They called themselves the Students of Light. Their leader claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Some claim he had supernatural powers, while others call him an abusive cult leader. Hear the group’s story on Chasing Enlightenment, premiering October 4.

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In the 1970s, a small religious sect called the Students of Light quietly moved into the core of Toronto’s rundown Junction neighbourhood. Some former members have called the group a dangerous cult, accusing its leadership of mind control, brainwashing, and abuse.

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Many former Students of Light tell similar stories about why they first joined. One, a woman named Treva Olson, claims the group turned her into a mindless, brainwashed follower. That is, until her family kidnapped her and had her forcibly “deprogrammed” by a famous anti-cult activist. 

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John Hanas has been called everything from a spiritual master to an evil, manipulative man. Former followers claim he began as a humble religious leader, but some say he eventually exerted more and more control over their lives, sometimes with disastrous results. 

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John Hanas delegated some power to his “core group” of followers. One was a woman who claimed to channel the voices of beings from other dimensions through her body. Another, John’s eventual wife, would become almost as revered within the group as John himself.

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Some who spent their childhoods in the Students of Light say their upbringing left lasting scars. There’s also one second-generation member whose story cast a minor spotlight on the group in recent years, after she accused John Hanas’ former right-hand man of sexually abusing her as a teenager.

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The Students of Light remain active in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. Current members believe they can communicate with John Hanas from beyond the grave. Some former members now reject the group’s brand of spirituality, while others live in fear of possible spiritual retaliation from the group. 

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In this bonus episode, we interview former Student of Light Joseph C. about what he heard on Season 1 of Chasing Enlightenment. Does he still view John Hanas as a benevolent man with supernatural powers? And does he still think that former Students of Light who speak publicly risk becoming targets of spiritual retaliation?

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