What is the Difference Between a Cult and a Religion? — Part Two

Photo by Bianca Berg

The exact definition of ‘cult’ seemed a bit nebulous, when I researched the term because opinions varied.

One definition claimed that a cult was: having a charismatic leader, self-appointed, who required devoted followers to obey his/her teachings without question.

Another definer stated that a cult was: a group of individuals with the same religious philosophies and beliefs.

While another lengthy definition was a combination of the above with stress on obedience, unquestioning loyalty, members being the sole supporters of the organization and having punishments meted out for disobedience, doubting the leader, and telling outsiders the Church’s secrets — which was the one concern I had about the church/cult in our community.

Many cults also isolated the members, making it impossible for them to leave for any reason.

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According to previous member’s accounts of their lives while involved in a cult, sex was a big part of the rituals and practices.

For example: the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) doctrine supported capitalism, spirituality, and sexuality, which encouraged freedom of self-expression in whatever form…sex, whenever and with whomever, being primary. The group moved from India to the United States — Wasco County, Oregon near the tiny town of Antelope, specifically — where they found an eighty-thousand-acre ranch for sale. They wanted to be able to be a self-governing religious body, which the constitution of the United States allowed, but India’s government did not.

It seemed a peaceful organization with thousands of sannyasins who simply enjoyed the encouragement of being ‘free spirits’ while living in a loving environment, which they didn’t mind paying for. All might have been good, if Ma Anand Sheela, the leader of the group when Osho wasn’t there, and her council had gone to the town to offer friendship and explain their mission. Instead, they went into the community like bulldozers, bought up much of the town’s vacant properties along with the only diner in the area to make it into a health-food establishment, changed the street signs and the name of the town and alienated the locals instead of embracing them. It didn’t help matters either when Osho and his staff drove through the town to get to their new compound called Rajneeshpuram in their many Rolls-Royces that showed off their wealth to the less fortunate onlookers.

Osho’s personal assistant, Ma Anand Sheela, seemed bent on showing off her power. She and her own assistants made their commune self-governing so that they wouldn’t have to go outside their realm to obtain building permits, and they would have their own law enforcement to be completely independent. They had their own power stations, plumbing, roads, shopping center, airport; everything a community would need.

Photo by Callum Shaw

Because the commune had become its own independent entity, the outside world became suspicious and mistrusting of them, especially when the Rajneeshees began exerting their power by bringing busloads of homeless people in who were American citizens to sway the elections in their favor. But that attempt was thwarted by the town when they disincorporated to prevent the Rajineeshees from taking political control. They also had the election commissioners refuse to register new voters. At that point, ‘war’ was declared by Ma Anand Sheela who plotted revenge by causing a Salmonella outbreak with contamination of the water system for the town. They also planned to have someone assassinate one of the government officials who had come to talk to Sheela and her minions.

The FBI stepped in wanting to delve into accusations that the Rajneeshees were trying to defraud the government by the obvious show of wealth yet paying no taxes. They had arrest warrants for Bhagwan and seven of his followers with thirty-five counts of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, as well as warrants for harboring illegal aliens. Upon hearing of the arrest warrants, the group was told to be armed and ready.

With the help of the Oregon National Guard and the FBI SWAT team, the commune was approached. But by that time Bhagwan had flown out in his private plane moments before the armed men got to the compound. That prompted a nationwide search for him through FAA and Coast Guard communications. He was arrested after landing in Charlotte, North Carolina, eventually pled guilty for arranging sham marriages, and eventually flew back to India.

Much more happened from the FBI’s first inkling of misconduct by the Rajneeshees and the final episode of the documented case when the commune was disbanded in January 1990 that was unsettling yet engrossing. There were more things that may have happened within the group not mentioned in the documentary Wild Wild Country. But there were likely things that may not have happened had there been a leader who was not so power-hungry. But then, as I researched other cults, that theme seemed to be a common denominator in all of them: power-hungry leaders.

If interested, check out the documentary Wild Wild Country to find out details not mentioned here. It is intriguing.

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However, the Rajneesh religion was not the first cult that our government has had dealings with. Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple, as well as The Branch Davidians come to mind, but neither of those turned out well.

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Continue reading by clicking here for part three.

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If you missed it, read part one here.