I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was from Indiana and Googled him. I learned that the FBI had recently released all the documents… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jim Jones started out as a civil rights crusader in Indianapolis. As a young preacher in the mid-50s, he used members of his congregation to integrate lunch counters and all-white churches in rich neighborhoods; they'd just march in and sit… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
My parents subscribed to both Time and Newsweek and in 1978, I remember the covers of both that December were of the bodies in… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. I felt tarnished by tragedy, between my brother's death and Escuela Caribe,… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Escuela Caribe preyed upon parents' fears of secular culture to recruit students. Parents could send their kids to a place where they'd be sheltered… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jonestown was supposed to be a great socialist experiment, a place where all the evil "isms" would be eradicated: racism, sexism, elitism. This appealed… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jim Jones used highly-edited videos and photos of Jonestown, showing what a supposed Eden it was. People were interviewed smiling and working in the… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
I only wish my brother David had survived to experience Berkeley as well. No one would flinch here if we were to walk down… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
“Seems we can never just be brother and sister like in other families. Our whole lives, people have felt an urge to make up… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
That's why I think it's important to revisit the story of Jonestown. I hope readers come away with a greater compassion for Jim Jones's… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
In my view, the problem with many conservative Christian parents is that they won't allow their children to have a different worldview from their… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
Jim Jones wanted his people to believe the establishment was trying to kill him because whites were threatened by his message of racial equality.… — Julia Scheeres Copy Share Image
