Neo-Hindu Acculturation: An Alternative to "Instant Chemical Religion"

Youth and Contemporary Religious Movements: Psychosocial Findings

“…Of those who do join the fringe religions, most will not be markedly changed, or harmed, anymore than if they had joined any other intense belief system and cult, be it political, for example, Communist, chemical (drug scene) (14,31) or therapeutic (primal groups) (57). Furthermore, it can be predicted that most of these religious groups will disappear over the next few years, to be supplanted by other religions or new experiences and phenomena.…”

“…Others have called the religions exploitative, personally and socially destructive (28,48). Social scientists have attempted to place the phenomenon into some rational sociological or anthropological contexts (1,3,7,14,21,39,49,66). Psychiatrists have been called upon and have attempted to explain a phenomenon which they do not completely understand, and many who work with adolescents and young adults have had patients relating in some way to one or other of these religions (32,35,41,46,53).…”