Comparison of Ideologies of the Leaders

John Humphrey Noyes gained followers from other Perfectionist groups as well as other religions. Whether they truly believed Noyes' teaching or whether they were simply drawn to the man's magnetism is a debatable question. A few of the elements of his theology have already been mentioned. Besides believing that Christ had already returned, Noyes believed that the "judgment of the world would be a gradual spiritual operation effected by truth and invisible power without any regard of the physical machinery which alarms the imaginations of most expectants of the great day." To Noyes it would be a steady, step-by-step process to perfection. The law no longer applied because those who are perfect are above the law. It was his job to set up the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Noyes felt he was "primary recipient of inspiration and grace" and everyone had to be subordinate to his will. As far as can be found, Noyes never claimed more than lieutenant status to God.

Jim Jones, a Methodist minister, to some extent shared this belief. Jones searched for the perfect church but, unlike Noyes, he wasn't really looking for religion per se. He wanted a world where there was no poverty, security for the aged, collective bargaining, free speech, prison reform, jobs for all and racial equality and he wanted to be in charge. His utopia was more along Marxist lines than God's. In fact he quotes Marx ". . . from each according to his ability to each according to his need." Socialism is the watchword for the People's Temple.

Where Noyes won people by preaching of his gospel, Jones won people with good deeds, miracles, and socialist ideals of equality cloaked in Christianity. He took in foster children and raised money for special projects. "Jones wanted to shelter the needy, to provide a family for the lonely. Stray animals and people were taken in." He took neighborhood children to the zoo, opened a soup kitchen, gave away canned goods, paid rent for the indigent, and gave away clothing. The list goes on but this would appear to be Christianity as it was meant to be.

Jim Jones inspires it all. Often he reached into his own pocket to help street beggars and the needy. But before he gave a substantial sum to anyone, he had his aides investigate to make sure the person deserved it. If Jones saw a need, he tried to fill it. A benevolent opportunist, efficient, savvy, businesslike, he was the sort of preacher who could convince the owners of the synagogue he bought to loan the money interest-free if it were repaid within a year -- and who would satisfy the debt one day early. (Reiterman, Tim & John Jacobs, Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People. (New York: E.P. Dutton) 1982. p.54)

There is no indication that Oneida or the Davidians made such massive efforts to win and convert so many people. Jones and Howell both had political connections. Howell's were only local people but Jones lobbied in Washington with Senators and Congressmen. Later in Jonestown foreign leaders, such as Russian Ambassador Feodor Timofeyev, visited.

Vernon Howell differed from Noyes and Jones in that he took over an existing group whose belief system was already established and that had an established membership. Howell at first took a subordinate position in the group but eventually claimed divine inspiration. At God's command he began an affair with the seventy year old Lois Rodin. Howell claimed to be a prophet and challenged the claim to leadership of Lois Rodin's son, George. The Seventh Day Adventist have a strong belief in prophecy and prophets. It is the group belief in prophecies that allows Howell to make such radical changes in doctrine.

The basic belief of the Davidian's was that Biblical prophecies spoke of a latter day David who would appear and lead the church into the Kingdom of God. This "modern day David would have to be a prophet . . . . ." The Church would be obligated to follow him while God slaughtered all unbelievers. In the final days of the Waco tragedy, Howell, calling himself Koresh, alluded to this slaughter as part of his Seven Seals. Like Noyes, he believes he would not die or if he did he would be resurrected.