Wikipedia

Néo-Phare

Néo-Phare (lit. 'New Lighthouse') was a small French new religious movement, often described as a cult or doomsday cult, founded by Arnaud Mussy in January 2001. It formed through a schism with Phare-Ouest (lit. 'West Lighthouse'), which was founded by the esoteric writer André Bougenec. Bougenec's belief system incorporated Kabbalah and hermeticism, and he also proclaimed that he was God. Mussy joined the group in 1997, and Bougenec died the same year. Viewing the original group as too rigid, Mussy and 20 members left the group and formed Néo-Phare.

Néo-Phare
TypeNew religious movement
HeadquartersCellier
FounderArnaud Mussy
OriginJanuary 2001 (2001-01)
France
Separated fromPhare-Ouest
DefunctOctober 2002; 22 years ago (2002-10)
Members21 (at peak)

After the September 11 attacks, Mussy predicted the end of the world, the time of which was repeatedly delayed after it failed to occur. In July 2002, a member killed himself and two other members were said to have attempted to kill themselves. Following this, Mussy was tried in France on the grounds that he had brainwashed his followers and was responsible for the suicide and attempted suicides. He was found guilty, and given a three-year suspended sentence and a €115,000 fine. The group was dissolved after Mussy was arrested; it only existed for a year and a half. It was the first time the anti-cult About–Picard law had been invoked, and the trial received a high amount of media coverage.

History

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Arnaud Mussy was born in Boulogne-Billancourt in 1968 and raised in Nantes, France.[1][2] He moved to Argentina in his 20s, but then returned to France. When Mussy was 22, he discovered the esoteric beliefs of fashion designer Paco Rabanne.[2][3] Mussy had worked for France-Telecom and had a BTS degree in communication.[4][5] The Scotsman described him as a "former hitchhiker".[6] In 1997, he met the obscure esoteric writer and Breton mystic André Bougenec (also known as Auguste Bougenec).[7][3] Bougenec led the Phare-Ouest (lit. 'West Lighthouse') group, which had about 40 members.[2][8] Phare-Ouest had been founded in 1989;[3] Bougenec believed that he was the reincarnation of Jesus, and developed a belief system derivative of Kabbalah involving numerology and inspired by alchemical hermeticism.[2][9] Bougenec's claim to be god was supposedly proven with numerology;[9] however, using his actual name did not fulfill this proof.[10] He believed God to be androgynous. He preached for a kind of salvation that involved sex-complementary pairs, with the couples in the group representing the couples of Heavenly Jerusalem. He held ceremonies that established married couples as these "soulmate" pairs.[11] Mussy joined Phare-Ouest in 1997; that year, Bougenec died.[12]

After Bougenec's death, Mussy formed a schismatic group, later saying that he considered the members of Phare-Ouest to be too religiously rigid "like the Pharisees"; though psychologist Sonya Jougla attributes this to both internal conflicts and his ambition.[12][9] In January 2001, Mussy, with 20 followers, formed Néo-Phare; most members were between the ages of 30 and 40, and largely couples with some children. Mussy and his twin brother Olivier, who was viewed as Saint Peter within the group,[13][14] brought their wives and their mother-in-law into the group. Neither brother needed to work as their father had left them a large inheritance.[15][13] The name Néo-Phare was chosen after the protagonist of the 1999 film The Matrix, Neo, as Mussy was a fan of the movie, in combination with the previous group's title.[7] He interpreted esoteric meaning from some of the film's symbolism.[7]

The 21 members (including Mussy) were visualized as 21 "apostles" (flipped from the Twelve Apostles), their task being to rewrite the Bible, which they viewed as having been distorted by the Catholic Church. They analyzed it through Bougenec's ideas and numerology system. The group's mission was to rebuild the world after the apocalypse in a way that would align with their beliefs.[9] Mussy, like Bougenec, said he was the new Jesus Christ (previously he believed he was James the Apostle).[9][16][17] The group moved to two hamlets, with the core members living in Cellier, a small village close to Nantes, and the rest living in Olivier Mussy's home in Aigrefeuille. The group lived cooperatively but not communally; members shared expenses and worked jobs half time, but maintained their own bank accounts.[18][15] Early in the group's history, Mussy interpreted and taught Bougenec's ideas, but he later began to fulfill a more messianic role.[19]

Apocalypse predictions

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The September 11 attacks caused Néo-Phare to become increasingly apocalyptic.

