These ideas were expressed with language drawn from Christian eschatology, the New Age movement and American popular culture. Marshall Applewhite Parents. Electro (Classic / Detroit / Modern) $1.29. He previously held the record for career yards (8,353) and consecutive passes without an interception (156). Major Applewhite was born on July 26, 1978 in Baton Rouge, LA. So when Herff Applewhite came to the University of Alabama, he didnt look at all like a professor. In late 1996, rumors of images that showed a mysterious object following the comet spread on the internet. Through counsel I have worked with my wife and the incident is behind us. [141] Applewhite also used New Age concepts,[125] but he differed from that movement by predicting that apocalyptic, rather than utopian, changes would soon occur on Earth. The concept was heightened after Applewhite took control of the cult -- so much so that he said the men of Heavens Gate should consider castration. New articles Search articles. The cult attempted its own castrations, but the first try resulted in a hospital visit for Steven McCarter, known as SRRODY. According to the docuseries, he was recruited by Bonnie Lu Nettles, a nurse he encountered in a Texas hospital in the early 1970s. Initially, Applewhite and Nettles preached that followers would undergo a biological transformation and become perfect alien beings. Although they cohabited, their relationship was not a sexual one,[13] fulfilling his longtime wish to have a deep and loving, yet platonic, relationship. [78] He, Nettles, and their followers lived what religious scholar James Lewis describes as a "quasi-nomadic lifestyle". It was during the last six minutes when Applewhite fumbled on their last possession losing the game for the Longhorns. Early Life. Learn how your comment data is processed. It was that journey that apparently led to what happened inside a million-dollar house in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., where the bodies of 39 cult members, who had committed suicide, were found on Wednesday. They visited her in May 1974, and she became their first convert. Simms struggled early and Applewhite got the majority of the snaps in what turned out to be a rout, thus regaining the starting job. She convinced him that he was her soulmate. [72] He contended that this would be a "biological change into a different species, casting his teachings as scientific truth in line with secular naturalism. [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. Applewhite and several other members of the cult were castrated. [16] Briles had left Houston for Baylor University. Major Lee Applewhite is a former player and current offensive coordinator for the South Alabama Jaguars in American football. 5. [28][c] The two quickly became close friends;[29] he later recalled that he felt like he had known her for a long time and concluded that they had met in a past life. [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. Heaven's Gate received an influx of funds in the late 1970s, which it used to pay housing and other expenses. New names were part of the cults indoctrination, which aimed to separate followers from their previous lives. Born 17 May 1931 - Spur, Dickens Co., TX. [175] Applewhite recorded a video shortly before his death, in which he termed the suicides the "final exit" of the group and remarked, "We do in all honesty hate this world". [116] Zeller states that the group's previous focus on individual choice was replaced with an emphasis on Applewhite's role as a mediator. How could this happen? 0:00. This wasnt supposed to happen. The Houston football program has a new head coach, as the school announced that offensive coordinator Major Applewhite has been promoted effective . 776. [199] Gay rights activist Troy Perry argued that Applewhite's repression, and society's rejection, of same-sex relationships ultimately led to his suicide. They claimed that those who agreed to take part in the experiment would be brought to a higher evolutionary level. [179] The deaths occurred over three days; Applewhite was one of the last four to die. Now, a new documentary series on HBO Max takes another look at the origins, development and shocking culmination of Heavens Gate. [112] He claimed that Nettles still communicated with him, but he suffered from a crisis of faith. [27][44] One of their friends from Houston corresponded with them and accepted their teachings. He was birthing students into the next level., Marshall Applewhite, the leader of the Heaven's Gate cult, was a former music instructor at the University of Alabama. (AL.com file photo). [44][160] They purchased 40 acres (16 hectares) and built a compoundwhich they referred to as the "Earth ship"using tires and lumber;[161] Applewhite hoped to establish a monastery. Jones breaks three tackles, including one at the goal line, in completing a 17-yard sco. Applewhite was a follower before he was a leader. /. View Marshall Applewhite from PSY ABNORMAL P at Cumberland Valley Hs. Benjamin Zeller, a religious scholar and the author of Heavens Gate: Americas UFO Religion, agrees. [30] Nettles told Applewhite their meeting had been foretold to her by extraterrestrials, persuading him that he had a divine assignment. [52], After Applewhite's release, Nettles and he resolved to contact extraterrestrials and began seeking like-minded followers. [39] They concluded that they had been chosen to fulfill biblical prophecies, and that they had been given higher-level minds than other people. Referring to their house as a "craft", they regimented the lives of their disciples down to the minute. The blond paint balanced the walnut . Nationality: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. He was co-offensive coordinator with wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt. [3] He had three siblings. Bruce talks about Applewhite's time at UA in "Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults. Viewers in Alabama may have a special interest in the series, courtesy of a link to our state. Following a 41-17 blowout win over SEC rival Tennessee on October 20, Applewhite was named "Offensive Coordinator of the Week. During the 2007 season, Applewhite was mentioned as a possible replacement for Art Briles as head coach at the University of Houston. It is 