UNAIR NEWS – A family of four was found dead in Perumahan Citra Garden Satu Extension, Kalideres, Thursday, November 10, 2022. Many people assumed that they were members of an apocalyptic cult.
The mysterious death case was yet to unfold due to unclear motives. Addressing the issue, the Coordinator of UNAIR Police Science Postgraduate Program Dr. Prawitra Thalib SH MH, shared his professional view on the family’s alleged relations to the apocalyptic cult.
The forensic results found the absence of food in their digestive systems, leading to starvation as the cause of death. However, the investigation revealed that each victim had a different time of death. Besides, no poisons were found in their system. Rumor has it that the family was linked to apocalyptic beliefs. What is apocalypticism?
Getting to know apocalypticism
Apocalypticism is the belief that the world has been full of crime and immorality and is soon to be transformed into a new world order. The cult’s followers want to leave the world before judgment day comes.
The followers believe that it is better to end their lives before doomsday. The pessimism occurs in the form of self-limiting and despair of the existing life system.
“The idea grows in a society that is desperate with the system. They believed that it is God’s punishment and it’s better to go to God before they die,” Prawitra said.
Various indications
The apocalyptic followers’ cause of death varies, beyond voluntarily stopping eating and drinking. In most cases, the cult followers mix poison into their food or drink before consuming it.
He said that apocalypticism was practiced among educated and non-educated people in many countries. They were dedicated to ending their lives.
The belief arises due to the misconception of spiritual ideas, leading to fatal consequences of death. Someone had to be aware of any deviant ideas of ending someone’s life to get closer to God.
Alleged cause of death
In most cases, the cult followers do not conduct the death ritual in an unorganized manner. In Kalideres case, the police must investigate the relations between the family and other cult followers, or it was themselves who started it off. This helps find the family’s cause of death.
“With the new evidence of spiritual books of all religions, it might lead to the assumption that they were trying to find the right path, but they did not find a perfect religion. The despair heavily impacted their decision to follow apocalypticism,” Prawitra explained.
The case raised many questions due to the absence of crime, violence, property damage, and stolen goods. Until now, there was no clear motive for murder. It needs a thorough investigation to find the root problem of the death case.
Spiritual understanding
How can one avoid distorted understandings, such as the idea of ending their own life? He stated that a strong spiritual understanding must be internalized. An ideal religion will not cause others any harm or end one’s life.
“If you found such idea within the religion, you should leave it as it contains extremist and radicalism ideas,” he ended.
Author: Satriyani Dewi Astuti
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh