By this stage, Bentinho’s teachings had come to focus on two key ideas. To avoid the comedown, Jansen retreated further into Bentinho’s teachings, sometimes watching up to 10 hours a day. One woman told me that Bentinho’s teachings gave her a dopamine rush: “It made me feel manically better. Over the next month, under the alias “Shakti Hunter”, Scofield spent more time with Bentinho’s community, carefully observing how it all worked. Online spiritual communities offer a safe and exploratory experience for those who feel marginalized, alienated or exiled from traditional religions.

Source: The Guardian January 09, 2020 11:02 UTC