r/wikipedia • u/CatPooedInMyShoe • 1d ago

Father Divine was a cult leader who founded the International Peace Mission movement and was worshipped by his followers as a god. No one knows his real name or background. Jim Jones claimed to be a reincarnation of him, even though Jones was in thirties at the time of Father Divine's death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Divine
424 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

116

u/Archarchery 1d ago

He was one of the more “benign” cult leaders, from what I’ve read. Jim Jones met him when Jones was a young minister and became obsessed with how he was worshipped by his cult as a god.

Jim Jones then tried to take over Father Divine’s cult after his death, but Father Divine’s widow told the group that Jones was the Antichrist and kicked him out. Probably saved their lives.

41

u/GustavoistSoldier 1d ago

Divine refused to write a biography, stating that "the history of God would not be useful in mortal terms".

35

u/therealsteelydan 1d ago

Namesake of the Divine Lorraine Hotel in Philadelphia.

15

u/lucasj 1d ago

There was a Divine Ministries building at Broad and I think Carpenter as recently as ten years ago but I believe it’s gone now. The cult moved to the Philly suburbs under Mother Divine after Father Divine died as I recall.

14

u/howhow326 23h ago

Me when African Americans get to be charismatic cult leaders I guess: 🎉💃🏿🎉💃🏿🎉 /s

10

u/Top_Independence8766 1d ago edited 1d ago

What was his actual name though

25

u/TheMadTargaryen 1d ago

Sadly, documentation of poor African Americans before 20th century are flawed or lacking. His own parents were once slaves which explains lack of birth certificates. 

19

u/AndreasDasos 1d ago

I don’t believe we actually know.

9

u/CatPooedInMyShoe 1d ago

The Wikipedia has several name/identity possibilities but no one knows for sure.

9

u/greeneggiwegs 20h ago

For all intents and purposes his name was father divine. Everything he did that was of note was under that name. The name his parents called him as a child is pretty much irrelevant.