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Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? - Religion - Nairaland

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Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by SisiKill1: 3:16pm On Apr 21, 2012
I am not interested in religious wars or congregational wars. I am not jealous of any church and the number of congregation they have, I don’t wish I could to build a 50,000 pavilion and I have never had the desire to own private jets (quite frankly, I imagine the maintenance will be hell on wheels). I don’t wish I had a 50 million people following. I want to clear that up before Papa’s Children start hurling it as my motives for opening this thread. cheesy cheesy

Over the past few months the debate has been raging on about Pastor Oyedepo slapping a girl because she said she was a witch for Jesus. What should have been a clear cut case of wrongness became an attempt for Winner’s Church member to circumvent reality by saying the slap was justified. How far into the koolaid cooler can you be to see the attack by a grown man on a child. . .as justified??

The longer the debate rages on the more some of us are convinced that if care is not taken, OTA where Winner’s Chapel is located will be the next JONESTOWN.

For those of you unfamiliar with that saga. . .here is a brief documentary.

[flash=420,315]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpWr45bKWpE?version=3&hl=en_US[/flash]

Listen to the Last Recording of Jim Jones as he urges his Sheeples to drink poisoned Koolaid. . .918 people died that day. They all drank the poison, feed it to their children because they believed “Daddy” (that’s what they called him too) could do no wrong and would never steer them wrong.

[flash=420,315]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FCYg4v9lBE?version=3&hl=en_US[/flash]

Jim Jones like “Papa” used to flog and slap members of his congregation while the other members cheered on. He had convinced them that the slapping and beatings were necessary because those people had done something wrong or were possessed by evil spirit.

The few members who survived would later say that deep down they knew it was wrong but they didn’t want to say anything against the man of God.

Does that ring a familiar bell??

1 Like

Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by SisiKill1: 3:17pm On Apr 21, 2012
Will Ota be the Next Jonestown? undecided

[img]http://traceyricksfoster.files./2008/11/jonestown18.jpg?w=700[/img]







After Reading this THREAD, I think the answer is obvious!!!
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by SisiKill1: 3:36pm On Apr 21, 2012
Jonestown Massacre: A 'Reason' to Die

The Man They Called 'Father'





Jim Jones: The Visionary

Over the twenty years preceding the events at “Jonestown,” the Reverend Jim Jones’s number of followers throughout America had grown considerably, as he drew to himself the outcasts of society, along with those who desired to help the downtrodden and serve those in need. During the early 1960’s, Jones preached the need for racial brotherhood and integration, an unpopular doctrine at that time which brought him much criticism from the church hierarchy. To avoid such criticism, Jones founded the People’s Temple in 1963, where both black and white worshipped side by side. The poor and society’s misfits were welcomed with open arms. Jones’s congregation worked to feed the poor, find employment for the jobless and help ex-criminals and drug addicts to put their lives back together.

As Jones’s congregation grew, so too did the demands he made upon his flock. Greater sacrifices and dedication were required of the People’s Temple membership. As criticism of the church’s practices increased, Jones relocated to northern California in 1965, along with 100 of his most dedicated and faithful followers. Once in California, the People’s Temple grew considerably until there were several congregations, with its headquarters based in San Francisco.

To attract new members to his "church," Jones widely publicized his services, promising miraculous healings where cancers would be removed and the blind made to see. Upon arrival, potential recruits would witness a community of brotherhood and fellowship where everyone, no matter their social standing or colour, was treated as equals. Each new potential member was greeted with personal warmth rarely encountered in the more traditional churches. People’s Temple members would stand before the crowd and recount stories of illnesses that Jim Jones had cured for them.

To further convince his audience of his great powers he would make predictions of events that would always come to pass, and receive "revelations" about members or visitors, things that only they could have known. Before their eyes, Jones would heal cancer patients and a mass of putrid tissue would be torn from the patient’s body.


The passing of a severe initiation was required by new members that had the effect of making entry that much more desirable. Something that has to be earned is naturally valued more highly than that which is obtained freely. It also had the effect of creating a much higher level of commitment from members. Each new level of commitment asked of the member was immediately justified by the fact that much had already been sacrificed. To reject the new situation would mean admitting that the previous acts of commitment had been wrong. It is a natural phenomenon that people will tend to prolong a previously made commitment, even when painful, rather than admit that they had been mistaken.

The demands made upon a new member were only small and the level of choice was high. The commitment of further time and energy into the organization was gradual; the desire to do so was increased by the promise of the achievement of a higher ideal. All members were taught that the achievement of this ideal required self-sacrifice. The more that was sacrificed, the more that would be achieved. The new members would gradually come to see the long meetings and hours of work done for the church as being worthwhile and fulfilling. Jones increased his demands on the member only in small increments. At each new level of commitment, any reservations the person may have had could be easily rationalized and justified. By the time Jones’s demands had become oppressive, the individual members were so heavily committed that to not fulfill any new demands would require a complete denial of the correctness of all past decisions and behaviour.

