This was most notable in the 3rd and 4th century with the different parts of the world recognizing different books as gospel. ... They noted in lurid, breathless detail the bizarre practices of the faithful--their purple face-dressings, their surgical castrations their neo-Maoist uniforms and haircuts--while making only passing reference to the sect's "gnostic" or "neo-gnostic" doctrine. and, of course, eager to shoehorn Heaven's Gate into the received template of crazed-cult stories, reporters made much of leader Marshall Apple-white's "messianic" charisma, his reported brea...

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