Season 4 Episode 2 Odyssey Study Group

Sharon Gans Horn started an “innocent” group in Manhattan to study the works of Russian philosopher George Gurdjelf. Her and her husband recruited among members of New York and Boston’s high society, intellectuals, and wealthy. What started as Odyssey Study Group became a cult around one single figure Sharon Gans. She demanded 100% loyalty, monthly membership dues, and exerted unbelievable control over the lives of the groups members. This control included demands of some members to divorce their spouse and marry another, orders to have an affair, and even to adopt another member’s children.

The Good:

• Interesting philosopher that had some good ideas

The Bad:

• High control demands like forced divorce, adoption, and affairs.

The Culty (is there anything in this cult worth incorporating into our own?):

• The Nice Cult is going to host a dance with a VIP section for those who make ten figures. We are determined to give them the "Tom Cruise Treatment" that Scientology provides to their elites.

Sources:

George Gurdjelf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gurdjieff

Odyssey Study Group: https://culteducation.com/group/1190-odyssey-study-group-osg-fourth-way-school.html

General Info about Sharon Gans; https://nypost.com/2022/07/09/odyssey-study-group-cult-still-going-strong-after-sharon-gans-death/

The Nice Cult: https://thenicecult.com