Editing NXIVM (section)

=== Hagiographical claims ===
Over the decades, NXIVM emphasized Raniere's specialness through [[hagiography]]. A complaint from a 2020 lawsuit by former members of NXIVM mentioned several fantastical claims made about Raniere in NXIVM marketing materials,<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=Sarah Edmondson|defendant=Keith Raniere|title=Complaint|doc-number=1|date=January 28, 2020|pacer-number=444408|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2020|case-type=cv|case-sequence=00485|access-date=June 16, 2022}}</ref> including claims that Raniere spoke in complete sentences as a one-year-old, mastered college-level mathematics in grade school, and was an elite athlete who won judo and track tournaments.

Raniere frequently cited having three degrees from [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]. However, he graduated with a 2.26 GPA, having failed or barely passed many of the upper-level math and science classes he bragged about.<ref name= "Detention Memo">{{cite web |date=March 26, 2018 |title=United States v. Keith Raniere - Detention Memo|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Raniere-Detention-Memo.pdf|work=United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Once Idolized, Guru of Nxivm 'Sex Cult' to Stand Trial Alone (Published 2019) | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=May 2019 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-trial.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501114823/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-trial.html | archive-date=May 1, 2019 }}</ref>

Every August, NXIVM members would gather in [[Silver Bay, New York]], to celebrate Raniere's birthday. Raniere's annual birthday gathering was known as "Vanguard Week", which began as a single day and eventually expanded to 11 days. The event included "tribute ceremonies" to Raniere by NXIVM members.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gavin |first1=By Robert |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-turned-Lake-George-resort-into-annual-13836853.php |title=NXIVM turned Lake George resort into annual Raniere birthday jamboree |date=May 10, 2019 |website=timesunion.com |access-date=June 20, 2019}}</ref>

According to former high-ranking members of NXIVM, Raniere's word was final within NXIVM, and nothing of import happened within NXIVM without Raniere's approval. NXIVM students were taught that Raniere was the smartest and most ethical man in the world.<ref name= "Detention Memo"/><ref>{{cite web | title=Once Idolized, Guru of Nxivm 'Sex Cult' to Stand Trial Alone (Published 2019) | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=May 2019 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-trial.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501114823/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-trial.html | archive-date=May 1, 2019 }}</ref>