Did uu understand the jim jones thing?

Question

They had something about it on the history channel. I didnt really understand it....

Answer 1

It's not the "cult leaders" that impress me. What I find fascinating is the psychiatric make-up of the followers or "believers",.. from small groups to larger groups to entire portions of nations. The following blindly is the tragedy.

Answer 2

Paulmhughes said it all really, I just wanted to see if anyone else watched it last night.

I totally forgot about the thing at the airport though, so when I was watching it, I was completely surprised. I thought they all got away, especially the Congressman.

It just goes to show you, it is ok to seek other people's guidance with religion and life, but when something FEELS wrong, it is. Look at Waco for example, that was "our" (my generation's) Jonestown. Then there was the Heaven's Gate nut jobs who wanted to ride a comet to heaven. I am sure some nut will find about 500 people or so to join his/her cult in the next ten years or so and the same cycle will happen.

Answer 3

There has always been something up with him. I watched something about him about 10 years ago and it was hinted that it was somehow linked to the CIA. Some experiment in brainwashing. All I remember is seeing it on the news as a little kid and not getting how all those people could do that. Now they say that some of it was murder and not suicide. And it was south america not africa.

Answer 4

Jim Jones was a "pastor" in the San Francisco area who felt he was being harassed by the local and Federal Government over allegations of tax evasion. He went to Guyana and took as many of his "followers" as would go with him to create a "brave new world" out of the jungle. Jones was extremely convincing to his flock, they truly believed every word he told them including that his was God and Christ resurrected! Based on complaints of human rights violations United States Congressman Leo Ryan and a group went to Guyana on a "fact finding expedition". After 3 days in Guyana Rep. Ryan and a group of Jone's followers hurriedly left for the airport, due to an attempt on the congressman's life. At the airport a truck full of Jones "security men" attacked the congressman's party, killing Congressman Ryan and several reporters. Realizing he had screwed up in a very large way, Jones decided it was time to check out and he tried to take as many of the innocent people who believed in him as he possible could. 909 people, including 276 children died. Most took the lethal dose of cyanide in Kool-aid, but others were forced at gunpoint to drink the poison and still others were forcibly injected. Jones himself died of a gunshot wound to the head, and it is unknown if it was self inflicted or if he was murdered. A truly sad chapter in the history of mankind.

Answer 5

I just watched that and yes I understood it perfectly. Look for the DVD about his life, its a great movie and it explains his whole mission. Powers Booth plays Jim Jones. Jones was a whack job.

Answer 6

The congregation followed a very charismatic leader - and sold all their property to move to a remote area of the world.

And when He was in trouble - he had them all drink the cool aid that took their lives -

what was it - several hundred people - ?

A very wicked and evil man. God will(is dealing) deal harshly for leading His little ones astray.

Answer 7

He was a cult leader about 25 years ago in Africa. He had his group drink poisoned kool aid and they committed mass suicide together. He was one of the first real cult leaders to get attention this way. Many other leaders have followed his mass suicide thing in the past and present.

Answer 8

Basically a bunch of people were sheep, and a psycho led them to slaughter....

Answer 9

He was a psycho

Answer 10

he was a wacko that could control people.