1979 08 27 Time AFU scan CFI archive keyword UFO

Magazine Overview

Title: Religion
Issue Date: August 27, 1979
Cover Headline: Flying Saucery in the Wilderness

This article from TIME magazine delves into the beliefs and practices of a secretive religious cult known as 'Bo and Peep,' focusing on the experiences of one of its members, Paul Groll.

Flying Saucery in the Wilderness

The article introduces Paul Groll, a 32-year-old former Presbyterian and caddy, who claims to be an emissary from an ultrasecretive religious cult. This cult, founded in 1975, is led by a couple known only as 'Bo' and 'Peep.' They announced that a spaceship would soon arrive to transport trained apostles to a 'next level' of existence. The cult's beliefs are described as a blend of religious prophecy and science fiction, reminiscent of Arthur C. Clarke's 'Childhood's End.'

The 'Bo and Peep' Cult

As many as 200 people reportedly forsook their jobs, possessions, and even spouses to follow Bo and Peep into the wilderness, driven by an 'end-of-the-millennium' enthusiasm. Groll, who had a varied past including an Army hitch and antique refinishing, stated he felt 'drawn' to the leaders and 'felt the goodness.'

Following the group's disappearance from public view, the press identified 'Bo' as Marshall Herff Applewhite, a former music teacher and choirmaster, and 'Peep' as Bonnie Lu Nettles, a former Houston nurse.

In 1976, sociologists Robert Balch and David Taylor located the cult's wilderness camp. They found the environment to be non-coercive, though members sometimes experienced doubts. The group continues to camp out, and Groll's account of their life there is presented as the primary source of information.

Cult Lifestyle and Discipline

Groll describes a highly structured life within the cult. They are encamped in the Wyoming Rockies and move to a ranch in northern Texas when winter arrives. Unarmed sentries guard the perimeter to keep outsiders away. The cult has 'thousands of rules,' according to Groll, but he emphasizes that members are never forced to do anything.

A key element of their daily routine is a musical beep that sounds across the camp every minute, signaling intervals for various activities. Disciples are tasked with camp chores, perimeter guarding, and serving as 'rotating eyes' to monitor the conduct of other members and report violations.

During one three-month period, members were required to wear hoods over their heads, peering out through mirrored eye slits. The typical uniform consists of a brightly colored windbreaker over a jumpsuit, with gloves worn at all times. Communication is restricted to simple affirmations like 'yes,' 'no,' or 'I don't know,' with other messages conveyed in writing.

Beliefs and Ideology

Members are instructed to study the Bible and forswear sex, drugs, and alcohol. However, they are permitted to watch TV newscasts and read newspapers to highlight the differences between their values and those of the outside world. Newspaper clippings related to obituaries, stock markets, and sports are discarded as distracting.

Meals, referred to as 'lab experiments,' are accompanied by a blackboard listing 'formulas' for the menu (e.g., PA for potatoes, CA for cake). Food must be consumed with extreme care to minimize noise. Bo and Peep personally handle shopping and always pay in cash, explaining that they 'didn't have any need to wonder' about money.

A significant practice is an eye exercise where members concentrate on a single object for up to an hour. During this and lectures by Bo and Peep, they are considered 'out of orbit,' meaning exempt from the twelve-minute work cycles.

Bo and Peep claim to be reincarnations of Jesus, Elijah, and Moses, and the 'two witnesses' mentioned in Revelation 11. They teach that believers will soon be transported by spacecraft to an enigmatic 'garden' where they will receive 'energy' from 'the King of Kings, alias Chief of Chiefs,' the god who created Earth. In this garden, believers will live eternally with hairless, toothless bodies free from disease and decay.

Groll dismisses comparisons between the cult's discipline and the tragic events at Jonestown, stating, 'Anyone can walk away. We just have to turn from a caterpillar into a butterfly and then we'll be ready to leave.'

Personal Background and Future

Groll received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army and has not sought payment for sharing his story. Sheldon Slaybod, a lawyer and friend who knew Groll before his conversion, notes that Groll seems 'a lot more at peace with himself.'

Groll believes Bo and Peep wanted him to come out of hiding to share his story, viewing his current 'workaday life' as temporary. He states, 'If I felt they were calling, I would go back. They're still putting out vibrations and sending me a lot of positive energy.' He anticipates rejoining his companions when the rescue spaceship arrives to take them to the eternal garden.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article explores themes of religious extremism, cult behavior, belief in UFOs and spaceships as vehicles for salvation, and the search for meaning in the late 1970s. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective reporting, presenting Groll's account while also providing context through identified leaders and sociological observations. The piece highlights the contrast between the cult's otherworldly aspirations and the mundane reality of their wilderness existence, as well as Groll's personal journey and continued faith in the cult's prophecy.