Discussion»Questions»Human Behavior» Road to Jonestown quote, "Nothing was more important than the cause, not even facts." Is there ever a time/place when people think that way?
Road to Jonestown quote, "Nothing was more important than the cause, not even facts." Is there ever a time/place when people think that way?
For me that would be a curious thing to say.. for me facts and truth outweigh anything and everything.. but I am guessing not everyone feels the same on that one? SO is there a time and place where the cause might be seen as more important?
Jim Jones seems to have thought so, from what I've read.
It was almost as if the more that real facts stood him in the face (more so, facts that weighed against his opinion on how things should be), the more those facts were ignored. Or, Jones seemed to exaggerate those facts to his cause/and/or self-benefit. Unfortunately, Jones' facts were often of his own making. (Which, I guess, makes them NOT facts.)
Jones, to me, and his Peoples Temple, generated much good but did it then somehow get all convoluted in Jones' ego, blended in with his dream of creating a purely, successful socialistic community? Possibly? When facts get in the way of someone's ego and cause, well, then, yes, let the facts go. Or make up your own.
Wow - - I know I make no sense but that book and Jones' and the Temple's journey really fascinate me in how things can slowly transform before one's eyes and lead to unexpected-yet-somehow-also-expected outcomes.
(I bet I could win a prize with my answer here today in answermug -- the most nonsensical answer of the day! But, I admit, that book has stayed with me and I still am reflecting on it all.)
ADDITION: Jones's initial causes of helping others won him many followers and/or supporters. So, some of them then seemed to just "Go with Whatever Jim Says," regardless of whatever facts stared at them. (Yeah, I've been intellectually and emotionally moved lately in not being able to figure out some events/people. After I read "Road To Jonestown," I read several articles about Anne Frank and the Holocaust. And I'm, at the moment, just shaking my head and heart at my fellow humans - - not understanding how we all get in such situations and/or the things we do to each other.)
This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at June 24, 2017 10:42 AM MDT
Your answer was fine.. well I thought so, but maybe I am strange :P Yes, either way nothing is quite so strange as the whole Jonestown thing.. People are endlessly fascinating.. not always in a good way..
WelbyQuentin 