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Bitter Winter

A magazine on religious liberty and human rights

three friends of winter
Home / Archives for Order of the Solar Temple

Order of the Solar Temple

Swiss historian Jean-François Mayer talks to the media after the 1994 tragedy involving Order of the Solar Temple members. Source: Institut National de l’Audiovisuel, Paris.

01/04/2022 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 9. Learning from the Tragedy

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

A typical French reaction to the Solar Temple. Source: Institut National de l’Audiovisuel, Paris.

01/03/2022 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 8. But Was It a “Typical Cult”?

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

A sacred book custody with emblems of the Solar Temple found by the Canadian police. Source: Collection patrimoniale de la Sûreté du Québec.

12/31/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 7. Suicides and Murders Continue

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

Di Mambro with Emmanuel/Emmanuelle, the Cosmic Christ. From Facebook.

12/30/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 6. Tragedy in Switzerland

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

A Canadian police officer discussing the Order of the Solar Temple investigations. From Facebook.

12/29/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 5. Under Attack

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

Publicity for a conference by Luc Jouret. From Twitter.

12/28/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 4. Waiting for the End of the World

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

Luc Jouret. From Facebook.

12/27/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 3. Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret

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

Custodian of secret Templar revelations: Jacques Breyer.

12/23/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 2. Secret Templar Revelations

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

Two Knights Templar seated on a horse, from a 13th century manuscript.

12/22/2021 Massimo Introvigne

The Order of the Solar Temple. 1. The Neo-Templar Background

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

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