Heaven's Gate Cult Analysis

The “American Dream” has changed form dramatically since the term was first coined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams. By definition, it refers to the goal of the American people to pursue their own individual dreams with independence. However, considering the increased amounts of advertising in recent years due to the advancement of technology, are Americans actually making their own, uninfluenced decisions about the products they are purchasing? Kalle Lasn, the founder of the anticorporate AdBusters Media Foundation, would likely disagree. As the founder of this organization, the Estonian author’s goal is to inform average consumers about the hidden grime in advertising that they may not be aware of, such as discrimination and logical fallacies.

In the essay, The Cult You’re In, Kalle Lasn not only used rhetoric devices and imagery to allow readers to come to a better understanding of who ‘you’ are and the role you play through the reality of the detrimental reality of life. Kalle used these devices to almost scare readers into a reality check insinuating that not everything is perfect or how we image them to be. Reality is described as only being a figment of one’s mind, by being a meager front. From birth to teenage year’s life was almost picture perfect being a “This is your life moment.” You would be living the life of a diligent and optimistic child, but you quickly realize like Lasn said, “Those big dreams of youth didn’t quite plan out.”

It was not an option. Applewhite and his “Partner” Bonnie lu Nettles came up with many of the rules set for the heavens gate member’s. For example you had to have the same clothes,haircut, and food as everyone else. Another change was that sexual activity was strictly forbidden. Applewhite also convinced 20 people to abandon their family and belongings and move from Oregon to eastern Colorado. All of these people did these things out of fear because they thought that Applewhite was telling the truth. They believed the if they did not listen to Applewhite, they would miss their ticket to heaven and be destroyed with the Earth. So by using their fear of missing their chance he changed their way of

Kalle Lasn, in the his essay shows the stereotype of the bigger population being in a cult without even knowing. In, The Cult You’re In, Kalle says that all people want the same dreams, and that they are not unique by wanting this dream. The dream he entails that everyone wants is, “ wealth, power, fame, plenty of sex, and exciting recreational opportunities.” Another piece of evidence Lasn uses to show that the general public is in a cult is, “so you scaled down your hopes of embarrassing riches to reasonable expectations of adequate comfort— the modest condo downtown, the Visa card, the Braun shaver, the one good Armani suit.” The author’s use of you in this case and throughout the entire easy shows that to the typical person this does happen.

Jones instructed the members to move to Redwood Valley, California for safety. At this point, Jones rejected the bible and began to preach that there was no heaven. In the late 1960s, Jones began revealing that the religion was secretly founded on communism ideals. In the early 1970s, Jones stated to the members of the Peoples Temple that there was no heaven and that they would have to build their own heaven on Earth.

When I consider those leaders who have used charisma to negative ends, a few examples immediately come to mind. David Koresh, Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and Osama bin Laden are all men who used their charismatic style of leadership in order to convey a specific ideology and persuade many to commit horrific acts to themselves and others. Although each of these provides ample fodder for analysis, the leader I have chosen for this analysis is Marshall Applewhite, the former head of the cult known as Heaven’s Gate.

Competing in high school athletics was the highlight of my time at Sterling High School, If I could I’d go back and do it all over agin. It allowed me to learn basic life skills, such as time management, self-accountability, leadership, and teamwork. But the most important thing it brought me was a strong support system built up of teammates, coaches, competitors, and officials. My sophomore English teacher once joked that “the girl’s swim team is like a cult” which is pretty close to the truth. From early August to late November twenty girls, a diver or two, and a pair of coaches were inseparable. Together we suffered together through every practice and worked to improve not only ourselves but each other. It was these long hours that shaped

Two of the last Heaven’s Gate followers “Telah” and “we” keep the Heaven’s Gate website online and promptly respond to any questions through email. March 23, 1997 was when the mass suicide known as Heaven’s Gate occurred in Rancho Santa Fe community of San Diego, California. Thirty-nine members were found dead neatly in bunk beds wearing Nike shoes, black sweat pants, and covered with a purple cloth. The cult started in 1997, when founders Marshall Applewhite, and Bonnie Nettles became “the Two” and gain followers. As the son of a Pastor, Applewhite always saw himself as a preacher, but never fit into mainstream religion due to his alleged homosexual tendencies. Furthermore, the development of Human Individual Metamorphosis (HIM), a New Age religion in which members believed the planet earth would be recycled in order to move to “next level” or heaven, humans give up all attachments to the

[online] Jonestown.sdsu.edu. Available at: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=13944 [Accessed 7 May 2017]. As one of the few last words that were found in Jonestown, Richard Tropp’s eight pages last letter provides a unique perspective of intuitive feeling and thought as a core cult member when the suicide happened. While standing in a cult member’s shoes, it offers an another way to analyse the conformity, as well as obedience, occurred in People’s Temple.

journalist. Vorilhon claims to have had a visitation from aliens who proclaimed that they did by

The identities that each person possesses is influenced according to their attitudes, values and beliefs embedded in their culture. When people hear the word cult, the images of satan worshipping, animal sacrifices and evil, pagan rituals automatically come to mind. However, in reality, the majority of cults do not involve these things and are in fact simply a religious system with alternate beliefs. The word though refers to an unorthodox sect whose members distort the original doctrines of the religion. Heaven’s Gate is a cult that is centred in California, founded by Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles in 1993. They are a UFO based ‘destructive doomsday’ cult who believed that evil space aliens called ‘Luciferians’ had kept

     For many years, cult leaders always had a psychological hold on their followers' minds. Whether it was to kill other people or to kill themselves, they did it without question. Some cult leaders used fear, violence and guilt as a means of a weapon to control the minds of their followers. Other cult leaders used persuasive and spiritual speeches that made their followers believe they were doing good and fulfilling God's plan. Because cult leaders are powerful through psychological offenses, the people that belong to their cults are brainwashed into doing things they wouldn't normally do in their right state of mind.

: The structures that make up the Temple of Heaven are meant to signify the relationship between heaven and earth, more importantly the connection between the emperors and God. The through in It was believed that offerings made by the emperor to the Gods, would bring a flourishing harvests, as he was believed to be the closest being to god. The structure itself was built so majestically to represent it descending into heaven. The main ceremonies that were held within the hall were all on the basis of worshipping heaven and so it was believed by doing so, it would be seen as favorable to the gods, enough to be blessed with an abundance supply of harvests such as grain. The ceremonial interior of the hall was built in such a way as to emphasize

Cults can be classified as destructive, considering the methods used and how membership affects individuals. According to the International Cultic Studies Association or ICSA, cults can be considered destructive to its members. Reports form former cult member’s reveals that they have trouble trusting others, problems forming and maintaining relationships, and feel disconnected with the world. In addition, former cult members report being diagnosed with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD often having flashbacks of events that occurred while they were in the cult. Finally, it is important to mention that cults also cause injuries or death. Considering these reports cults can be classified as destructive because members may have a difficult time adjusting to life outside the cult, difficulties in living life

destructive cult is a rigidly structured absolutist group usually under an authoritarian, charismatic leader which isolates itself from established societal