Just as the demands on a member's time increased gradually over time, so did the level of financial commitment. In the early days of membership, giving money was completely voluntary, although the amounts given were recorded openly. By recording the amounts given, an unspoken expectation was conveyed. The new member could choose to give nothing or very little, but knew that his level of commitment was being measured. Over a period of time, the level of contribution was increased to 25% of each person’s income and was no longer voluntary.

The highest level of commitment that could be demonstrated was when an individual or family lived at the People’s Temple facilities, handing over all personal property, savings, and social security cheques to the Temple. The ideal of communal living was a large aspect of Jones’s teaching as being the only truly spiritual ideal. The outside world of capitalism and individualism was seen as evil and destructive. Forces of that evil system would see the ideals and achievements of the People’s Temple as a threat to its own stability and thereby want to destroy it. Through such teachings, Jones was able to create the illusion that the only place of safety and comfort was the People’s Temple. The member saw any criticism of the church from the outside as being untrustworthy and proof of what Jones had taught.


[size=18pt]From the earliest stages of their indoctrination each member was taught that the achievement of a higher spirituality would require a struggle against their own weaknesses. Any areas of resistance an individual harboured against the church were quickly suppressed as being an indication of that person’s lack of faith. Jones would regularly bring critics before the assembly and chastise them for their ‘unbelief.’ He would then require other members of the group to mete out the necessary punishment. Parents would publicly beat their children for transgressions while husbands and wives would be required to punish each other. In this way, each person was made personally responsible for the action and had to find a way to justify and rationalize it. In this way, Jones was able to become more and more brutal in his punishments as each member had learned to internalize the belief that such punishments were necessary and just.[/size]

The desire to relinquish more and more control of their lives over to Jones was further encouraged by the new-found harmony and peace that committed members found in their lives. Disputes within families gradually diminished. There was no longer any cause for disagreement since the rules were clearly laid down by Jones. The everyday stress, and sometimes even turmoil, they had known in the past from the constant need to make decisions and choices was now gone. Life was easier with fewer choices.

Any idea about leaving the People’s Temple was quickly dismissed by the individual for a number of reasons. Their total commitment to the church usually meant that they had isolated themselves from their family and friends, whether from lack of association or open enmity. To leave the fold of the church would mean either admitting their mistakes to family and friends or being alone without any support group. Church reaction to, and retaliation against, other defectors who were hated as traitors and enemies would also make leaving difficult. To deliberately put themselves into a situation of being despised by their friends was extremely daunting; especially when for so long the People’s Temple had come to be seen as the only safe haven from an evil world. The final barrier to emancipation was economic. Each individual had surrendered all of his or her possessions and income to the People’s Temple. To leave would mean to abandon all the possessions they had, leaving them penniless and homeless. Staying could easily be justified, and the consequences seem more appealing than what could be faced outside.

The individual’s isolation from any outside forces meant that even when they disagreed with the teachings or actions of the group, that disagreement was nowhere confirmed. With no support or agreement from another source, the individual would soon repress his own reservations. This process was made doubly effective, as each person was required to report any expressions of disagreement or dissatisfaction to Jones. Children would report their parents, husbands their wives, and parents their own children. It was not safe to trust anyone with your negative feelings, to do so would risk the public humiliation and severe punishments meted out for such "offences."

At “Jonestown” this isolation was even more extreme. The community was situated in the middle of a jungle with armed guards along the few roads that led to civilization. Even if one succeeded in leaving the complex, he had no passport, papers or money to help him to escape. When Ryan and his delegation arrived at “Jonestown,” anyone who wanted to leave had the option of doing so openly without the normal threats to their safety, yet only fifteen chose to do so. This is a strong indication of the effectiveness of Jones’s indoctrination.

Read More HERE
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Nobody: 3:39pm On Apr 21, 2012
No, because Oyedepo doesn't want to kill his cash cows. It's not about some vague spritual quest for him, it's all about money. He's a conman, he's not crazy.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by dekung(m): 7:29pm On Apr 21, 2012
Martian: No, because Oyedepo doesn't want to kill his cash cows. It's not about some vague spritual quest for him, it's all about money. He's a conman, he's not crazy.
There could be some similarity btwn the two: They both want of the body and mind of their congregation. Jim Jones may have gone crazy or drunk on the power he seemed to have gleaned from his congregation, Oyedepo is no less insane as feellers from some of his congregant and staff suggest. Even some unbiased students of his university will agree that this man to be an inpatient in a mental institution and given special sessions in anger mgt. How do you explain a church leader summon his pastor and make a pronouncement that those of them that do not like his style of leadership should leave immidiately or such leave throwing microphone at his pastors in one of their many meetings?
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by SisiKill1: 7:53pm On Apr 21, 2012
dekung:
There could be some similarity btwn the two: They both want of the body and mind of their congregation. Jim Jones may have gone crazy or drunk on the power he seemed to have gleaned from his congregation, Oyedepo is no less insane as feellers from some of his congregant and staff suggest. Even some unbiased students of his university will agree that this man to be an inpatient in a mental institution and given special sessions in anger mgt. How do you explain a church leader summon his pastor and make a pronouncement that those of them that do not like his style of leadership should leave immidiately or such leave throwing microphone at his pastors in one of their many meetings?
Thank you!!

