Gothamist: Rick Ross, Cult Expert

RadioMusicBox

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:06:32 -0500

Whoever wrote this article did a wonderful job! To alicetk79, Are you a $cilon or its supporter? Answer now! If you're a conspiracy theorist, go kill yourself. Please! It's obvious that you DID NOT bother reading this: http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/Scien47.html End of Story.

RadioMusicBox

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:05:40 -0500

RadioMusicBox

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:04:18 -0500

alicetk79

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:37:52 -0500

Rick Ross is considered by many in his field to be a shameless self-promoter. It is an acknowledged fact that he has no degree of any kind and is a convicted felon. He has been in disputes with other more accredited experts in his field that have resulted in him being accused of personal attacks with people such as Steve Hassan There are also very serious questions that remain regarding Rick Ross and his role in the Branch Davidian Tradgedy at Waco.

guest

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:24:11 -0500

I love Rick Ross and all he has done to try to free people whose minds are being controlled by others. People who have given their minds up to others naturally are suspicious of Ross because it means they would have to rethink all of their own core beliefs, not an easy thing for most people. Still, he's set up an organized database of INFORMATION. There it is. If you're in trouble, I hope you will search through this information as it will likely help. His message is simple and it is the message of what is is to be human: Take charge of your own life and thoughts, and don't necessarily believe anyone who claims to be an "expert" or leader, not even me or Rick Ross! Think clearly of both sides of the issue before you, feel your way through a conflict, always question an authority as that is what a strong, healthy mind does, and that is what a REAL authority would wish you to do. Freedom of thought is your most important birthright as a human being. Kudos, Mr. Ross. Martin Olson

Nicky Welby-Ing

Sun, 27 May 2007 09:16:15 -0500

Hi I've been reading the site material - and everyone's comments with lots of interest - and thought the range of views were really interesting. (cool thing about about a human being -each having a unique perspective!). However re-landmark here are my thoughts, for what they're worth.... I participated for a number of years - and found there were some good things about it eg.I valued the encouragement - I tried things that were new and took on some projects that felt hard to do. ...and I was very proud of some of my achievements at the time. However, the rather enormous negative outcome for me was a result of buying into the Landmark coaching conversation "tiredness is a racket" and "illness is a "conversation"". And the further on I and friends and family continued with the training, the coaching became zealous and dogmatic rather than the early Forum suggestion (pretence?) of "trying a possibility on". To those who haven't participated in landmark courses- the conversation was that the origin of an illness lies in what you (i) is saying to ourself...(and you are sick because you are avoiding something ie.not being responsible for something in the present moment) (...people who are zealous about the documentary "what the bleep" love that sort of thinking... quest for self-healing...immortality ??) But, even after hearing the tiredness is a conversation coaching, I still found that when I was working long hours to get a project done on time...my mind was alert and "present"- but my body still grew tired. Was i talking my body into this feeling of needing to rest...? yes!!!! i thought, (getting off it)...and i continued working. The "possibility" of burnout happening to ME: nope! - that happened to other people. In fact, people who had confided that they had burnt out during their lifetime (eg. chronic fatigue, depression, psychotic episode), had - i thought (in my landmarkian wisdom) suffered a "racket" not a burnout. (and if they had ANY excuse they were still suffering from it! ;-) (As I write this I realise I should have been smarter about not taking on the landmark coaching: the warning signs - little emotional intelligence on behalf of the coaches (eg...being upset was a sign of being "on it" and required coaching....god forbid a little respectful silence- and giving a participant a little time to gain their composure)...with regard to -listening to one's body - what the hell is that?! (you'd be mocked for saying that sentence in the forum.) The conversation the landmark leaders spoke (not to generalise - i can only speak of the 10 or so that i heard) was focussed on a world made up of "conversation" - where who one is created "in the conversation" ...and where emotions are handkerchiefs to stuff up one's noses. (note to non-participants - the handkerchief thang does happen in the forum) And if you still don't believe me about the seriousness with which people's health is dismissed in conversation - there is the classic forum example where a participant with a headache is asked to describe their experience. (using descriptive words- colours and "sensations in certain locations") If participant's headache disappears during this descriptive act - the forum leader will declare authoritatively that the headache has disappeared because the person is "being present to" their experience. (....Of course there actually could be any number of reasons for why the headache has actually ARRIVED: eg. sitting on one's butt and slouching for so long that one gets a sore back, a crick in the neck which strains right up to the head causing the most god awful head strain-so the act of sitting firmly upright shocks the headache out of existence!...;-) ...or another "possibility": the adrenaline rush of having 200 people watch as one puts one's hand up to say one has a headache - a mic is thrust into one's hand - may also lead to a quick disappearance! ;-) After one has spent quite a lot of time around the staff - assisting them in their long hours and non-existent concept of work/family "balance" - one finds that these people who are trained in doing "what WORKS" - well, it's true - they are living the distinction of the landmark forum called "being unreasonable"... .....if only they were equally UNREASONABLE about being RESPONSIBLE for giving up coaching their customers with regard to their health or their mental state. Surely that would also fit with landmark's claim that its training is "non-therapeutic" in nature...? And lastly, while you are ill, unhappy or upset and coaches coach you to "get off it" and produce a result, while you're dragging your body around and feeling like utter shite: if you end up in hospital and question the ethics of the organisation - a landmark staff member will STILL have the gall to tell you that your health was YOUR responsibility (be responsible about that - they have a signed form from you). So if you hear great things from friends and family about landmark - and you decide to participate - ignore ANY "coaching" with regard to your health. Listen to your body. No-one knows better what you're feeling than you. (A burn out is a bloody awful thing to go through - and it may mean that you can't work - or tolerate stress for a few years afterwards). Sorry about the long email - but I care strongly about this: if you have been working long hours and your body is exhausted - go get some sleep!!!! (coaching. free of charge.) best wishes, nicky W.

