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 17 th 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 ( ) 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-     history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/jimjones.htm history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/jimjones.htm