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. As reported in December, the . In 1975 they held gatherings in California and Oregon that attracted their initial followers. The story of the Heavens Gate cult is bizarre, fascinating and ultimately, extremely sad. It will be the first head coaching job for the 38-year-old Applewhite. [44][52] At the time, Applewhite maintained that he had been "divinely authorized" to keep the car. [112] They further relaxed their control in 1983, permitting their followers to visit relatives on Mother's Day. [111][112] His attempt to explain her death in the terms of the group's doctrine was successful, preventing the departure of all but one member. He cited biblical and science fiction texts and claimed to be a prophet. [160] Davis speculates that this rejection may have encouraged him to attempt to leave Earth. is major applewhite related to marshall applewhite. [64], Benjamin E.Zeller, an academic who studies new religions, notes that Applewhite and Nettles' teachings focused on salvation through individual growth and sees this as similar to currents in the era's New Age movement. The university froze Applewhite's salary from Feb. 5, 2009 -- almost immediately upon learning of the behavior and discussing it with Applewhite -- until Jan. 1, 2010. Believing that their souls would ascend to the spaceship and be given new bodies, the group members committed mass suicide in a rented mansion. [105] He argued that many prominent moral teachers and advocates of political correctness were actually Luciferians. [19] He also became a locally popular singer, serving as the choral director of an Episcopal church and performing with the Houston Grand Opera. In 1985, Nettles died of liver cancer, forcing Applewhite to take charge of the theological direction of the movement (only later renamed "Heaven's Gate . Applewhite and Nettles then split their followers into small groups, which they referred to as "Star Clusters". [106], Applewhite and Nettles sometimes made sudden, drastic changes to the group. [25] Applewhite's father died around that time; the loss took a significant emotional toll on him, causing severe depression. He was very casual, very laid-back. 7. [43] Most were well versed in New Age teachings, allowing Applewhite and Nettles to convert them easily. [129], Applewhite taught that he was a walk-in, a concept that had gained popularity in the New Age movement during the late 1970s. However, Applewhite became very depressed. Applewhite, the cults guru, was a former music teacher at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. They gained only one convert. 1. Before he got into religion and spirituality, it was music.. News reports of the time attempted to unravel the thinking of the cult, and explain the philosophies espoused by its leader. This tape presents Do (Marshall Applewhite) in his final effort to relate to humans. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). [20] After going 03 in bowl games and losing 7014 against Army, he was fired on December 30, 2018. The four-part series, Heavens Gate: The Cult of Cults, made its streaming debut on Dec. 3. 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. Together with his three siblings, Applewhite grew up in a strong Christian background. [109], In 1980, Applewhite and Nettles had about 80followers,[110] many of whom held jobs, often working with computers or as car mechanics. He led Texas back to within two points, but eventually Texas would come up short losing 3937 after an onside kick attempt failed.[5]. [153] In the early 1990s, their membership dwindled, numbering as few as 26;[154] these defections gave Applewhite a sense of urgency. He capped the season by leading the Longhorns to a 3811 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Cotton Bowl Classic. In 1975, the Texas-born Applewhite, who was the son of a Presbyterian minister, had cofounded a religious UFO society along with his life partner and fellow extraterrestrial enthusiast, Bettie . But in her absence, Applewhites ideas about religion and spirituality came to the fore, and the cult became more biblical in its outlook. Applewhite, however, officially announced on December 4, 2006, that he would not leave Rice for Iowa State. The owner loved the hand scraped hardwood floors paired with the wrought iron stair railings. Other articles where Marshall H. Applewhite is discussed: Heaven's Gate: Founders Marshall H. Applewhite (1932-1997) and Bonnie Nettles (1927-1985) met in 1972 and soon became convinced that they were the two "endtime" witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11. [58], Applewhite believed in the ancient astronaut hypothesis, which claimed that extraterrestrials had visited humanity in the past and placed humans on Earth and would return to collect a select few. Marshall Applewhite himself, with no signs of trauma, died from suicide at the age of 65. Thomas. [75] By the mid-1970s, Applewhite attempted to avoid the use of the term "religion", seeing it as inferior to science. [134], In the wake of Nettles' death, Applewhite became increasingly paranoid, fearing a conspiracy against his group. Marshall Applewhite children: Meet son Mark Applewhite, Marshall Applewhite Family: Wife, Children/Kids, Parents, Siblings, Marshall Applewhite Parents: Marshall Herff Applewhite Sr., Louise Applewhite, Mark Applewhite Wikipedia, Age, Wife, Children, Parents, Siblings, Net worth, Now, Today. RELATED: College Football . His students supported him during this time, greatly encouraging him. The cult was featured in several books, television, media, and in the film, "Mysterious Two" in 1982, with actor John Forsythe portraying Marshall Applewhite. What cults need to do is to turn you into a conformist, to get you to hopefully become a true believer, sociologist Lalich says in the docuseries. [45] While traveling, they had little money and occasionally resorted to selling their blood or working odd jobs for much-needed funds. [169] Around the same time, they learned of the approach of Comet HaleBopp. "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. Eschatology, the cults guru, was a leader, and their followers into small groups which... Extraterrestrials, persuading him that he would not leave Rice for Iowa State ] After going 03 in games... 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