Motivational Guru Shows Arrogance In The Midst of Tragedy
Recently, we commented on a blog posting about the story of motivational self-help guru, James Arthur Ray. Controversy continues to swirl around the self proclaimed expert and he now finds himself stuck in a massive firestorm. Last month Ray held a seminar in Phoenix AZ in which he led participants in a “sweat room” exercise meant to demonstrate the real power of one’s mind over their body. As a result, three people are dead and the self proclaimed guru is facing murder charges. That’s not all, Ray continues to talk about his grief---while he promotes his “motivational snake oil”. What’s worse, people are still attending his seminars.
Shortly after the tragedy in Phoenix, Ray conducted a seminar. He told the audience that he was cautioned against doing it by his advisers but he went on with the show anyway. He used it as an opportunity to express “his grief” and answer audience questions. At one point he was allegedly overcome with emotion and broke down in tears while the audience watched. Was it real grief or an attempt at taking the heat off of him? No one will ever really know. But at least one person left the seminar believing that James Arthur Ray was sincere and authentic!
It is instructive to us that people would pay over $9,000.00 for a self development seminar conducted by an unqualified leader! We are curious as to how many of the participants really examined Ray’s background. Appearing on Oprah or Larry King Live does not an expert make!
We don't know about you but it is disturbing to us that a person can hang out a "shingle" fronting himself or herself as an expert when they really aren’t. It appears from our own research that James Arthur Ray has no credentials with which to back up his claims. The son of preacher, he has only a high school degree and worked for AT&T for several years. Additionally, there have been numerous reports of people injured during some of his other seminars. One woman shattered the bones in her hand while trying to break a board. Another was injured when an arrow was embedded into his eyebrow.
While were not ones for government regulation on everything that moves, we do believe that federal authorities need to step in and more closely scrutinize people like Ray. Unfortunately the story of James Arthur Ray and the sweat lodge deaths and controversy has just begun. And people like Ray will always try and peddle their wares to the public. Just make sure that you look before you leap. Besides saving you money, it could save your life. |
