Jim Jones: The People's Temple

How could a single man lead nearly one thousand men, women, and children to participate in one of the largest mass murders in American history? Born in 1931 to veteran James Thurman Jones and his spirited wife, Lynetta, James Warren “Jim” Jones grew up in small-town Indiana. Ignored by his parents and desperately seeking attention, Jones became known as the terror of the town. He spent his abundant free time roaming the streets. Eventually, Jones found himself darkening the doors of religious institutions. He visited every church in the community, throwing himself into their rituals and becoming a dedicated member before moving on to the next (“Jonestown…” par 2-3). His group, the People’s Temple, focused on drawing people together, no

When several members discussed leaving the Temple with Ryan and his body guards, it pushed Jones over the edge. He announced that the People’s Temple no longer remained safe from outside forces, and the time had come to commit a “revolutionary act”. With the help of his aides, Jones laced a fruit-flavored drink with cyanide. Hundreds of eager parents injected it into their children before downing the mixture themselves. Couples laced arms and leapt into the next world, proud to be a part of their leader’s great mission. Armed guards stood nearby for anyone who hesitated, shooting any heretics on sight. Within a few minutes, over 900 corpses littered the damp earth, senseless victims of a fake prophet’s lies. How could such a tragedy occur? Drawn in by his relatability, charisma, and promises of a utopia, hundreds of people fell into the conformity of the People’s Temple, and eventually died for their cause (Rothenberg Gritz par