There's a good TV documentary on Netflix that has just been released called Wild Wild Country.
A six-parter, it focusses on the cult of Rajneesh and the creation of a town in America in the 1980s called Rajneeshville (or something...).
It's all new-age pap with post-war hippies trying eastern mysticism. A load of cobbles with free love, group hypnosis (and sometimes psychosis), meditation and power/greed.
It is worth a watch if you're into looking at people and wondering what the fuck was going through their minds, but I found it interesting nonetheless. Draws some good distinctions of thought patterns and 'soulessness'... capitalism and organised religion.
Whilst these people, are seriously deluded - it does spring questions about the whole business of religion and humans need for the ethereal or unexplainable. The true power of mysticism is the mystery of it and whilst some of these people can't see they are being made to believe those very physical and biological reactions that they are experiencing, are just that, it does show you the power of assembly and community. The powers that be (the federal/state government), are petrified of any kind of new order or new thought damaging the very fabrics of church/state, state/church that is in place and it baffles me that they could act toward a cult, like this, and yet, not act against cults like Scientology.
Anyhow, give it a go - it is good TV. There is a lot of stuff that people will remember, and a lot that they will not. I found it very interesting and kept me entertained.
It is on Netflix now and you won't be disappointed. Well... unless you are a follower of faith or religion (which is entirely your choice).
