Cults and New Religious Movements Cults and New Religious Movements Case Study #6: Heaven’s Gate

The Violence March 1997 –39 members committed suicide at a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

The Biographies of Bonnie Lu Nettles and Marshall Herff Applewhite Bonnie Lu Nettles –Born in 1927 –Met Applewhite in 1972 in Houston TX –She was a nurse –Was married and had 4 children –Raised a Baptist –Died in 1985

Marshall Herf Applewhite –Born in 1931 in Spur Texas –Father was a Texas Presbyterian minister –Attended seminary briefly –Was a music professor Lost his job in the University of Alabama for having an affair with a male student Also lost his job in 1970 for having an affair with a female student

Attributes of Heaven’s Gate Size of the group = 39 Robert Balch and David Taylor infiltrated the group in 1975 to study it They found that the converts at that time were typically: –Young –Involved in the counterculture –Had few attachments –Were seekers

Beliefs of the Group Ultimate Concern: To enter the kingdom of Heaven Asceticism Transmigration “The level above human” (T.E.L.A.H. p. 234) Dualistic thinking –Us vs. the Luciferians (p. 235) UFOs –Hale-Bopp Apocalypticism

The Persecution For Applewhite, probably began with his dismissal for affairs & over his sexual orientation Hecklers in Kansas The Media

The Response Members felt: –An increase in persecution –Felt they were failing to achieve the ultimate goal Nettles had died & Applewhite’s health was failing The UFOs had not come A definite reliance on: –Apocalyptic belief –Increase on reliance on charismatic leadership The leader was viewed as infallible –Social Encapsulation

The Decision to Commit Violence Applewhite had taught that no one could reach heaven without “grafting” to him –He was also dying and could not name a successor since he taught the above –Thus, members felt compelled to follow him to T.E.L.A.H through death