Synanon

How can a religious movement go wrong? When people think of a religious movements, some think about love, compassion and faith. All peaceful aspects that represents a religion. Other people may think of the history of how religion came to be. For example the wars, multiple sex partners and massacres caused by religion. For example the Mormons, started by Joseph Smith, not an extreme religious movement, like others, had the Mountain Meadow massacre in 1857 and they also believed in polygamy.

A more extreme religious movement was the Branch Davidians. The Branch Davidians, led by Victor Houteff in 1942, believed the Seventh day Adventists lacked the second coming of Christ, so they separated and started their own group. The Davidians established themselves in Mt. Caramel (Waco, Texas). Later this group was led by David Koresh. He believed that he was a prophet from God. This group as many others was heavily affected by media. People believed that this congregation was a sex cult and that members of this congregation were being brainwashed. The FBI believed that the members were being held hostages. While the members in the believed that the FBI’s attack was part of the Seven Seals, the second coming of Christ. The difference between the thought of these two groups led to the death of 76 people. One of the things that I found interesting about this group is that my boss knew a lady that died in Waco Texas. Her name was Judy Schneider. Judy went to Cal Poly and my boss and her used to work together. My boss remembers Judy as a very smart down to earth lady. She also says that Judy and her husband Steve were trying to have a baby for the longest time, but they weren’t successful. Finally Judy got pregnant and my boss always thought that the child was Steve’s until years later she came to realize that the child was from David Koresh. Judy and Steve came to the conclusion that they (Judy and Steve) had to follow God’s will. So they accepted for Judy to become one of Koresh’s wives.

A more extreme group than the Branch Davidians, were the Peoples’ Temple. This group was founded by Jim Jones in 1955. This group spread Christianity, service to the poor and racial equality. The group first originated in Indiana and eventually moved to California, in the 1970s, with their main headquarter in San Francisco. In 1974 Jones bought land in Guyana to develop a home for his followers. Jim Jones became an alcoholic and paranoid and moved his 1000 members. Once in, members were not allowed to leave. Jones preached over his loudspeakers. Jones was the only contact with the outside world they had. In November 1978 due to all the negativity around Jonestown, Leo Ryan, a congressman from California, decided to investigate Jonestown for himself. He found out that members were being held against their will. When the members who wanted to leave and the congressman were about to depart, they were attacked by Peoples Temple gunmen sent by Jones. That day, 918 members of Peoples Temple committed suicide by drinking poison. People who refused to drink were forced to drink by the armed guards.

Synanon on the other hand, was founded by Charles Dederich in 1958. Charles, opened his alcohol recovery program in Santa Monica, California. Synanon was first established to help help addicts stop using drugs and alcohol. Synanon had great success with drug and alcoholic addicts. Members were required to play, “The Game.” The Game was the most important treatment method in Synanon. Dederich believed that if a group of people sat in a circle to express their frustration they would be able to develop personal integrity and delay impulsive action. Dederich believed that addicts were not able to hide anything if they expected to stay clean. The Game was two to three hours long with groups of eight to fifteen people. Players were required to back the play. By the 1970s the game started to become more violent, amd these violent attacks violated the most basic rule of the Game, “No violence, no threat of violence.” After the death of Chuck’s wife, Betty, alcohol was introduced into Synanon. Synanon became violent, beating members or people who were against Synanon. In October 1978, Synanon members placed a rattlesnake in the mailbox of Paul Morantz. Finally in 1991 the IRS sued for $17 million in back taxes. Finally Synanon dissolved in 1991.
Unlike the branch Davidians and The Peoples Temple, Synanon started as an alcoholic rehabilitation program and later became a religion. Synanon became a religion for the sole purpose of becoming tax exempt. While the sole purpose of the Branch Davidians and the Peoples Temples was religion. What can be told about these three leaders? First, the mental health of each of these leaders heavily affected the organization. All three of them became paranoid of their surroundings. The negative media played a huge component of the downfall of each of these groups. Another similarities between these three groups is that they were all isolated from society. Blood relatives could not get to members inside the communes.