I’ve made a hobby out of cults, ever since the Jim Jones massive death/killing/suicide. Last night I saw the best documentary of a cult ever. The filmmaker was a member. He started making movies in school, then joined this cult in California. The leader is still alive and has 100 followers in Hawaii. It spends a lot of time showing exactly how he got them to accept him. The interviews are of some very bright people who recount their feelings with great clarity.
The access to the leader and the members is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It covers 25 years, and ends exactly like you would expect it to. But what’s revealed is how a controlling narcissist works. One ex-member points out that these people are everywhere, there’s no doubt one is right in your neighborhood. They don’t all have cult followings, but they control the neighborhood group, they get things from your friends without giving back, they say they have secrets and powers, but they rarely reveal anything. Occasionally they pull something off that helps people and their supporters use that as proof that they are awesome.
It’s “Holy Hell”, on Netflix. The cult was called the Buddhafield. I haven’t googled it yet.
I've made a hobby out of cults, ever since the Jim Jones massive death/killing/suicide. Last night I saw the best documentary of a cult ever. The filmmaker was a member. He started making movies in school, then joined this cult in California. The leader is still alive and has 100 followers in Hawaii. It spends a lot of time showing exactly how he got them to accept him. The interviews are of some very bright people who recount their feelings with great clarity. The access to the leader and the members is like nothing I've ever seen. It covers 25 years, and ends exactly like you would expect it to. But what's revealed is how a controlling narcissist works. One ex-member points out that these people are everywhere, there's no doubt one is right in your neighborhood. They don't all have cult followings, but they control the neighborhood group, they get things from your friends without giving back, they say they have secrets and powers, but they rarely reveal anything. Occasionally they pull something off that helps people and their supporters use that as proof that they are awesome. It's "Holy Hell", on Netflix. The cult was called the Buddhafield. I haven't googled it yet.Hmmm, reading your summation, seems to me it could be good background for understanding Trump's appeal.
With the original post I didn’t think it would worth looking into but then comes “It may help understand Trumps appeal” so I’m off to have a look see.
Trump, your boss, your ex, the popular kid in high school, same basic psychology. This guy had the little extra power of hypnosis, so he could create an experience every now and then, and that kept them coming back. Most people like him don’t become cult leaders, but most don’t crave that much attention, or don’t mind working a little.
Thanks for the info. I was shock by Jim Jones, still am.
Just put it on my Netflix queue. Thanks! Noticed another one on there that may be of interest called Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple.