Heavens Gate

Heavens gate I feel was one of the weirdest 'cults' there was in all of time. Heavens Gate follower’s beliefs combined elements of Christian scripture, theosophy and other metaphysical teachings along with some contempary folk wisdom about UFOs. They announced that they would be withdrawing into the "wilderness" in preparation for "the demonstration" (the resurrection and ascension to heaven that would follow their assassination). They then went on to announce that the Heavens had cancelled the prophesied "demonstration" because the followers were not ready. Those who wanted to be aboard the heavenly space ship would need to devote more time to disciplined training. As learning to serve was the path to ridding oneself of the ways of this world and of one's earthly body, which came to be known as a "container."
The Heavenly Kingdom that Bo and Peep came to tell of was not simply spiritual, but literal. The method of transportation to this Kingdom was a spacecraft. The price one paid for a "boarding pass" to this higher level was a disciplined life which would bring about a bodily metamorphosis they likened to the transformation from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. Called “Human Individual Metamorphosis” (HIM), this process would literally transform human physiology. They developed a detailed folk wisdom that confirmed to them that the process was occurring. For example, headaches were interpreted as evidence of "consciousness explosion," and menstrual pains as a sign that the process of androgyny was at work.

The list of behavioural rules appear to have changed during the life of the group, but from the onset celibacy, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, limited and controlled contact with the outside world, and reduction of "human-level" interpersonal attachments within the group were key behavioural requirements. The changing of one's name, cutting of one's hair, and disposal of one's human possessions were acts symbolic of the abandonment of worldly connections. Initially the two leaders taught that they would be assonated and after three and a half days there bodies would ascend up to heaven on a cloud and that the instrument of which their bodies would ascend on would be a flying saucer.
On March 27th 1997, it was put to the Medias attention that 39 'cult' members’ bodies were found and had committed suicide. There were a lot of stories around Heavens gate, as people believed that the members were 'brainwashed'. However I feel as with all New Religious Movements members wouldn't join if they truly didn't believe and agree with its teachings or its endings. Below is a couple of links relating to heavens gate.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYZD7Y-PDEk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1V4vDMHVQc&feature=related