2021/02/22 by George D. Chryssides · 1 citation
Psychology · Arts and Humanities · #Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs #Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
paper · doi:10.1163/9789004435537_019
openalex publication_date 2021/02/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Charismatic leadership depends on extraneous factors as well as innate qualities. Heaven’s Gate leader Marshall Herff Applewhite successfully achieved “charismatisation,” by controlling behaviour, bestowing spiritual names, “loading the language,” and offering “bounded choice.” Cultural factors such as popular interest in UFOs, together with lack of biblical literacy help to explain members’ acceptance of Applewhite’s teachings. Applewhite’s ability to deal with cognitive dissonance on the death his co-leader, enabled a transition from belief in bodily resurrection to abandonment of one’s body in suicide. In reality, Heaven’s Gate had limited appeal, attracting significantly fewer followers than other UFO-religions.