A cult is defined as a small group of people who do not adhere to the widely accepted belief system, instead they are often considered to have extreme beliefs or dangerous (cult). Cult leaders engage in many different methods and actions to gain their followers. Some cults last a long time, others end shortly after their creation. Cults nevertheless carry a stigma that sows terror and confusion among many outsiders. The audience wonders why people could be so absorbed in someone else that they would resort to suicide. Not all cults are the evils the public makes them out to be; however, they are not necessarily impeccable institutions. When we think of a cult, we imagine death, brainwashing and simple human robots following the reincarnation of the devil. Not all cults end in mass suicides, violence, or terror; many religions began as sects and have flourished ever since. However, some cults end with the expected manifestation of death, confusion and regret. Heaven's Gate, directed by Marshall Applegate, is an example. Marshall Applegate invoked various methods of persuasion to gain followers, who would eventually commit suicide in an attempt to achieve their idea of ​​heaven. Marshall Applegate started out and lived a normal life that no one would have found strange or unusual. Marshall Applewhite was born on May 17, 1931 in Spur, Texas. He graduated from Austin College and married soon after. Marshall was known for his musical and dramatic talents. He sang opera and often impressed people with his baritone voice. He was unsuccessful in becoming an actor in New York, instead becoming an assistant professor at the University of Alabama. Eventually, he would return to Texas as head of the music department and...... middle of paper ......r, was able to convince 38 adults to commit suicide through the simple use of persuasion. We can learn from the mistakes made by cult members in the past. Be wary of the persuasion techniques that others use and practice, do not succumb to their allure. You might just save your life or someone else's. Potential leaders of a cult can be anywhere, they only have as much power as their followers allow them. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, 2011. The Web. April 17, 2014. “Marshall Herff Applewhite. » The Biography. A&E Television Networks, LLC, nd Web. April 16, 2014. Monmaney, Terence. “Free will or thought control? » Los Angeles Times April 4, 1997: A1. Web. Stewart, Dennis D. and Cheryl B. Stewart. “Heaven's Gate, Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Nettles. » Secret History of Laura Knight-Jadczyk, nd Web. 2014.