Editing Exegesis (group)

{{short description|Group of individuals that delivered the Exegesis Programme}}
'''Exegesis''' was a group of individuals that delivered the Exegesis Programme through an Exegesis Seminar. The alleged end result of the programme was individual enlightenment, a personal transformation. Founded in 1976 as ''Infinity Training'' by Robert D'Aubigny, a former actor, Exegesis ran seminars in the [[United Kingdom]] in the later 1970s and early 1980s. Although not in itself a religion or belief, the programme was popularly interpreted as such.<ref name="Chryssides" /> The [[Cult Information Centre]] categorised it as a "therapy cult", focused on personal and individual development,<ref name=independent-20021212>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/caplin-recruited-for-therapy-cult-investigated-by-police-135739.html |title=Caplin 'recruited' for therapy cult investigated by police |last=Kirby |first=Terry |website=The Independent |date=12 December 2002 |accessdate=5 October 2019}}</ref> and [[George Chryssides]] categorised it as a [[self religion]].<ref name="Chryssides" />

In the 1970s Robert D’Aubigny remodelled [[Werner Erhard]]'s controversial [[Erhard Seminars Training|EST program]] into the more UK friendly Exegesis programme while keeping the essence of it unaltered.
Graduates of the programme could attend workshops where a participant worked on personal development while being supported in confronting worst fears.<ref name=independent-20021212/> At one time Exegesis claimed to have about 5,000 people in the programme.<ref name=independent-20021212/><ref name=guardian-20030731>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2003/jul/31/badscience.research |title=Watch out, Caplin's about |last=Goldacre |first=Ben |newspaper=The Guardian |date=31 July 2003 |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>

Robert D'Aubigny was influenced by 'eastern mysticism', being very prevalent in the UK in the 1970's. The stated aims of the organisation were the 'transformation of society' as he viewed present society as 'misled'. Exegesis planned a 'university city' at 'Avalon' the fictional home of King Arthur where the headquarters for this 'transformation of society' would be engineered. Exegesis were quite happy to refer to themselves as a cult and one of Mr D'Aubigny's stated aims was to become an MP within '5 years'. His movement was almost entirely discredited as being the work of a ' paranoid megalomaniac'. He has maintained some cult following among pseudo 'new-age' groups and quack psychologists.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}

Greater interest in the programme led to the group being investigated by the press and becoming the subject of a controversial television play.<ref name="Unstable">Mick Brown, "[http://tubular.net/articles/1998_08c I know I'm unstable. I accept that]". ''The Daily Telegraph'', August 31, 1998.</ref> In 1984 British [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] raised questions in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], to which the [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department|Minister of State for Home Affairs]] [[David Mellor]] responded "some organisations and views are deeply repugnant to most sensible people and profoundly wrong-headed and damaging to those drawn into the web of their activities. Nevertheless, unless and until those involved actually break the law, it is difficult for the Government to set their hand against them." The [[Home Office]] asked the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan]] and [[Avon and Somerset police]] to investigate Exegesis following the suicide of Ashley Doubtfire after he attended a 'seminar'.<ref name=hoc-19840514>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1984/may/14/mr-ashley-doubtfire |title=Adjournment debate - Mr. Ashley Doubtfire |id=HC Deb 14 May 1984 vol 60 cc124-30 |publisher=UK Parliament |work=House of Commons |date=14 May 1984 |accessdate=6 October 2019}}</ref> Although the police brought no charges, Exegesis ceased to run seminars around 1984,<ref name="Unstable"/><ref name=independent-20021212/> but re-emerged as a telesales company called ''Programmes Ltd'', which had a turnover of nearly £6.5 million in 1990.<ref name="Chryssides">{{cite book|author=George D. Chryssides|title=Exploring New Religions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vyX1sL8-0gMC|date=12 November 2001|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-0-8264-5959-6|pages=19, 278, 372}}</ref><ref name=observer-20030921>{{cite news |title=Cult taught Cherie's guru to confront demons |author1=Jamie Doward |author2=Ben Whitford |newspaper=The Observer |date=21 September 2003}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Human Potential Movement]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLzKQfY5Qvw The Exegesis Seminar / The Exegesis Programme]
*[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MFIH8AU The Exegesis Seminar] - a re-enactment of the seminar
*[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1515329453 The Exegesis Programme] - a literal validation of the programme

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Exegesis (Group)}}
[[Category:Personal development]]
[[Category:Self religions]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1970s]]