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?

An unbiased reader shares some thoughts I stumbled onto your site, and took a look at the Countering the Lies website, as well as the AR homepage. I am not, nor have I ever been, in any way affiliated with AR. In fact, I only heard about it for the first time when I came across this website. After reading what everyone here has to say, checking out counteringthelies.com, and perusing aestheticrealism.org, I must say that what you're all saying here is quite valid. They pretend to be some institution of higher learning, but all they talk about is their cult leader, Eli, who they feel is better than Christ, although their "philosophy" "fits well with any religion." I am dumbfounded as to their personal attacks on you and other former members who spoke of their experience inside the cult, especially for an organization that proclaims, "...the viewpoint of Aesthetic Realism that we have an obligation to see everything as well as we can."(Straight from aestheticrealism.org.) The next problem is where they say on counteringthelies.com, "The absurdity is obvious; the lack of interest in truth, palpable." [comparing criticism of AR with criticism of Kant, or Pascal, or Lao-Tze, or Nicolas of Cusa, or Hegel, or Sartre.] If you had attacked Yale or Harvard, saying they were not schools, but cults, would Yale or Harvard create a webpage to ease public relations and personally attack the few that claimed such? No. They might make a public statement about the comment, laughably, but probably not even that. Because it is actually absurd. But counteringthelies.com is clearly an attempt to regain some public relation points and try to proactively stop people from thinking it's a cult. They wouldn't want you to think that if they were to try to convert you. Finally, run a word check on counteringthelies.com because nobody in the world, even an English major, would use all of those 10-point words(as my 9th grade English teacher would call them) to express such a simple idea. They used a ton of "big words" and liken themselves to great teachers and philosophers of the past in an attempt to sound more intellectual, thus garnering points as an academic study, not a cult. I'll bet their perfect being, Eli Siegel, didn't even speak like that. And the way they make themselves out to be their own martyrs? Please. Anyhow, just wanted to let you know what a total outsider thought of the whole ordeal. Also, as an aside, I have had experience in another cult (which also isn't considered a cult by its members, and is largely unknown as such) myself, and I just wanted to let you know that what you're doing-speaking out against them, exposing the truth of the matter-is a great thing. I hope others, maybe even those inside may see this and understand what it is.   Former members describe Aesthetic Realism The ULTIMATE statement by a former member. Wow. A former Aesthetic Realism member who was involved for over ten years and into the 1990's sent us this incredibly detailed account of what life inside AR is like. This puts to rest once and for all any lingering question about whether AR is a cult - it is. The AR people will not be able to "counter" this on their Countering the Lies website because this account is from one of their own, and because it's so exhaustively detailed. A tale of getting sucked in. Another former member shares his experiences. This story is unique because he describes exactly how he initially got drawn in, and how he then kept getting more and more involved. Aesthetic Realism ruined his marriage. "[It] introduced a level of stress in my marriage that had not previously existed....I consider my 'study' of Aesthetic Realism to be one of the factors that led to the eventual breakup of my marriage, to my eternal sorrow." This former member also wrote about AR on Steve Hassan's Freedom of Mind. On having all the answers. A former member explains how AR members think they have all the answers, and feel qualified to lecture others about how they should view personal tragedy. Kicked out for remaining gay. A former student describes how he was kicked out of AR because he couldn't change from homosexuality. Powerful stuff. "If I disappointed them, then I now consider that a badge of honor." A former member tells how AR try to change him from being gay, and convinced him not to spend Christmas with his family. "This is merely one example of the way people were controlled and humiliated if they stepped out of line...". The experiences shared with us by a member from 1974-80, now a Fortune 100 executive. "I want Ellen Reiss questioned!" A former member tells her story, and wonders why there hasn't been a class-action lawsuit against the foundation yet. They took his consultation tape. A former student describes how AR people kept his consultation tape with his most intimate thoughts on it, and told him he couldn't study any more unless he incorporated AR more radically into his life. "I personally know at least half of the contributors to AR's Countering the Lies website and know them to either be fibbing or having a long-term memory problem.". A former member from 1971-80, confirms that AR students don't see their families, are discouraged from attending college, and shun other members. He also offers that he was mistaken when he was involved about thinking that AR had changed him from homosexuality. Michael Bluejay's description. This whole website is my statement about Aesthetic Realism. But in this article I describe my family's involvement in more detail. Members interviewed in Jewish Times. This lengthy article in Jewish Times quotes former students of Aesthetic Realism extensively. NY Post article. A series of articles in the NY Post quotes many former members who are now critical of the group. Aesthetic Realism debunked. A former student explains the cult aspects of AR. Posted on Steve Hassan's Freedom of Mind website.   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)

Aesthetic Realism at a Glance Name The Aesthetic Realism Foundation Founded 1941 Founder Eli Siegel, poet and art/literary critic. Committed suicide in 1978 Purpose To teach Siegel's philosophy of aesthetic realism. Philosophy The key to all social ills is for people to learn to like the world. Having contempt for the world leads to unhappiness and even insanity. (The slogan of their newsletter is "Contempt causes insanity".) Homosexuality is seen as a form of insanity caused by not liking the world sufficiently. Also teaches that "beauty is the making one of opposites". Location New York City (SoHo) Membership About 103 (35 teachers, 41 training to be teachers, and 27 regular students). Has failed to grow appreciably even after 70 years of existence, and is currently shrinking. Members call themselves "students". Advanced members who teach others are called "consultants". Method of study Public seminars/lectures at their headquarters (in lower Manhattan), group classes, and individual consultations (three consultants vs. one student). Cult aspects Fanatical devotion to their leader/founder Belief that they have the one true answer to universal happiness Ultimate purpose is to recruit new members Feeling that they are being persecuted Wild, paranoid reactions to criticism Non-communication (or at least very limited communication) with those who have left the group Odd, specialized language. More about cult aspects...   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?

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Photo of Eli Siegel's gravestone from Find A Grave