Apocalyptic Cult
Peoples Temple (Jonestown)
Introduction
In a word riddled with hate, lack of acceptance, and mystery in what lies ahead. Groups of individuals are sometimes swayed into becoming followers of people they deem to be knowing. As time has told when people feel most insecure or lack inclusion, they tend to give themselves to a higher belief. In most cases a higher belief comes in the form of what is currently known as a cult. A cult is what appears to be a ticket to most individuals for acceptance and belonging. The term cult has been shaped by numerous mass suicides. The term has become one of fear and inherently dangerous outcomes (Crockford, 2018). Peoples Temple is one of the most notable mass suicides that has formed this idea. This particular cult was one that was based on inclusion and religious sermons from that of a man by the name of Reverend Jim Jones. For several years the preaching’s and new beliefs that Rev. Jim Jones brought to light had started a mass following. This following was made up of men, women, and children of all races. The following became quite large and successful as it dominated the lives of many United States citizens in the 1970’s. This following was historically very willing to follow Rev. Jim Jones they followed him to the most extreme extend. This extreme was that of taking their own lives for the cause of the people’s temple’s beliefs this was done alongside Rev. Jim Jones. The question still remains as to what contributing factors lead in Jim Jones success in 1978 and how cults can influence individuals to make the ultimate sacrifice of suicide?
Background
Unlike any church or group setting in this time period Peoples Temple was a sanctuary to all (Kohl, 2017). This group was how one could feel included and brought together by religion and a man of powerful beliefs and charisma. Peoples Temple commonly referred to as Jonestown has become the poster child for a cults strong influence on its followers. The hold that Peoples Temple had on its followers was so strong that it drove them to follow their Reverend to all depths and entrust him with everything. The members of this group would eventually follow the beliefs of this church to Guyana. The move to Guyana for the members was intended to become that of a utopia for all of the members. This utopia was said to be made equally for all (Kohl, 2017). Before the abrupt move to Guyana Rev. Jim Jones was an advocate for interracial mingling and equality. These main focuses later turned to more apocalyptic views. In Guyana in the year of 1978 900 members including 260 children took cyanide (Dein & Littlewood, 2000). This was taken as a punch that was distributed to all members of the church of Peoples Temple. Jim Jones had been moving closer to apocalyptic views in his sermons. This stemmed from his strong beliefs of the United States Government being an evil force and trying to silence the way in which Jones and his followers believed (Dein & Littlewood, 2000). As many cultists would feel attacked by anyone or anything attacking their beliefs Jones grew into a state of paranoia. For many of his followers this cult was a community of people sharing the same beliefs and idolizing people for who they are and not their value in society.
The Reverend
Jim jones was born in a small town in Indiana. To society he was a bright young man throughout his life that was dealt a rough hand for his life. As the Reverend would use in his favor, he grew up poor and outcasted. Though Jones felt very outcasted by society he found outlets to express the ways in which he thought or felt was correct. Jones had several needs throughout his life for control. In the earlier years of his life Jones would kill small animals for the sense of control had then proceed to give them funerals (Thompson, 2020). In the later years of Jones life, he would go to school to capitalize on his views and abilities to show his passion and fire of topics to others. Jones after graduating and attempting at becoming a part of a Methodist church Jones quickly switched to socialist politics and began his motivation to starting People’s Temple (Thompson, 2020). Jim Jones was a man of views that for his time period would be considered unconventional. He spent his life prioritizing inter racial mingling and credited this to his racist father. Jones while being the reverend at his church would be the first white family to adopt an African American child in Indiana. Jones struggled throughout the later part of his life with controlled substances and alcoholic beverages (Thompson, 2020).
The Factors
Though Rev. Jim Jones was not forcibly administering the cyanide punch to each one of his followers, there are several ways in which a leader of this magnitude was able to sway his followers to drink willingly. Charisma, isolation, and poison are the three factors that contribute to the success of a cult leader (Crockford, 2018). These three concepts were shown throughout the actions of Rev. Jim Jones as he created his following and the final actions of the group.
The first contributing factor of charisma was something that is consistently mentioned when having a discussion about any leader of a group of this scale. Charisma is a characteristic not all possess it is the ability to capitalize on the situation at hand and manipulate those involved. In this particular group Rev. Jim Jones was able to use his looks, wit, and knowledge of topics to prey on those of weaker groups that were in search of answers. He then was able to use this for his own good. The charisma that Rev. Jim Jones used was primarily that of suggestive behavior he took common topics of debate and made an argument that he felt his audience would adhere to. Though this is not the most ethical way of leading it was very effective in the manner of manipulation and causing a control factor on his followers.
Isolation was a large contributing factor as well. Rev. Jim Jones made it very well known that his ideals were to separate those who thought differently of the church People’s Temple. He sought to have his own community of his followers and no nay Sayers. However, this would not occur due to the fact that the isolation only increased his paranoia. By isolating his followers from other views or freedoms offered within the United States he was able to gain more control and separate them from society in general. The isolation of his followers in Jonestown without any contact to the outside world made them more susceptible to what he had in store.
