Relation of Religion and Violence
Jonestown the Life and Death of the People’s Temple, was led by Rev. Jim Jones
where he used religion and personal believes for his own selfishness. Jones used his
ministries to win a large congregation, his target were old people, college students,
economically disadvantaged, blacks and all that were neglected by the society. He preached
life and hope to the hopeless and many joined to the ministry, according to the interviewees
who were members, ‘one day to the church’ and it felt like home to them. He used the Bible
in one verse of selling belonging to share with the poor and many people sold their assets
especially the old. He lied to the people about the Promised Land which was in California
and many left their homes and work to worship God (Jonestown The Life and Death of
Peoples Temple 2006, n.d.).
Many people viewed him as a lead to heaven unto their God but he performed fake
miracles to win the congregation. Through this, people saw the God in him and not the selfish
schemes that won innocent lives to even death of 909 individuals by mass suicide. Good
people are led by some religion to perform rituals to a supernatural being that they do not
know and that’s why the Rev. won the congregation. He used the phrase of if they need a
father, he will be a father and if looking for a God he will be God (Jonestown The Life and
Death of Peoples Temple 2006, n.d.). Religion is driving many people away from what is
right to wrong used by selfish individuals to win innocent souls.
Emile Durkheim argued religion to be worship and celebration of human society.
According to Durkheim, religion provides social cohesion that maintains social solidarity
through shared beliefs and rituals; it was portrayed in Rev Jones church where they all
believed in a promised land. Durkheim explained religion to be a social control that enforce
religious-based norms and morals that maintain conformity and society control. Life and
Running Head: RELATION OF RELIGION AND VIOLENCE
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death temple controlled the society by using the religion norms and morals to control its
congregation. According to Durkheim, it offered purpose and meaning in answering all
existential questions which was illustrated by Jonestown ministries where his church had
solution to all problems; economic, social and health problems(Boundless).
Marx’s conflict theory is based on the assumption that, social behaviours are
understood and explained in terms of tension and conflict between competing groups. He
looked religion as a source of conflict rather than a cohesive power in the society. He argued
that religion helped maintain the status quo of individuals in a society through making lower
class individuals content with life after death promises. Life and Death Temple confirms to
the conflict theory, it brought conflict and suicidal death to the 909 people rather than
bringing the individuals together till their death time. The temple concentrated on the lower
status quo and gave them the promise of a life after death that’s why some dedicated all their
time and even life to the church (Boundless).
Reza Aslan’s argues that critics and believers do not understand that religion is more
of identity rather than a matter of practices and beliefs. The Bible and Koran has contrasting
commandments, the Koran warns believers on killing (5:32) and also commands them to slay
idolaters (9:5), how a worshipper treats these commandments, depends on the believers.
Violent misogynist have plenty scriptures to justify their actions and peaceful democratic
feminist finds justification too. Refrain are required from generalization about people of faith.
It’s rightful to condemn religious practices that violate human rights and religious
communities must do in countering their extremist interpretation of faith (aslan).
Some scholars believe that ‘sacred values’ motivate contemporary terrorism that is
uniquely of religious nature. They argue that religiously motivated terrorism is harder and
dangerous to subdue as the sacred motivation of the terrorist make a difference. The ‘Prozac
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effect’ relates on the myth that religion teaches hatred, where desire and love for one’s group,
and willingness to do whatever it takes brings violence. The blame is not on the religion but
on socialization effect brought by leaders who preach perverted religion which is illustrated
by Muslim today. These theories illustrate that believes impacted by religion on people minds
changes them to doing things they have learnt (gibson).
Contextual social factors rather than religion played a big role in the fall and rise of
Jonestown temple. Jones was a white preacher but did not distinguish race, many of his
congregation were black as he showed love and appreciation to the group not accepted by the
community thus uplifting his ministry. He preached to the poor that there were riches through
his ministry and many joined it out of poverty as they needed encouraging words, on the old
and many economically advantage he preached on selling of their properties to share with the
people and he acquired the money (Jonestown The Life and Death of Peoples Temple 2006,
n.d.). The old especially women who needed someone to care for them sold their properties to
be cared and help the poor and socially disadvantaged thus rising his congregation. His
expression of love to all groups of people won thousands of people irrespective of their
economy, race and social class.
Religion is not the only cause of violence and peace in the world, but it is the leading
cause of terrorism. Different believes from different people has caused conflict and will
always do as long as people believe in different supernatural powers. Everyone has a right to
the religion but there should be teachings on living together in harmony irrespective of the
religion and believe. Politics have used religion for their own selfish motives to divide many
nations worldwide. Economic factors have also caused violence as many people desire to
gain easy riches.
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References
aslan, reza. “Bill Maher Isn’T The Only One Who Misunderstands Religion”. N.p., 2014.
Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
Boundless (2015). Boundless Sociology. Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/religion-
14/the-functionalist-perspective-on-religion-106/functions-of-religion-593-8141/
Boundless (2015). Boundless Sociology. Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/religion-
14/the-conflict-perspective-on-religion-107/religion-and-social-control-596-2095/
gibson, david. “Huffton Religion”. does religion cause terrorism?it’s complicated (2011): n.
pag. Print.
Jonestown The Life and Death of Peoples Temple 2006 [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydHRESPjBxg
