History Channel: Jim Jones- Paradise Lost: The Mass Murders in Jonestown

Source: History Channel- Reverend and Socialist Leader Jim Jones

Source: History Channel: Jim Jones- Paradise Lost: The Mass Murders in Jonestown

I've blogged about this before, but the People's Temple in the most positive sense and what its legacy is, is a collection of lost souls. Who for whatever reason or reasons weren't making it in mainstream America and were lost. And looking for a direction and a leader to lead them to lets say the promise land and end their pain and suffering. And to a certain extent and the good side of Jim Jones was that leader that could show people what meaningful life is. 

The people of Jonestown thought Jim Jones was the person to show them how to create a world where there wouldn't be anymore suffering and where all people would live a positive life. Without suffering and where people would live off of each other and live off of the land and literally take care of each other which is socialism at its best. But the problem with the People's Temple or later Jonestown, is that it was led by Jim Jones. 

Jim Jones had a dictatorial evil side to him that was about making people completely dependent on him for their survival. And wanted people to only do his will and serve him. Which is a common theme of dictators, because they are people who believe in absolute power. Which is all about what being a dictator is. Someone who wants to centralize all of the power with them self. And not delegating power to their deputies and people they are supposed to serve. Which is a big reason why Jonestown ended in such tragedy.