Néo-Phare has been classed as a doomsday cult by suicide researcher Loren Coleman.[20] After the September 11 attacks, the group became more apocalyptic in its thought. Mussy claimed that Bougenec had foreseen the destruction of the Twin Towers, and the group interpreted the attack as a sign of the end times.[15][19] Mussy said that Bougenec had encrypted the date as 11/6 instead of 9/11 (flipping the number),[21][19] and said that the attacks were a message from God to prepare for the end.[16] He announced that the end of the world would occur on 29 December 2001. He believed the apocalypse would be positive—not a violent destruction of the world, but a rebirth of a more spiritual humanity.[19][15]

In December 2001, Néo-Phare convened in a crypt near the tomb of Mary Magdalene in Vézelay and attempted to communicate with her spirit, which they referred to as the "Divine Mother" and conceived of as the "female archetype". Mussy mimicked Jesus on the cross and another member shouted out.[19][15] The group also engaged in trance sessions, similar to Pentecostalist Christian practice.[22] The group often met at sacred sites, such as abbeys and historic castles, viewing them as locations of power. Mussy viewed the tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany, in Nantes, which was discussed in a book written by Bougenec, as the key to the apocalypse.[11]

When the apocalypse date of 29 December 2001 arrived, nothing happened.[22] Mussy then announced that the apocalypse would be 25 February 2002.[11][22] After the announcement, he exerted more control over members, separating couples and reassigning them to others according to their "energies"—an extension of Bougenec's soulmate doctrine.[22][11] Mussy said he was not breaking people up, but reuniting people whose souls had been separated, with the couples in the group representing the couples in Heavenly Jerusalem and all of the couples in the world.[11] There were 3 or 4 couple changes like this though not all group members were affected.[11] Later, through channeling, they received the names of soulmates, with whom they would supposedly form ideal couples.[10]

In February 2002, a member claimed that she felt a presence in her throat, and fell into a trance claiming to channel Bougenec who spoke to Mussy telling him he was Jesus; though channeling was not then part of the group's doctrine, the group believed her.[19] Less than a month later, she and her boyfriend left the group and denounced Mussy as a cult leader and a fake, saying he was a "seducer" who could "overwhelm" people.[19] In her later deposition, she stated that she had not done the channeling, but that Mussy had done it himself "directly, from the sky".[11] Following this and the prior incident in Vézelay, Mussy claimed to be Jesus.[14][19] The members stored food in preparation for the apocalypse.[7] Mussy claimed there would be three "difficult" days of the end of the world, but then it would be "joyful"; however, later he said that it would not be an end of the world, but the end of a world.[5][23]

The new date passed and there was once again no apocalypse. Mussy blamed the group members, saying that "Heaven has played with us to put us to the test". He announced the date was 2 September, then 24 October 2002 (Bougenec's birthday).[22][21] At this time, the group had been noticed by the French authorities, who were concerned about the attitudes of the group.[22] In March 2002, members were summoned to a police station and an investigation was launched after the parents of some members, worried and comparing the group to the Order of the Solar Temple mass suicides, complained.[22][24] The status of the group's children was investigated, but as their children were not involved in any of their activities and regularly attended school, the police were satisfied and the case was closed in June 2002.[24][14] As a result of the police investigation, the group became embroiled in crisis and most members left, leaving only 8 core members.[22]