Joe Verghese

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:48:12 -0500

Very good stuff. My hat goes to Rick and his work. I know he's helped many. Landmark was great for me too. It helped me to respect and see the love of my family and friends even more, for who they are without needing to change them.

Jerry, Baby

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 04:10:58 -0500

I dunno, Landmark was great for me (and I think lots of others). I remember I didn't want the EST people calling after my sister did it (EST evolved into Landmark) But I like this guy, this Rick Ross, he's got pzazz!

Noe Medeiros

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:01:31 -0500

I have to protest against what Danny Haszard states in his comment and on his web page. I am a jehovah's Witness and choose to be so and I am not forced to do so. We are not a cult. You just say that because you know your in the wrong. In 1975 it was those people's choice to believe that Armagedeon was coming. They took it upon themselves to believe that's when it was to happen when only Jehovah God knows the day and the hour of it. He did not send a message saying it would happen in 1975 I know I was 20 then. It is people's choice to become a Jehovah's Witness or not they are not pressured into it. Also if someone is shuned it's because they commited a grave sin. If they are repentive of their mistakes they are welcomed back in with open arms. But you can't not be shuned for doing something wrong because you'll never learn and you'll never be repentive if you keep on going on. Also the watchtower society doesn't take families it's their decision if they want to contact you or not. They probably don't want to make contact with you because your an apposer and you bring shame to their family name.

Wayne Hemmerich

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 14:35:26 -0500

What about Occultic curiousties such as UFOlogy speculating and theories of Biblicals writings'and Historical Mysteries Mythology' and why would things like "building of the pyrimid" "what are nephilums or annunuki" Or any things that are speculating in the Bible or how did civilizations really got it start. Or we as American should stay with our own mainline churches teaching of traditional teachings of the Bible and live day by day and stay totally aways from speculating meddling or dabbling with the unknown and put it all in God hands and just stay away from all strange teaching and stick to the mainline Biblical teachings of our own God assign churches. Just asking your opinions on this as seem that today churches are really cracking down on all possible cultic and occultics material and talk an like. Thanks Wayne Hemmerich

Richard M.

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 18:48:42 -0500

Recently, while surfing on the net I came across an exceptional website; http://www.rickross.com/ it contains enlightening and informative material on cults, sects, and religions. I would personally like to thank Mr.Ross for his life's work of exposing these institutions for what they really are. In particular, the articles concerning the history of Jehovah's Witnesses were most fascinating.-Richard M.

Ben

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:01:42 -0500

Bob Larsen, in fact, is one of the biggest cultists of all, conducting staged healings/excorcisms while bringing in great sums of money. Anyone who disagrees with his particular brand of pentacostalism is not just being manipulated by the devil, in Larsen's rhetoric, but is indeed knowingly in cahoots with "the enemy"- including other Christians.

