THE DEADLY CULT
As a child in the 1930s, James Warren Jones was an avid churchgoer. But as an adult, his faith became warped and led him to set up a deadly cult and orchestrate one of the world’s biggest mass suicides.
In 1955, Jones established the Wings of Deliverance, a Pentecostal church which became known as the Peoples Temple.
During the 60s, he worked with the homeless and served Indianapolis’ Human Rights Commission. But, fearing nuclear war, he moved his church to California in 1965.
Following the move, Jones called himself ‘Prophet’ and was obsessed with exercising his power.
Then, he was accused of illegally using cult members’ income for his own gain.
As the accusations
mounted, Jones moved his cult to Guyana in South America.
There, he set up a commune called Jonestown.
He confiscated his followers’ passports, stole their money and forced rehearsals of mass suicide.
In November 1978, 14 members of the cult made a bid for freedom, and four people were assassinated.
But Jones feared the other escapees would alert the authorities.
He commanded the rest of his followers to enact mass suicide by drinking cyanide-adulterated punch. Inexplicably, 913 brainwashed followers adhered to his instructions and died.
When Guyanese troops reached the commune the following day, they found that the death toll included 276 children.
There would be no justice. Jones was found fatally shot at the scene.