The Guru Of Cult Awareness

File under: Real True Gurus

While we don't necessarily believe that Rick Ross is enlightened, we were blown away like a hummingbird in a hurricane by this Gothamist interview, linked from his own cultnews.net. That site and rickross.com have been invaluable tools in our effort to ferret out evidence of plain, old, ordinary humanity (including the disgusting and lurid) in the lives of the supposedly divine.

Rickji has got it sussed both sociologically and psychologically. Often derided by the organizations he investigates and catalogs, Ross is apparently the subject of a 196 page profile and 17 page introduction on the Scientology website (which we were unable to find,) all in an attempt to discredit him and his research.

But rather than being as rabidly anti-cult as they are anti-Rick, Ross seems to have a more balanced perspective:

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.

First, carefully and discretely research the group in question and educate yourself. Then make an informed decision about how you can best respond. Before taking any action get a second, even a third opinion from people and/or professionals you trust. Don't jump to any conclusions before a process of due diligence. Keep all communication as open as possible and strengthen continuing goodwill with the person you are concerned.

In a way, Rick Ross is a father of the lineage of guru-busting with which we find ourselves presently involved, so we'll take this moment to virtually take the dust of his feet and acknowledge his fearless work in the service of individual responsibility and clarity, all amidst the ridiculous belief and expectation that comprises most cult ideology today.