National Geographic Documentaries Season 2012 Episode 45 Jonestown - Nightmare in Paradise

Jonestown - Nightmare in Paradise is the 45th episode of the National Geographic Documentaries season of 2012. The episode takes a closer look at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, also known as Jonestown, and the events that led to one of the worst tragedies in American history.

Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the documentary provides a comprehensive overview of the Peoples Temple, a cult led by Jim Jones that fled to Guyana in the late 1970s to build a utopian community. The episode reveals how Jones, a charismatic preacher, managed to attract a large following by promoting a message of racial equality and social justice. Many of his followers were poor or disenfranchised individuals who saw the cult as a way to escape their troubled lives.

Throughout the episode, viewers are introduced to a number of former Peoples Temple members who share their firsthand accounts of life in the cult. They describe the cult's strict rules, such as mandatory workdays and mandatory attendance at Jones' sermons. Many members were also pressured into donating their entire life savings to the cult, which Jones used to fund his elaborate lifestyle and support his political ambitions.

The episode also explores the darker side of the Peoples Temple. Viewers are shown how Jones' behavior became increasingly erratic and paranoid as the cult gained more power. Members who questioned his leadership were often subjected to public humiliation and even physical abuse. Jones' control over his followers was so complete that many of them were willing to follow him even when he began to advocate for mass suicide.

The climax of the episode is, of course, the infamous Jonestown massacre. The documentary recounts how, on November 18, 1978, Jones ordered his followers to drink poisoned Kool-Aid in the name of revolution. Over 900 people died, including over 300 children, making it one of the largest single losses of American civilian life in history.

Overall, Jonestown - Nightmare in Paradise is a sobering look at the dangers of blind faith and cult mentality. It raises important questions about the responsibility of leaders and the limits of devotion. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in American history, human psychology, and the dark side of human nature.