The Fascination of Dimas Kanjeng: Social Phenomena between Religion, Mystical and Economic Motives

This study concludes that the problem that exists in society, especially the followers of the hermitage (padepokan) dimas kanjeng, is an internal problem in the form of a crisis of orientation and dislocation in their personality. These conditions cause disorientation and experience unclear direction, or experience dislocation. Such a society is in a condition of high expectations, namely obtaining financial economy instantly. The nature of greed and ambitious souls dominates the conditions of an unstable following society plus the practice of individual cult centered on one person kanjeng dimas who is glorified. Cults were raised with their performance and the embedding of a great name that made them admired because they were considered to have advantages above average. To recruit followers, The strategy used by Padepokan Dimas Kanjeng is a very subtle approach, polite words and tempting the followers to believe everything that is conveyed by the head of the padepokan. The lure of getting double the money becomes an attraction for followers to join. This study uses a qualitative approach and the data are collected through interview, observation, and documentation toward condition of followers padepokan since 2016 until 2020. The informant of interview religious leaders from Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Probolinggo resident, the officials of Ministry of Religious Affairs in Probolinggo, and prominent leader of citizens of the locus this study.