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There is not much information about Christopher Turgeon's younger childhood. However, resources state that his biological father was a drunk who physically abused his wife. His mother went on to leave him and re-marry Edward Turgeon, who adopted Christopher and his brothers. In Turgeon's free time, he would read the Bible. In 1983, he attended Bible College. He was known in college for his musical talent, spending time playing the saxophone, and providing Biblical guidance to his peers. It was during this time that he started hearing from God and having divine visions, however, he kept quiet about this during the time. When he left college, he would preach around the community but never found stability in priest work. He ended up managing for a small apartment complex where this was the beginning on this Bible group.

called himself "Prophet Elijah"

knew the bible from front to back

would use this to recite his quotations when lecturing his followers

claimed to have a gift for prophesying

sensing the will of God on earth and diving its direction

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originated as a small Bible study group in 1990 that would meet weekly

would provide snacks and play bible trivia games -> members felt like it was a family gathering

one day Turgeon told the group that God had spoken directly to him saying that Turgeon was a prophet of the Lord

secret satanic branch of the government was after Turgeon and had his followers armed and carry out

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believed that the group was to be 'Keepers of the Gate"

this is in reference to the gate of salvation and the gate to the answers that Chris 'had'

believed that death was a proper penalty for being gay or having an interest in astrology

as the group grew bigger, Turgeon's beliefs converted to a belief about the world being controlled by evil forces

focused on apocalyptic visions of the Book of Revelations

in 1996, he adapted to a survivalist ideology and started arming his followers

going against Turgeon's will meant going against God's will

Turgeon claimed that he was a divine judge come to purge the world of evil

claimed the other churches were deviant and that the seatle suburbs churches would soon burn up in flame

this started becoming true in later years

this was due to a serial arsonist but Turgeon used this as a way to bring in more members

engaged in low-level fraud schemes against individuals and businesses that Turgeon considered immoral

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picked on 'weak' people

members who suffered from a lack of confidence, longing for something more or community and struggled with addiction

Steven Chapman -> had no solid career or ambitions, hated himself for his use of drinking and smoking, longed for direction

Appin (Chapman's friend) -> did not live up to his parent's expectations and suffered from alcohol and drug addiction

Brian Collins -> longed for a life with greater meaning

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as more members joined the group became more isolated

they would cut off contact with their families, loved ones and friends who did not possess similar beliefs

informed members that they would lose their souls if they continued to touch evil influences (ex. families)

they began in Washington but later moved to a rural location near San Diego, California

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threatened members with damnation if they chose to reject Turgeon

had control over what people would watch on television and their sexual relationships

moved the group to a rural community in California

members depended on Turgeon for food, water, shelter, and emotional sustenance

as the group's beliefs and practices shifted people became more unsure about their following

this resulted in beatings for disobeying

one night children were lined up and beaten

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Those that moved to California with Turgeon relied on him for food, water and shelter. Due to the fact that they had most likely cut off all contact with any non-member family they had no way to contact them for help if they wanted to leave.

The normalization of violent crimes that played out with the group had an emotional toll on members. They were aware of what harm could be done in the group and how Turgeon justified it as 'God's will'. Especially since Turgeon had members armed at all times.

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anyone who defied the group would be damned according to Turgeon

due to the fact that the group was involved with crime acts and always armed it led to a sense of fear in members of the repercussions that could rise with leaving.

one member, Dan Jess, who left the group, was murdered

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This cult could be classifying as a world-rejecting. World rejecting NRMs discuss that as the movement becomes more world rejecting, physical violence may become more normal as a means for social control. This is exemplified when Turgeon had his members perform low-level fraud schemes against individuals and businesses because they were considered to be immoral. Another characteristic is that there tends to be a high authoritarian who has been assigned and has direct contact with God. Turgeon demonstrates this by having his followers call him Prophet Elijah and that God has spoken to him personally on multiple accounts. Not to mention the big move from Seattle to a rural community near San Diego, California. This move isolated the members from society, and forcing them to cut off contact from their families and loved ones as well.

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religious cult -> Gatekeepers could be considered to be a secular media perspective cult and an evangelical Christian perspective

was manipulative and demanded total commitment and loyalty from his followers

a lot of Turgeon's teachings were derived from the Bible

doomsday cult -> Turgeon prophesized many times about an apocalypse. He twisted the words from the Book of Revelation to portray a future apocalypse.

March 22, 2004 -> Turgeon informed his followers that the world would end on this day. He told them that they either follow him and go to heaven, or defy him and die in hell

political cults -> used his teachings to force his followers to waver their trust in the government. He told them that the government was evil and could not be trusted.

it was clear his practices encompassed violence as a lot of their actions were criminal and illegal actions

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Turgeon pried on individuals who were considered to be 'weak' or 'vulnerable'.

Three of his loyal followers:

Steven Chapman -> He had no solid career or ambitions. He hated himself for this and looked to drinking and excessive tobacco consumption as a way to cope. He longed for more direction in his life.

Appin (Chapman's friend) -> came from a family with great success and did not live up to his parent's expectations. His IQ would place him at the bottom of intelligence. Due to this, he suffered from alcohol and drug addiction

Brian Collins -> a college student when he first met Turgeon who longed for a life with greater meaning

These individuals depicted what a typical member would be like in the group. Members were typically struggling low or middle-class males who desired more in their lives. They would end up bringing their former wives or girlfriends to the group with them. Some included their children as well.

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In the early 90s, the US had found itself in a recession worse than in the early 80s. Many jobs were lost, especially white-collar workers. By 1992, the economy began to recover but it was not until late in the year.

Not to mention the Waco Siege in 1993, which killed 80 people during a standoff between Branch Davidians and federal agents and left the remainders in a blaze.

There was a bombing of the Federal Buildings in Oklahoma in 1995, from right-wing extremists after Clinton was elected.

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Turgeon lectured constantly regarding paranoia towards the government. During this time there was a lot of uncertainty with the government due to the impeachment of president at the time, Bill Clinton. His impeachment was due to charges of sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Paula Jones.

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There was a lot of uncertainty stemming in the 90s. The Cold War had just ended, therefore hope was on the rise in the States. However, implications with the government proved a lack of trust. For example, the Waco siege where federal agents opened fire on cult members known as Branch Davidians. Secondly, the impeachment of Bill Clinton after a lawsuit that led to charges of sexual harassment. With the wavering trust in the government, Turgeon used this as an opportunity to preach that the government could not be trusted and was evil.

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1. NCpedia: NCpedia: Link to NCpedia main page Available at: https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/united-states-1990s. Accessed June 28, 2024.

2. Quay G: The 1990s: When history’s end went wrong The American Conservative, 2019 Available at: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-1990s-when-historys-end-went-wrong/. Accessed June 28, 2024.

3. Hayden AV: Religious militant group executes member who turned on “false prophet” leader Oxygen Official Site, 2020 Available at: https://www.oxygen.com/deadly-cults/crime-news/christopher-turgeon-blaine-applin-guilty-dan-jess-cult-murder-gatekeepers. Accessed June 28, 2024.

4. Admin: The gatekeepers New Religious Movements, 2024 Available at: https://newreligiousmovements.org/g/the-gatekeepers/. Accessed June 28, 2024.

5. Fisher D: A cult leader’s “visions” result in murder trial, 2001 Available at: https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/A-cult-leader-s-visions-result-in-murder-trial-1054440.php. Accessed June 28, 2024.