Before the Jonestown Massacre in 1978, Jim Jones was a charismatic Christian pastor for decades. He displayed fervent devotion to Jesus Christ and the Christian church. He advocated for the poor, was considered a modern-day prophet, and developed a reputation as a gifted preacher. Over time, his ministry developed media attention for controversial teachings and reports of spiritual abuse, culminating in the Jonestown Massacre on November 18, 1978. This fourth episode of The Wolves chronicles the trajectory of perpetrators of spiritual abuse, a pastor named Alan Scott, and the reality of the eventual exposure of perpetrators of cult-like teaching and manipulation with Vineyard pastor Luke Geraty.
Paul Martin is a former pastor who works as a human rights advocate. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy from UCLA and Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.
The Wolves is for those interested in religion, Jesus, or the psychology around power abuse. It is also for survivors of trauma, including spiritual abuse. Covering current cases of abuse in the church today, The Wolves will highlight the sinister paradox of those who display sincerity, conviction, and knowledge and who can even claim to hear the very voice of God himself, YET at the very same time abuse they claim to love.
01:52 Karen Spier, Jonestown, and a Christian cult
06:45 Alan Scott, the Dwelling Place, and patterns of spiritual abuse
13:33 Heresy and Spiritual Abuse from the Perspective of a pastor named Luke Geraty
For information, visit www.thewolvespodcast.com
Contact Paul Martin at paul@paulmartin.org