Marshall Herff Applewhite Jr. (May 17, 1931 – March 26, 1997), also known as Do, among other names, was an American religious leader who founded what became known as the Heaven's Gate religious group and organized their mass suicide in 1997. It was the largest mass suicide to occur inside the U.S. As a young man, Applewhite attended several universities and served in the United States Army. He initially pursued a career in education until he resigned from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, in 1970, citing emotional turmoil. His father's death a year later brought on severe depression. In 1972, Applewhite developed a close friendship with Bonnie Nettles, a nurse; together, they discussed mysticism at length and concluded that they were called as divine messengers. They operated a bookstore and teaching center for a short while and then began to travel around the U.S. in 1973 to spread their views. They gained only one convert. In 1975, Applewhite was arrested for failing to return a rental car and was jailed for six months. In jail, he further developed his theology.
After Applewhite's release, he and Nettles travelled to California and Oregon, eventually gaining a group of committed followers. They told their followers that they would be visited by extraterrestrials who would provide them with new bodies. Applewhite initially stated that he and his followers would physically ascend to a spaceship, where their bodies would be transformed, but later he came to believe that their bodies were the mere containers of their souls, which would later be placed into new bodies. These ideas were expressed with language drawn from Christian eschatology, the New Age movement and American popular culture.
Heaven's Gate received an influx of funds in the late 1970s, which it used to pay housing and other expenses. In 1985, Nettles died, leaving Applewhite distraught and challenging his views on physical ascension. In the early 1990s, the group took more steps to publicize their theology. In 1996, they learned of the approach of Comet Hale–Bopp and rumors of an accompanying spaceship, concluding that this was the vessel that would take their spirits on board for a journey to another planet. Believing that their souls would ascend to the spaceship and be given new bodies, the group members committed mass suicide in their mansion. A media circus followed the discovery of their bodies. In the aftermath, commentators and academics discussed how Applewhite persuaded people to follow his commands, including suicide. Some commentators attributed his followers' willingness to commit suicide to his skill as a manipulator, while others argued that their willingness was due to their faith in the narrative that he constructed.
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Some of their strengths
Marshall Applewhite has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Practical, Creative, Intuitive, Kind, Imaginative, and Innovative.
Strong and Diligent
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Marshall Applewhite is someone who is a strong, diligent, and trustworthy person who approaches life with honesty and perseverance, but who is also physical, sensual, and artistic. A person who is known for being a good communicator.
Adventurous and Free
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Marshall Applewhite well know them as someone who can be talented, wayward and free, like a big river or the ocean.
Altruistic and Innovative
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Marshall Applewhite as someone who is altruistic, inventive, energetic, and socially-conscious.
Who is inventive, open-minded and inquisitive, optimistic and cooperative, and who loves working together with others.
Wise and Deep
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Marshall Applewhite is someone who tends to have an internal innate wisdom, and who people tend to see as an "old soul".
They are also someone who is patient, assertive, and who is a natural leader that likes to help others in need.
Patient and Compassionate
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Marshall Applewhite tends to be someone who approaches life with grace and compassion, and who has a powerful and commanding personality. Who can be analytical, patient, and deliberate, avoiding risks and seeking out stability instead.
Some of Marshall Applewhite's challenges
While Marshall Applewhite has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Marshall Applewhite can be Stubborn, Idle, Indecisive, Unrealistic, Anxious, Inflexible, and Non-confrontational.
Stubborn and Idle
One of Marshall Applewhite's key challenges is that they are someone who can be seen as stubborn and, at times, lazy.
Marshall Applewhite must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Anxious and Inflexible
Marshall Applewhite is someone who can be high-strung, impatient, and inflexible, who can be "penny wise and pound foolish", have poor listening skills, and who can be intolerant of people who share a different world view.
Materialistic and Aggressive
Finally, Marshall Applewhite also can be materialistic, emotional, aggressive, stubborn, inconsistent, and be prone to big temper outbursts.
