A picture showing the bodies of dead cult members who died believing their souls were going on a spaceship

A picture showing the bodies of dead cult members who died believing their souls were going on a spaceship which would take them into an alien world, 1997

Heaven's Gate was a Christian cult led by Marshall Applewhite. The cult became infamous in 1997 after 39 members committed suicide, all wearing Nike running shoes with armbands with cult insignia. They all had bags over their head to ensure they died due to a lack of oxygen and they also put purple shrouds over themselves. All members consumed apple sauce mixed with sedatives. They then drank vodka. Applewhite also did this.

The cult had some bizarre beliefs about these beliefs led to the cult members dying. The cult's central beliefs were essentially Christianity mixed with science fiction. The group believed that the world would end or would be recycled. To avoid dying, the cult would commit suicide, so their souls would go onto a spaceship. This spaceship would take the souls to a new world called "The Next Level". This world would allow a person's soul to become more spiritually enlightened. The group also believed in aliens and UFOs and rejected the human body as they thought a higher physical form would be obtained.

The members died on the 27th of March 1997. This date is important because the Hale-Bopp comet passed by Earth and was visible to the eye. It was believed that the spaceship was following the comet, and with it being so close to Earth, it made it easy for the souls to access it.

Many of you wonder how anyone could follow such a strange and outlandish ideology? Cults generally target people with particular personality traits that make them easy to indoctrinate. Here is a list of some of these traits:

1. Vulnerability

2. Low self-esteem

3. Need for belonging

4. Openness to new experiences

5. Susceptibility to manipulation

6. Desire for meaning and purpose

7. Disillusionment with mainstream society

All What's You Should Know— where you'll discover the most interesting things that you Should know. Watch Thousands of Historical event Being put on Movies and Tv Shows on Amazon

Join Amazon Prime - Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime - Start Free Trial Now