The continent 

Europe is the second smallest continent of the world, the entire surface is about 3,930,000 square kilometres big. As of 2021 there is an estimated population of approximately 745 million people. Politically, Europe is divided into about fifty different states, with several different cultures, languages and rules. 

The most common language are Russian, German, English and French. Additionally 76,2% of all Europeans are Christians.

Circumstances 

Living conditions in most parts of Europe are better than in other continents. Risks of poverty and unemployment aren't as high as in Africa, for example. However, many countries in Europe still struggle with social inequality, homelessness and poverty. Also, most countries in Europe are not at high risk of natural disasters and there aren't many wars at the moment. Especially in Switzerland, were the OTS was established, the living conditions are really good.

The order of the Solar Temple 

Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret 

Joseph Di Mambro was a French jeweler with an interest in esotericism. Because he scammed a business partner, Di Mambro had to leave France and flee, before returning in 1972, believing that his past had been forgotten. Following that, he acted as a psychologist, But soon he was sentenced to six months in prison for impersonating a psychiatrist without a license. In the 1950 Di Mambro began practicing spiritualism and joined two religious movements. 

Luc Jouret began studying homeopathy and qualified as a homeopathic practitioner in France. He travelled across the world to find out about various forms of alternative and spiritual healing. At the beginning of the 1980s he France, not far from the Swiss border, and began to practice homeopathy there. He also started to write and hold his on lectures. 

The Order of the Solar Temple 

Di Mambro and Jouret met at a lecture for alternative medicine and related spirituality. Both of them were already part of several different movements focusing on religion and spirituality. Combining various principles of the previous structures and bringing together several members, they decided to establish the OTS together. Jouret was the lecturer and recruiter, but in Reality Di Mambro was the head of the organisation and their finance. 

The OTS gained more members and eventually Di Mambro decided to purchase multiple buildings as headquarters for the sect and the members. The movement was most active in french speaking Europe, but Jouret also lectured in Quebec and Spain. Additionally, they decided to translate their beliefs to gain members from the united states, but that plan never succeeded. The Order of the Solar Temple approximately had 300-400 members.

The members participated in religious ceremonies lectured by Jouret where they wore special robes and worshipped important religious figures. Some followers even claimed they saw Christ, but the sightings were all staged by Di Mambros wife to recruit more members for the sect. 

In the 1990s, Luc Jouret, having given up his profession as a homeopath to spend all his time with the OTS, started lecturing at various companies, universities and banks. Di Mambro wasn’t content with Jouret talking about their beliefs in public and began sabotaging Jouret's lectures, who then abandoned his activities and became totally dependent on Di Mambro. He was also removed from his position as lecturer. 

Beginning in the late 80s, several members began to doubt Di Mambro. They found out about the religious figures not existing and that he faked the sightings. Many of the members left the OTS and demanded to get the money they donated to the organisation in the past back. Following his own daughter leaving the sect, Di Mambro became really disappointed and angry. In 1994, he ordered his daughter and her family to be murdered. 

Given the amount of the issues facing the group leaders, it was decided they would to "transit" to Sirius, which meant for every sect leader to commit suicide and be reborn in a different world. 

In a tape recorded in spring 1994, Di Mambro stated: 

We are rejected by the whole world. First by the people, the people can no longer withstand us. And our Earth, fortunately she rejects us. How would we leave [otherwise]? We also reject this planet. We wait for the day we can leave … life for me is intolerable, intolerable, I can't go on. So think about the dynamic that will get us to go elsewhere.

On the night of October 4 to 5, 1994, two headquarters from the Order of the Solar Temple were burned down, with several members including Jouret inside. Others were shot or strangled to death. Di Mambro, his wife and his child were also found dead.