The 18th of November 1978 witnessed a horrible tragedy in the form of the well documented Jonestown massacre, where more than 900 people committed suicide after being directed to do so by their cult leader, Jim Jones. Jones led a cult called the People’s Temple which operated from Jonestown, Guyana. The followers of this cult had different reasons for joining it, but the standout common bond that they all shared was an acceptance to be led by Jim Jones, for whom they demonstrated both love and fear. Jim Jones claimed to be a ‘messiah clad in polyester suits’ capable of playing God while wearing peculiar dark glasses.
Jones’ dressing demeanor led to his ardent followers into believing that indeed, he was omniscient, and they labelled him ‘Father’. He proclaimed that some of his followers saw Christ in him, a hope of glory. He persuaded people to join his cult by appealing to several social and religious
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Jones’ philosophy of uniting people of all colors started receiving criticism and as a result, he decided to move his cult from Indiana, as it was too racist to be hosting a congregation with goals similar to the ones held by People’s Temple. The cult was moved to Redwood Valley in California where Jones oversaw a massive expansion in its membership. These new followers were of diverse color and background, and Jones gave them a feeling of having a purpose and importance, and that ‘there existed something which was bigger than them, and that they needed to be involved in it.’ During this time, many people sought for religious answers to their problems because they felt like outcasts in their societies which were denying them a feeling of community and belonging. They were a frustrated lot that had given up hope of the society fixing all the issues that they were going through. They were in dire need of
The death of over 900 people has sparked many others attention as to what really happened in Jonestown. Jones told his congregation they could idolize him anyway they needed to (Killing Fields). Originally, the cult was for better life and to live as socialists, but in the end Jim Jones brainwashed his followers. Different from the beginning Jones became erratic, domineering, and harsh (Jonestown Massacre 262). Although members found comfort in Jones’ diverse family, it was all in their head (Remembering Jonestown).
The Battle/Siege of Vicksburg The Battle of Vicksburg was one of the most crucial points in the Civil War. It helped Eradicate the Rebels/Confederacy once and for all. The Civil War was fought for over 4 years and it lasted from 1861-1865. It was one of the most horrific wars the world has ever known and witnessed.
The website I chose for this assignment is http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ghostdance.html. I chose this website because it looked like it had a lot of information about my topic and there were pictures on the side to help me. It also was last reviewed not too long ago so that shows that the information should be reliable and trustworthy. This site is related to what were are talking because the Ghost Dance movement basically led to the Wounded Knee Massacre.
To fully understand the reasons behind a man’s commitment to a cult, and the choice to lead and continue the unorthodox cult sect, it is important to look at his upbringing. Warren Jeff’s was born on December 4th, 1955 as the 14th child of Rulon Jeffs, the prophet before his son took over. Polygomy within this sect began before Warren’s reign, as Rulon, his father, was said to have about 20 wives and 60 children. With so many wives and children, it is unusual for the 14th to take over such a task as taking over the religious sect. However, Warren Jeffs was born three months premature, and therefore was seen as a miracle child to his father, thus beginning a strong relationship between Warren Jeffs and his father Rulon.
Kent State Massacre Devastates Community "For the past ten years I have devoted myself to presenting people with the facts. What happened here was unforgivable, and the facts prove this."(“The). This was a quote was said by Alan Canfora who was a survivor. Alan was shot on May 4th, 1970 at the Kent State massacre("The). The Ohio National Guard came to Kent State University because the students there were holding an anti-war rally(PUBLISHED).
April 16, 2007, started as a normal day. Virginia Tech students rushed to their classrooms to avoid being late, but little did they know the tragedy that was going to take place that dreadful day. Shortly after 10:00am 32 students lives had been taken by one of their fellow classmates. After the shooter ruthlessly shot and killed each one, he took his own life. April 16 will forever be recognized as a day of mourning and remembrance, but also as a day where we come together as a nation and overcome the defying odds we were left with.
The People’s Temple was a religious movement founded by Reverend Jim Jones in the mid 1950’s. Reverend Jones initially came from a humble begining living with his poor family in Indiana. As Jones grew older he began attending meetings and rallies for the U.S. communist party. Due to ongoing fear of the spread of communism in the U.S. Jones was often harassed and ridiculed by both the government and the public for his political leanings. It wasn 't until the early 1950’s when Jones became increasingly involved in the sommerset southside methodist church in Indianapolis, Indiana when his real intentions began to take shape.
The Myall creek massacre was the one of the first major attacks on the Aboriginals. Aboriginal men, women and children in an episode of extreme violence were slaughtered. The Myall Creek massacre was pure racism towards aboriginals caused by underlying attitudes within European people towards indigenous Australians. It was underpinned by Europeans settlers wanting to control the land which aboriginals had historically regarded as their own.
The Battle of Gettysburg was a three day fight in which an estimate of 51,000 soldiers were killed in total, but besides all of the casualties, what else makes this battle special? The Battle of Gettysburg was a huge factor in the abolishment of slavery. It is one of the most important battles because it created new war strategies and was the turning point in the Civil War, which led to the Gettysburg Address. The Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, was very confident because of his army utmost victory.
They reached Guyana and Jim Jones had stated that if they did end up leaving the church, it would be a betrayal to him. This should have been a huge red flag if nothing else had worked before this, but it was not. Everyone was just extremely miserable in their lives and wanted a sense of meaning but ended up dead in the jungle instead.” AQUINAS: “This is why faith and reason are inseparable.
Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple Cult “Jim Jones of the Peoples’s Temple began as a sound, fairly mainstream Christian minister” (Sects, ‘Cults’ & Alternative Religions). Before all the madness Jones seemed like a caring person, that wanted to bring peace to a town he made, Jonestown. Instead it turned into something more horrific. Jim Jones was the manipulative mastermind behind the traumatic events that happened in Jonestown, Guyana, this essay will discuss interviews by people who are survivors of the mass suicide, and dive into the crazy conspiracies that have emerged, and finally conclude with the death of the Peoples Temple.
Although Jim Jone’s is not considered as a society by himself when he gets to people to believe in his ways the cult members become a society. He takes away communication and relationships/bonds with each other. He tries to regulate people’s thoughts to believe this is the true way to go in life and limits their communication with one another. He also had social control on them when it came to leaving. He took all they had and they had no
St. Bartholomew 's Day Massacre was a terrible occasion. King Charles IX was a weak boy who was controlled by his mother. His mother, Catherine de Medici, hated christians and wanted all of them to be excecuted. So, she had a plan to do so. She pledged her daughter to one of the Huguenots to make them be at peace.
Rosewood Massacre: A Race Riot In America In the first week of January in 1923 a racially motivated riot occurred int he small town of Rosewood, Florida. This riot escalated into a violent massacre that slaughtered many African Americans as well as Caucasians and lead to the demise of the entire town that had been established. This event became to be known as one several race riots that occurred in the United States of America during the early twentieth century. The events prior to the Rosewood Massacre, including the origins of the town, the massacre itself and the issues and events that were sub sequential to this catastrophic event all played a major role in the history of African Americans.
The Holy Ghost People by Peter Adair, was created in 1967. It exposes people of the Pentecostal religion, and their unusual rituals and ceremonies that they partake in. While watching the movie I kept on wondering why someone would want to sit through one of their services and participate in such odd rituals and behaviors. After reviewing the sociological theories we have learned in class, I concluded that Durkheim’s Social Consensus theory and Collins Interaction Ritual Chains theory both best explain the motivations for joining and staying in a religion that has such unusual rituals and extreme commitments.