Yeah, I didn’t want to get too deep in the weeds, but it’s so much more complex thank ‘drink the kool-aid’. I’ve listened to the 40+ minute tape as well, and linked a well written Britannica article detailing these points as well as some important cultural impacts in my original comment.

A large portion of his ‘congregation’ were Black Americans who were beaten down by the status quo at the time. I can’t blame them for grasping at hope that his de-segregated ‘church’ valued them for the people they were. As you said there were drills for this sort of thing before, so it’s impossible to say if the ones who initially volunteered for it were truly aware of what they were doing.

I’m personally not a ‘Behind the Bastards’ person. I very much enjoy historical dark comedy; just not as a teacher. I’m more of a fan of ‘referential’ humour in that regard. If I’m trying to learn something I want it as honest and close to the source as possible.

I don’t disagree that regardless of a physical burial site his cult will have their ‘pilgrimage’ sites. I do want to just point out that current sentiment is not everyone in Jonestown (not Jamestown) voluntarily drank the Flavor Aid. The whole story is harrowing, even more so when you put it into the context of the time period it took place in.