The monstrous philosophy at the core of Alex & Ani

Steve Ahlquist
April 1, 2014

Carolyn Rafaelian, founder of the jewelry company Alex & Ani, an almost unique Rhode Island business success story, was interviewed by Mark Oppenheimer of the New York Times recently about her company and her astounding success.

Those moderately familiar with Alex & Ani’s jewelry line are aware of the pseudo-religious “new age” veneer the company puts on its products, and Oppenheimer wonders if the company is a “capitalist success story” or a “worldwide church,” before quickly declaring the answer to be “both.”

The core philosophy of Rafaelian’s church is monstrous and anti-human. Alex & Ani profits from selling a worldview based on fear and superstition, one that especially targets the gullible and ignorant. Worse, the company puts forth the idea that everyone deserves what they get, a sort of new-age Calvinism/prosperity gospel in which those who have good lives are reaping the benefits of the positive energy they put forth, and those who are struggling are the recipients of the life lessons needed to turn their sorry lives around.