Jim Jones
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Chapter 5
1. What three functions did religious suicide perform in the Peoples Temple?
Revolutionary suicide performed at least three functions within the worldview of the Peoples Temple. First, it functioned as a test of loyality to the cause; second, it was imagined as a way of avoiding a subhuman death; a third, it was used as a threat to force the outside world to accept the involable integrity of the community.
2. What are the four basic forms of religious suicide in the history of religions?
First, religious suicide has been practiced as a ritual of purification. Second, religious suicide has been practiced as a means of release from basic suffering. Third, religious suicide has been practiced as a means of seeking revenge. Finally, religious suicide has been performed as an act of revolution against overwhelming forces of religious, political and military opposition.
3. Briefly describe the “White Night” ritual in Jonestown.
A white night was regularly recurring ritual of crisis in Jonestown community. It was originally suggested to be called “black night” but had to be changed due to racial terminology. These were times of siege and self-defense,catharsis and community mobilization, occurring
by the mid-1978 as often as every two weeks , during which Jonestown prepared to resist the harassment, incursions, and invasions by its enemies to the death.
Epilogue
4. According to Chidester, what was the central concern of the Peoples Temple at Jonestown?
According to Chidester, being human, creating a context in which a fully human identity might emerge, humanizing social relations in the face of what was perceived as a dehumanizing environment- those concerns were at the center of the worldview of the Peoples Temple.
5. Write a 2-3 sentence reaction to Chidesters argument about the Peoples Temple and Jonestown.
Chidester made some really good points in his epilogue. The epilogue was really just a summary of what the whole book was about though. Chidester says that the people who survived this event were normal, everyday functioning humans and they were just brainwashed basically.