Comments on: James Arthur Ray’s Spiritual Warrior Event Kills 2, Injures 19 in Sweat Lodge Fiasco

By: Responding to the Enemy, James Arthur Ray, with a Core Transformation, rather than Idiot Compassion. ~Duff McDuffee | elephant journal

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:33:30 +0000

[...] there is anyone who qualifies as being my enemy, James Arthur Ray does. In the wake of his terrible and reprehensible actions in November at his Spiritual Warrior Event workshop in Sedona, I have spent countless hours angry at him and what he represents. I have called him names in [...]

By: Can We Love Our Enemies Without Idiot Compassion or Shaming? | Beyond Growth

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:10:00 +0000

By: Maiingun

Maiingun — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:27:52 +0000

I totally agree with you, MGM. Perhaps you should've given 'ol James the same advice…

By: Maiingun

Maiingun — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:20:54 +0000

By the way- so = saw. hahaha. Sorry about the typos.

By: Maiingun

Maiingun — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:11:28 +0000

Hello:
I am wondering how many of us have listened to the actual radio interview with Shawna Bowen and Jim Tree. (Link on this post by Duff) Almost any question as to what sort of mistakes may have lead to this disaster can be answered by Jim Tree. Ways that one can avoid similar situations are offered by Tree as well.
I read almost all of the comments on this board and so several comments in reference to Shawna, but so almost nothing about what Tree said. Not to take anything away from Shawna, I'm sure she's a nice young lady, but I would suggest listening/re-listening to the things that Tree said in that interview. Listen VERY closely to his advice and criticism concerning traditional ceremonial practice, especially if you or someone you care about plan to engage in these types of ceremonies. After about 30 seconds into his speaking, my experience told me that he's a guy worth listening to.
Great thread. I'm glad to see us all discussing this issue.

By: Maiingun

Maiingun — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:43:37 +0000

That depends on whether or not you knew beforehand the reputation of your caterer. Did you know before the meal that he was s**tting in his food?

By: Joy_Livingwell

Joy_Livingwell — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:31:53 +0000

Duff, I applaud you for emphasizing the psychological pressure to conform that Ray's seminar participants were under. I just discovered this 4- minute video about the Asch Conformity Experiment. Asch demonstrated how peer pressure can distort people's perceptions (so they genuinely don't realize that something is wrong), or get them to behave like other group members even when they do realize something is wrong. I find these results even scarier than the Milgram experiment, in that no one told or forced these subjects to conform; they just did it. Ray's seminar participants were under intense pressure to obey and conform -- pressure from the leader, their own expectations, and behavior by other group members. Everyone may have thought "I want out of here!", but conformity prevailed. What a tragedy.

By: Joy_Livingwell

Joy_Livingwell — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:31:24 +0000

By: Joy_Livingwell

Joy_Livingwell — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:29:18 +0000

Duff, I applaud you for emphasizing the psychological pressure to conform that Ray's seminar participants were under. I just discovered this 4- minute video about the Asch Conformity Experiment. Asch demonstrated how peer pressure can distort people's perceptions (so they genuinely don't realize that something is wrong), or get them to behave like other group members even when they do realize something is wrong. I find these results even scarier than the Milgram experiment, in that no one told or forced these subjects to conform; they just did it. Ray's seminar participants were under intense pressure to obey and conform -- pressure from the leader, their own expectations, and behavior by other group members. Everyone may have thought "I want out of here!", but conformity prevailed. What a tragedy.

By: Joy Livingwell

Joy Livingwell — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:52:29 +0000

Excellent YouTube video of Barbara Ehrenreich discussing the dark side of positive thinking.