Roy Masters (commentator)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(December 2007)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.
Roy Masters
Born 1928
England
Show Advice Line with Roy Masters
Website www.fhu.com

Roy Masters (born April 2, 1928) is a radio commentator and author based in southern Oregon, United States. He discusses Christianity, psychology, and philosophy. His commentary is distributed through his foundation's radio program, books, audio and video recordings, web site, church services, and meetings. In addition, he and two of his three sons own Talk Radio Network, a syndicator of mostly conservative talk radio shows.

Masters advocates decision-making principles for issues involving relationships, marriage, family life, and upsetting or traumatic experiences. Other topics he discusses include medicine, politics and science.

Contents

[edit] Biography

British-born, Roy Masters relocated to the U.S. in his youth, and has been based in southern Oregon in recent decades.

At his birth in London, Roy Masters was named Reuben Obermeister. He originally planned to go to medical school, but after his father's death of a heart attack when Roy was 15, the family could only afford to send Roy's elder brother to college. Roy was sent to Brighton to apprentice as a diamond cutter in his uncle's factory.

As a youth, Roy saw a vaudeville demonstration of hypnosis, and was intrigued. This would prove to be very important to his later life.

At 18, he served a term in the British Army, Royal Sussex Regiment.

In 1948, at 20, he traveled to South Africa to pursue the diamond profession, but returned to England. During his time in South Africa, he became more "interested in the power of suggestion and the way the mind influences bodily functions." He briefly studied methods of African witch doctors outside Johannesburg.

The following year, 1949, he relocated to the United States where he worked as a diamond cutter, lecturer, and gem expert.

At age 24, in 1952, he met and married his wife, Ann. They moved from Birmingham, Alabama, and settled in Houston, Texas.

Seeing demonstrations by stage hypnotists meant to entertain, he wondered if hypnosis could be put to better uses as a way to fulfill his interest in the healing professions. Morey Bernstein's book about Bridey Murphy (described in the section below on Meditation) increased popular interest in hypnotism. As news of the Bridey Murphy case circulated, many people came to Roy’s home in Houston to have him explain hypnotic regression and to demonstrate hypnosis.

At this time, Roy developed his own approach to hypnosis and meditation, described in the meditation section below.

Subsequently, he sold his diamond-cutting business and became a full-time professional hypnotist. He founded the Institute of Hypnosis. Rather than ridding people of bad habits and limiting personality traits he just explained his principles and taught his meditation technique in 15-minute sessions.

Later, he was arrested and made a test case for the non-medical use of hypnosis. In jail he counseled the inmates to understand what causes their unsocial behavior. Newspaper stories spread his fame. He was released after 18 days for good behavior. He practiced for two more years, perfecting his technique of “un-hypnotizing” people, and recorded the LP record, “How your mind can keep you well”.

Then Roy, Ann, and their four children left Texas, traveled the US by trailer, then stopped, and stayed in Los Angeles, California “so the kids could go to school.”[1]

In 1963, he founded the Foundation for Human Understanding (FHU) (http://www.fhu.com), described in more detail below.

In 1979 Roy's family and the Foundation moved to Tall Timber Ranch in Selma, Oregon.

[edit] Meditation

In 1956 Morey Bernstein wrote a bestselling book, The Search for Bridey Murphy. It was an account of Bernstein's hypnotic regression of Virginia Tighe in 1952.[4] [5]

Roy came to the conclusion that most people did not need to be put into a hypnotic trance in which they were open to suggestions. Instead, they needed to be freed of a widespread, unrecognized hypnotic trance that they had already inadvertently fallen into, as a result of emotionally-driven bad behavior and bad information from themselves and others. Once freed of this trance, he believed, individuals' innate capacity for conscience, intuition, and logic could guide them to better choices and to accepting wise counsel.

