[21] He resigned from the University of St. Thomas in 1970, citing depression and other emotional problems. The four-part series, Heavens Gate: The Cult of Cults, made its streaming debut on Dec. 3. [125] In a profile of the group for Newsweek, Kenneth Woodward compares his dualism to that of ancient Christian Gnosticism, although Peters notes that his theology departs from Gnosticism by privileging the physical world. Marshall Applewhite was born on May 17, 1931 in United States (65 years old). Marshall Applewhite, leader of the Heaven's Gate cult, is shown in an undated image. [199] Gay rights activist Troy Perry argued that Applewhite's repression, and society's rejection, of same-sex relationships ultimately led to his suicide. After an awakening in the mid-70s, they decided they were the Two, alien beings in human vehicles who would teach others about the Next Level and lead followers into outer space. The things cults have ended up doing, whether we look at the Manson family murders, the Jonestown massacre , or the Heaven's Gate suicides, are just mind . 2,503. Heavens Gate required its members to adopt a uniform -- unisex shirt-and pants ensembles -- and a blunt pixie haircut. . Marshall Herff Applewhite Jr. was born in Spur, Texas,[2] on May17, 1931, to Marshall Herff Applewhite Sr. (19011971) and his wife Louise (ne Winfield; 19011988). [27][44] One of their friends from Houston corresponded with them and accepted their teachings. [27], In 1972, Applewhite met Bonnie Nettles, a nurse with an interest in theosophy and Biblical prophecy. [113] In 1988, they mailed a document that detailed their beliefs to a variety of New Age organizations. [18] His students regarded him as an engaging speaker and a stylish dresser. Zeller notes that this naturally ensured no possibility of the group's continuing if Applewhite were to die. [9] Graham said of Applewhite's expected contribution to the new staff, "We want to spread the field and throw the football, and every quarterback and receiver in this state will be interested in Rice with Major as our offensive coordinator. News reports of the time attempted to unravel the thinking of the cult, and explain the philosophies espoused by its leader. Major Lee Applewhite is a former player and current offensive coordinator for the South Alabama Jaguars in American football. [5], Applewhite attended Corpus Christi High School and Austin College;[6] at the latter school, he was active in several student organizations and was moderately religious. The pair subsisted solely on bread rolls at times, often camped out, and sometimes did not pay their lodging bills. Sex was a powerful drug, Applewhite said, and cult members had to go through a withdrawal process to overcome it. Texas legend Major Applewhite finds tight end Mike Jones in the flat. Marshall Applewhite is a Religious Leader, zodiac sign: Taurus. They then spent $30,000 to publish a full-page advertisement in USA Today that warned of catastrophic judgment to befall the Earth. He claimed to be a representative of the "level above human." [128] Zeller notes that his beliefs were based on the Christian Bible, but were interpreted through the lens of belief in alien contact with humanity. [149][150] This series echoed many of the teachings of the 1988 update, although it introduced a "universal mind" of which its hearers could partake. News reports of the time attempted to unravel the thinking of the cult, and explain the philosophies espoused by its leader. Her death in 1985 -- which did not resemble a glorious alien rebirth -- was in direct conflict with Heavens Gate teachings. The son of a Presbyterian minister, Applewhite became very religious as a child. (The docuseries compares this to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.) [78] He, Nettles, and their followers lived what religious scholar James Lewis describes as a "quasi-nomadic lifestyle". He is the current head coach for the University of Houston, where he previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. [188] In his 2000 study of apocalyptic movements, John R. Hall posits that they were motivated to commit suicide because they saw it as a way to demonstrate that they had conquered the fear of death and truly believed Applewhite. "Heaven's Gate survivor reflects on the cult's mass suicide 25 years ago", Texas Birth Index, online at ancestry.com, "Family tree of Marshall Herff Applewhite", "Heaven's Gate cult members record farewell messages: 20/20 'The Cult Next Door' Preview", Zeller, "Extraterrestrial Biblical Hermeneutics" 2010, Lalich, "Using the Bounded Choice Model" 2004, "The Devil at Heaven's Gate: Rethinking the Study of Religion in the Age of Cyber-Space", "Cult's Founder Turned from Music to UFOs", "Eyes on Glory: Pied Pipers of Heaven's Gate", "Mysterious Couple may be the Founders of Suicide Cult", "From Religious Childhood To Reins of a U.F.O. Too 50 this year would have had us back in the ACCCG. Walk-ins were said to be higher beings who took control of adult bodies to teach humanity. Born 17 May 1931 - Spur, Dickens Co., TX. Electro (Classic / Detroit / Modern) $1.29. The project, directed by Clay Tweel, relies on the testimony of former cult members -- some of whom still believe in the concepts Heavens Gate espoused -- as well as family members and friends of those who died, sociologists, researchers who specialize in alternative religious movements and more. [13] Applewhite lost his position there after pursuing a sexual relationship with a male student;[14] his religious education was likely not supportive of same-sex relationships and he was subsequently frustrated by his sexual desires. Born Julie Marisa Villarreal in 1978, FabWags . [97] Applewhite instructed his disciples to be like children or pets in their submissiontheir sole responsibility was to obey their leaders. How tall is Major Applewhite : 6 1 . