Peoples Temple Discussion Forum

joeyjosef · Site Admin Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 574 Location: Oregon

Sorry to see you go......
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trooley · Sophomore Member Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 114

My standpoint on this is clear: JJ led 900 followers to death, therefore given current definitions, he can be considered a cult leader and while not being a murderer in the closest sense of the term, he would have gotten convicted of murder in jurisdicial terms. Thus, we are discussing a criminal here -no humanistic perspectives on a factual level. To me it is important that the horrors caused by JJ are not downplayed. That's a point of critique I find for example with some of the JJ books published by Edward Mellen press. Some interesting info on Mellen Press by the way can be found for example here:
http://www.degreediscussion.com/viewtopic.php?p=21561&highlight=moonie#21561

At the same time I find it interesting to look at the why and how of things, which cannot be simply be described by factual accounts of what happened and I see the need to gather additional information on how the group internal structures looked like and how life in PT really was.

I personally do not see this as a conflict at all. Therefore I fully agree with you Dick, that Murder and JJ's actions shouldn't be downplayed in the slightest.

TusneldaDK · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

Stephen Brown: I liked your post. I'll think about some more and come back.

I would love it if we could discuss things and voice our disagreements without getting upset or calling names. Everyone's entitled to their opinion.

I didn't read Brown's post as being "apologetic" towards JJ, more as a suggestion to stay "professional" when researching JJ and try not to let our personal feelings cloud our interpretation of the facts we study. Please correct me if I am wrong, Brown.

In the spirit of X-mas.....

Peace!
T

Stephen Brown · Freshman Member Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 12

Hello,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I hadn't dropped off this thread, work and the usual hectic pace of the Holidays and New Year have kept me away - will be responding in kind to everyone's comments soon.

Kind regards to all who are continuing the great work of this forum,

Stephen Brown