Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotecorboyMr Condon, I was never involved with Gans. However, I find it interesting that her methods of recruitment resemble those used by espionage agencies. James Webb, in his biography of Gurdjieff, The Harmonious Circle, makes a very strong case that Gurdjieff was a spy in the Imperial Russian secret service, an occupation that enabled him to travel as extensively as he did. To your k
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you moderator. Just to clarify: QuotemxkittyI speak not of the Gans/Horn/Klein groups. Cochineal spoke of and allegedly "reopened" the Gans/Horn discussion, to whit: COCHINEAL: "I would like to reopen the question about Sharon Gans and/or Alex Horn (or any of their followers) being involved in mind control experiements. A friend recently sent me a link to a very i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotemxkitty We may not have direct evidence that the Horn/Gans or any other Gurdjieff group was studied or sponsored by any government intelligence agency, but it is fallacious to discard this possibility completely. It should be researched further and questioned. Someone in the know might come forward in the interim. I know of at least one Gurdjieff/Subud group that is connected to an ar
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Cochineal, Don't see any relevance in any of this that pertains to the Gans/Horn/Klein group. The mechanics of the group is fairly easy to explain within the cult dynamics paradigm offered by Sanger, Hassan and many others, as well as studies in interpersonal behavior in small groups. Gans a CIA subject of mind control-- she gets the phone call and in some kind of post-hypnotic sta
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Yes. There are splinter groups that have been called "cults," such as the Fellowship of Friends led by Robert Burton and The Work led by Sharon Gans." Sharon Gans does not lead "the Work". The Work refers to the Gurdjieff-Ouspensky system and whatever one might think of it, is not related to the cult that Gans, Robert Klein, Fred Mindel et al runs.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well it doesn't sound completely sane. That's two pretty different extremes-- "many positive experiences and outcomes from work-related undertakings" and "a Nazi Concentration Camp"--I'm a little confused about your analogy-- unless you feel that being there was as traumatic and soul destroying-- well, as a Nazi concentration Camp (but partly redeemed by your
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteMoishe3rd "No one was ever told when and how to break off relationships or to get married - certainly not by Alex. Sharon did often suggest these sorts of things. Some students who had been there many years took her suggestions. Some students who had been there many years did not. The same with newer students." When I was in the group these were often not "take it or l
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Good for you, Don-- Does this mean that reluctance at this time to respond to this intimidation means that ex-members have no balls? (or ovaries?)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

1977-'79-- Theatre of All Possibilities NOTE: I was a "younger student" at the time I was involved with this group. Therefore my exposure to the physical violence was relatively small-- tip of the iceberg, so to speak. A ticket quota meeting-- (Tickets to the play we were currently performing and were expected to sell tickets for)-- One by one, P an "older student&qu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I was a member of Theatre of All Possibilities and the Boston Group App. 1977-80. I read with great interest most of the posts associated with this group (including OSG and the New York incarnations. Found them interesting and informative (and a little triggering)-- most valuable to me were Cber7, moishe3rd (who I know and remember quite well) and wasthere. They all covered a lot of g
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"