The so called Sect or Secta have not disappeared as some of us think, they are not as obvious because they have changed or moved. Now they are camouflaged in the amiable succoured world of alternative therapies of all sorts: contortions of Yoga, quantum number of lucubration of physics, essence of Bach flowers ... some have found the way to percolate discourses, simple and encouraging, to influence the free will or volition of the mind (which really means the money) of the unwary, those fragile and easily deceived disciples. The media reported the flourishing of this line of businesses and the fact that the medicine most prescribed and therefore consumed in Spain is tranquillizers, kind of explain well the connection between the two.
The lonely people, especially old folks on theire own, lethargic of the church, the new refugees of the soul trying to flee from boredom, would grab any words and gestures of help or hope, even the promised aromas of peace. There are all variety of self-help books, Yoga, Feng-Shui, numerology, Esoterism ... of positive energy, of interior light, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, risotherapy (laughter and emotions) ... an infinity of ways and means available in the market for the spiritual peace. All seem attractive, easy to digest; no compromises, no commandments, nor repentance. A sort of fast-religion, of cult, with the only obligation of passing through the cash till.
The names, the ways and the rituals change, but at the end it's always the same search: the balance, the serenity and the illusion of not setting out on the journal alone and lonely. But it's also, as always, the intention of the few to gain, to impose, to utilize the weak, the feeble and the needy, to benefit themselves of their ego and their pockets. Then, the food for the heart becomes poison of the soul.
Such news naturally creates a lot of controversy. The 'for,' the 'against', and the 'who cares?'. I don't fit into any of these groups. Yes there are many lonely people especially, as pointed out, the old and the retired, and the ones with no families any more, few or no friends at all. They need someone or, failing that, something to occupy their time and the void in their minds and hearts. Should any of these therapies, ways or means help even in a small way, and should people be willing and able to pay for it, what's so wrong about them? People pay to see a movie in the cinema, and leave it 2 hours later with nothing to take home but the memory, however short, of a story and having been entertained by it. Same with aromatherapy or whatever other therapeutic practice, isn't it? They were not robbed. They might not gained much if anything, but they BELIEVE they had been helped and their anxiety eased; and that's in a way positive.
What the government need to do is to see that official and legal measures has to be put in force, to establish that all those who claim able to cure, heal, or give lectures on theories and self-help are indeed qualified, proven and legally registered as such.
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