Fathers, mothers, members, and outsiders: analysis of social power and authority relations in the Peoples Temple and the Church Universal and Triumphant

Abstract

This analysis examines the social power and authority interactions of the members of the Peoples Temple and the Church Universal and Triumphant through the lenses of the powerful and dramatic events of "white night" and "shelter night" respectively. It explores the relationships of the members through the concepts of kinship terms, socialism, membership identity, and external pressures. All of these concepts were significantly related to the events of "white night and shelter night" and through this process gain a greater understanding members' worldviews. The improved understanding of these movements' worldviews becomes extremely important when interaction with those outside of the movement is necessary.