Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The purpose behind every loaf." — This statement, related to Dave's Killer Bread, highlights a brand's focus on its underlying mission and social impact.
"But the core leader has to be clear of mind and have another pursuit involved. It's not about all of these beliefs. All the fucking classes is about making that fucking cash, buddy." — This quote questions the genuine belief versus financial motivation of cult leaders.
"But on some level, you do choose. I don't have trouble understanding the true believers. I understand that people can see this and you just have to have no base personality. To pull this into you have to be kind of like a fucking, you have to be a blank slate." — This quote discusses the nature of "true believers" and the receptiveness of certain individuals to cult ideologies.
This installment of "Last Podcast On The Left" initiates a deep dive into the Heaven's Gate cult, tracing its origins from the early 1970s. The episode focuses on the foundational figures, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, detailing their unconventional backgrounds and the evolution of their spiritual and extraterrestrial beliefs. It highlights how their initial ventures in establishing a following met with limited success, but gradually gained traction by tapping into a pool of individuals disillusioned with mainstream society and the perceived failures of the 1960s peace and love movement. The hosts explore the various names and pseudonyms Applewhite and Nettles adopted, such as "The Two," "Guinea Pig," "Bow and Peep," and ultimately "T and Do," illustrating their search for identity and authority within their burgeoning group. A significant portion of the discussion centers on their interpretations of biblical prophecies, particularly the Book of Revelation, which they adapted to incorporate UFOs and extraterrestrial salvation, a departure from traditional apocalyptic narratives. The episode also touches upon the cult's early recruitment methods, their nomadic lifestyle, and the strict rules they began to impose on members, including social isolation and the prohibition of sexual activity, setting the stage for the more extreme measures that would define the group later.
The narrative emphasizes that while Applewhite was the more public face, Nettles was instrumental in shaping the cult's esoteric beliefs, drawing heavily from Theosophy and occult traditions. The hosts discuss the psychological underpinnings of cult membership, suggesting that many early followers were seeking a sense of belonging, purpose, and escape from the perceived harshness of the modern world, rather than being purely victims of manipulation. The episode outlines the cult's early attempts to establish a physical presence and a consistent meeting structure, which were hampered by disorganization and a lack of clear direction, leading to significant follower attrition. Despite these challenges, the core belief system, centered on leaving behind their human "vehicles" to ascend to a higher evolutionary level via spacecraft, began to solidify, laying the groundwork for future events. The early days of Heaven's Gate are characterized by a search for meaning and belonging, a tentative recruitment strategy, and a growing adherence to a unique belief system that blended religious prophecy with science fiction.
The latter part of the episode details how Applewhite and Nettles, under the moniker "T and Do," began to draw larger crowds and attract more committed followers, partly due to their charismatic presentation and the allure of a structured, albeit restrictive, new reality. The hosts touch upon the cult's legal troubles, such as car rental fraud, which they interpreted as proof of their perceived immunity from earthly laws due to their elevated status. The episode concludes by noting a pivotal moment in 1976 when, facing dwindling numbers and public scrutiny, Nettles announced that the "doors to the next level were closed," signaling a shift towards a more exclusive and serious phase for the group. This decision marked the transition from a loosely organized movement to a more tightly controlled "boutique" cult, setting the stage for future developments and reinforcing the idea that a select few would embark on their supposed journey to an extraterrestrial utopia.