The great dictators used mysticism to rule and oppress entire nations
In the last decades of the 20th century, the interest in mystical teachings grew and it seems that in the coming years it will intensify even more. These are not whimsical groups that are on the margins, but very large publics from all levels of society. This is a wide-ranging trend that does not focus only on one mystical teaching, but on a wide variety of approaches and different social groups. Each of them adopts one approach from this whole.
Beyond the content side of these teachings, the sociological and anthropological aspect of the phenomenon must be examined, what it stems from, what it expresses in terms of society's needs and as far as possible try to see where it is headed.
One of the most prominent features of the social political idea in recent decades is the collapse of the ideologies that have been known for generations, communism from this and capitalism from this.
The collapse of the communist idea came to light with the end of the Cold War and the realization that this idea was fundamentally a fallen idea. It failed to germinate in those countries on which it was imposed and it caused extremely severe social and economic distortions. The capitalist idea also created quite a few problems. It had hard foundations that created injustices and irreversible tragedies. Many were dispossessed of their assets and left homeless and the weak were pushed to the margins due to their inability to cope with the high demands of the competitive and successful society. They were basically told that their right to exist was in doubt. Disillusionment with the illusions of the great ideologies required finding new solutions, both practical and humane. There is no longer a game of black and white colors here, but a wide variety of colors, each of which can be correct. This disillusionment is extremely slow and has not yet reached world-wide dimensions.
At the same time, scientific and technological developments are very fast. It is difficult not only to follow them, but also to internalize them. Developments are faster than society is able to digest. Various products become obsolete even before they reach the general use of large publics and these have to adapt to new products, which involves heavy financial expenses and the disappointment is great.
Among many circles there was and still is a perception that science solves problems. This approach is fundamentally wrong. Science does not solve problems, humans solve problems. The solution or non-solution to any problem is a function of the degree and nature of the use made of a given technology. Any technology can have both positive and negative uses. If we take for example the hammer, with it you can hammer nails into the wall in order to hang a picture in the same way you can use the same hammer to deliver murderous blows to the head of a person with whom you are in a fight. As long as the problem-solving approach of science remains, so will the disappointment with it.
This combination of factors resulted in the development of a serious dilemma. Many do not know what to do. They need a grip. Even a wealthy person, however wealthy, needs a worldview in which he believes and according to which he acts.
A value rift developed at the company level. These disappointments and doubts led to the development, flourishing and prosperity of the mystical movements including the fundamentalist movements in conventional religions that find expression in the return to the religious sources. There is hope here that in these frameworks you will find personal and social salvation. Each of these movements creates an enveloping community framework that gives each and every participant a sense of warmth and belonging. The individualism that characterized the 20th century is shattered in the face of the new frameworks.
These movements are actually a new version of the messianic idea. They guarantee the ultimate solution for every participant, "a solution now". There is a feeling of suffocation that seeks to find a quick answer to her distress. From the point of view of those seeking quick solutions, there is only one possible solution. Many are unwilling to accept the possibility that many problems whether real or imagined can have more than one solution and all solutions will be correct. At the same time, there may be a situation in which there is, at least in the foreseeable future, a sought-after solution and perhaps even impossible. It is reasonable to accept this option as well. There is nothing wrong with life alongside a number of question marks, the unwillingness to adopt this approach while not internalizing skepticism into the normative everyday essence, poses a considerable danger to society. From those mystical concepts that many try to hold on to by force, dictatorial ideas may grow, the threats of which millions of people experienced in the 20th century.
