190: The Mysterious Cult Leader Who Inspired Jonestown - Father Divine

Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday!

What if I told you that one of the most influential... and mysterious cult leaders in American history is someone most people have never heard of?

And that Jim Jones himself, yes Jonestown Jim Jones, got many of his ideas from same guy?

Today, we’re diving into the wild and complicated story of Father Divine—the charismatic leader behind the Peace Mission Movement, a man who inspired millions, shaped pieces of the civil rights era, built entire communities from the ground up… and also demanded unwavering loyalty that crossed more than a few lines.

This isn’t your typical cult story. It’s part spiritual revolution, part empire-building, part “wait, WHAT?!” And somehow still a chapter of American history no one talks about. And we should because it brings up an interesting question...

Where’s the line between a movement that helps people… and one that controls them? And at what point does something become a cult?

Let’s get into the Dark History of Father Divine.

And when you're done... go check out my MMM episode about Jonestown: https://audioboom.com/posts/8164237-jonestown-massacre-apocalyptic-cult-who-was-jim-jones

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This podcast is Executive Produced by: Bailey Sarian and Joey Scavuzzo
Head Writer: Allyson Philobos
Senior Writer: Katie Burris
Research provided by: Xander Elmore
Additional research by: Dr. Thomas Messersmith
Special thank you to our Historical Consultant: Poulomi Saha, Professor at UC Berkeley who writes and teaches about our cultural obsession with cults.
Director: Brian Jaggers
Edited by: Julien Perez
Additional Editing: Maria Norris
Hair: Angel Gonzalez
Makeup: Nikki la Rose

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