Jim Jones and Tthe People's Temple
Jim Jones and the People's Temple Reverend Jim Jones was the charismatic leader of the Peoples Temple, a religious organization that hit its stride in the mid-1970s. Jones and his Temple are best known for the mass murder/suicide that was executed Guyana in 1978. Over 900 people drank cyanide-laced Kool Aid at Jones’ command, an action that Jones referred to as “revolutionary suicide protesting the conditions of an inhumane world” (Stept). Someone watching Jones at work gathering followers for the Temple and spreading the Temple’s vision would never have been able to envision the ultimate end of Jones’ reign. In the early 1970s, Jones was working on changing the world. His goal was simple; he believed in equality for all. However basic in words, this vision was powerful and Jones’ passion behind it was infectious. He was a servant of the people, and he was able to offer anything to anyone who needed it, which resulted in a large and varied Temple. He also showed himself to be a competent leader. All of these qualities showed Jones’ promise as an excellent leader. Unfortunately, Jones’ weak ethics and woeful conflict resolution resulted in his downfall, and ultimate death. Jim Jones had a progressive vision for the future. He believed that everyone deserved equal rights, regardless of color, gender, age, or ability. He believed that socialism was the answer, and his church meetings were highly focused on politics. His vision was centered around the colony of Jonestown, 4000 acres of land in Guyana that was officially known as the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project. Jonestown was a vision of paradise, and of the perfect self-sufficient utopia. Jonestown would offer everyone the opportunity and resources to achieve amazing things. Jim believed that it was in Jonestown that his utopian socialist society would flourish, and his followers were in full agreement. Jones involved many of his members through servant leadership. Hue Fortson, a