Jonestown
Jim Jones was born in 1931; he was from Crete, Indiana. In the 1970’s Jones was a popular cult leader, and claimed himself to be the leader of the Peoples Temple religious cult. Jones promised a utopia to his followers that were dedicated disciples. “On November 18, 1978, in what became known as the Jonestown Massacre, Jones led more than 900 men, women and children to their deaths in a mass suicide by cyanide-laced punch.”(Editors).When Jim Jones promised a racially integrated utopia, overextended his power and controlled the followers, he caused a mass suicide.
As the leader of the Peoples Temple Jim Jones had many ways of gathering followers for his religious cult. One way was providing promises for a better life. “Come and …show more content…
(Jonestown). He also preached for racial integration and for racial and social equality. (WGBH). He believed in a racially equal world where everyone was parallel, that the world would be a better place and it would be more beneficial to everyone. These promises and beliefs he shared caused many people to slowly pursue a spot in his congregation. While promising equality and a better life, Jones also promised a utopia or a “Promise land” (Jonestown). to his congregation. His promise land was based on his divine principle: “I represent divine principle, total equality, a society where people own all things in common where there is no rich or poor where there are no races, where there are people looking for justice and righteousness there I am.” (Jonestown). Along with his assurances, Jim Jones and his congregation also helped the surrounding community. The Peoples temple partook in the social changes during the developing civil rights movement desegregating: movie theaters, restaurants, the telephone company, hospitals, and the city police department. The temple also ran a …show more content…
As time went on and more people joined the Temple, Jones gradually increased his control over his congregation and expanded the church. The Peoples Temple originally the Wings of Deliverance church was moved to northern California, while Jones performed his sermons over radio. Then he progressed and opened a new branch in San Francisco, California. (Editors). During the time that Jim Jones was branching out his church he was also increasing his discipline and dedication that he required from members. Behind the public eye he progressively pushed himself upon his followers and shaped himself as their father figure and had a Messiah like presence. He never ordered his followers to do anything, but he did have staff strongly suggest to do tasks because it would please “father”. “Within the Temple,Jones demanded absolute loyalty, enforced a taxing regimen, and delivered sermons forecasting nuclear holocaust and an apocalyptic destruction of the world”. (Osherow). His apocalyptic sermons attacked racism and capitalism but he focussed on the supposed enemies of the church. Jones became increasingly paranoid about the well being of his “Church” and moved the Peoples Temple to Guyana, South America. There he created a society called Jonestown, which contained about one-thousand residents. But, it was no utopia like he promised. The people there were underfed and weren’t allowed to leave. Surrounding the compound were armed
Jim Jones was born in 1931; he was from Crete, Indiana. In the 1970’s Jones was a popular cult leader, and claimed himself to be the leader of the Peoples Temple religious cult. Jones promised a utopia to his followers that were dedicated disciples. “On November 18, 1978, in what became known as the Jonestown Massacre, Jones led more than 900 men, women and children to their deaths in a mass suicide by cyanide-laced punch.”(Editors).When Jim Jones promised a racially integrated utopia, overextended his power and controlled the followers, he caused a mass suicide.
As the leader of the Peoples Temple Jim Jones had many ways of gathering followers for his religious cult. One way was providing promises for a better life. “Come and …show more content…
(Jonestown). He also preached for racial integration and for racial and social equality. (WGBH). He believed in a racially equal world where everyone was parallel, that the world would be a better place and it would be more beneficial to everyone. These promises and beliefs he shared caused many people to slowly pursue a spot in his congregation. While promising equality and a better life, Jones also promised a utopia or a “Promise land” (Jonestown). to his congregation. His promise land was based on his divine principle: “I represent divine principle, total equality, a society where people own all things in common where there is no rich or poor where there are no races, where there are people looking for justice and righteousness there I am.” (Jonestown). Along with his assurances, Jim Jones and his congregation also helped the surrounding community. The Peoples temple partook in the social changes during the developing civil rights movement desegregating: movie theaters, restaurants, the telephone company, hospitals, and the city police department. The temple also ran a …show more content…
As time went on and more people joined the Temple, Jones gradually increased his control over his congregation and expanded the church. The Peoples Temple originally the Wings of Deliverance church was moved to northern California, while Jones performed his sermons over radio. Then he progressed and opened a new branch in San Francisco, California. (Editors). During the time that Jim Jones was branching out his church he was also increasing his discipline and dedication that he required from members. Behind the public eye he progressively pushed himself upon his followers and shaped himself as their father figure and had a Messiah like presence. He never ordered his followers to do anything, but he did have staff strongly suggest to do tasks because it would please “father”. “Within the Temple,Jones demanded absolute loyalty, enforced a taxing regimen, and delivered sermons forecasting nuclear holocaust and an apocalyptic destruction of the world”. (Osherow). His apocalyptic sermons attacked racism and capitalism but he focussed on the supposed enemies of the church. Jones became increasingly paranoid about the well being of his “Church” and moved the Peoples Temple to Guyana, South America. There he created a society called Jonestown, which contained about one-thousand residents. But, it was no utopia like he promised. The people there were underfed and weren’t allowed to leave. Surrounding the compound were armed