Poison can referrer to a lot of concepts in this particular case. Either it be the actual Kool-Aid that was drank containing the cyanide poison or the concept of fear. Jim Jones was able to encase this entire group of individuals with this larger concept. It is commonly accepted to state “ to drink the Kool-Aid” when sub coming to the pressures of others and just have a blind acceptance of an event (Johnson, 2012). Jim Jones was notorious for installing fear within his followers. Shortly after his preaching became more apocalyptic and delusional his followers began noticing his increase in violence. At one point he had a child beat with a paddle upwards of 150 times (Thompson, 2020). On top of frequent beatings there was a vast amount of sexual abuse and mental abuse on the followers of People’s Temple. The effectiveness of poison more specifically fears kept his followers following. For most if they were scared, they would have an underlying fear of being outcasted or looked down on for not believing in Jim Jones. Until the end the followers of Jim Jones were living in fear. At the moment when the cyanide Kool aid was distributed the individuals who refused were assisted by arm guards to drink their punch.
Though these three factors may not be the only reasons as to why Jim Jones was successful it sheds a light on the way a group of individual can be persuaded. By targeting weaknesses and hounding in on controlling methods Jim Jones was able to not only take his own life but aid in 900 more deaths.
Cults
The way in which a cult actually is able to function within society surprises a majority of people. Scientist and psychologist are consistently examining key factor that lead to the success. The truth being though that it is a combination of both that has formed what is known as a blind follower in todays society. The words that are commonly associated with this particular practice is extreme influence (Dittmann, 2002). Better known to the media as the concept of mind control. Cults destructive or not have created a way in which they talk and operate to make the recruits feel welcomed. They then twist this psychology around and expect the new members to do this to other recruits. It is a vicious yet extremely effective method.
Within the cult Peoples Temple, the leader being Jim Jones offered a comfortable and compassionate setting for all and most importantly answers about life and death (Dittmann, 2002). In an interview with one of the survivors from Peoples temple it is mentioned as those who fled to Guyana were joining the “Peace Corps” (Dittmann, 2002). This idea was of course turned upon arrival and realization that they were unable to leave. The way in which a cult operates is very prey oriented. By creating an environment that can attract people and have them genuinely believe in the teachings there has to be an alternative reason one can justify their actions as moral. This is how the leaders of cults target their prey.
They are able to give a directed topic that follows similar values or beliefs hence why several cult leaders claim to be reincarnations of God or have a connection to a religious figure. Religion is a huge component in the conversion of most people as it is something that is harbored within most as an understanding of the world. when given the opportunity to speak with someone who claims they are powerful and close to a figure such as God there becomes an urge to follow. This followership could stem from curiosity or true belief but once the recruits become members, they are ingulfed by the events surrounding and taught to live the way of the said cult in order to maintain the initial euphoric feelings.
Another common background that cults tend to use as a form of manipulation is the concept of control. For events like death it is known across the board to be an event with know true answer. This is an opportunity that leaders of cults take advantage of because they know they can convince their followers to predict the end. Fairly often cult leaders are giving their followers a power to take their own life or not, to decide if they live or die and by whose hand (Dein & Littlewood, 2002). This tactic tends to be the most beneficial when it comes to the true action of suicide. This being because the followers are scared of death and uncertainty and believe that it is not as intimidating if they are in control. Though the leaders do not physically kill all of their members cult leaders verbally urge the passing of their followers. This is usually for the greater good or before an apocalyptic event happens wiping out the life as they know it. Cults although strange and very manipulative are full of incredibly strong individuals that create a mental grip that is very strong on the followers. Though some cultist may feel wrong about a practice or event they will not speak out about it because they have just found their home away from home.
Conclusion
In regards to the topic of cult killings Peoples Temple at Jonestown was one of the largest scale cult killings known of today. A cult defined as a loosely structured and unconventional religious institution ( Fox, Levin, & Quinet, 2012) is something that is feared in society today. Though not always bad cults have become a very dangerous group of people after events similar to Peoples Temple and much more. There is a stereotype that surrounds what a cult is and the sacrifices that come from being in one. A cult only truly becomes dangerous when the relationship between follower and leader is dangerous. Therefor the leader essentially decides the destiny and type of group they are creating. As shown through this website the influence of a powerful leader can hold a heavy toll on many people. The charisma and power that lead Jim Jones to the top was at the aid of his followers. Due to the way in which he carried himself and established his community his followers were at his every call. Jim Jones was successful in the massacre of Jonestown because of his ability to target the weak in a charismatic way. Jim Jones was able to convince his following of the troubles they were enduring and aid them into feeling accepted. By using methods similar to mind control he was able to create a society that honored him and believed in his views no matter how heinous. For this particular cult it was very appealing to join because people were going through a very drastic change in society (Fox, Levin, & Quinet, 2012). Due to the separation of race and this cult being an escape from that there was an appeal. To answer the beginning question, you must look at the factors that helped contribute to Jim Jones’s success as well as the environment which surrounded the followers. After the application of Jones’s power, charisma, and intense behavior others sought comfort in the idea of suicide. They saw the people they bonded with partaking and believing and conformed with their new society. Although sad Jim Jones was successfully able to lead his followers and himself to a new life after death
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