Jim Jones

==Reactions and legacy==
{{see also|Jim Jones in popular culture}}

The events at Jonestown were immediately subject to extensive media coverage and became known as the Jonestown Massacre. As awareness reached the public, outsiders refused to accept Jones's attempt to blame them for the deaths. Critics and apologists offered a variety of explanations for the events that transpired among Jones's followers. The Soviet Union publicly distanced itself from Jones and what they called his "bastardization" of the concept of revolutionary suicide.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=572}}

American Christian leaders denounced Jones as Satanic and asserted that he and his teachings were in no way connected to traditional Christianity. In an article entitled "On Satan and Jonestown", [[Billy Graham]] argued that it would be a mistake to identify Jones and his cult as Christian.{{sfn|Chidester|2004|p=40}} Graham was joined by other prominent Christian leaders in alleging that Jones was demonically possessed.{{sfn|Chidester|2004|p=41}}

The [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]] responded to the Jonestown deaths with significant changes for ministerial ethics and a new process to remove ministers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Parent Church is Chagrined by Evolution of Jones's Cult |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/11/29/archives/parent-church-is-chagrined-by-evolution-of-joness-cult-may-be.html |access-date=April 23, 2019|author=Vecsey, George|date=November 29, 1978|work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> The Disciples issued a press release disavowing Jones and reported that the community in Jonestown was not affiliated with their denomination. They subsequently expelled Peoples Temple from their denomination.{{sfn|Chidester|2004|p=39}}

In the immediate aftermath, rumors arose that surviving members of Peoples Temple in San Francisco were organizing hit squads to target critics and enemies of the Church. Law enforcement intervened to protect the media and other figures who were purported to be targeted.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=572}} Peoples Temple's San Francisco headquarters was besieged by the media, angry protestors, and family members of the dead. James, who returned from Jonestown to take leadership in San Francisco earlier in 1978, was left to address the public. At first, he denied that Jones had any connection to the deaths and alleged the events were a plot by enemies of the Church, but later acknowledged the truth.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=573}}

The supporters of Peoples Temple, especially politicians, had a difficult time explaining their connections to Jones following the deaths. After a period of reflection, some admitted they had been tricked by Jones.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=573}} President [[Jimmy Carter]] and First Lady [[Rosalynn Carter]] sought to minimize their connections to Jones.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=573}} San Francisco Mayor [[George Moscone]] said he vomited when he heard of the massacre, and called the friends and families of many of the victims to apologize and offer his sympathies.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=573}}

Investigations into the Jonestown massacre were conducted by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) and the United States Congress. Although individuals and groups had provided tips to the FBI about Peoples Temple, no investigation was made before the massacre. The investigation primarily focused on why authorities, especially the United States State Department, were unaware of the abuses in Jonestown.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=575}} Although Peoples Temple collapsed shortly after the events of 1978, some individuals continued to follow Jones's teachings during the 1980s.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=577}}

Since the Jonestown Massacre, a massive amount of literature and study has been produced on the subject.{{sfn|Chidester|2004|p=46}} Numerous documentaries, films, books, poetry, music, and art have covered or been inspired by the events of Jonestown.{{sfn|Chidester|2004|pp=xxvi,46}} Jim Jones and the events at Jonestown had a defining influence on society's perception of cults.{{sfn|Chidester|2004|p=26-45}} The widely known expression "[[Drinking the Kool-Aid]]" developed after the events at Jonestown, although the specific beverage used at the massacre was [[Flavor Aid]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 20, 2006 |title='Jonestown': Portrait of a Disturbed Cult Leader |work=Day to Day |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6353579 |url-status=live |access-date=September 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100739/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6353579 |archive-date=April 2, 2015|publisher=[[NPR]]|author=Bates, Karen}}</ref>