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He came to a conclusion about his body, that it was abhorrent., Do held a meeting and he said that he had a nocturnal emission, and he was investigating having himself castrated, Sawyer says in the docuseries. At this point, members of Heavens Gate were living in a large house in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The couple have two children, Lila and Nash, together. Ti and Do said that the Next Level was adopting us into their family, explains Sawyer, a longtime cult member known as SWYODY(pronounced soy-oh-dee). [18] Harsin was named head coach at Arkansas State University on December 12, 2012, and Applewhite assumed play calling duties at Texas and coached quarterbacks. [32], Applewhite soon began to live with Nettles. Rumor had it that a giant spaceship was hiding behind the comet, but the members of Heavens Gate said that was irrelevant. One last thing wed like to say is, 39 to beam up, cult member Denise Thurman says in a farewell video. However, Applewhite became very depressed. June 30, 2017. foxsports. [112] They further relaxed their control in 1983, permitting their followers to visit relatives on Mother's Day. Eventually, there were, depending on which source you look to, between seven and nine men within the group that had been castrated, author Zeller says in the docuseries. [54] Furthermore, they were at first required to adopt biblical names. A record-setting quarterback at UT and former graduate assistant coach for Mack Brown, Major Applewhite is an 11-year coaching veteran who joined the Texas staff in January 2008 as assistant head coach and running backs coach before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator in January 2011. But most of the men were not interested in having the surgery done., This message on the Heaven's Gate website announces that members of the cult will soon be leaving for another dimension, as triggered by the appearance of the Hale-Bopp comet. He previously held the record for career yards (8,353) and consecutive passes without an interception (156). [67][68] Most of their disciples were young and interested in occultism or otherwise lived outside of mainstream society. [12], In 1954, Applewhite was drafted by the United States Army and served in Austria and New Mexico as a member of the Army Signal Corps. The cult attempted its own castrations, but the first try resulted in a hospital visit for Steven McCarter, known as SRRODY. Hitching a ride on comet Hale-Bopp, they would soar through space to a better place, known as the Next Level.. Our 22 years of classroom here on planet Earth is finally coming to conclusion -- graduation from the Human Evolutionary Level. [159] The organization was then renamed Heaven's Gate. That much becomes quickly apparent in his first official day as the University of Houston's new head coach . [109], In 1980, Applewhite and Nettles had about 80followers,[110] many of whom held jobs, often working with computers or as car mechanics. [193] Richard Hecht of the University of California, Santa Barbara, echoes this sentiment, arguing that members of the group killed themselves because they believed the narrative that he had constructed, rather than because he psychologically controlled them. [180] An anonymous tip led the sheriff's department to search the mansion;[181] they found 39 bodies there on March26. Late Thursday, the authorities determined that the body of Applewhite, 65, was among those recovered from the house. To make sense of this, Applewhite altered the cults philosophy. Applewhite, as sole leader of the cult, asked members to marry him in a group ceremony. Jones breaks three tackles, including one at the goal line, in completing a 17-yard sco. I am regretful for my mistake and humbled by this experience. [85] He drew heavily from the Book of Revelation, although he avoided traditional theological terminology and took a somewhat negative tone towards Christianity. bit.ly/3qER5aV. At the start of 2014, following the hiring of new Texas head coach Charlie Strong, Applewhite accepted a one-year severance package and resigned as offensive coordinator with Texas.[19]. [178] A bag that contained a few dollars and a form of identification was placed beside most bodies. Marshall Herff Applewhite was born in Spur, Texas, to Marshall Herff Applewhite Sr. and Louise Applewhite; he had three siblings. Since we are moving into a world that is genderless, we are doing everything that we can do to not identify with gender, Applewhite said in a training video. Marshall had recorded a video shortly before his passing, in which he rambled about UFO's and his beliefs, saying that these suicides were the "final exit" of his group . Fletcher was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft but missed his rookie season due to a hip injury and was waived prior to the 2022 season. They published advertisements for meetings, where they recruited disciples, whom they called "crew". Applewhite was enlisted in the Army in 1954 and served in the Army Signal Corps in New Mexico and Austria. All cult members were wearing black uniforms and black Nike sneakers with a white swoosh, and most were covered with purple shrouds. Applewhite Interiors. [186] His final message was widely broadcast; Hugh Urban of Ohio State University describes his appearance in the video as "wild-eyed [and] rather alarming". [125][126] According to Applewhite's doctrine, Jesus was a gateway to heaven, but had found humanity unready to ascend when he first came to the Earth. Marshall Applewhite was a former music professor who led the Heaven's Gate cult, a religious group with a special twist. Applewhite would owe $4.5 million (plus coaches buyouts) if he leaves after the second year, $3 million after the third season and $1.5 million after the fourth year. [165][166] He also cited a verse in the New Testament that said there would not be marriage in heaven. 0:00. Before he got into religion and spirituality, it was music.. [177] Most members took barbiturates and alcohol and then placed bags over their heads. Also Applewhite has never coached a team made up of. 4. Examples included MLLODY, SRRODY, TLLODY, RTHODY, CHKODY and ALXODY. [96] The two leaders limited the group's contacts with those outside the movement, even some who may have been interested in joining, ostensibly to prevent infiltration from hostile parties. In March 1997, that comet made its closest approach to Earth. [136][156], In the early 1990s, Applewhite posted some of his teachings on the Internet, but he was stung by the resulting criticism. 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