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Quiz about Heavens Gate Apocalyptic Suicides

Heaven's Gate: Apocalyptic Suicides Quiz

At the close of the 1990s, many waited with anxiety for the new millennium's arival. For some the beginning of the millennium signified the apocalypse, and they felt compelled to commit suicide. What do you know about the group called Heaven's Gate?

A multiple-choice quiz by Federation. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Federation

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
187,392

Updated
Aug 11 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1252

Last 3 plays: Guest 107 (5/10), Guest 75 (6/10), Guest 120 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Heaven's Gate was a group of people who believed among other things that with the coming of the millennium came the total annihilation of Earth. Where was the group Heaven's Gate based? Hint

Mesa, Arizona, USA

San Diego, California, USA

Santa Lorenzo, Mexico

Washburn, Canada

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Question 2 of 10

2. The founder of Heaven's Gate was a former music professor at a Texas College. His name was: Hint

James Joseph Davidson

Matthew David Koranddano

Marshall Herff Applewhite

Nicholas Peter Escariot

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Question 3 of 10

3. Members of Heaven's Gate believed that the world would end with the coming of the new millennium. In what year did the mass suicide of Heaven's Gate occur? Hint

1994

2000

1997

1999

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Question 4 of 10

4. The members of Heaven's Gate believed that by killing themselves they would be able to go to heaven. Once dead, how would they get to heaven? Hint

They would climb the Eternal Stairs which existed in computers

They would wade through a river of suffering in order to finally reach paradise

A giant train would stop at the local depot and would carry them away

A spacecraft which followed a comet would carry them there

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Question 5 of 10

5. How many people died in the suicide? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. Before their suicide, many of the cult members underwent a painful process. What was it? Hint

Castration

Cutting off the left ring finger

Tattooing

Piercing the tongue

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Question 7 of 10

7. The details of the suicide were very precise, right down to the kind of shoes worn by the cult members. What kind of shoes were they? Hint

Military style boots

Shoes made of bandages

Ballet shoes

Nike tennis shoes

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Question 8 of 10

8. When the bodies were found, it was initially believed that all of the dead were men. What was it about the bodies that made it seem like all of the cult members were men? Hint

The presence of facial hair on the bodies

Their hair was cut very short

They all wore caps

All of the bodies were very muscular

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Question 9 of 10

9. The bodies were found with one of two things over their heads. What were they and who wore them? Hint

Plastic bags, long canvas hoods

PVC bags and brown leather squares over their faces

The women had bras, the men had briefs

Plastic bags over their heads, purple triangles covering their faces

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Question 10 of 10

10. Over how many days is it believed that the suicide took place? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Heaven's Gate was a group of people who believed among other things that with the coming of the millennium came the total annihilation of Earth. Where was the group Heaven's Gate based?

Answer: San Diego, California, USA

Specifically, the group Heaven's Gate was located in Rancho Santa Fe, a very affluent neighborhood in San Diego.

2. The founder of Heaven's Gate was a former music professor at a Texas College. His name was:

Answer: Marshall Herff Applewhite

Marshall Herff Applewhite, the leader of the group was 66 when he died. As one of the leaders of the group, it is believed that he was one of the last ones to commit suicide.

3. Members of Heaven's Gate believed that the world would end with the coming of the new millennium. In what year did the mass suicide of Heaven's Gate occur?

Answer: 1997

The mass suicide took place on March 26, 1997, which was about the same time that the comet Hale-Bopp was passing by Earth, and could be easily seen by the human eye.

4. The members of Heaven's Gate believed that by killing themselves they would be able to go to heaven. Once dead, how would they get to heaven?

Answer: A spacecraft which followed a comet would carry them there

Heaven's Gate members believed that in the tail of the comet Hale-Bopp, which was passing by Earth at that time, was a spaceship which would allow them to make it to heaven. As a result of this, they would be able to escape the apocalypse, which was to occur once the millennium arrived.

5. How many people died in the suicide?

Answer: 39

Of the 39, there were 21 women and 18 men. Their ages ranged from the 20s to 72 years old, though most were in their 40s.

6. Before their suicide, many of the cult members underwent a painful process. What was it?

Answer: Castration

Approximately 6 of the 18 male members of the cult underwent castration, including the founder, Marshall Herff Applewhite. Within the cult, sensuality was considered a major sin.

7. The details of the suicide were very precise, right down to the kind of shoes worn by the cult members. What kind of shoes were they?

Answer: Nike tennis shoes

The significance of the Nike tennis shoes was that the Nike logo looks very similar to a comet. This of course tied in with the group's belief that a spaceship trailing the Hale-Bopp comet would take them to heaven.

8. When the bodies were found, it was initially believed that all of the dead were men. What was it about the bodies that made it seem like all of the cult members were men?

Answer: Their hair was cut very short

It is believed that the cult members' hair was cut short to imitate the hair style of monks, which many members likened themselves unto.

9. The bodies were found with one of two things over their heads. What were they and who wore them?

Answer: Plastic bags over their heads, purple triangles covering their faces

The two members with plastic bags over their faces were thought to be the last two to die. All of the members were dressed in Nike shoes and black athletic wear.

10. Over how many days is it believed that the suicide took place?

Answer: 3

It is believed that the suicide took place over the course of three days, and it three "waves". The first and second waves of suicides consisted of 15 people each, with the third wave composed of the remaining nine individuals. It is believed that the cause of death was a mixture of poisonous substances mixed in with pudding or applesauce, and/or suffocation. I hope you liked this quiz!

Source: Author Federation

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