Aesthetic Realism is a cult   Who they are, how they operate • Written by former members	Get notified when I update this site.
Home What is AR? Cult Aspects AR and Homosexuaity Former members tell their stories Secret AR Inquest AR in the media AR responds to this site Thinking of leaving AR?

No attacks on the contributors, please      [Here I'm speaking directly to the current AR members who want to snipe at the contributors to this site through the Add-a-Comment box.]      Look, I know you're scared that visitors to this site believe the stories shared by former AR members that are posted here. You should be, because why wouldn't anyone believe them? So many former members have come out and spilled the beans about their experience, do you really think you can cast any doubt on these stories by continuing to shout, "They're lying! They're lying!" ?      Well, apparently you do. And what's really hypocritical is that while you whine up and down the street on Countering the Lies that some of the contributors to this site choose to remain anonymous, every single one of you who has written in to this site has used a fake name and fake email address! You know, the contributors to this site do tell me their real names and email addresses, I just don't publish them. You people, on the other hand, have offered nothing but fakery. And trying for an entry in the Grand Prix of Irony, one of you submitted a comment complaining bitterly about a former member's post being anonymous...and you submitted that complaint anonymously! Incredible.      Anyway, here's the deal: This site is the safe space for former members. "Countering the Lies" is your space. I know how you think: you want both your space and my space to present your message. Funny, you're not offering me any space on Countering the Lies to present my message, are you? Of course not. You're too scared to even link to this site from CTL!      So I don't have any obligation to give you a forum in our space, especially when you say petty things, and say them anonymously. However, I'll still consider it: Keep it clean (no name-calling), use a real address so I can verify your comment (I won't publish your address), and offer me a similar opportunity on CTL to post messages, and I'll be happy to let you post here.      But really, if you're so eager to use my space to present your own message, why haven't you agreed to debate me? If you're so confident that you're right and we're wrong, how about we do this live in public, rather than hiding behind the cover of the Internet? Or is the best you can do to try to post insulting and anonymous comments on somebody else's webspace? Is that really the best you can do? You tell me.    Share your Aesthetic Realism story! If you did time in AR, had or have a friend or relative in AR, or had some other run-in with the group, I hope you'll share your story on this site. If you'd like to write something that you don't want to appear on this site, then please instead. Name (We won't publish your name unless you say it's okay, but we have to have it in order to verify submissions.) Email Address (We won't publish your email address, but we have to have it in order to verify submissions.) Please type the word in the picture:  (prevents spam) Your experience: Yes   No Okay to publish your name? Yes   No Okay to identify your gender? (e.g., "his story", "her story") Yes   No Get a notice of updates to this site? (no more than 4x/year)   What's on this site What is Aesthetic Realism? An explanation about both the AR philosophy and the group that promotes it. Cult aspects of Aesthetic Realism Fanatical devotion to the leader, cutting off relations with families who aren't also believers -- it's all here. Former members tell their stories A ton of former members explain what life inside the group was like -- and how they're glad they got out. This one is the longest, but most comprehensive. Very moving stuff. AR and Homosexuality The AR group used to try to "cure" people of being gay. They stopped that in 1990 because high-profile success cases kept deciding they were gay after all and leaving. AR has never said their gay-changing attempts were wrong. AR's founder killed himself AR's founder Eli Siegel killed himself, but the AR people have been trying to hide that fact. They can't hide any more, since enough former students have come forward to confirm the truth. Secret AR inquest We got our hands on a tape of a secret meeting inside the group. It's an inquest of an AR student who was supposedly "cured" of his gayness, only to be found still cruising for gay sex. The AR people are merciless with this guy! AR responds to this website The AR people have tried to rebut this website with their own site called Countering the Lies, whose title ought to win some kind of award for irony. Here we explain the story behind that site. AR consultation What really happens in an Aesthetic Realism "consultation"? Now for the first time the public can see for themselves. A former member shared his tape with us. In the session the AR counselors tried to help the member not be gay, telling him that the basis of the cure was to express deep gratitude to AR and its founder. Thinking of leaving AR? If you're thinking of leaving the group, you're not alone. Let's face it: Most people who have ever studied AR have left -- and not come back. There's got to be a reason for that. Curious about what they figured out? Worried about the fallout if you do decide to leave? Here's everything you need to know. Media Reports The media reports on AR from time to time, and it's never favorable. Here's a list of articles, plus some help for journalists researching AR. And here are direct links to the landmark articles in the NY Post and Jewish Times. Aesthetic Realism glossary We explain the real meanings behind the loaded language that AR people use. My own AR experience I was born into the group, as was my mother, because her parents were members. This page explains my history in the group. On a separate page I have a transcript of my lesson with cult leader Eli Siegel. AR in their own words. Give 'em enough rope... • Actual AR internal meeting • Actual AR consultation • Actual AR lesson • Actual AR advertisment • Actual AR ad. #2 • Hyper-reaction to criticism Site News / Blog Here's some news and commentary that I add from time to time.

Open offer to debate How do you decide which side is telling the truth? I think that would be the side willing to stand behind what he says. Since 2005 I've had an open offer to debate the Aesthetic Realists publicly in a formal format at any time to defend what I've said on this site, and to answer their own charges against me. But the AR people won't do it. Their excuse is, "He's not worth debating." But if that's true, then why did they put up a ninety-six page website to try to snipe at me and to try to rebut what I'm saying? I think the answer is that they're content to hide behind the cover of the Internet, but they know how bad they'd look in a live format where anyone actually got to ask any pointed questions. You know what's really funny? Someone went to one of their public presentations, said he'd seen this site, and asked about the cult allegations. The AR person said, "It's very easy to say crap like that on the Internet and never have to be challenged." Oh, the irony is killing me! Anyway, Aesthetic Realists, as for a public debate, I'm ready when you are. And to everyone else, when the AR people won't stand behind what they're saying, why should anyone take what they say seriously?