KallMeKris

And this ultimately plummeted into the realm of delusion with extreme and lethal consequences.

As he possessed such great talent and a lovable personality, yet was never able to conquer his demons until he created a

grandiose purpose for himself.

And arguably, these demons were never defeated in that they showed themselves through how Marshall controlled his followers.

And his severe struggles with his sexuality, inability to conform to what was expected of him, and the loss of his soulmate all played their own part in pushing Marshall into a narrative that placed himself as the sole possessor of truth.

and the only one who knew how to achieve salvation.

So combine Marshall's theology with the era of fascination with sci-fi lore and extraterrestrials that was the 1970s through 1990s, and you have a cult that was just as much a product of the time as it was born of his mind.

And the broader implications of this being that cult leaders are often uniquely positioned to arise when serious personal desperation meets cultural fascination.

And in this case, Heaven's Gate UFO conspiracy blended beautifully with rapture-based Christian doctrine.

And when looking at the 38 members who died alongside of Marshall in the end,

These people didn't fit the normal, crazy cultist stereotypes.

They were just regular people, many with above average intelligence.

But what they had in common was a longing for something deeply spiritual and openness to pervading UFO and alternate belief systems that Marshall's message satisfied.

And Joan Culpepper, the aforementioned ex-member turned critic, said, quote, Many of these people weren't losers with low self-esteem.

Applewhite's message connected to some belief in them.

Heaven's Gate provided a vision of purpose, community, and ultimately a level of transcendence that these people were willing to give their lives for.

The true meaning of exit is to turn against the next level when it is being offered."

as was written on their website.

And if normal people with any sort of intelligence can be exploited by charisma and desire for belonging and purpose, we're forced to recognize that this sort of thing can happen to just about anyone under the right conditions.

But still, the line of brainwashing versus true choice is heavily debated.