Heaven's Gate Cult Analysis

A Comparison and Contrast of The People's Temple, The Manson Family, and Heaven's Gate

Cult is a noun defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a “great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work.” To this day, there are many active cults in the nation. However, three notorious cults are known to be a major part of the American history: The Manson Family, Heaven’s Gate, and The People’s Temple. Although each of these cults had different beliefs they were devoted to, they shared similar practices within their cult. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the philosophy, notable figures, and notable events of these three infamous cults.

The Manson Family is a cult that became known for carrying out numerous murders …show more content…
Marshall Herff Applewhite, leader of The Heaven’s Gate, stated that the alien mind that was once in Jesus Christ’s body was now in him (Jim). Heaven’s Gate belief system was that the only way to achieve the “Next Level.”Applewhite believed he and his followers would have to leave their bodies to join the “Next Level.” Heaven's Gate began shortly after Applewhite was recovering from a heart attack. The Heaven’s Gate Cult states that “Applewhite claimed that the near death experience that led him to believe that he and his nurse at the time, Bonnie Nettles, were The Two witnesses referred to in the Book of Revelations 11:3.” While in recovery, Applewhite and Bonnie assumed various nicknames such as “Bo” and “Peep.” After recovering together Applewhite and Nettles would travel around america recruiting for their new found organization. Eventually Bonnie would pass away from cancer and applewhite would reform his belief system. The notable event that transpired was with the arrival of the comet known as Hale-bopp Applewhite identified the coming of the comet as a sign that the time had arrived to leave earth and that there would be a spacecraft that was hiding in the comet to take them to another “level of existence above human”. (Jim) Nevertheless; suicide was allowed by Heavens Gate,but Applewhite stated that suicide was the only way to ensure they would be able to board the spacecraft.So the cult commited a mass sucide. It was also noted by authorities that the suicides did not happen all at once.Jim h stated “Fifteen members committed suicide on March 24th, fifteen on March 25th and nine on March 26th. In total, 21 women and 18 men died.” The way The Heaven's Gate

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