Take your mind back to the early 80’s, that’s if you existed that early back.

After resigning from being an altar boy at my local catholic church ( I was one of the lucky ones and didn’t get abused) I wondered around exploring cults and other religions. There was a gap in my life.

Stumbled across ‘The Orange People’ and went to one of their introductory sessions on a Sunday. There was a short film featuring the Bhagwan and then a vegie meal afterwards.

It was in a very big mansion in a well-to-do suburb in Melbourne, Australia. Most of it had been turned into dormitories.

Sitting on the big, embroided cushions I talked to some of the residents.

Most worked for an office cleaning business affiliated with the Bhagwan. They didn’t get paid but got accommodation, healthy food, contraceptives, plenty of ‘free luv’ in a drug and alcohol free environment.

I was tempted to join but was still at Uni.

What struck me more were the stories of the people I talked with. Many of the stories were quite tragic and involved homelessness, substance abuse and time in psych wards.

I didn’t join but the conclusion was that the organization provided meaning and connectedness to people who would otherwise be just a statistic in the deaths register and this cult didn’t advocate mass suicide. It saved the taxpayer a lot of money in mental health funding. Thumbs up to them.

Sometimes a religion or cult can serve a valuable purpose in society but not all do.

Got to go. Going to explore one our Ozzie born cults called ‘Hillsong’. I don’t believe it’s a good cult but got to keep an unbiased mind. What makes that money making cult flourish. Donald must love them as they’re very conservative but some people need that. Keeps them off the streets.