Transcript The People`s Temple: Worksheet

The People’s Temple
Back then I was a young
university graduate who was
bitter by the hypocrisy shown by
an
America
at
war
with
"communism" and its own
children. I was not pleased at the
prospect of a middle-class
existence and, like millions of
others, was desperately trying to
discover
new
ways
of
understanding that might make it
possible to actually live the
idealistic values with which I had
been fighting for. The hopeful
optimism of the late sixties was
long gone by the dark days of
1974; it was time to stop
browsing
in
the
spiritual
supermarket and get on with the
serious work of allowing our
inner self to grow , before it was
too late. The world was in a
terrible way and nothing short of
a
revolution
in
human
consciousness
Michael Prokes
Student Name:
could hope to save it, desperate
times
requiring
desperate
measures. Like many of my
friends I was fairly immature,
reasonably cynical, but at the
same time quite naive and
impressionable
in
specific
instances. I suppose I was
reasonably representative of an
entire generation of individuals,
who
despite
their
many
differences
shared
similar
attitudes of frustration, despair,
and longing. For many, the
answers were no longer to be
found in the failed theologies
and empty religious practices of
the West. We looked for a new
"culture” that would heal the
planet, and restore our souls.
What made sense to us then
may seem very strange in to
people these days.
© Ms Keleghan’s Education Blog
1) What do you think the writer means by the term ‘spiritual supermarket’?
1) What do you think are the idealistic values mentioned by the writer?
1) In your own words describe what human consciousness means.
1) What words does the writer use to describe himself?
1) What was the attitude of many people during this time?
1) The writer states that “answers were no longer to be found in the failed theologies and empty religious practices of the
west. We looked for a new "culture” that would heal the planet, and restore our souls”. Where do you think many
of these people turned instead?
Jonestown Massacre Documentary Questionnaire
1) Write down a few words used in the video to describe Jim Jones.
1)
2)
3)
2) What year was The People’s Temple founded?
3) What kind of society did Jim Jones want to promote?
4) How many men women and children join his settlement In Guyana?
5) What happened to Jim Jones in Guyana?
6) What was the name of the congressman who visited Jonestown?
7) What did Jim Jones say would happen to anyone who tried to leave Jonestown?
After studying The People’s Temple why do you think people
join a new religious movement known as a cult?
© Ms Keleghan’s Education Blog