Ep 4. The Mystery of Heaven's Gate

The Mystery of Heaven's Gate is an episode from season 2 of the show How It Really Happened. The episode examines the infamous Heaven's Gate cult, which came to a tragic end in 1997 when 39 members committed mass suicide in their California mansion. The episode explores the origins of the cult, its unusual beliefs and practices, and the events that led up to the tragic end.

The episode begins by introducing the leaders of the cult, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, who started the group in the 1970s. The documentary notes that Applewhite was a former choir director who claimed to be a prophet, while Nettles was a nurse who Applewhite believed was an extraterrestrial being. Together, the two began recruiting followers to their cause, promoting the belief that Earth was about to be "recycled" and that those who joined their group would be saved from destruction.

As the episode progresses, it delves into the cult's unusual practices and beliefs. Members were required to give up their possessions, cut ties with family and friends, and take a vow of celibacy. The group also believed in the idea of "walk-ins," which meant that some members believed their bodies were inhabited by extraterrestrial beings.

The documentary goes on to describe how the cult's beliefs became more extreme over time, and how its members isolated themselves from society. The group became convinced that they needed to transcend their human bodies and reach a higher plane of existence, and they believed that the only way to achieve this was through death.

The episode also explores the events that led up to the tragic mass suicide in 1997. The cult had been preparing for the "recycling" of Earth for years, and they believed that the appearance of the Hale-Bopp comet was a sign that their time had come. On the day of the suicides, members dressed in matching outfits and ingested a lethal mixture of barbiturates and vodka.

Throughout the episode, interviews with former cult members and experts on cult psychology provide insight into the group's motivations and beliefs. The documentary also examines the media frenzy that surrounded the event, as well as the aftermath for the families of the cult members who lost their lives.

In conclusion, The Mystery of Heaven's Gate is a fascinating and tragic exploration of one of the most notorious cults in history. The episode provides a detailed overview of the cult's beliefs and practices, as well as the events that ultimately led to the mass suicide. It offers a sobering reminder of the dangers of groupthink and the power of charismatic leaders to manipulate their followers.