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Recruited: Middle class progressives, civil rights activists
Peak following: 5,000+
Death toll: 918
Creepy fact: Some of Jones’ followers, including children, were forced to confess to made-up crimes and were beaten.
Reverend Jim Jones started his own congregation known as the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ. He proclaimed to have a vision of a nuclear attack and when it would occur, causing him to move his church from Indianapolis to San Francisco. There, Jones’ ideologies of social activism were welcomed. His church became popular, attracting people of all kinds, evening gaining the support of politicians like George Moscone, Harvey Milk and Jerry Brown.