David ChidesterSalvation and Suicide: An Interpretation of Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple, and Jonestown
David Chidester is Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Cape Town and author or editor of 20 books, including American Sacred Space (IUP, 1995), edited with Edward T. Linenthal, and Christianity: A Global History.
FOREWORD BY CATHERINE L. ALBANESE AND STEPHEN J. STEIN
PREFACE
Introduction: Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple, and Jonestown
I. PERSPECTIVES ON AN EVENT
1. Death and Rituals of Exclusion and Inclusion
2. Cognitive Distancing
3. Religiohistorical Interpretation
II. THE CLASSIFICATION OF PERSONS
1. Superhuman
2. Subhuman
3. Human
III. ORIENTATION IN SPACE
1. Cosmic Space
2. Geographic Space
3. Body Space
IV. ORIENTATION IN TIME
1. Cosmic Time
2. Historical Time
3. Body Time
V. SALVATION AND SUICIDE
1. Religious Suicide
2. White Nights
3. The End
Epilogue
NOTES
INDEX
