Jonestown

The Jonestown suicides, a tragic event that took place in November 1978, took the lives of more than 900 men, women, and children. Only after a few years of relocating his clan to Guyana, Jim Jones convinced his followers to administer a poison beverage to children and then consume it themselves. It took many years of deception, control, and coercion for Jim Jones to have such power over his people. Jim Jones started his church, the People’s Temple, in Indiana over two decades before that heart wrenching fateful day. His doctrine first consisted of racial unity and helping underprivileged people, especially the homeless, ex-convicts, and anyone in need of acceptance from others. After awhile, his demand of dedication and complete obedience from his followers was of utmost priority. In 1965, Jim Jones moved to California with over 100 of his faithful disciples following him. Jim Jones had a clever method of drawing people in despite his distorted charisma. His messages convinced potential members that in his church there was hope, purpose, and a sense of belonging that was evidently lacking in so many lives. After individuals and families dedicated themselves as members to the People’s Temple, they were later convinced that it would be better for them and for the Cause to sign over all personal possessions and assets to the church and then to live on the People’s Temple compound. This way they could fully dedicated themselves to the church and Jim Jones. In order to ensure complete obedience to him, Jim Jones would spit families and pit them against one another. He would have them sign over custody of their children and allow other community members to care for them. He would also pit husbands and wives against each other by separating them and placing them in other sexual relationships. Jim Jones made sure that he was the only one in authority and the only one his followers relied on and trusted. All crimes against him, although only seen as minor insignificant infractions, were severely punished. He appointed other members to carry out the punishments. No one questioned his tactics and believed the punishments were justified. Most all were fully convinced that these bizarre and extreme practices were for the greater good of all. After all possessions, assets, and investments were given to the church, and families were split apart leaving was no longer an option. The fear was also instilled in each member that betraying the ministry by wanting to leave or actually leaving meant that one was the enemy and would have dire consequences. Only a handful questioned Jim Jones authority. The rest fully believed that he was a prophet and his way was the only way. Jim Jones repeatedly talked about the revolution, which consisted of his followers making the ultimate sacrifice by giving up their lives. He said that death was better than anything this world had to offer. He even staged mock suicides to determine the member’s devotion to him. Many were already ready to die for their prophet. When Jim Jones felt great oppression from the outside world, he moved his followers to the jungles of South America. Once there, he confiscated all passports. He had armed guardsmen surrounding the compound to ensure no one entered or exited. Before the horrific event, Jim Jones gave one last memorable message. His followers then cheered their prophet. No one really knows the true extent of what happened, whether some were forced to drink the poison or all willingly did so. Needless to say, many innocent lives were lost for no comprehensible rational reason. In my own analysis of the events that occurred over a couple decades has me pondering how so many could be deceived, especially to the extent they were deceived. With this notion, I have to ask myself three pertinent questions: How could one allow himself to be so susceptible to these evil ideologies' What were the precipitating factors that made Jim Jones want to lead nearly a thousand to self-destruction' Why did those who knew of this wrongness not band together and rebel' How could one allow himself to be so susceptible to these evil ideologies' As a cult survivor, I can personally identify with several factors to the nature of this. First off, Jim Jones primarily focused on reaching out to already vulnerable and broken spirits. This made it quite easy to instill his ways upon them. After drawing them in, he broke them down and molded them into anything he wanted. Because of their fragile nature, it was easy for them to believe, do, or say what he wanted them to. These people became like little children. They knew better than to question their father’s authority and readily did what was required of them. Jim Jones’ way was the only way. They came to believe that whatever fate came was a result of what needed to happen. What were the precipitating factors that made Jim Jones lead nearly a thousand to self-destruction' I am not quite sure what made Jim Jones into the power hungry, manipulating, and evil man he was. I am under the impression that Jim Jones’ beginning motives were somewhat pure. It wasn’t until he realized the impact he had on people’s perceptions that his motives changed. Jim Jones had a little taste of power and control over other’s lives and this fed his ego. He was not able to stop until he had complete obedience and dedication from his followers. I believe that his thoughts slowly became distorted over time. When he felt that all his power and control would be taken away from him, the only option was to have the ultimate control by having all his followers die for him. I do believe that good-intentioned people can turn to evilness just by letting their good deeds go to their heads. Having all that power and control was like a sexual release for Jim Jones. He then became a sadistic man with no apparent conscience. Why did those who knew of his wrongness not band together and rebel' Again, I can relate to this question with the knowledge that I was a victim of and witnessed so many horrific abuses that survival was of utmost importance. Jim Jones created an environment of distrust towards one another. By pitting everyone against each other and by splitting family, he became the only one to trust. No one was allowed to talk about negative feelings towards the church or Jim Jones. There were those who were rewarded for relaying such blaspheme. One man was unable to stand against the mass and no one was aware of anyone else’s thoughts to be able to form any alliances. The only seen option was to keep one’s thoughts to oneself, do as told, and to not question it.