Jonestown Massacre Essay

Over nine hundred people dead within five minutes and all done by one all-powerful cult leader. Unfortunately, that was the case for the members of Jim Jones's cult of Jonestown. Jonestown is a prime example of how a religious movement can turn into a cult in the matter of time, and how it can be difficult to protect people against. This is due in part to our general acceptance of most religious movements in accordance to the first amendment, but also due in our classification of what a cult is.

movement’s leader Jim Jones claimed to be the “God-sent prophet” . In order to expand, he later moved his congregation to California and eventually Guyana where he created the closed community of Jonestown. However, in 1978, members of Jonestown murdered Congressman Leo Ryan, and all residents of Jonestown committed suicide. The apocalyptic beliefs of the Peoples Temple shaped its identity and led to the murder of Congressman Ryan, this belief also marked its demise. By using apocalyptic literature

Jim Jones was the founder of the Peoples Temple; a cult best recognized for the mass murder/suicide of over 900 people. Before the events that made him a part of history, he was seen as a man with great charisma and visionary ideas; now he is viewed as a manipulator, abuser, and murderer. This paper will explore the life of Jim Jones and with the use of psychological models, try identifying abnormal behavior patterns. Jones grew up in Indiana with his mother and disabled, alcoholic father in a

to remember and prevent future events. Little did we know that in Jonestown, Guyana, a holocaust-like killing would take place Saturday November 18th 1976. That date will be a day many will “Never Forget.” Jim Jones was a religious fanatic who started The Peoples Church. He preached socialistic views and lies to gain followers. With increasing paranoia he moved to Guyana with a thousand followers , most would never leave Jonestown again, but to be killed in a mass “suicide.”(Contemporary American

motive to leave yet only few stood up and left the madness of what Peoples Temple was becoming. Coming from diverse backgrounds with personal problems and multiple unfortunate circumstances led many to believe that joining the community known as Jonestown and

Cults manipulate their impressionable members by giving them a polarized view of the world making them think that their group is good and anything from the outside of it is bad. Leaders often exploit the feelings of the people affiliated with them using techniques designed to stimulate emotions in order to influence a response or action. Cults demand an undying loyalty those who wish to leave or double-cross them are completely cut off and shunned, in severe situations they are punished with violence

Land was purchased in Guyana and The Peoples Temple relocated with the intention of forming a utopian commune, more than 1,000 members followed Jones to Guyana (Rosenburg, 2016). Unfortunately, there was nothing utopian about Jonestown. The commune was run like a prison camp and Jones was in complete control of all members; no one could leave, phone calls to the States were scripted, letters in and out were censored, and armed guards stood at the perimeters (pbs.org). Since communications

utopia where everyone was considered equal known as Jonestown. However, Jim Jones quickly became mad with power and paranoid of the US government and media. He convinced his followers that they should kill themselves if there was a chance the government would take them away from him. He performed several suicide drills known as“white nights” with his followers. He gave beverages that he claimed were poisoned to the entire population of Jonestown and told them to drink. However, this was only a test

Jonestown In the 1970’s, when the dark skinned people didn’t fit in yet, when there was still so much discrimination and segregation going on, and when the “American Dream” was barely getting realized as a lie, Jim Jones was there to save those people in trouble. Unfortunately, he did not end up being much of a hero but more of a psychopath. He provided a sense of leadership to those who wanted something or someone to follow. People in the 1970’s were still struggling to fight for justice and equality

Tommy Douglas was a man of the people. His struggles during his working class life formed his liberal ideology, so that no one else would have to. He was a man of the people, he lived without healthcare -which nearly cost him his leg-, he witnessed protesters being shot, the list of horrible things he’s seen and experienced is rather expansive. However, Douglas was a man who wanted change, for the benefit of regular people such as himself. His life experience being the normal man of the times, and