 | Homemaking in the Dunes Jan 1 | Synanon is being streamed on Paramount +. Synanon started as a drug rehab in the late 1950's. We are led by a child who was born there and she is coming to terms with her past along side her mother. It became a world of its own with its own businesses. The founder and leader Charles E. "Chuck" Dederich was a an active alcholic who became drunk with power. Chuck was never recovered, his fridge was full of hard liquor. Chuck attracted many people of color because he was married to a African American woman who served as his conscience. Chuck's wife died of lung cancer, he really went off the rails. The group used to play a therapy Game called The Game which was really a brain washing technique. People would scream, insult each other in order to make people accountable. Chuck was running a cult from the very beginning. We see specialized language, behavioral controls, etc. Religious extremism came later when Chuck was losing money because he was hiring enough drug addicts. So, to keep getting tax breaks, he became a church. There were allegations and records of child abuse, sexual abuse, and dissolving of marriages by making members switch partners. The final act that caused this cult to dissolve was when Chuck tried to murder a lawyer with a live rattlesnake that had its rattles removed. If you like this series, you may enjoy the book Synanon kid. There are several other books I have read on this cult that I will be reviewing on this blog in upcoming weeks. | | | |  | You can also reply to this email to leave a comment. | | | | |
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