Roy developed a meditation technique which uses relaxation and visualization to undermine an existing trance, to quiet disturbing thoughts and feelings, and to reconnect with an inner spiritual wisdom. The current version of his meditation presentation, Be Still and Know, is available for free from the Foundation web site for those interested in "overcoming stress [and] illness." [2]

The name is taken from Psalm 46:10, which begins "Be still and know that I am God..." He recommends his meditation technique to clear one's mind and to listen to one's conscience. Then to let your conscious catch up with you; to feel the pain, then do better. "The first truth you see is the unpleasant truth about yourself". [3]

Roy routinely advises callers to his radio advice program that if they have not yet followed the meditation exercise, they should download and use it as a basis for understanding his counsel. Much of his discussion with advice seekers concerns their need to learn how to meditate so that resentment will not lead them to misbehave in dishonorable and unrealistic ways.

Further discussion of Roy's key beliefs is in a later section of this article.

[edit] Foundation

The Foundation was ultimately intended to be a Judeo-Christian think tank, providing books, audio tapes, CDs, and other information useful to those seeking Christ. After successfully winning a legal challenge, Foundation for Human Understanding holds tax-exempt church status.

The Foundation was originally based in a storefront location in Los Angeles that provided lecture space for Roy's talks.

Although self described as a "think tank," the Foundation almost entirely presents the work of only one thinker, Roy Masters. The Foundation makes these materials available for free to prisoners.

The Foundation buys the radio airtime for "Advice Line," discussed below.

The audio recording of the meditation exercise, along with companion books about Roy's key concepts, and recordings of recent or noteworthy radio and church programs, are available for free download from the Foundation web site. Further written and audiovisual materials are available for download in exchange for a donation to the Foundation.

Roy holds regular church meetings in Grants Pass, along with other meetings that vary from a Bible studies group, to men's and women's discussion groups. [4] Although he has traveled to give talks in the past, he has recently commented on the radio program that he anticipates very little travel in his future, due to reduced energy level at his age.

[edit] Publications

Roy is the author of the books How Your Mind Can Keep You Well, The Hypnosis of Life, The Secret Power of Words, The Adam and Eve Sindrome, How to Survive Your Parents, Eat No Evil, Finding God in Physics: Einstein's Missing Relative, and most recently Be Still and Know (an updated version of How Your Mind Can Keep You Well). See below for references to these materials. Building on his experience with hypnosis, he now offers the Soviet Manual on Brainwashing on his website to show readers how brainwashing is done and, according to Roy, is currently being done in America.


[edit] Media Appearances

Roy has appeared on CNN's Crossfire and on Larry King Live, and was interviewed on a 1998 program on the Discovery Channel dealing with the belief in the Apocalypse and its relation to the militia movement. A short segment of one of his tapes was used in a PBS television special,[5] which dealt with the social attitudes over death and capital punishment throughout American history.

[edit] Physics

Although not trained as a physicist, Roy has developed a physics theory concerning gravity, electricity, and alternative energy technology. On his radio program, he has offered to provide his paper about the theory for free to physicists and physics educators. To discourage casual readers who would not have relevant background or interest in the topic, the paper is otherwise available to the public for a $50 donation to the Foundation.

On March 9, 2007, he made a 12-minute presentation, "Electricity from Gravity," to the American Physical Society in Denver. The American Physical Society provides an open forum for the lay public to introduce new ideas that contradict current conventions in physics, so this presentation is not an endorsement of Roy's paper by the physics establishment. [6][7] [8]

[edit] Radio

[edit] Advice Line

Roy hosts his own radio show Advice Line, five nights a week, broadcast to about 130 radio stations. See below for a list of current stations. The program is also available live as a free streaming presentation on the Foundation web site. As the Foundation (usually) buys the radio airtime (often in exchange for a discounted rights fee on more popular hosts in the network's stable), Roy uses the program to solicit listener donations to the Foundation to support the broadcast.

[edit] Ownership of Talk Radio Network

Main article: Talk Radio Network

Roy and his two sons own Talk Radio Network Enterprises. TRN Enterprises[9] syndicates Advice Line as well as primarily conservative personalities such as Michael Savage, Tammy Bruce, Laura Ingraham, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, and most recently Erich "Mancow" Muller.

