16. The People’s Temple Became More Of A Socialist Movement
The People’s Temple started as a religious organization. While it followed its own agenda, people still considered the Peoples Temple a church. However, its plan also included a lot of values that tied with socialism, which is one reason Jones moved the organization to California and then Guyana.
Jones wanted to take all his followers and live in one location. He told them that he would be their leader, whether they felt he was their father, brother, pastor, or god. He would be whatever they needed him to be, but they had to follow him. People had to listen to him and live near him.