What many fail to understand is that the control is a gradual process. . .Jim Jones didn't just wake up one and offered his congregation koolaid, it started little by little.

One day, it is Hop on one leg, touch your nose, spin around and say machamacha. . . The congregation does it without question. The next is drink only this kind of water, congregation does it without question. On and on he goes trying to test the limits of his powers until one day he slaps a young girl in the presence of 50,000 peaople and they cheer him on. Not only have they shown him he owns their money, they've shown him he own them mind, body and soul. Come now, who won't be drunk in that kind of power?? No one!!
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Jenwitemi(m): 9:17pm On Apr 21, 2012
And how are you sure of this? Nobody predicted Jonestown disaster, you know. Might happen and Nigeria is the likeliest place on the planet for that to occur judging from the religious fervor gripping the populace. I go dey hear dey watch.
Martian: No, because Oyedepo doesn't want to kill his cash cows. It's not about some vague spritual quest for him, it's all about money. He's a conman, he's not crazy.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Jenwitemi(m): 9:22pm On Apr 21, 2012
As a matter of fact, Nigeria own will be the mega mass sacrifice that will involve 10s of thousands. There, i have become TB Joshua predicting death and disasters because the similarities to Jonestown is way too uncanny.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Nobody: 10:15pm On Apr 21, 2012
dekung:
There could be some similarity btwn the two: They both want of the body and mind of their congregation. Jim Jones may have gone crazy or drunk on the power he seemed to have gleaned from his congregation, Oyedepo is no less insane as feellers from some of his congregant and staff suggest. Even some unbiased students of his university will agree that this man to be an inpatient in a mental institution and given special sessions in anger mgt. How do you explain a church leader summon his pastor and make a pronouncement that those of them that do not like his style of leadership should leave immidiately or such leave throwing microphone at his pastors in one of their many meetings?
Jenwitemi: And how are you sure of this? Nobody predicted Jonestown disaster, you know. Might happen and Nigeria is the likeliest place on the planet for that to occur judging from the religious fervor gripping the populace. I go dey hear dey watch.

maybe I was being too generous.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by SisiKill1: 11:11pm On Apr 21, 2012
Jenwitemi: As a matter of fact, Nigeria own will be the mega mass sacrifice that will involve 10s of thousands. There, i have become TB Joshua predicting death and disasters because the similarities to Jonestown is way too uncanny.
You don't need to be TB Joshua to predict that. All you have to do is attend ending their services. . .it is scary the kind of hold he has over them. I know people won't buy or eat any other kind of bread but the one made in the church bakery. .yes they have a bakery and a pure water business, I've seen people log giant kegs all the way to ota just because they want the water from Canaan Land. Are you beginning to get the picture on how easy it would be??

You are very very right about one thing. . .the similarities between Jim Jones and Oyedepo is uncanny. The both believe themselves to be demi gods.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Jenwitemi(m): 10:49pm On Apr 24, 2012
They are getting there, step by step.
Sisi_Kill:
You don't need to be TB Joshua to predict that. All you have to do is attend ending their services. . .it is scary the kind of hold he has over them. I know people won't any other kind of bread but the one made by the church bakery. .yes they have a bakery and a pure water business, I've seen people log giant kegs all the way to ota just because they want the water from Canaan Land. Are you beginning to get the picture on how easy it would be??

You are very very right about one thing. . .the similarities between Jim Jones and Oyedepo is uncanny. The both believe themselves to be demi gods.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by logicboy: 10:45pm On Apr 25, 2012
This message needs to get out more. It is like people forget that there is extremism in the church nowadays. What gives pastors the right to beat or kill members of the church
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by dare2think: 11:02pm On Apr 25, 2012
Moderators, pls put this on the front page because you have no idea of the multitudes of mugs you will be helping.
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by tayoccu(m): 11:35pm On Apr 25, 2012
Scary!!!!
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Nobody: 5:32am On Apr 26, 2012
HOMEPAGE Pleaseeee...
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by SisiKill1: 2:17am On Apr 30, 2012
Homepage? For a topic that isn't about garri and epe or Seun's latest crush without makeup?

Come now Guys. . .where do you think you are. . .Huffingtonpost or The Salon perhaps? cheesy
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Nobody: 2:23am On Apr 30, 2012
lol...
Re: Is Winner's Chapel Ota The Next Jonestown?? by Nobody: 9:47pm On Dec 22, 2012
Bump..

Just being desperate here.. grin

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