Members of the Heaven's Gate cult, who "knew" there was a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet, returned a perfectly good telescope they had purchased because they failed to see the spaceship they "knew" was there. Such behaviors demonstrate that __________.
A) cult leaders go to great lengths to brainwash their members
B) people will often go to extreme lengths to justify their actions or beliefs
C) pleasant, smart, reasonable people are seldom drawn to cults
D) scientists, like many of us, are fascinated with the macabre, gruesome aspects of life

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This behavior, where members of the cult justified their failure to see the spaceship they "knew" was there, demonstrates the human tendency to go to extreme lengths to justify their beliefs or actions, even in the face of contradictory evidence.

Members of the Heaven's Gate Cult, Who "Knew" There Was