is presenting ourselves as spiritual guides, gurus etc false, a manipulation?

I think presenting oneself as some sort of perfect, flawless, superior being..? Is manipulative and exploitative as f*ck, yes. And people like that are usually filled with nothing but ego. No matter how much they might like to think otherwise... :S

However: presenting yourself as a teacher, who can show people certain things, while also recognizing the fact that you're just another flawed and f*cked up human, with plenty of your own issues..? I've got respect for. And I'm quite open to learning from humble people like that.. Some people HAVE gotten further than me, when it comes to certain things, certain practices, and certain realizations! That's a fact! And if some of these people would like to teach me..? Then I'm ALL for it. But just.. don't pretend to be perfect, or all "holier-than-thou", or ask for me to kiss your @ss and suck your toenails. :-P

A person has to have the right qualifications and be recognized by others who know what it means to be a guide or guru.

They do that to make money. Nothing more they say to help others but it is not free.

If you were not appointed as such yes

Yes it is.

With what qualifications? It's bogus.

@ Jea -- Thank you SO much, dear! We always enjoy your lovely compliments.

edit: Yes, sweetie, we understand your problem.

It makes you the same kind of crooked charlatan as those crooked pastors Fireball refers to here. they sell a load of lies, and demand a lot of cash for doing so. Fraud on that scale should certainly be illegal. Nobody who claims to "teach" spiritual anything is being honest, especially those greedy preachers.

definetely false

FOR QUALIFIED PASTORS NO BUT we cannot judge this person u wonder about...GOD alone is judge.