Order of the Solar Temple

What does the homicides and suicides tell us about which among thousands of pacific new religious and esoteric movements may turn violent?

Few days after the 1994 tragedy, Swiss media had already to deal with the problem that it did not look like the average “cult.”

The Swiss tragedy of 1994 was repeated in 1995 in France and in 1997 in Quebec.

Order of the Solar Temple: on October 5, 1994, the police found 48 dead bodies in the villages of Cheiry and Salvan.

In 1993, the Solar Templars had to confront both a persisting disgruntled ex-member and suspicious Canadian police officers.

By the late 1980s, the Solar Templars’ message was becoming increasingly apocalyptic.

A French jeweler turned esoteric teacher and a Belgian homeopathic doctor were at the origin of the murderous organization.

The Solar Templars came from a neo-Templar tradition where mysterious Masters reportedly appeared and delivered esoteric messages.

In 1990s, the suicides and homicides of the Solar Templars energized the European anti-cult movement. But where did this group come from?