He grew up in the early 19th century and as a young teenage boy who claimed to have a series of visitations, revelations from God and visitations from angelic messengers, while he was praying in a grove of trees. ... Such as the Wovoka tribe claims to have a similar vision to god (Marty, page 269), and he also mentions that the allegations at Lynn, Massachusetts were investigates as closely as Smith's angelic experience (Marty, page 325). ... In fifteen months as much as a quarter of the American country had heard his message. ... This constant reference illustrates a sense of respect for...

• Word Count: 3593
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Many consider the growth of the American religions to be a distinctive form of Gnosticism. ... Mary saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ... Harold Bloom, the author who wrote the American Religion, a detailed gnostic view of the so called American religions characterized the American belief, that God knows and loves each of us in a personal way and something deep inside each of us is already in contact with God. ... To the American media, the story of the Heaven's Gate cult was great sport. ... Harold Bloom argues tha...

• Word Count: 1846
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate