CULTS: The Salad Bar That Started a War: The Rajneesh Movement

About this episode

The episode discusses the Rajneesh Movement and its transformation from a spiritual commune to a criminal enterprise, highlighting the bioterror attack in 1984.

Led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), the movement built a utopian commune in Oregon that devolved into bioterrorism, immigration fraud, and assassination plots. In 1984, members carried out the largest bioterror attack in U.S. history by poisoning salad bars to sway a local election. The case shows how charismatic leadership and insular power structures can turn spiritual movements into criminal enterprises. Head over to our Crimes Of… YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/@crimehousestudios If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Crimes Of… to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Crimes Of… is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social YouTube: @crimehousestudios Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia Crimes Of… is hosted by Sabrina Deana-Roga and Corinne Vien Instagram: @sabbertoothtiger |…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sabrina Deana-Roga, Corinne Vien

Topics covered

• Rajneesh Movement
• bioterrorism
• charismatic leadership
• criminal enterprises
• Oregon commune
• immigration fraud
• assassination plots

Keywords

• Rajneesh
• Osho
• salad bar poisoning
• bioterror attack
• commune
• crime
• cult
• spiritual movement
• assassination
• immigration fraud

Sponsors

LangeHair

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Crimes Of…, Crime House, PAVE Studios, YouTube

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