Manhattan Cult Story: Gentle Souls

Esther Friedman's wonderful book about her dreadful experience in Sharon's cult is out now. I highly recommend.

ABOUT THIS BLOG

I am Spencer Schneider. I was a member of the Sharon Gans Cult for 23 years until I escaped in 2012. This blog is for members, survivors, family, and anyone who has been in a cult. I also want to warn the public because the members are dangerous.

Although highly charismatic and brilliant, Sharon Gans was also a demented psychopath who believed she was a teacher of “higher knowledge” and whose mission was to “save civilization.” She built a real estate empire and attracted a cadre of followers who satisfied her every sexual, financial, and anti-social whim. Along the way, she subjected followers to sexual predation, physical and emotional abuse, forced labor, and the bilking of savings. The cult still operates: beware. I’ve written an article about my experience and the NY Post wrote an expose.

The members are fanatics and extremists who believe they are saving civilization and that the ends justify the means. They also believe people of color are "inferior" and that LGBTQ people can be "cured." The cult is ultra-secret (members don’t even tell spouses). Members are well educated/well-heeled professionals who live amongst your midst -- members might be your accountant, therapist, doctor, lawyer, architect, children’s schoolteacher, contractor, stockbroker, executive recruiter, etc. You would never know they are in a cult.

Members may try to recruit you without you even knowing it. First, they will try to befriend you feigning deep interest while building trust and gathering personal information. Just because you are a savvy New Yorker like me and the thousands who have passed through the doors, don’t think you’ll necessarily be hip to the game. The recruiting is very good and sophisticated. It was created in part by Minerva Taylor. If you join, you will be groomed for a long time until they lower the boon. At that point, you'll think all of the torture is for your own good or for the so-called "Work." So, beware if you are approached to join or if you are in it. If you are stuck in it, you can always contact me or the authorities.

The cult was founded in San Francisco in the 70’s by the late Alex Horn and his wife, the late Sharon Gans. It is known by several different names which are listed in a side-column blurb (“Ganscult Aliases”). Gans, died in January 2021.

As noted, this blog provides information for former and current members and others. It also provides a forum through comments and submissions. The posts are organized in reverse chronological order and can be easily located through the table of contents on the side-column as well as searched through the search tool in the side-column.

AKA

The Work, The Study, School, OSG, Our Friend, Our Director, S, Negative Emotions, Self-Remembering, Identification, Food Diagram, Law of Three, Law of Seven, Three Story House, Friction, Partner, Sustainer, Teacher, Student, Second Education, Esoteric School, School of Inner Development, Being Bodies, Second Conscious Shock, Buffers, Essence Friends, False Personality, Hour of Silence, Self-Sensing Exercise, Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Black Book, Boston Philosophy Group, New York Philosophy Group, Month Experiment, Payment, Evolution, Sacred School, Third Story, No Fraternizing, Private, Essence Friend, NY Playwrights, Person I Am Working With, Special Friendships, Oral Tradition, No Name, No Last Names, Gossip, Mechanical Man, Food For Moon, Wrong Work of Centers, Lisa, Robert, Four Centers, Self Observation, 3 Story House, Self Remember, Identifying, Courtyard Marriot in Cambridge, Courtyard Marriot in Brookline

Manhattan Cult Story

Monday, February 27, 2023

Gentle Souls

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