Fellowship of Friends
A wealthy self-improvement cult accused of infiltrating Google and other businesses for personal gain
1970 - present
The Fellowship of Friends is a group that has stirred up quite a bit of talk over the years, capturing attention for its unusual beliefs and controversial actions. Founded in 1970 by Robert Earl Burton in California, this group presents itself as a spiritual organization, seeking enlightenment through the teachings of Fourth Way philosophy. This philosophy is a blend of various spiritual ideas, focusing on self-awareness and higher states of consciousness.
Burton, who claims to be a divine being in contact with higher forces, leads the Fellowship with an iron grip, and his followers believe he has a direct connection to the divine. Members are taught that the pursuit of beauty and culture, through art, music, and fine wine, will lead to a higher spiritual plane. But beneath this cultured veneer lies a darker side that has led many to label the Fellowship of Friends as a cult.
Critics and former members paint a different picture, one of manipulation and control. They claim that Burton exercises immense power over his followers, dictating not just their spiritual lives but personal ones too, including intimate relationships and financial matters. Allegations of psychological abuse and exploitation have surfaced over the years, with ex-members revealing how the group's elitist mindset and fear tactics trapped them in a cycle of dependency and obedience.
Perhaps most disturbing are the allegations of sexual abuse against Burton himself. Several lawsuits have been filed by former members, accusing him of using his spiritual authority to coerce them into unwanted sexual relationships. These accusations have cast a long shadow over the Fellowship, raising serious questions about the abuse of power and the potential dangers lurking within closed, authoritarian groups.
Despite the controversies, the Fellowship of Friends continues to operate, with several thousand members worldwide who remain devoted to Burton's teachings. The group maintains a luxurious headquarters in Oregon House, California, known as Apollo, where they continue to host concerts, art shows, and wine tastings. To outsiders, it might look like a paradise for the cultured elite, but for those who have seen its inner workings, it's a world of strict discipline, strange rituals, and broken spirits.
Religion: Fourth Way
Founder: Robert Earl Burton
Founded: 1970
Size: 1,500 members
Location: California, USA
About 500 members lived and worked at or near the headquarters in the 1990s (source)
In 2022, Kevin Lloyd filed a lawsuit against Google and Advanced Systems Group, alleging that he was fired when he complained about the influence the Fellowship of Friends had at these companies (source)
In 2008, Kelly Services was sued for discriminating against employees that were not members of the Fellowship of Friends (source)
A lawsuit was brought against Burton in the 1990s alleging sexual misconduct (source)
Charles Randall, the former CFO, quit the group in 1994 after reporting that men felt coerced to join Burton’s “harem” (source)
The cult had strict rules against saying anything negative about Burton, which allowed his abuse to remain hidden for a long time (source)
Burton claimed to be celibate, when he was actually sexually abusing his followers (source)
In 1984, Samuel Sanders, a former member of the board of directors, sued the group for fraud for Burton using his "god-figure role" to prey sexually upon impressionable young men (source, source)
In 1995, Richard Buzbee wrote an open letter claiming that Burton demanded sex from him and had a sexual relation ship with Buzbee's son, Troy, for many years. Burton confessed to having sex with Richard. (source)
Troy Buzbee sued the cult in 1996, claiming that Burton seduced him when he was 17 by declaring himself to be an angel and telling Troy that the gods wished for the two to be close (source, source)
Thomas Easley, Burton’s secretary and chauffeur in the mid-1970s, has alleged that Burton forced him to have oral sex on many occasions. In 1990, Burton offered to apologize if Easley agreed not to sue. (source)
In 1995, Burton's lawyer acknowledged that Burton had sex with two of his followers, but said that “we don’t think a [sexual] relationship between a leader and a member of the congregation is abusive in and of itself” (source)
Members reportedly stop talking to those who have left (source)
Burton determines when his followers are allowed to bear children (source)