Tonight ABC's 20/20: The Cult Next Door: Heaven's Gate

[Tennesseer]

New '20/20' special decodes mysteries of Heaven's Gate cult, largest mass suicide on American soil

It remains the largest mass suicide ever on American soil: In 1997, 39 people in Rancho Santa Fe, California, took their own lives because they believed a UFO would carry them to a higher level of existence for all eternity.

Among the dead were nurses, veterans and even a valedictorian who left their daily lives, careers, families, friends and even young children behind for the Heaven's Gate cult.

In a new two-hour special edition of "20/20," ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and team decode the mysteries of the cult and examine the secrets of its compelling leader, Marshall Applewhite. Watch the trailer in the media player above.

In 1997, Sawyer had the exclusive interview with Rio DiAngelo, a member who left the group before the tragedy to serve as a messenger to the world. Twenty-three years later, Sawyer interviewed him again.

The special features exclusive never-before-seen tapes and intimate audio recordings of Applewhite, his followers, interviews with former members emerging from the shadows, loved ones of deceased followers and authorities who worked on the grisly case. Two survivors also share their experiences in the cult for the very first time.

New '20/20' special decodes mysteries of Heaven's Gate cult, largest mass suicide on American soil

[happyhoix]

Mar 11, 2022 18:22:30 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

New '20/20' special decodes mysteries of Heaven's Gate cult, largest mass suicide on American soil

It remains the largest mass suicide ever on American soil: In 1997, 39 people in Rancho Santa Fe, California, took their own lives because they believed a UFO would carry them to a higher level of existence for all eternity.

Among the dead were nurses, veterans and even a valedictorian who left their daily lives, careers, families, friends and even young children behind for the Heaven's Gate cult.

In a new two-hour special edition of "20/20," ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and team decode the mysteries of the cult and examine the secrets of its compelling leader, Marshall Applewhite. Watch the trailer in the media player above.

In 1997, Sawyer had the exclusive interview with Rio DiAngelo, a member who left the group before the tragedy to serve as a messenger to the world. Twenty-three years later, Sawyer interviewed him again.

The special features exclusive never-before-seen tapes and intimate audio recordings of Applewhite, his followers, interviews with former members emerging from the shadows, loved ones of deceased followers and authorities who worked on the grisly case. Two survivors also share their experiences in the cult for the very first time.

New '20/20' special decodes mysteries of Heaven's Gate cult, largest mass suicide on American soil

Hmm, it’s on Hulu, I’ll have to watch that. 

I listened to a podcast about that group. Cults are so scary, so hard to imagine how you could get pulled into one, but I guess it’s like putting a frog in a pot of cold water and then turning up the heat - by the time the frog realizing it’s in hot water, it can’t jump out. 

How do you admit you spent twenty years of your life adhering to what you now know is a crazy person’s imaginary religion? It makes it impossible to leave. 

[Tennesseer]

Mar 12, 2022 11:55:48 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Mar 11, 2022 18:22:30 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

New '20/20' special decodes mysteries of Heaven's Gate cult, largest mass suicide on American soil

It remains the largest mass suicide ever on American soil: In 1997, 39 people in Rancho Santa Fe, California, took their own lives because they believed a UFO would carry them to a higher level of existence for all eternity.

Among the dead were nurses, veterans and even a valedictorian who left their daily lives, careers, families, friends and even young children behind for the Heaven's Gate cult.

In a new two-hour special edition of "20/20," ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and team decode the mysteries of the cult and examine the secrets of its compelling leader, Marshall Applewhite. Watch the trailer in the media player above.

In 1997, Sawyer had the exclusive interview with Rio DiAngelo, a member who left the group before the tragedy to serve as a messenger to the world. Twenty-three years later, Sawyer interviewed him again.

The special features exclusive never-before-seen tapes and intimate audio recordings of Applewhite, his followers, interviews with former members emerging from the shadows, loved ones of deceased followers and authorities who worked on the grisly case. Two survivors also share their experiences in the cult for the very first time.

New '20/20' special decodes mysteries of Heaven's Gate cult, largest mass suicide on American soil

Hmm, it’s on Hulu, I’ll have to watch that. 

I listened to a podcast about that group. Cults are so scary, so hard to imagine how you could get pulled into one, but I guess it’s like putting a frog in a pot of cold water and then turning up the heat - by the time the frog realizing it’s in hot water, it can’t jump out. 

How do you admit you spent twenty years of your life adhering to what you now know is a crazy person’s imaginary religion? It makes it impossible to leave. 

Always question authority.

[NoNamePerson]

I set DVR. I've seen a few documentaries of this over the years but long ago so looking forward to watching this. 

[dondub]

Watched it last night. Creepy.

[Tennesseer]

Yea.  Cults usually are.  Obey and toe the line without question.

[djAdvocate]

Mar 12, 2022 12:03:33 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Mar 12, 2022 11:55:48 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Hmm, it’s on Hulu, I’ll have to watch that. 

I listened to a podcast about that group. Cults are so scary, so hard to imagine how you could get pulled into one, but I guess it’s like putting a frog in a pot of cold water and then turning up the heat - by the time the frog realizing it’s in hot water, it can’t jump out. 

How do you admit you spent twenty years of your life adhering to what you now know is a crazy person’s imaginary religion? It makes it impossible to leave. 

Always question authority.

a free society's first obligation is to challenge systems of authority for legitimacy.  most systems of control and authority will not withstand the test, and should be dismantled.

Trump, for example.

[dondub]

Mar 12, 2022 22:39:35 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Mar 12, 2022 12:03:33 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Always question authority.

a free society's first obligation is to challenge systems of authority for legitimacy.  most systems of control and authority will not withstand the test, and should be dismantled.

Trump, for example.

My issues with authority began in Catholic school with the nuns and their weirdness. Then 4 years of the Jesuits. Some of them were violent sadists. That was followed by dodging the warmongers for 4 years. The same righties pissed off over mask mandates thought anti-Vietnam war types were traitors when they avoid forced conscription and death.

[djAdvocate]

legitimate social authority has to prove it's worth.