Kelsie Turner

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:12:59 -0500

I like Bob Larson Ministries. He has a new cult book. For more information go to www.boblarson.org

Lisa

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 03:43:50 -0500

I wonder how come there is no one - one - real jurnalistic critical question towards Mr. Ross. For example, is he a trained psychologist or mental health professional (he is obviously not, because they would have mentioned his academic credentials); so what qualifies him to do these "interventions"? Another example is the point raised by Mami: the people who join cults are adults. If they do anything criminal, there's no difference between "cults" and molesting priests; if they don't - what business is it of us? I mean, if Madonna is happy wasting her money, who are we to tell her not to?

Raphie

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:29:42 -0500

Can't agree with you Mami in totality, though I think you raise an intersting point about where to draw the line between cult/not cult and harm/not harm. I believe (tho' am not positive) that the diffference between the Hasiddic community and a cult by Ross' own criteria would be that: a) as with the Amish, the Hasiddic community is not harmful (by society's general standards), though I am not familiar enough with the community to say this for sure (Ironic since I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so, yes, they are certainly insular...) and b) there is no one individual dominant enough in the culture that they have come to define it (at least no living person). In any case, to compare a pedophile priest to the Hasiddic community is not a fair comparison. No more so than it is fair to condemn all Islam because of Al Qaeda. That said, the Catholic church has received extremely fair and merited criticism in my opinion for turning a blind eye and/or sweeping under the rug the horrific failures of many of it's own. As for Ad6am's comments regarding involuntary interventions, I agree that there would seem to be a bit of inconsistent logic going on. How can an involuntary intervention be ANYTHING BUT confrontational? While it seems to me that Mr. Ross has helped many many many more people than he has hurt, I can understand the doubts that such inconsistency of thought may give rise to even if I find the use of such terms as "lip service" and "self-righteous" perhaps just a bit harsh. Afterall, aren't we in some sense just replacing one cult with another? Osama for Mohammed?Jim Jones for Jesus Christ or the Burning Bush (both of them)? Case in point: I have at least two friends who have reaped vast benefit from Landmark forums and swear by them. They have tried to "convert" me and, hey it's not my cup of tea, but if they are happy and do better than ever, I can't see as I have a right to say a darn thing about it. Whatever works, whatever floats your spititual boat right? I would love to hear how Mr. Ross would respond if he happens to come across these comments. Mr Ross?

mami

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:24:13 -0500

I agree. Where do you draw the line on what is/isn't a cult? Are the Bergs being any more abusive than, say, a pedophile priest? And certain (not all) Hasidic sects are just as notorious for shunning society at large, living on their own "compounds" and making sure their kids are kept well away from "corrupting" influences. I'm not trying to disrespect anyone's religion, but Ross should check himself. For some reason I get the feeling that he's only targeting certain groups because int's not un-p.c. to do so.

ad6am

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 13:23:11 -0500

What advice would you give to a friend or family member of someone who appears to be becoming part of a cult? "Don't overreact. Don't be confrontational. You may be wrong." And this is from someone who was self-righteous enough to have led INVOLUNTARY interventions?? I'm happy to read he now restricts himself to voluntary interventions, but if it took a $3 million lawsuit to to stop him, how much of this is just lip-service? He may be well-intentioned, but the people he's talking about have the right to make their own choices. A respectful conversation is based upon "This is what I see, these are my opinions and emotions." NOT upon "I know better than you."

Jillian T

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:28:22 -0500

Rick Ross is an amazing individual who is willing to take on these horrid, bloodsucking but powerful organizations. I hope this makes people understand how destructive these organizations can be -- so many of them wolves in sheeps clothing! I commend you, Rick, and hope you have a long and successful career.

Danny Haszard

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 10:57:17 -0500

Jehovah's Witnesses are a classic high demand destructive cult. I have JW family in Naples Florida who practice the Watchtower cult enforced ritual shunning that i have not seen or heard from in 15 years. I am not the only one,the 'fraud in the name of God' Jehovah's Witnesses have defrauded MILLIONS of followers. The central CORE dogma of the Watchtower is Jesus second coming (invisibly) in 1914 and is a lie.Jehovah's Witnesses are a spin-off of the man made Millerite movement of 1870. A destructive cult of false teachings, that frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse, as well as needless deaths (bogus blood transfusion ban). Yes,you can 'check out anytime you want but you can never leave'. Danny Haszard former Jehovah's Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation http://www.dannyhaszard.com