[edit] Stations

Some of the stations carrying Advice Line (frequently on a delayed basis) are

  • KAAY AM 1090 - AR Little Rock
  • KZPT FM 104.1- AZ Tucson
  • KRLA AM  870 - CA Los Angeles
  • KCBQ AM 1170 - CA San Diego
  • WROL AM  950 - MA Boston
  • WCRN AM  830 - MA Worcester
  • KDWN AM  720 - NV Las Vegas
  • WCKY AM 1530 - OH Cincinnati
  • KOKC AM 1520 - OK Oklahoma City
  • WTMR AM 800 - NJ Camden
  • WWVA AM 1170 - WV Wheeling
  • America Right - XM Satellite Radio M-F 10-12PM {PST}
  • KAHI AM 950 - CA Auburn
  • WIND AM 560 - IL Chicago (M-F 2-4AM Central Time)
  • KEYS AM 1440 - TX Corpus Christi
  • WGUL AM 860 - FL Tampa
  • WGKA AM 920 - GA Atlanta

[edit] Key beliefs

See above for discussion of the meditation exercise and its importance to Roy's teachings. See below for discussion of controversies about some of Roy's main themes.

Roy sees the fundamental problem in human experience as giving in to bad behavior prompted by unresolved emotional turmoil. He claims that this turmoil comes from being brainwashed or put in a hypnotic trance by one's own sinful nature, or by one's reactions to inappropriate behavior by others - who themselves, in turn, were passing along the worst of their own lives. He sees his meditation exercise as a way to break this vicious cycle, particularly where it occurs within families, and replace it with an inward turning to conscience, truth, and rationality, and an outward turning to traditional values.

Roy sees the Biblical story of Adam and Eve as a literal description of how a female tendency to give in to emotionalism can tempt and corrupt both women and men. He develops these themes into a variety of traditional perspectives about the role of men as spiritual and moral leaders in the family, correcting the unstable emotionalism of women. As part of his conservative interpretation of the Bible's instructions on morality, he advocates sexual abstinence until marriage; teaches that homosexuality is a deviation that is a consequence of moral and psychological issues within an individual subjected to abusive or confusing situations; and holds a pro-life (anti-abortion) position.

Roy sees Christian salvation as a process of God's work reclaiming the corrupted hearts, minds, and consciences of individuals who repent of their wickedness. His teaching emphasizes individual conscience and adherence to life principles, mainly from a psychological or philosophical perspective, with little discussion of traditional Christian themes.

Roy sees most medical problems as symptoms of an underlying spiritual or moral issue that has created psychological confusion and emotional overwhelm, leading to physical stress. He teaches that when the spiritual issue is resolved, the physical expression of the problem will also clear up. However, he does not advocate spiritual treatment in lieu of medical care, which he says is necessary as an interim measure, and for those medical issues that do not have a psychological foundation.

[edit] Controversies

Several aspects of Roy's career have been considered controversial.

Cult concerns - see below for references - Some other Christian teachers have warned that Roy's version of Christianity deviates from mainstream Christian doctrine, into the territory of "New Age" thought. Roy added a "statement of faith" to the Foundation web site in an attempt to address these concerns. - In 1981, the Indian spiritual leader Rajneesh purchased a large tract in central Oregon, where many of his followers moved, reminiscent of how about 2,000 of Roy's enthusiasts had relocated to Grants Pass a few years earlier when Roy and the Foundation moved to southern Oregon. Unlike Roy's Foundation, Rajneesh and his followers were embroiled in scandal about sexual and financial impropriety in an alleged extremist cult. To distance himself from these associations, Roy sarcastically referred to his devotees who had moved to Grants Pass as "Roybots," and refused to provide any membership program in his own Foundation. - Some see Roy's meditation as, itself, a form of brainwashing and trance induction that makes its users less competent to think for themselves, and more susceptible to outside suggestions - including Roy's suggestion that they donate to the Foundation.

Misogyny and abuse - An ex daughter-in-law of Roy has publicly made accusations of abuse, including physical violence, on the part of Roy based on misogynistic attitudes.

