Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults

History

Station:
Max (US)

Status:
Ended

Start:
2020-12-03

Rating:
0/10 from 0 users

Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults is a thorough examination of the infamous UFO cult through the eyes of its former members and loved ones. This four-part docuseries uses never-before-seen footage and first-person accounts to explore "the cult of cults" that shocked the nation with its out-of-this-world beliefs. What started in 1975 with the disappearance of 20 people from a small town in Oregon ended in 1997 with the largest suicide on U.S. soil and changed the face of modern New Age religion forever. The 39 members of Heaven's Gate who died by suicide believed their souls would "graduate" to an alien spacecraft behind the Hale-Bopp Comet.

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List of episodes

S1E1 - The Awakening

March 1997. Thirty-nine members of the Heaven's Gate cult are found dead in a Southern California mansion - the largest mass suicide in U.S. history. The inception of this mysterious group dates back to 1970s Oregon, where founding members Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite begin recruiting individuals interested in end-of-the-world Christianity, new age religion, and UFOs. Applewhite once called the group "the cult of cults." But the disappearance of new members soon drives media attention and family concerns.

Air Date: 03 Dec 2020 06:00 (CDT)

S1E2 - The Chrysalis

As the Heaven's Gate "Classroom" begins, Bonnie and Marshall - who call themselves "Ti" and "Do" or "The Two" - enforce strict rules of no family communication. After Ti dies from cancer in 1985, a distraught Do briefly allows members to visit their families, and a few consider leaving the group for good. When the members return, Do becomes much more controlling - and opens the door to group suicide.

Air Date: 03 Dec 2020 06:00 (CDT)

S1E3 - The Second Harvest

Using a popular sci-fi TV series to help bolster his teachings, Do encourages asexuality and individual submission for the benefit of the collective - and even initiates voluntary castrations. The group starts recruiting again, having dwindled in number, but they're met largely with derision and skepticism. Seeing this as a sign, Do begins planning their exit to the next level.

Air Date: 03 Dec 2020 06:00 (CDT)

S1E4 - The Exit

The 1997 arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet spurs the group to prepare for their departure, though their plan to commit mass suicide goes undetected. After an anonymous 911 caller alerts the authorities, Heaven's Gate, deemed the first "internet cult," becomes a media and pop culture phenomenon - but the suicides have a very different effect on those closest to them. Today, former members, loved ones, and experts reflect on the legacy of Heaven's Gate, offering a chilling reminder that indoctrination can happen to anyone.

Air Date: 03 Dec 2020 06:00 (CDT)