The legal work on what to do about James Arthur Ray following the deaths of participants in this "spiritual" leader's sweat lodge has begun. The basic issue: if and how responsible is Mr. Ray for the loss of lives that occurred in his sweat lodge.
My thoughts today are not about the culpability of Mr. Ray and his sweat lodge. My thoughts are focused on why Mr. Ray (and his company) are viewed as spiritual entities. As best as I can tell, Mr. Ray is an entrepreneur who tells a really good story -- one in which appears to resonate for folks seeking something to add to their lives. But Mr. Ray and James Ray International, at least from his website, are for-profit entities -- neither a spiritual organization or a nonprofit -- but a for-profit quite effectively making Mr. Ray, at least until today, quite rich.
Now I know that nonprofit tax structures are just that -- they provide a vehicle where folks can pursue interests and beliefs that profit more than themselves and subsequently, are not taxed. Mr. Ray and James Ray International ultimately pursue interests that primarily benefit Mr. Ray. That of course is an American institution. Fine for Mr. Ray.
This makes me wonder thought why Mr. Ray's followers didn't look for or care about the "label" and perhaps saw themselves investing in an individual who was meeting their needs and their ability to deduct the expenses didn't really matter. But doesn't the tax exempt status also provide some degree of confidence that to "donors" the greater good is served vs. the well-being of one? Isn't nonprofit status more like a Good Housekeeping Seal that provides assurances to folks such that they might pause when considering investing in an organization that doesn't have the Seal?
And besides just being a Seal, nonprofit status also offers another benefit: there's a group of passionate people who want to ensure that the nonprofit only does that which is right for all the organization encounters. That group of folks, a board (I know, not always a guarantee as this blog frequently points out), sits to ensure mission first. Would Mr. Ray have run his sweat lodge more prudently with a nonprofit board overseeing his actions?