Jim Jones Religion Analysis

Different voices shapes the representation of values. Jasper Jones “an Australian To Kill A Mockingbird” is a novel written by Craig Silvey. This fiction text is based in a rural country town in the 1960’s, as a coming of age novel, it provides many morals and values that the reader can take with them. Through the use of a wide range of literary techniques, some values from different characters that are found to be present in this novel are, the value of egalitarianism, the different voices that shape this value are Charlie Bucktin and what is interpreted from Laura Wishart’s letter to Jasper. Another value, is that true courage is facing your fears, especially when you have a lot to lose, the voices of Jeffrey Lu and Jasper Jones aid this

Facts: Westboro Baptist Church, led by Fred Phelps organized a protest on public property to make their beliefs known to others, which is protected by the first Amendment. They do not believe in homosexuality and wars they feel like support homosexuality. They have protest numerus military funerals. Their Protest of Matthew Snyder’s Funeral was on public property and they notified the authorities before picketing the funeral.

John Paul Jones was born July 6, 1747 in Scotland. At age Thirteen he apprenticed with a merchant and went to sea. Over the next Fourteen years he was sailing on merchant ships. At the age of Twenty-one he was a captain of a merchant ship. In 1769 he had whipped a man to death. He was put in jail but later freed. In 1773 he had put down a mutiny and killed the ring leader in the process. He fled to America to avoid trial.

“Prior to the 9/11 attack, the tragedy at Jonestown marked the single largest loss of U.S. civilian lives in a non-natural disaster”(Jonestown Massacre 2). Jim Jones, a cult leader of the Peoples Temple, was responsible for the loss of the 900+ people that died in Guyana on November 18, 1978. Before all of this Jim Jones was a normal man living a life as a preacher who preached against racism. Throughout his life he was very popular by “currying favor with public officials and the media, donated money to numerous charitable causes and delivered votes for various politicians at election times”(History Staff). Jim Jones was a cult leader that preached to 900+ people of the Peoples Temple, made hundreds of people commit suicide, and made history of the biggest loss of U.S. civilians before 9/11.

Jim Jones as a Prophet November 18, 1978 it all ended. Jim Jones and his followers committed mass suicide in Guyana, South America. The history of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple is still studied a great deal today. Why did all those people follow Jones? Were they forced, were they brain washed, or was Jones just that charismatic.

Jim Jones had many jobs before he became leader of the peoples temple. As a child he spent much of his time alone. He began preaching at 10 years old after going on weekly trips to church with a neighbor of his. He continued his strong religious beliefs when moved to Indianapolis with his mother. Jones became a minister at a local church and held racially integrated services to the church’s displeasure. During the mid 1950’s Jones opened his first church of The People’s Temple while still living in Indiana. As the cult grew in the 60’s Jones relocated to Northern California and soon after opened churches in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Followers of the People’s Temple often referred to him as ‘father’ or ‘Dad’.

The mass suicides, that took place under the influence of Reverend Jim Jones, can be explained from a sociological perspective. By looking at how the group dynamics played into the outcome one gets a better idea of the whys? of the massacre. The sociological explanation is but one way to explain this horrific event. It is , however, the only one explored in this essay for reasons of concision.

“The Gospel According to Larry” was published by Janet Tashjian. “Larry” thinks he can change the world at just seventeen-years-old by starting a fan club talking about his sermons. Sermon number ninety seven is the one I relate to the best. Josh, also known as Larry, gives his own opinion about the sermons he writes himself. In sermon ninety seven, Larry is asking the fan club if the people who they are around every day, are they worth keep forever? Are they going to be there when you are in the toughest times? You want the friends that can listen to you talk and give you advice, not sit there and just listen.

Jim Jones did a lot that seemed good in his life (Merlot). He worked with people of all different backgrounds to make their lives better and wanted to solve social problems. He spoke against the racist stereotype of the white man and towards the new idea of a united racial group. Jones also did a lot of bad in his life. Jim Jones was the craziest religious fanatic to live during the 20th century because he brainwashed most of his followers, abused his power, and led the largest mass murder for that decade in a single event.

“Don't drink the kool-aid” is a phrase that was coined after the mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978. James (Jim) Jones was a religious leader of the People’s Temple cult and is responsible for more the deaths of 909 men, women, and children through a mass suicide using cyanide-laced grape punch. Aided by his high IQ and his manipulative ways, Jones was able to carry out his communist goals. Jones managed to wipe out 909 people overnight which lands him a well earned spot in history.

The mass suicides, that took place under the influence of Reverend Jim Jones, can be explained from a sociological perspective. By looking at how the group dynamics played into the outcome one gets a better idea of the whys? of the massacre. The sociological explanation is but one way to explain this horrific event. It is , however, the only one explored in this essay for reasons of concision.

On November 18th, 1978 in the area of the small town of Port Kaituma in Guyana a horrid scene was taking place that would shock the world, and forever change the view of religion. Meant to be a paradise for the poor, the abused, the needy, and those wanting to change the world, Jonestown, founded by Jim Jones, leader of The Peoples Temple, was the location of a mass murder-suicide taking the lives of more than 900 people including countless children. “And, the way the children are, laying dead now, I'd rather see them lay like that than to see them have to die like the Jews did, which was pitiful anyhow. And I'd just like to thank Dad for giving us life and also death, and I appreciate the fact the way our children are going because, like Dad said, when they came in, what they're going to do to our children, they're going to massacre our children. And also the ones they take, captive, they're gonna just let them grow up and be dummies like they want them to be and not grow up to be Socialist like the one and only Jim Jones. So I'd like to thank Dad for the opportunity for letting Jonestown be, not what it could be, but what Jonestown is. Thank you, Dad.”1

In the 1970’s many people flocked to Jim Jones and his People’s Temple for many reasons. The elderly may have felt that instead of caring for themselves they could trade all they’ve worked for to feel like part of a community again and be taken care of. While other may have been in a vulnerable position or down on their luck and seen Jonestown as a way out of their trouble. Whatever the reason many of social psychology’s concepts can be seen in the events of Jonestown.

In the PBS film, “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples’ Temple”, it illustrates an extreme example of one radical religious leader's control over hundreds of people to the extent of convincing them to voluntarily commit a "revolutionary suicide" in their attempted utopian settlement in Guyana. In the 1970's various changes were being made and through social and cultural movements, including political and religious, people wanted something to believe in. They wanted to fight for a cause that would change the world. Jim Jones preyed on the members of the Peoples' Temple and gained his ultimate control through promoting activism, managing all the finances of each member while providing them with benefits, and through creating a sense of

Jim Jones recruited people who were living in segregation, wanted quality, wanted to help people, and who wanted to do something meaningful for their lives. Also, Jones who were known as a charismatic preacher with an affinity for African-American, leader a racially integrated church Indianapolis, it was an usual to see church like that. Jones’ messages was the racial justice foster, racial harmony, and help the poor. Jones claimed himself as the father and some cases as a Jesus Christ that person who could give to the follower the hope of peace, love, and quality. Also, he had created social and medical programs, legal aid services, drug rehabilitation and free dining meals to their followers.