In 1997 in San Diego's Rancho Santa Fe Community, 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult (including their leader, Marshall Applewhite) were found dead, lying neatly in their own bunk beds, with their faces and torsos covered by a square, purple cloth. Each member carried a five dollar bill and three quarters in their pockets. All 39 were dressed in identical black shirts and sweat pants, brand new black-and-white Nike athletic shoes, and armband patches reading "Heaven's Gate Away Team."
Heaven's Gate members believed that the planet Earth was about to be recycled (wiped clean, renewed, refurbished and rejuvenated), and that the only chance to survive was to leave it immediately. While the group was formally against suicide, they defined "suicide" in their own context to mean "to turn against the Next Level when it is being offered" and believed that their "human" bodies were only vessels meant to help them on their journey.
Unfortunately, this case does not stand alone as an example of people following wacky religious leaders who teach foolishness to their followers and lead them into oppression, sin, and despair. So how are we supposed to discern between what is true and what is not. How can we spot a phony? Wednesday night we will look at an early impostor who was so notorious that his name came to define a guy who sells religious office, titles, or benefits. Better yet, we will use his example to point out 7 Marks of a Bogus Brother, so you don't get taken by a malicious minister, a fake friar, a sinister saint, or a crooked clergyman.
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