Fathers, mothers, members, and outsiders : analysis of social power and authority relations in the Peoples Temple and the Church Universal and Triumphant

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. ; Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 5, 2008) ; Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2008. ; This analysis examines the social power and authority interactions of the members of the Peoples Temple and the Church Universal and Triumphant through the lenses of the powerful and dramatic events of "white night" and "shelter night" respectively. It explores the relationships of the members through the concepts of kinship terms, socialism, membership identity, and external pressures. All of these concepts were significantly related to the events of "white night and shelter night" and through this process gain a greater understanding members' worldviews. The improved understanding of these movements' worldviews becomes extremely important when interaction with those outside of the movement is necessary. ; Includes bibliographical references.