@
f2

Caroline Cook
December 18, 1984
History, Block B


l2
Was Jim Jones Mentally Sound ?

    On December 18, 1978 before sunset a horrible tragedy occurred that the world will soon not forgm Jones, a cultist leader of the People's Temple, led a gruesome massacre killing over nine-hude epeincluding alifornia Congressman Leo Byan, three news men, seven-hundred and seventy-ninereidnt o te ungle, and many people who were members of his cult.  This man whom many referred o a 'fthe' ld toseunfortunate people into believing they were dying for a good cause, when in ealiy evdenc shos tht hewas not of sound mind to judge.
    "The dterioration of his mental condition though somwhow linked with his childhood seemed to hapt after he moved his church from Indiana to California in 1965."  ^1*  One way in which he soe hsws how he handled the topic of sex.  In 1973, he banned sexual activity between cult membrsan a areul eight members defected.  Jones' reaction to this can be seen in the following pasage

         Something terrible has happened.  Eight
         people have defected in order to keep our opposite
         apostle socialism, we should all kill ourselves
         and leave a note saying that because of
         harassment, a socilistic group cannot exist
         at this time.  ^2*

    This statement marked the beginning of Jones' fake into a dark well to see 'Big Foot' where theyulled below the surface.  After a while they were allowed to come up for breath in which they a osra loudly how sorry he or she was.  If it did not satisfy Mr.Jones they would be put back ow i te atr gain until they said it correctly.  Smoking or not paying complete attention to a one' srmo wa cosidred defiant.  Mr.Jones also took pleasure in forcing women to ridicule theirhusbnds'sexulabiity. As f that were not enough he made the female members flurt with the embasy offcial n ordr to eep hs min off his investigation.  Jones feared some of his secrets might et outlike te maintntionand sikness hat became rampant in his commune, the weapons that were pesent i the cap, the eople wo were ed wellonly when people visited the commune in the hopes hoes of maing a god impresion.  MrJones pu on a ms for the outside world because he was afraid o what woud happen f the truh was revaled.
    Another way his mind would have been 'not up to par' was in his use of drugs.  He took tranquilid pain killers including members who refused to drink for the cause  were told that they wouldb atae and tortured by th Guyanese army.  Jim Jones died with a bullet in his chest.  He thougt e asth rinararnation of Lenin and once siad to Jeannie Mills "Lenin died with a bullet in hi boy ad s wil I"
    Jim JOnes who led this tragic massacre; tortured his people with beatings, brainwashing, forced and imprisionment; starved his people, put a mask on for the outside world; and took drugs canb eeiey viewed as crazy and not of sound mind.

Bibliography

1.  Time, December 11, 1978, "Paranoia and Delusions", p.35.

2.  U.S. News and World Report, December 4, 1978, pp.25-28.

3.  Time, November 20, 1978, pp.28-33.


1.  Time, December 11. 1978, "Paranoia and Delusions", p.35.

2.  Ibid.