History and Formation
![Heaven's Gate Founders](/uploads/3/2/0/9/32094161/8157412.jpg?331)
In the early 70's, recently-divorced musical professor Marshall Applewhite endured a near-death experience in the from of a heart attack. He found that his nurse, Bonnie Lu Nettles, shared an unusual interest of spiritual matters with him, as well as proficient knowledge of the Bible. Together, the two came to the conclusion that they were 'The Two' described in the Book of Revelation (God's prophets). Over the years, their view of themselves ranged from aliens to direct links to Jesus, but the idea of being a "level above humans" remained constant.
From then, the pair left their families and made it their mission to travel around the country, using Applewhite's public speaking skills to convey their beliefs at informational conferences to successfully gain more and more followers. Applewhite and Nettles convinced their followers to leave behind their families and possessions as they had done, and abide to the teachings of Applewhite and Nettles (a student-teacher relationship was established).This gathering of people eventually became what is known today as Heaven's Gate. The group continually recruited members, all the while preparing for their 'journey' off the planet Earth. They found an opportunity, with the arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997. It was believed that a UFO would be trailing behind the comet, and the members of Heaven's Gate decided to use this opportunity to evacuate Earth by boarding the vessel and leaving behind their 'vehicles' (bodies). This resulted in the mass suicide of 39 members, ending Heaven's Gate.
From then, the pair left their families and made it their mission to travel around the country, using Applewhite's public speaking skills to convey their beliefs at informational conferences to successfully gain more and more followers. Applewhite and Nettles convinced their followers to leave behind their families and possessions as they had done, and abide to the teachings of Applewhite and Nettles (a student-teacher relationship was established).This gathering of people eventually became what is known today as Heaven's Gate. The group continually recruited members, all the while preparing for their 'journey' off the planet Earth. They found an opportunity, with the arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997. It was believed that a UFO would be trailing behind the comet, and the members of Heaven's Gate decided to use this opportunity to evacuate Earth by boarding the vessel and leaving behind their 'vehicles' (bodies). This resulted in the mass suicide of 39 members, ending Heaven's Gate.
Structure and practices
Like many cults, Heaven's Gate operated under a very strict regime for its members. Being in the group meant that members had to give up everything (family, friends, jobs, possessions) and abide what Applewhite instructed them to do. As everyone lived communally in one household, Applewhite controlled every part of their highly ascetic lives, examples being what clothes they wore, what food they ate, and what TV programs they watched. Most of the group's activities comprised of the ascetic kind, such as eating strange diets and unusual sexual intimacies.
On the right is a documentary regarding Heaven's Gate, watch at your own discretion. |
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Leadership
![Picture](/uploads/3/2/0/9/32094161/9043988.jpg?326)
Heaven's Gate operated under a heavy authoritarian design, with founders Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles at the top. After Nettles died in 1985 due to liver cancer, Applewhite took sole possession of the leader role and continued to guide the group. The members of Heaven's Gate looked up to Applewhite as a father figure, even if in some cases a member would be older than Applewhite himself. All members were to be put under high scrutiny if they disobeyed any of the group's 'rules', some rules being no lying, drinking, or smoking.