Suicide and alleged attempts

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In July 2002, a couple attempted to take over the group.[8][25] These two members of this group had both been members of Phare-Ouest for seven years before Mussy joined, and had gone with him in the schism.[26][27] They told Mussy that they had received a revelation that if he went to Nantes, he would meet his "soul sister". Mussy's wife had recently left him and he felt lonely, so he then went.[8][25] During his absence one declared himself "The Father", and said that to make it into heaven all must follow him, and stated that Mussy was the source of the problems that had been experienced by the group. A few days later, his wife declared herself "The Mother". Both said that they were the "two faces of God".[8] When Mussy returned, there was a power struggle between Mussy and the couple; during this struggle, the man claimed he channeled Bougenec.[8] Mussy interpreted this coup in a way that in his mind, only reinforced his claims of being a messiah, viewing them both as "rebel angels" symbolic of the revolt against God.[25]

They told Jérémie Trossais, a member and a gym instructor,[27][28] that he was Lucifer. According to Olivier Mussy, Trossais was terrified of them.[8] Trossais was previously given the role of Judas within the group.[29] Psychiatrist Jean-Marie Abgrall claimed this led to his abuse within the movement; however, according to sociologist Susan J. Palmer, Judas was actually viewed positively within their theology, as the "closest, most-beloved disciple" of Jesus, so this may not have been inherently stigmatizing. Members also constantly switched roles and reincarnations, with Mussy and his brother once having viewed themselves as Cain and Abel.[29] Trossais's wife was paired with Mussy's brother as his "soulmate" and she became pregnant.[14] Mussy claimed she was to give birth on Venus.[14] Olivier claimed that Trossais told him that he was happy for him.[24] Olivier also said that it was not very strange that he had been paired with Trossais's wife, as they were actually the same person, with Mussy saying Olivier was a "more evolved" version of Trossais, as the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene were the same person and Jesus was a more evolved version of Abraham within their belief system.[29]

According to Mussy, Trossais repeatedly called Mussy on the phone on 14 July, warning him about the couple and sounding distraught; Mussy told him to come over so they could discuss it, but Trossais refused.[8] According to Mussy, in the second call, Trossais also claimed to be Jesus, and said that he believed that if he died, God would manifest. Mussy did not take this seriously and believed it to be a metaphor, as he, also believing himself to be Jesus, had not tried to kill himself.[8][30] In a third call, he told Mussy that he was hitch-hiking and would call him later.[30] Later that day, Trossais threw himself in front of a car, killing himself.[22][27] Mussy later stated in an interview that: "I know I am Jesus, and I write about it and talk about it, but I never try to kill myself. The difference between me and Jérémie is, he says 'I am Jesus!' and boom! He kills himself immediately!"[8] However, a member of Trossais's family said he had felt rejected by Mussy, who said he did not pray enough, and said that it was his fault the apocalypse had not happened on time.[7] Trossais left no written note about the suicide.[31] According to Olivier Mussy, the group was shocked and did not know how to react. Shortly after his death, Trossais's wife left the group to live with her family.[30]

According to Olivier Mussy, following the suicide the couple were both quiet.[8] The day after this, the male member then climbed the Château de Clermont. The media portrayed this as attempted suicide by defenestration from the Château de Clermont, and he was stopped by another person.[8][27] His wife did the same the next day, climbing the tower, naked and holding a tulip in her mouth (in the group, symbolizing the "mother").[27] Media sources portrayed her as jumping out of the castle window, while another source states that she had been scared by another woman spotting her inside the castle, resulting in an accidental fall. Regardless, she was unhurt,[22][21][30] brought to a clinic in the castle, and taken for psychiatric examination. The couple were then questioned by police.[22][32] According to Olivier Mussy, this was an attempt by them to display supernatural power, with the couple allegedly having told both him and his twin brother earlier that they were "the two faces of God".[8] As a result of the incident, the group was left with only six members, including Mussy.[33]

Immediately after the suicide of Trossais, the group was questioned, but charges could not immediately be brought against them, as there was no proof of crimes such as financial misappropriation or involvement of minors in the organization.[34] Following these events, they moved again to Nantes, where they waited for the apocalypse. The remaining members, Mussy and five others, shut themselves in a house in Nantes, awaiting the "journey to Venus".[35][16][20] Here they were monitored by French intelligence services.[7][36] When they stayed inside the house for a long period, the police and their neighbors began to worry they were plotting mass suicide like the Order of the Solar Temple.[16][7][36] During this period they read about and discussed religious matters.[5] Former members claimed that they were waiting for UFOs.[23][6]

