Fellowship of Friends (Robert Burton)
Fourth Way / Gurdjieff-derived organisation founded by Robert Burton (1970) headquartered at 'Apollo' in Oregon House, California. Long-running allegations of sexual abuse by Burton of male members, lavish art collection funded by member donations, and severance of family ties.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — Fourth Way movement; long-running sexual-abuse and financial allegations against founder.
In context
Burton's Fellowship of Friends grew from the Fourth Way teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky into a worldwide network of centres. Members tithe substantially (typically 10%); the Apollo property houses a major art and rare-wine collection. Multiple ex-male-members have alleged sexual abuse by Burton, and the New York Times (2009) profiled the fellowship's sexual-abuse history. Despite litigation and exposure, the organisation continues.
Key control doctrines
- Fourth Way self-remembering practice
- Burton as 'Conscious Being'
- 'Higher School' progression based on Burton's evaluation
Notable public ex-members
- Samuel Sanders
- Troy Buzbee
- Multiple ex-member discussion-board contributors
Legal cases & controversies
- Samuel Sanders v. Fellowship of Friends (1984)
- Buzbee v. Burton (2008)
- Multiple subsequent civil suits
Timeline
- 1970Burton founds the Fellowship in California
- 1984First public sexual-abuse civil suit by Samuel Sanders
- 2008Troy Buzbee additional civil suit
- 2009NYT investigation publishes
Sources
- NYT 'A Fellowship's Long Path to Court' (2009)
- Multiple ex-member 'Fellowship of Friends Discussion' archives
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.