2000 Approaches It is not hard to see parallels between Glaber's account of the events preceding the year 1000 and our own times. For example, the appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp in 1996 was taken as a sign of impending apocalypse by groups such as Heaven's Gate, whose leader taught that the comet concealed a spaceship that would carry the group's followers to a higher realm. In March 1997, 39 members of the cult committed suicide in the belief that this …
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showed last 75 words of 637 total
…followers. But it is hard to escape the conclusion that the historical legacy of millennialism has real implications for society. Many experts believe it is likely that as the new millennium nears, other movements like these may emerge and engage in violence. Authorities in potentially sensitive areas, such as Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and a city with deep religious and symbolic significance, have already taken steps to prevent outbreaks of violence and mass suicides.