Mussy denied responsibility for the previous suicide and suicide attempts, and denied that his group would kill themselves, saying that death was not the way out and that they were not a cult.[16][7][20] No documents were ever found indicating the group advocated or encouraged suicide.[37] By September, there had begun a media frenzy around the case; news reports suggested that the group may have been intending to commit mass suicide.[38] At that time Mussy then stated the apocalypse date was not specific but would happen before Christmas.[5][16] He said that if he was incorrect about doomsday he might return to his prior job working at a French telecommunications company.[5]

The group was frequently compared to the Solar Temple by the media, with Le Figaro declaring it the "new OTS" and journalists comparing Mussy to leaders Luc Jouret and Joseph Di Mambro.[39][20] A former member discussed with the news a comparison between Néo-Phare's idea of voyaging to Venus and the Solar Temple's concept of voyage to Sirius. In one instance, TF1 producers (who wanted the exclusive rights to make a documentary about the case) wanted them to look like the Solar Temple, surprised at their lack of belief similarities, and when they found out they did not, they left.[40][20] On 5 September, he dismissed any comparisons made between the two groups.[20] After the deaths, the investigation into the group was reopened.[14]

Trial and dissolution

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Mussy was arrested 16 October 2002 and charged for "abuse of weakness". He was held for 48 hours for questioning and forbidden by the court from having any contact with his followers.[22][41][28] Néo-Phare was then dissolved; it only existed for a year and a half.[22][13][42] This trial was the "test case" for the About–Picard law. The law had been passed in May 2001, designed to prosecute cult leaders. It created a new category of misdemeanor in French law, l’abus frauduleux de l’état d’ignorance ou de faiblesse, that was designed to account for the several ways that a charismatic leader could harm a follower through brainwashing. However, this law faced criticism over issues with determining what objective criteria could be used to show someone was guilty of brainwashing.[27][43]

Mussy was released under judicial supervision.[44] His trial received much media coverage.[42] During the trial, he was defended by Fabrice Petit,[29] appointed by the court. Mussy cooperated with him little and only met him twice, as he felt it more important to work on a book he was writing at the time.[45] He told journalists at the trial that he had decided not to get a lawyer because he was being "tested by the heavens". Throughout the trial, he used his presence to broadcast his message.[45] He also maintained that he was Jesus.[14][4] The lawyer of the prosecution was Jean-Michel Pesenti, who worked for the French anti-cult group UNADFI. He represented Trossais's parents. Their expert witness was the psychiatrist Jean-Marie Abgrall, the lead French cult brainwashing expert, with a local official for an anti-cult group also giving evidence.[13] The About–Picard law has a provision that allows for private groups to initiate criminal proceedings from a civil plaintiff, without that plaintiff's consent or knowledge (including in some cases where the plaintiffs in question do not want charges filed). Through this provision, four victims of Néo-Phare were named by UNADFI: Trossais, Trossais's widow (an ex-member), and the couple who had tried to overthrow him, none of whom appeared in the trial.[46] Trossais's sister said during the trial that Mussy had "destroyed" her brother, as he had with the couple.[14]

Pesenti accused Mussy of leading to the suicide of Trossais, saying that through pressure he had altered the victim's judgement and used "techniques of thought reform".[46] Petit argued Mussy was being used as a "guinea pig" for the law, which had not been previously tested; he told the court that "One is asking you to be psychiatric magistrates. Neither you nor I have the competence to judge manipulation mentale [brainwashing]."[26][45] The group was presented as a stereotypical cult by the prosecution, having brainwashed the members. Relying heavily on Abgrall's testimony, the prosecution's key point was aiming to show that Mussy fit the manipulative "cult leader" profile.[46] Abgrall immediately classed Mussy as "a master manipulator". After Mussy testified, the judge said he seemed sincere, to which the local anti-cult official stated that the fact he seemed sincere was only further proof he was a manipulator.[26][35] Petit argued that the members of Néo-Phare were responsible adults, capable of free choice, and further brought up the fact that none of the members in Néo-Phare were actually converted by Mussy (all having been previous members of Phare-Ouest, including Trossais).[47] Abgrall said during the trial that Néo-Phare was like the Solar Temple, as both groups recorded their meetings and practiced swinging.[40]

