Expensive-len
By Brian Weaver Throughout the history of our country, new religious movements have been misinterpreted by the media and consumers. Buzzwords such as “cult” and “brainwashing” run rampant, leaving those who view the media very uninformed on the actual dogmas of these religious practices. Even with movements such as Transcendental Meditation and centers such as the Esalen Institute, the media seems to miss the purpose of their respective existences. These institutions, along with other New Age movements such as Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment, are constantly being criticized for the amount of money asked in order for people to participate. Whereas other religious communes have rejected capitalism as a concept, these newer movements require people to come up from a certain background. While they claim that they exist to open the mind and create a better world, only a select few can actually afford to be a part of the supposed revolution. In particular, it is difficult to discern ...