Way back in ancient times when I was majoring in Sociology in college, a professor pointed out some salient points regarding cults and the people who choose to belong to them. Top of the list is the fact that virtually all cults are centered around a single charismatic leader. There are other constants as well, namely, that people who comprise the membership of cults tend to be dealing with a life crisis. They feel ignored or rejected by society in general. They believe they are odd ducks and they naturally seek out the company of others who feel the same way. Another key factor is that, once immersed in a cult, members are loathe to believe anything negative about the great leader they idolize. They actually welcome an authoritarian presence to do the thinking for them. This characteristic isn't limited to cult members, of course...it extends to larger-than-life political figures as well. Even when confronted with hearing the great leader say something shocking on video or audio, they still choose not to believe it- or at least pretend they don't in order to justify their continued allegiance to a scoundrel. Indeed, most cult leaders turn out to be self-aggrandizing scoundrels who enrich themselves financially, sexually or otherwise by exploiting the loyalties of the followers. Ultimately, most cults dissolve under negative circumstances over a period of years. By then, the damage is done. Members have become so dependent on the cult that they scarcely know how to survive in its absence.
The consequences of cult worship are laid out in a fascinating six-part Netflix series, "Wild Wild Country" that is currently a streaming sensation. The series, superbly constructed by co-directors Chaplin Way and Maclain Way, revisits a scandalous situation that took place in the early to mid 1980s in rural Oregon and went on to be the subject of international scrutiny. An Indian guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh found himself under legal duress in his native country. Indian authorities had accused him of numerous instances of unethical behavior and some activities that might have been illegal. Not wishing to chance being arrested, the Bhagwan instructs his major domo, Ma Anand Sheela, to find a place in the United States where the Bhagwan and his growing international cult of followers could relocate. The ever-reliable Sheela studies the U.S. Constitution and discovers that he group can exploit loopholes to establish a thriving cult community in the hills of Oregon. Unfortunately, for the 40 inhabitants of the serene and sleepy hamlet of Antelope, the Bhagwan's purchase of a massive amount acreage adjoins their town. Overnight, aging cowboys and their wives find themselves surrounded by hundreds of cult members who dress in signature red clothing. The perpetually joyful members become elated when the Bhagwan himself arrives. A lineup of his personally owned 90 Rolls Royces is there to greet him. Before long, the cult members are singing loudly, swaying wildly and engaging in orgies, much to the disgust of the neighbors in Antelope. Soon, tensions boil over as the locals insult and harass the cult members. Sheela, who carries out the wishes of the Bhagwan (who rarely speaks), is charismatic young woman who uses an iron fist when it comes to using the law to outwit her opponents. Soon, the Bhagwan actually buys the town of Antelope and installs a puppet city council to carry out his instructions. The cult members also arm themselves for potential gun battles and establish what amounts to an estimable militia.
The show becomes increasingly engrossing as it proceeds, aided immeasurably by the abundance of video segments culled from the international media coverage. The program is also supplemented by contemporary interviews with veterans of the conflict on both sides. The cult members are sympathetic figures at first, as their peaceful nature was inflamed by provocations of their neighbors. However, by the time the series reaches its sixth episode, you'll find yourself on a dizzying path of deceit, greed, theft, manipulation, a mass poisoning, murder attempts and advanced spy tactics that one federal official describes as being straight out of a 007 movie. Ultimately, the Reagan administration sends in Justice Department officials to use legal methods to thwart the cult and prosecute the members for various crimes. (The cult leaves plenty of bread crumbs for the feds to work with.) The victims in all this are the naive cult members who seem to represent the dying embers of the 60s hippie generation. Their devotion to Bhagwan is unquestioning, even when confronted with evidence of his less-than-ethical behavior. No one emerges from the show in a very good light. The cult members look like impressionable idiots (some still profess allegiance to the dear departed Bhagwan) while the Oregonian locals come across like comically stereotypical versions of God fearin' white conservatives.
I won't say any more about "Wild Wild Country" other than you are likely to find yourself instantly engrossed. As you stick with the show, be prepared for a binge-watching session, as you will be eager to see how it all turns out.