Will criminal charges be filed against self help author James Arthur Ray?

[CountAllVotes]

Source: LA Legal Examiner

Criminal charges may be filed against James Arthur Ray, author of self help books. Two people have died in a "sweat lodge" meant for spiritual cleansing for the 64 people squeezed into the small space inside.

According to local authorities, 21 people were taken to hospital for medical treatment who were inside the sweat lodge at the Angel Valley Spiritual Retreat in Arizona. One is in a critical condition.

Self-help author James Arthur Ray leased the facility for his "Spiritual Warrior" retreat that promised to "absolutely change your life." the event began on October 3.

Reportedly participants paid $9,000 to attend. They spent two hours in the sweltering heat before making emergency calls.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-19663-LA-Legal-Examiner~y2009m10d10-Will-criminal-charges-be-filed-against-self-help-author-James-Arthur-Ray

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I did some checking around on google and found this page all about this greedy man.

http://jamesray.com/



Note: James Arthur Ray is a member of the World Wealth Society and was on Oprah Winfrey's program as well.

This reminds me too much of "Dr. Murray" and the late Michael Jackson.

:dem:

[gateley]

1. I've participated in sweat lodges and nobody suffered in any

of them. I sure didn't pay $9,000 though. He seems kind of slick.

[bitchkitty]

3. I have too and nobody got sick.

It sounds like there were too many people packed in there, and that they stayed in there too long. Two hours? I do 30 minutes if that.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Someone was trying to milk the situation for all it was worth...

[BrklynLiberal]

2. He reminds me of "Dr" Phil, Tony Robbins, Werner H. Erhard and all the rest of those

phony self-helpers whose main goal is to get rich...quickly.

[CountAllVotes]

6. exactly! From his website:

My name is James Arthur Ray, and if you nod your head "yes" to at least some of the following, you've certainly come to the right place...

* You simply (and deeply) want to make more money and become more successful...

* You want to double, triple, even multiply by ten the size of your business...

* You've already achieved at least a modest level of success and want to use that as a springboard to greater things...

* You suspect there's got to be something more to life...


****
There is more to your life Mr. Ray. It is called greed and it runs your being. Now 2 people are dead and another couple of dozen are ill.

You've made over $500,000.00+ on this episode.

Michael Jackson's doctor was getting a mere $110,000+ a month.

You need more you freak!

[valerief]

5. People pay money to sweat with other people? nt

[timeforpeace]

7. $9000, says above. Too much money plus too few brains. Gotta be right wingers.

[Bobbieo]

9. There should have been no more than 20 people in that lodge. Yes,

Ray should be charged with criminal negligence. Did he also fast for 36 hours? - I doubt it. That was a dangerous thing to do before packing them in that limited space. I am surprised only 19 were taken ill.

[CountAllVotes]

8. picture of the sweat lodge here:

Sweatlodge in background where YCSO found 64 people participating in exercise to attract wealth. (YCSO photo)

Yavapai County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate Thursday's incident at a sweatlodge event held at Angel Valley Resort in Sedona. Details here: http://www.examiner.com/x-4805-Arizona-Rural-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m10d10-Details-from-YCSO-and-video-on-deaths-at-Sedona-resort (see YouTube video; scroll towards the bottom) or click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7OvovE2MI&feature=player_embedded

The sweatlodge was part of a self-help workshop hosted by success guru James Arthur Ray, one of many such workshops held by Ray -- alone and in conjuction with other NewAge gurus in the past few years.

[Warpy]

10. Jesus, I need a bath

That guy is really typical of the quasi religious New Age hucksterism out there, promising a new life based on magical thinking. It was only a matter of time before one of them hurt enough people to make the national news.

You bet your ass he'll have charges filed. He's going to have to dispute them by pointing out how long Sioux stay in a sweat lodge, and then someone else will have to point out how the sweat lodge is more porous and that the flap is raised from time to time to give the participants a break.

What he did was reckless endangerment.

He did live up to his advertising. though. All those people had their lives changed. It just wasn't for the better and it sure as hell isn't going to make them rich.

[CountAllVotes]

11. Warpy ...

:rofl:

>He did live up to his advertising. though. All those people had their lives changed. It just wasn't for the better and it sure as hell isn't going to make them rich.

bwahaaaa!

I got a great laugh out of your post!!! :rofl:

:kick:

[BeHereNow]

12. Someone posted in LBN that the death toll was now at 7...

There is a thread in LBN about this story.
Someone added a CNN story that reported 7 are now dead.
So sad.
BHN

On edit- just realized the OP of this thread was the one who
shared the newest death toll. I hope they prosecute everyone
involved in this sham of a retreat.