Lalich state that Applewhite fit " the traditional view of a charismatic leader " , and Evan Thomas deem him a " master manipulator " . Lifton compare Applewhite to Shoko Asahara , the founder of Aum Shinrikyo , describing him as " equally controlling , his paranoia and megalomania gentler yet ever present " . Christopher Partridge of Lancaster University state that Applewhite and Nettles was similar to John Reeve and Lodowicke Muggleton , who founded Muggletonianism , a millennialist movement in 17th century England .