Mussy testified, arguing that they were too poor, small, and careful to be a cult, to which the local cult official declared this made it even more dangerous because members would not realize they were joining a cult. Mussy further denied any involvement in Trossais's death or that he had planned any suicide, calling it a "setback" to their project, that they had a "divine object" that they would continue pursuing.[48][4] The couple gave a deposition, read out by Petit in court, in which they denied having attempted suicide. They further said Mussy had never attempted to influence them to do things they did not want to do, but had been sincere. Pesenti argued this deposition showed that they were brainwashed victims in a psychologically impressionable mental state. From the deposition, Abgrall diagnosed them in absentia as suffering from Stockholm syndrome.[26][29] The trial did not mention the leadership crisis that had happened in the week before Trossais's death, as Mussy did not tell his lawyer about it.[26] During one of his hearings, Mussy stated that he was now writing an 800-page gospel.[49] In response to the member who had supposedly channeled Bougenec's spirit, then denied it, Mussy suggested that the court refer to the video tapes (the channelings had been recorded) to determine who had done so, but this was not done.[11]

On 14 October 2004, he was found guilty of abus de faiblesse.[50][26] The public prosecutor requested 30 months of suspended sentence with six months served against Mussy on 16 October, as well as that Mussy be banned from leading any group and a 5-year socio-educational follow-up.[44][17] The judgement was then adjourned until 25 November.[44] In sentencing him, the court did not follow the prosecution's demand of a six-month prison sentence.[35] He was instead given a three-year suspended prison sentence and €115,000 fine to compensate the victims by the Rennes Court of Appeal [fr].[50][26][49] He appealed the sentence, but it was upheld 6 June 2005.[26][28]

Aftermath

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The verdict was celebrated by anti-cultists; Jean-Pierre Brard declared that it was "excellent news", while Pesenti stated that "nothing would ever be the same", calling Mussy's conviction a "victory".[51][17] The case was interpreted as a warning and a precedent: Petit declared, following the verdict, that "This is not a conviction that is neutral. It contains a very strong warning! Here we have the first jurisprudence!"[26][51] MIVILUDES said it was excellent news, and praised the effectiveness of the law.[17] Pesenti said afterwards that it had been a close call due to issues with determining how someone is guilty of brainwashing.[52] Mussy later stated that "It was clear the National Assembly had a new law and they wanted to try it out on some little group to make an example—not a big powerful [cult] like Scientology that has lots of money to defend itself. I have no money. I knew I could not win."[45] As of 2008, Mussy was paying the fine in installments.[26]

Cult researcher Susan J. Palmer argued that the application of the brainwashing concept in this specific case was flawed, even apart from the wider concerns about the legitimacy of the concept and how it is supposed to be proven.[53][37] She also argued that the Néo-Phare did not fit the typical cult mass suicide model (e.g. the Solar Temple, Jonestown, Heaven's Gate), and criticized what she believed was an inadequate researching of the group itself, including its theology and history.[54] She said it may have been an attempt by the French justice system to compensate for the innocent verdict in the Tabachnik trial of the Order of the Solar Temple.[39] The OTS suicides had shocked the French public, and due to the failure of the justice system to convict the only person who ever went on trial in that case, there was no "satisfying" conclusion, deeply frustrating the French authorities.[55] She also argued that the very high defection rate (14 of the 20 members had left over time) evidenced Mussy was not "a particularly effective brainwasher".[56]

