 Benjamin E. Zeller , an academic who studies new religions , notes that Applewhite and Nettles ' teachings focused on salvation through individual growth and sees this as similar to currents in the era 's New Age movement . Likewise , the importance of personal choice was also emphasized . Applewhite and Nettles denied connection with the New Age movement , viewing it as a human creation . Janja Lalich , a sociologist , who studies cults , attributes their recruitment success to their eclectic mix of beliefs and the way that they deviate from typical New Age teachings : discussing literal spaceships while retaining familiar language . Most of their disciples were young and interested in occultism or otherwise lived outside of mainstream society . They came from a variety of religious backgrounds , including Eastern religions and Scientology . Most were well versed in New Age teachings , allowing Applewhite and Nettles to convert them easily . Applewhite thought that his followers would reach a higher level of being , changing like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly ; this example was used in almost all of their early literature . Applewhite contended that this would be a " biological change into a different species , casting his teachings as scientific truth in line with secular naturalism . " He emphasized to his early followers that he was not speaking metaphorically , often using the words " biology " and " chemistry " in his statements . By the mid @-@ 1970s , he attempted to avoid the use of the term " religion " , seeing it as inferior to science . Although he dismissed religion as unscientific , he sometimes emphasized the need for faith in the aliens ' abilities to transform them . 
 Benjamin E. Zeller , an academic <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>studies</mark></a> new religions , <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>notes</mark></a> that Applewhite and Nettles <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>teachings focused on salvation through individual growth and <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>sees</mark></a> this as similar to currents in the era <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>New Age movement . Likewise , the importance of personal choice was also emphasized . Applewhite and Nettles denied connection with the New Age movement , viewing it as a human creation . Janja Lalich , a sociologist , <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>studies</mark></a> cults , <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>attributes</mark></a> their recruitment success to their eclectic mix of beliefs and the way <a href='null_relcl' title='10'><mark>that</mark></a>they deviate from typical New Age teachings : discussing literal spaceships while retaining familiar language . Most of their disciples <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> young and interested in occultism or otherwise lived outside of mainstream society . They came from a variety of religious backgrounds , including Eastern religions and Scientology . Most <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>were</mark></a> well versed in New Age teachings , allowing Applewhite and Nettles to convert them easily . Applewhite thought that his followers would reach a higher level of being , changing like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly ; this example was used in almost all of their early literature . Applewhite contended that this would be a " biological change into a different species , casting his teachings as scientific truth in line with secular naturalism . " He emphasized to his early followers that he was not speaking metaphorically , often using the words " biology " and " chemistry " in his statements . By the mid @-@ 1970s , he attempted to avoid the use of the term " religion " , seeing it as inferior to science . Although he dismissed religion as unscientific , he sometimes emphasized the need for faith in the aliens <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'</mark></a>abilities to transform them . 
Benjamin E. Zeller , an academic study new religions , note that Applewhite and Nettles  teachings focused on salvation through individual growth and see this as similar to currents in da era  New Age movement . Likewise , tdaimportance of personal choice was also emphasized . Applewhite and Nettles denied connection with thdaew Age movement , viewing it as a human creation . Janja Lalich , a sociologist , study cults , attribute their recruitment success to their eclectic mix of beliefs and the way they deviate from typical New Age teachings : discussing literal spaceships while retaining familiar language . Most of their disciples was young and interested in occultism or otherwise lived outside of mainstream society . They came from a variety of religious backgrounds , including Eastern religions and Scientology . Most was well versed in New Age teachings , allowing Applewhite and Nettles to convert em easily . Applewhite thought that his followers would reach a higher level of bein , changing like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly ; this example was used in almost alll of their early literature . Applewhite contended that this would be a " biological change into a diffrent species , casting his teachings as scientific truth in line with secular naturalism . " He emphasized to his early followers that he was not speaking metaphorically , often usin thedards " biology " and " chemistry " in his statements . By the mid @-@ 1970s , he attempted to avoid the use of the dam " religion " , seein it as inferior to science . Although he dismissed religion as unscientific , he sometimes emphasized the need for faith in the adans  abilities to transform them