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

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

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

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

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

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

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