[edit] Bibliography

  • The Adam and Eve Sindrome. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, Jan. 2001. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900110 276 pages.
  • Finding God in Physics: Einstein's Missing Relative (with Bob Just and Dorothy Baker). Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1997. (pbk and cassette edition) ISBN 978-0933900196 177 pages.
  • Secrets of a Parallel Universe: Why Our Deepest Problems Hold the Key to Ultimate Personal Success and Happiness. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1992. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900172 156 pages.
  • Surviving the Comfort Zone (with Dorothy Baker). Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, Aug. 1, 1991. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900158 197 pages.
  • Understanding Sexuality: The Mystery of Our Lost Identities (with Dorothy Baker). Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, rev. ed., Feb. 1988. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900134 361 pages.
  • Beyond the Known (with Dorothy Baker). Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, Rev. Ed., June 1, 1988. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900035 255 pages.
  • The Hypnosis of Life: Self-Defense Lessons to Help You Cope with Every Day Pressure. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1988. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900059 259 pages.
  • The Secret Power of Words: Why Words Affect You So Deeply. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1, 1988. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900141 213 pages.
  • Eat No Evil (with Dorothy Baker). Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1987. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900127 127 pages.
  • How to Survive Your Parents: And Not Do to Your Children What Your Parents Did to You. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1, 1982. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900103 190 pages.
  • The Satan Principle: Life Itself Is Hypnosis: Self-Defense Lessons to Help You Cope With Everyday Pressure. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1979. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900028 And as Life Itself Is Hypnosis: The Satan Principle: Self-Defense Lessons to Help You Cope With Everyday Pressure.  :Foundation Books, 1978. (pbk) ASIN B000NDXFO
  • How Your Mind Can Keep You Well Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1, 1978 (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900097 201 pages. And  :Fawcett Crest Book, 1973. Mass Market PBK ASIN B000MFHWYA
  • No One Has to Die! Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1977. ASIN B0006COJWM 243 pages.
  • Secret of Life. (pbk) 1977. [ASIN: B000KVIIQM] and as
  • The Secret of Life. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1972 ASIN B0006XQGMW 194 pages.
  • Sex, Sin & Salvation. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1977. ASIN B0006XSUVQ 321 pages.
  • How to Conquer Suffering Without Doctors. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1976. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900042
  • How to Control Your Emotions. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1975. ASIN B0006CJDUA 325 pages.
  • How to Conquer Negative Emotions (with Mel Tappan). Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, June 1, 1975. (pbk) ISBN 978-0933900011 325 pages.
  • (Roy Masters Speaks On) Understanding Meditation. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1974, ASIN B000710BE2 40 pages.
  • Your Mind Can Keep You Well.  : Fawcett Publications, 1973. (Mass Market PBK) ASIN B000B58D4O And  :Essandess Special Edition, 1968. ASIN B0007F6DEK 197 pages.
  • Sex, Sin & Solution. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1970. ASIN B0006CYIFU
  • (Roy Masters Speaks On) Breaking Free of Psycho-therapy. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1970. ASIN B0006C2IRA
  • How To Be At Peace With Your Problems. Oregon: Foundation for Human Understanding, 1965. ASIN B0007I59TM B0007I59TM 76 pages.
  • The Secrets of Life and Death.  :Devorss, 1964. ASIN B0007EPZIQ 192 pages.
  • Be Still and Know (an updated version of How Your Mind Can Keep You Well).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pages 14-16, Healers, Gurus and Spiritual Guides by William Wolf © 1969, 1975, 2005, published by the Foundation for Human Understanding.[1]
  2. ^ "Be Still and Know - An Introduction to Stress Management"
  3. ^ FHU Prison Ministry
  4. ^ Page 3, An Open Letter to Churches, by Roy Masters, February 1992.
  5. ^ Death in America
  6. ^ Advice Line 3-23-07
  7. ^ [2]Pre-presentation newspaper article
  8. ^ [3]page 73 of 75
  9. ^ TalkRadioNetwork.com: Welcome To TRN

[6] "Be Still and Know" (meditation tape or CD)

[7] William Wolf, Healers, Gurus and Spiritual Guides (Foundation for Human Understanding, 1969, 1975, 2005). An 86-page biography of Roy Masters.

  • James R. Lewis, ed. The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 2nd ed., 2001). ISBN 978-1573928885 "The Foundation for Human Understanding," pp. 340-341
  • Walter Martin (et al), The New Cults (Santa Ana, CA: Vision House, 1980), "Roy Masters: Foundation of Human Understanding," pp. 297-319

[edit] External links

[edit] External links of debunkers