References

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  1. ^ Palmer 2011, pp. 147, 153.
  2. ^ a b c d Bourseiller 2014, p. 314.
  3. ^ a b c Palmer 2011, p. 153.
  4. ^ a b c "Six mois ferme réclamés contre le gourou" [Six months' imprisonment sought against guru]. Le Parisien (in French). 7 June 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "French Cult Predicts Doomsday by Christmas". Voice of America. 20 October 2002. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Siege as French apocalypse cult plans voyage to Venus". The Scotsman. 3 September 2002. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Ternisien, Xavier (4 September 2002). "Dans un pavillon nantais, six membres de la secte Néo-Phare attendent l'apocalypse pour le 24 octobre" [In a pavilion in Nantes, six members of the Néo-Phare cult await the apocalypse on 24 October]. Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Palmer 2008, p. 114.
  9. ^ a b c d e Jougla 2003, p. 57.
  10. ^ a b Jougla 2003, p. 58.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Palmer 2011, p. 155.
  12. ^ a b Bourseiller 2014, pp. 314–315.
  13. ^ a b c d Palmer 2008, p. 112.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "Néo-Phare. De la prison ferme requise en appel" [Néo-Phare. Strong prison sentence requested on appeal]. Le Télégramme (in French). 5 June 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e Bourseiller 2014, p. 315.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Lichfield, John (6 September 2002). "This Europe: Why a cult leader is suddenly no laughing matter". The Independent. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d P., R. (27 June 2005). "Un cas concret se déroule en France et pourrait fonder la jurisprudence" [A solid case in France could form the basis of future case law]. La Libre (in French). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  18. ^ Palmer 2011, pp. 153–154.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h Palmer 2011, p. 154.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Coleman 2004, pp. 88–89.
  21. ^ a b c Jougla 2003, p. 59.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Bourseiller 2014, p. 316.
  23. ^ a b Chalandon, Sorj (10 September 2002). "Saint-Florentin". Libération (in French). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Palmer 2011, p. 156.
  25. ^ a b c Palmer 2011, p. 170.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Palmer 2008, p. 113.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Palmer 2008, p. 111.
  28. ^ a b c Palmer 2011, p. 150.
  29. ^ a b c d e Palmer 2011, p. 167.
  30. ^ a b c d Palmer 2011, p. 171.
  31. ^ Palmer 2011, p. 152.
  32. ^ Palmer 2008, pp. 114–115.
  33. ^ Jougla 2003, p. 60.
  34. ^ "Ouverture d'une enquête sur Néo-Phare" [Inquiry launched into Néo-Phare]. Le Parisien (in French). 5 September 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  35. ^ a b c J., J. (13 July 2005). "Trois ans avec sursis pour le gourou de Néo-Phare" [Three-year suspended sentence for the guru of Néo-Phare]. 20 minutes (in French). Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  36. ^ a b Landais, Rodolphe (2 September 2002). "Une secte sous surveillance" [A cult under surveillance]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  37. ^ a b Palmer 2011, p. 151.
  38. ^ Palmer 2011, pp. 150–151.
  39. ^ a b Palmer 2011, p. 163.
  40. ^ a b Palmer 2011, p. 164.
  41. ^ Palmer 2008, pp. 111–112.
  42. ^ a b Palmer 2011, p. 147.
  43. ^ Palmer 2011, p. 148.
  44. ^ a b c "Gourou de Neo-Phare : 30 mois de sursis requis" [Neo-Phare guru: 30-month suspended sentence requested]. Le Nouvel Obs (in French). 16 October 2004. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  45. ^ a b c d Palmer 2011, p. 157.
  46. ^ a b c Palmer 2008, pp. 112–113.
  47. ^ Palmer 2011, pp. 158, 166.
  48. ^ Palmer 2011, p. 158.
  49. ^ a b C., A.A. (13 July 2005). "Prison avec sursis pour le gourou" [Suspended sentence for the guru]. Le Parisien. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  50. ^ a b Bourseiller 2014, p. 317.
  51. ^ a b Palmer 2011, p. 149.
  52. ^ Palmer 2011, p. 160.
  53. ^ Palmer 2008, p. 115.
  54. ^ Palmer 2011, pp. 151–152, 167–168.
  55. ^ Palmer 2011, pp. 162–163.
  56. ^ Palmer 2011, p. 166.
Sources
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