The cults never seem to have merciful outreach to the poor, or the ill, the homeless, or the needy. Despite the cult’s huge wealth centered in the leader, the cult is turned in on itself instead.

I suspect that this observation is accurate in most cases. Even in cases where so-called “cults” show acts of compassion, one needs to ask: What is the motivation behind this act? wonder if the lack of merciful acts test could be applied to the more fundamentalist groups in mainline religions as well? From a Christian perspective, ideally, a Christian acts mercifully because it is part of who he or she is, and not because it will help to win a convert.

I don't know the extent the word “cult” applies to Mr. Ray or how closely connected his followers are to him (although I read somewhere that for an even more exorbitant price, followers can partake of “all things Ray” for an entire year). But based on your list I think a case could be made for the Warrior Retreat as a microcosm of a cult like experience. I have to admit that as tempting as it may be to say “I would never let that happen to me” for whatever reason, the frightening reality — the bit that has been in the back of my mind for the past few days — is how very vulnerable we can be, how frighteningly effective these tactics of psychological manipulation, exploitation and control can work on even the most self-possessed. While the Warrior type retreat would not appeal to me (and my body does not tolerate heat well), I did once inexplicably buy a $1,000+ vacuum cleaner. I wasn't eager to at the beginning of the sales pitch, but I wasn't prepared for the tightly scripted textbook-case routine, the nuts and bolts of which I ruefully saw only in retrospect.

One part that is especially disturbing is the kind of Turbo-Charged Emotional Excavation. Does he think this is patty-cake? This just makes me angry, and aching for the grief and depression you describe. Someone earlier used the word Trickster and it seems very apt here — I sense a kind of sadistic emotional vampire behind the persona.

Do members who meet and go home and may or may not sign up for more qualify for having succumbed to a cult? I don't rightly see how he fits into the usual model.

It is not the kind of workshop I would be attending, but there are hundreds if not thousands of workshops all across the country teaching people how to make more, get more, live more. And it would appear to be in sync with the prevailing zeitgeist.