Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 88
by Netizens, which added to Applewhite‘s and his followers‘ level of frustration and growing
sense of demoralization, as well as contributing to the decision to depart. They wrote, ―The
weeds have taken over the garden and truly disturbed its usefulness beyond repair—it is
time for the civilization to be recycled—‗spaded under.‘‖ The Heaven‘s Gate book (a self-
published historical rendering written primarily by Do but which also included other
documents, such as flyers, newspaper advertisements, various position papers, and
members‘ exit statements) was added to their Web site in April 1996, along with a notice
implying that this might be their last interaction with the human level (Representatives from
the Kingdom of Heaven 1996). By this time they were referring to themselves as the ―Away
Team.‖ They were completing their task and about to leave for home. In February 1997
members posted an Internet message and also left a message at the entry to their Web site
about the Hale-Bopp comet. They indicated that it was a sign of the end, the marker they
had been waiting for.
Personal Closure and Bounded Choice
Apparently at the time of his death Marshall Applewhite was suffering from severe heart
disease and had been at high risk for a heart attack (Clark 1997). Within the grapevine of
former followers, cult-watchers, and academics who studied the group, there were rumors
that Applewhite thought he had liver cancer or prostate cancer. He had told at least some of
his followers that he thought he was dying. Whatever the final decisive factor—and surely,
there were at least several—it is likely that the members of this close-knit group, who
waited so patiently over the years for the spaceship to come, and who submitted to a life of
struggle and deprivation, were ecstatic that the time had come when they were finally going
to be able to leave. Some had been waiting more than twenty years.
Ironically, the biggest draw of Ti and Do‘s belief system was related to its promise of
overcoming death. Members who joined and worked hard enough were supposed to be
saved from death. Even if they did not make it this time, their soul would be put on ice for a
later pickup. Following Ti and Do was believed to be the only way to end the cycle of
reincarnation suicide was not in that picture. Yet, in the end, Applewhite and his followers
decided the time had come and that suicide was acceptable, even though he and they
maintained that they were not dying but were going to the Next Level. In the end, he and
his followers precipitated their departure by imbibing a fatally poisonous drink. From their
video-recorded farewell statements, we can surmise that they expected to wake up aboard
a spacecraft on their way home. As Do said in his exit video, in a spirit of resolve and with a
tinge of anger in his voice:
Our cause is to let you know we are returning to life after a visitation with
death….
Suicide is separation from the Kingdom when the Kingdom has reached out
and offered life to you.
It is suicide not to leave.
It is to take life to leave.
This is not life to us. This is primitive, barbaric. This is history.
We are about to regain life.
Given the degree of dependency the followers had on Applewhite and Nettles, it is not
surprising that they chose to go with him when he was ready to exit. Perhaps the fear of
being left alone was greater than confronting the possibility that perhaps Applewhite was
wrong. One followers exit statement expressed that sentiment clearly:
by Netizens, which added to Applewhite‘s and his followers‘ level of frustration and growing
sense of demoralization, as well as contributing to the decision to depart. They wrote, ―The
weeds have taken over the garden and truly disturbed its usefulness beyond repair—it is
time for the civilization to be recycled—‗spaded under.‘‖ The Heaven‘s Gate book (a self-
published historical rendering written primarily by Do but which also included other
documents, such as flyers, newspaper advertisements, various position papers, and
members‘ exit statements) was added to their Web site in April 1996, along with a notice
implying that this might be their last interaction with the human level (Representatives from
the Kingdom of Heaven 1996). By this time they were referring to themselves as the ―Away
Team.‖ They were completing their task and about to leave for home. In February 1997
members posted an Internet message and also left a message at the entry to their Web site
about the Hale-Bopp comet. They indicated that it was a sign of the end, the marker they
had been waiting for.
Personal Closure and Bounded Choice
Apparently at the time of his death Marshall Applewhite was suffering from severe heart
disease and had been at high risk for a heart attack (Clark 1997). Within the grapevine of
former followers, cult-watchers, and academics who studied the group, there were rumors
that Applewhite thought he had liver cancer or prostate cancer. He had told at least some of
his followers that he thought he was dying. Whatever the final decisive factor—and surely,
there were at least several—it is likely that the members of this close-knit group, who
waited so patiently over the years for the spaceship to come, and who submitted to a life of
struggle and deprivation, were ecstatic that the time had come when they were finally going
to be able to leave. Some had been waiting more than twenty years.
Ironically, the biggest draw of Ti and Do‘s belief system was related to its promise of
overcoming death. Members who joined and worked hard enough were supposed to be
saved from death. Even if they did not make it this time, their soul would be put on ice for a
later pickup. Following Ti and Do was believed to be the only way to end the cycle of
reincarnation suicide was not in that picture. Yet, in the end, Applewhite and his followers
decided the time had come and that suicide was acceptable, even though he and they
maintained that they were not dying but were going to the Next Level. In the end, he and
his followers precipitated their departure by imbibing a fatally poisonous drink. From their
video-recorded farewell statements, we can surmise that they expected to wake up aboard
a spacecraft on their way home. As Do said in his exit video, in a spirit of resolve and with a
tinge of anger in his voice:
Our cause is to let you know we are returning to life after a visitation with
death….
Suicide is separation from the Kingdom when the Kingdom has reached out
and offered life to you.
It is suicide not to leave.
It is to take life to leave.
This is not life to us. This is primitive, barbaric. This is history.
We are about to regain life.
Given the degree of dependency the followers had on Applewhite and Nettles, it is not
surprising that they chose to go with him when he was ready to exit. Perhaps the fear of
being left alone was greater than confronting the possibility that perhaps Applewhite was
wrong. One followers exit statement expressed that sentiment clearly:
