When Spirituality Kills. Lots and lots of controversy surrounding this self help guru James Ray. Here is one take on the negligent homicide of three people caused by this man.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576431823713411478.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
"Best-selling author and self-help guru James Ray was convicted last month of negligent homicide in the 2009 deaths of three people at a ceremony he led in an Arizona sweat lodge. His conviction raises enduring questions about how far society should go in monitoring therapeutic spiritual activities, particularly when matters of health and safety are at stake."
"The nation faced similar issues in the late 19th century. After several Massachusetts residents died in the 1890s following Christian Science and "mental healing" treatments for illnesses, the state legislature drew up new licensing requirements designed to restrict anyone who offered healing without a medical degree. Pioneering psychologist William James lobbied against the measures, arguing that "mind cure" treatments seemed to relieve suffering and led to some documented cures."
"In response to the controversy, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine opened its doors in 1893 with the aim of standardizing how medical licensing functioned state-to-state. The mental-cure movement didn't fade away, but it did begin focusing less on health and more on questions of happiness and prosperity—the kind of matters featured in the 2006 blockbuster New Age movie "The Secret," where Ray first gained national attention."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576431823713411478.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
"The public should be alert to such situations—but not at the expense of the free exercise of spiritual experiment that has long characterized our religious culture. When considering crackdowns on ersatz sweat lodges or extreme rites, Americans ought to take guidance from what Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson wrote in 1944: "The price of freedom of religion . . . is that we must put up with, and even pay for, a good deal of rubbish."
When Spirituality Kills. No matter which side you find yourself on relative to the concept of "alternative" spiritual practices, the actions by this man scream out for change.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576431823713411478.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Showing posts with label Sweat lodges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweat lodges. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Is James Arthur Ray’s Guilty Verdict of Negligent Homicide an Indictment of New Age Spirituality?
Is James Arthur Ray’s Guilty Verdict of Negligent Homicide an Indictment of New Age Spirituality?
As a person who has participated in sweat lodges and other ancient spiritual practices during my years of spiritual investigation and research, I can report that I have never been injured in any spiritual event, ever. The Shamans who held those sweat lodges during my time were very, very careful to have helpers oversee the participants at all times to ensure safety and positive outcomes.
Here is a story of Guru James Ray, who didn't follow the rules and cost three people, Kirby Brown, Liz Neuman and James Shore, their lives. His indictment and consequent findings of manslaughter is a terrible price to pay for everyone involved. Mr. Ray will never be free of the penalty and the memories of the suffering that his arrogant actions caused others. He will also pay a price on the spiritual plane which has far reaching consequences for his soul.
http://lagunaniguel.patch.com/articles/james-arthur-rays-guilty-verdict-sweat-lodges-new-age-negligent-homicide-indictment-spirituality-native-american-self-help-guru-laws-of-attraction-the-secret
"Ray’s theme of the retreat seemed to be based on the catharsis of the death process. In tarot, one of the strongest and most transformative cards is Death. This card symbolizes not a real death, but a metamorphosis where by an old layer is peeled a way and a new path is begun for the seeker."
"Theoretically, many healing techniques and initiations utilize some form of this process. This is the age-old journey of transformation used since ancient times, the ultimate quest. It is shown in the adept going out in the wilderness to face himself or in various coming-of-age ceremonies where young men and women are transformed by a ritualized custom to quickly move from adolescence to adulthood."
"In Ray’s case, he took the metamorphosis too far, and when the repercussions emerged—people passing out from the heat—it seemed he was overwhelmed. There was a loss of life and a loss of faith in him. Ultimately the situation is taking him through the exact same metamorphosis as he faces everything."
Is James Arthur Ray’s Guilty Verdict of Negligent Homicide an Indictment of New Age Spirituality? As you will no doubt read in other accounts of this story, there are people who still support James Ray, no matter what he has done.
I do hope that seekers who choose sweat lodges for personal transformation now and in the future will research the leader's background and practices before ever entering into the lodge. Do I personally think that this event impacts new age spirituality? Well, yes, but it is not a death blow to the entire new age spiritual community. We learn by mistakes, and grow from the experiences, both negative and positive. I do hope that others will not perceive this comment as callous or cold. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As a person who has participated in sweat lodges and other ancient spiritual practices during my years of spiritual investigation and research, I can report that I have never been injured in any spiritual event, ever. The Shamans who held those sweat lodges during my time were very, very careful to have helpers oversee the participants at all times to ensure safety and positive outcomes.
Here is a story of Guru James Ray, who didn't follow the rules and cost three people, Kirby Brown, Liz Neuman and James Shore, their lives. His indictment and consequent findings of manslaughter is a terrible price to pay for everyone involved. Mr. Ray will never be free of the penalty and the memories of the suffering that his arrogant actions caused others. He will also pay a price on the spiritual plane which has far reaching consequences for his soul.
"A jury recently found self-help motivational speaker James Arthur Ray guilty of three counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of Kirby Brown, Liz Neuman and James Shore. The three died after a sweat lodge ceremony Ray conducted in 2009 as part of a spiritual retreat. The heavier charge of manslaughter was dropped, but Ray could still be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for his part in their deaths."
http://lagunaniguel.patch.com/articles/james-arthur-rays-guilty-verdict-sweat-lodges-new-age-negligent-homicide-indictment-spirituality-native-american-self-help-guru-laws-of-attraction-the-secret
"Ray’s theme of the retreat seemed to be based on the catharsis of the death process. In tarot, one of the strongest and most transformative cards is Death. This card symbolizes not a real death, but a metamorphosis where by an old layer is peeled a way and a new path is begun for the seeker."
"Theoretically, many healing techniques and initiations utilize some form of this process. This is the age-old journey of transformation used since ancient times, the ultimate quest. It is shown in the adept going out in the wilderness to face himself or in various coming-of-age ceremonies where young men and women are transformed by a ritualized custom to quickly move from adolescence to adulthood."
"In Ray’s case, he took the metamorphosis too far, and when the repercussions emerged—people passing out from the heat—it seemed he was overwhelmed. There was a loss of life and a loss of faith in him. Ultimately the situation is taking him through the exact same metamorphosis as he faces everything."
Is James Arthur Ray’s Guilty Verdict of Negligent Homicide an Indictment of New Age Spirituality? As you will no doubt read in other accounts of this story, there are people who still support James Ray, no matter what he has done.
I do hope that seekers who choose sweat lodges for personal transformation now and in the future will research the leader's background and practices before ever entering into the lodge. Do I personally think that this event impacts new age spirituality? Well, yes, but it is not a death blow to the entire new age spiritual community. We learn by mistakes, and grow from the experiences, both negative and positive. I do hope that others will not perceive this comment as callous or cold. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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