Religion: The Freedom to Be Strange

Edythe Kreshower, 47, a twice-divorced housewife in Queens, N. Y., was appalled when her daughter Merylee suddenly decided five years ago to join the Hare Krishna sect. Merylee had been finishing her second year at Queens College and hoped to become a teacher. But she took the Hindu name of Murti Vanya, became a nun in the sect's New York City temple, donned a saffron sari and joined her fellow devotees in chanting in the streets.* Convinced that Merylee, 24, had been brainwashed, her mother hired a private detective, Galen Kelly, to rescue her....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!