THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE

By Audrey Hyatt and Christian Smith

Historic Background of Cults

Cult- any group employs mind-control and deceptive recruiting techniques.

Was originally used for a system of ritual practices. It was first used in the early 17th century from the Latin word, cultus.

Anticult movement started when acts of violence and crimes where committed by cults (KKK, People’s Temple) in the 1970s.

The People’s Temple

When did your cult begin?

The People’s Temple was started by James Warren Jones.

The cult was first started to be recognized during the 1950s, when the leader inducted 900 members.

He developed a belief called Translation, and him and his followers believed they would all die together, and moved to another planet for life of bliss.

Where is your cult located?

It started in Indianapolis, IN. The headquarters building was in

San Francisco, CA. The building was demolished in the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.

How was your cult formed?

When James Warren Jones started the belief of Transition. Over 900 people joined by the 1950s.

Who are the leaders?

James Warren Jones (1931-1978) started the cult and developed the belief of Transition.

What types of people start a cult?

They supposedly hear voices that they are needed to start these cults.

They believe their god wants them to start them.

Who does your cult target for membership?

The People’s Temple targets anybody who starts to believe Translation.

How did people join the cult?

You came to the conventions that was held by the Temple.

What types of people join a cult?

People that are easily influenced by others are likely to join cults, compared to others.

How good of a persuader the person is also has an affect.

Just like the leader, they feel their god thinks they need to join.

What are some actions taken by your cult?

The major action taken by the cult, which also ended the cult, was the mass suicide at the Temple’s Jonestown agricultural commune.

A total of 918 people died, including 276 children.

It was the largest single lost of American civilian life until 9/11.

Congressman Leo Ryan was the only congressman murdered while in office.

Mission Statement

If you die together, you will go to a planet of bliss.

Successes of the cult.

They opened up a soup kitchen for the poor.

Started an adoption fund.

They followed through with what they believed in, which was to die together. So they killed themselves.

Failures of the cult.

They didn’t have many failures, since the main object was to die together, which is what ended up happening.

Except for 4 of them died miles away from the others.

Most interesting thing learned.

That these people all killed each other and themselves just because the leader of a Temple said something.

Closing remarks.

We have none regarding these insane people.

-Resources-

www.religioustolerance.org/dc_jones.htm

www.caic.org.au/biblebase/apocalyptic/jones.htm

www.rickross.com/groups/jonestown.htm

history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/jimjones.htm