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Peoples Temple Collection; Box 28, Virtual Item 11, Q1054-Pt.3- Redwood Valley sermon

 Digital Record
Identifier: ms-0183_28.11

Dates

  • Digitized: 1972

Creator

Summary Note

(Note: This tape was transcribed by Norman Scott. The editors gratefully acknowledge his invaluable assistance. The editors are also grateful to Andrew Finlay for his correction on the date of this sermon.) This sermon from September 1972 in Redwood Valley contains many of the elements – including the contradictions and complexities – of a typical address by Jim Jones from the period. He castigates the Bible on numerous occasions, not only for its message, but for the human misery that has been perpetrated in the name of the Christian-Judeo God throughout history; yet within moments of vilifying it, he will quote the Bible as a demonstration, if not outright proof, of the divinity of himself and those who follow him. On numerous occasions, he raises the issue of his own faith-healing abilities and the miracles witnessed by those in the church, yet he chastises those who come for the sole purpose of being healed, and who are impatient to get to that part of the service without hearing his larger message. His background and training is as a preacher, and he scatters quotes from the Bible throughout his speaking, even as he assumes – and understands – that many of the people in the congregation recognize the quotes, yet he heaps criticism upon every other minister, referring to their Cadillacs and fancy trappings. Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

Rights Statement Note

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Physical Description Note

Original audio cassette tape recording digitized and made available as .mp3 audio file.

Publisher Note

Publisher: The Jonestown Institute

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

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