09,073 --> 00:40:13,012
by the decade's end,
they become a punch line.
806
00:40:13,036 --> 00:40:14,263
- We made it!
- Whoo!
807
00:40:14,287 --> 00:40:16,098
- We made it!
- But what drove them
808
00:40:16,122 --> 00:40:18,058
to their fates will continue
809
00:40:18,082 --> 00:40:21,604
to haunt the nation
right into the new millennium.
810
00:40:21,628 --> 00:40:25,190
-If we don't teach people
to be better critical thinkers,
811
00:40:25,214 --> 00:40:28,217
these type of things are gonna
occur over and over again.
812
00:40:33,097 --> 00:40:35,451
-And good evening from
the crossroads of the world.
813
00:40:35,475 --> 00:40:37,369
People from all over the planet
have come here
814
00:40:37,393 --> 00:40:40,831
to celebrate the arrival
of the year 2000.
815
00:40:40,855 --> 00:40:44,627
-In the last days of the '90s,
it's not just doomsday fanatics
816
00:40:44,651 --> 00:40:47,921
who are preparing
for the end of the world.
817
00:40:47,945 --> 00:40:49,882
Even military experts
are bracing
818
00:40:49,906 --> 00:40:54,887
for the millennium Y2K bug,
a computer software problem
819
00:40:54,911 --> 00:40:59,558
that many fear will lead
to global catastrophes.
820
00:40:59,582 --> 00:41:01,810
-Representatives
from all federal agencies
821
00:41:01,834 --> 00:41:04,647
are standing by,
such as Energy, Defense,
822
00:41:04,671 --> 00:41:06,148
and the State Department.
823
00:41:06,172 --> 00:41:08,817
-Then, when the clock
strikes 12:00...
824
00:41:08,841 --> 00:41:11,552
-3, 2, 1!
825
00:41:13,846 --> 00:41:15,783
- nothing happens.
826
00:41:15,807 --> 00:41:20,329
[ Cheers and applause ]
827
00:41:20,353 --> 00:41:23,499
-Worldwide, according
to US military spokesman,
828
00:41:23,523 --> 00:41:24,833
all is quiet.
829
00:41:24,857 --> 00:41:27,795
Can't do better than that.
830
00:41:27,819 --> 00:41:30,839
-But the arrival
of the 21st century
831
00:41:30,863 --> 00:41:33,050
does little
to ease the anxieties
832
00:41:33,074 --> 00:41:35,594
that got triggered
back in the '90s.
833
00:41:35,618 --> 00:41:38,514
-For those of us living
in 2020 today,
834
00:41:38,538 --> 00:41:40,933
the idea that we live
at a turning point
835
00:41:40,957 --> 00:41:43,977
is no less powerful now
than it was in the 1990s.
836
00:41:44,001 --> 00:41:45,562
We don't have the Y2K bug.
837
00:41:45,586 --> 00:41:47,314
We don't have the year 2000
to look forward to.
838
00:41:47,338 --> 00:41:51,610
Instead, we have everything from
9/11 going into the pandemic
839
00:41:51,634 --> 00:41:54,613
where we feel
like the world is on fire.
840
00:41:54,637 --> 00:41:59,201
{\an8}-I think this planet has become
a very, very hideous place.
841
00:41:59,225 --> 00:42:02,329
{\an8}They take control of you
from cradle to the grave.
842
00:42:02,353 --> 00:42:05,165
-Both Heaven's Gate and
the Branch Davidians believed
843
00:42:05,189 --> 00:42:07,835
that you couldn't
trust the government
844
00:42:07,859 --> 00:42:09,545
and couldn't trust society,
845
00:42:09,569 --> 00:42:12,047
and that sort of
conspiratorialism in the 1990s,
846
00:42:12,071 --> 00:42:13,966
we thought it was extreme.
847
00:42:13,990 --> 00:42:18,161
We thought it was violating
social norms.
848
00:42:19,996 --> 00:42:23,142
-That was the beginning movement
of the distrust
849
00:42:23,166 --> 00:42:25,894
for the government,
and that same movement
850
00:42:25,918 --> 00:42:30,983
has become very,
very dominant in the US.
851
00:42:31,007 --> 00:42:32,860
-By 2020,
it was in the White House,
852
00:42:32,884 --> 00:42:34,445
and the idea...
And in Congress...
853
00:42:34,469 --> 00:42:37,197
The idea that you could believe
in conspiracies
854
00:42:37,221 --> 00:42:40,826
and that that there were
deep state working against us.
855
00:42:40,850 --> 00:42:43,412
I mean, this is now part of
our mainstream American culture.
856
00:42:43,436 --> 00:42:46,957
-[ Chanting indistinctly ]
857
00:42:46,981 --> 00:42:48,667
-We're taking back our country,
858
00:42:48,691 --> 00:42:50,335
and it's gonna be biblical.
859
00:42:50,359 --> 00:42:53,630
-The things that are happening
in the world,
860
00:42:53,654 --> 00:42:56,717
there's so much manipulation
and deceit going around.
861
00:42:56,741 --> 00:43:01,430
It's... It's come to a head like
never before on this planet.
862
00:43:01,454 --> 00:43:06,977
{\an8}♪♪
863
00:43:07,001 --> 00:43:10,397
-What's the difference between
a cult and a religion?
864
00:43:10,421 --> 00:43:14,860
And I still don't have
a real answer to this day.
865
00:43:14,884 --> 00:43:16,862
- [ Chuckles ]
- Okay.
866
00:43:16,886 --> 00:43:19,573
-Everyone on this planet
and in this society
867
00:43:19,597 --> 00:43:23,118
{\an8}longs for a better life
or the idea of Heaven.
868
00:43:23,142 --> 00:43:24,995
{\an8}My God,
we live in a Christian country
869
00:43:25,019 --> 00:43:28,957
{\an8}where the whole foundation is
leaving to Heaven when you die.
870
00:43:28,981 --> 00:43:33,670
-All I can say is I'm hoping
that she was happy
871
00:43:33,694 --> 00:43:35,881
in whatever she did.
872
00:43:35,905 --> 00:43:39,367
She was a pleasure to have
for as long as I had her.
873
00:43:41,327 --> 00:43:45,307
{\an8}-I feel like I wish
I would have overcome
874
00:43:45,331 --> 00:43:47,893
{\an8}what I could have overcome
while I was with the group
875
00:43:47,917 --> 00:43:50,395
{\an8}in order to exit with them, yes.
876
00:43:50,419 --> 00:43:53,649
{\an8}That doesn't mean I don't love
my vehicle's daughter.
877
00:43:53,673 --> 00:43:57,319
{\an8}And so I'm not, like, crying
over spilled milk kind of thing.
878
00:43:57,343 --> 00:43:59,530
{\an8}That wasn't the way
of the next level.
879
00:43:59,554 --> 00:44:01,573
{\an8}I don't...
I don't feel guilty about it.
880
00:44:01,597 --> 00:44:05,810
{\an8}I-I enjoy being alive
at this moment, yes.