Posted on 03/27/2009 9:42:48 AM PDT by NYer
Well, I guess it's a good sign when I first hear about something bad ... when the bishops publish a document telling me it's bad. But has anyone come across this stuff? I mean, what made it such a priority for the bishops?In a document released March 25, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops blasted Reiki, a practice developed in Japan in the late nineteenth century that has gained acceptance in some Catholic retreat centers and other institutions.
... The bishops add, “Some forms of Reiki teach of a need to appeal for the assistance of angelic beings or ‘Reiki spirit guides.’ This introduces the further danger of exposure to malevolent forces or powers.” [more from Catholic Culture or the MSM.]
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING REIKI AS AN ALTERNATIVE THERAPY United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 1. From time to time questions have been raised about various alternative therapies that are often available in the United States. Bishops are sometimes asked, "What is the Church's position on such therapies?" The USCCB Committee on Doctrine has prepared this resource in order to assist bishops in their responses. I. H 2. The Church recognizes two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that utilizes the powers of nature. As for the first, we can point to the ministry of Christ, who performed many physical healings and who commissioned his disciples to carry on that work. In fidelity to this commission, from the time of the Apostles the Church has interceded on behalf of the sick through the invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus, asking for healing through the power of the Holy Spirit, whether in the form of the sacramental laying on of hands and anointing with oil or of simple prayers for healing, which often include an appeal to the saints for their aid. As for the second, the Church has never considered a plea for divine healing, which comes as a gift from God, to exclude recourse to natural means of healing through the practice of medicine. long history of caring for the sick through the use of natural means. The most obvious sign of this is the great number of Catholic hospitals that are found throughout our country. 3. The two kinds of healing are not mutually exclusive. Because it is possible to be healed by divine power does not mean that we should not use natural means at our disposal. It is not our decision whether or not God will heal someone by supernatural means. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, the Holy Spirit sometimes gives to certain human beings "a special charism of healing so as to make manifest the power of the grace of the risen Lord."2
This power of healing is not at human disposal, however, for "even the most intense prayers do
not always obtain the healing of all illnesses."3 Recourse to natural means of healing therefore
remains entirely appropriate, as these are at human disposal. In fact, Christian charity demands
that we not neglect natural means of healing people who are ill.
II. REIKI AND HEALING
A) The Origins and Basic Characteristics of Reiki
4. Reiki is a technique of healing that was invented in Japan in the late 1800s by Mikao
Usui, who was studying Buddhist texts.4 According to Reiki teaching, illness is caused by some
kind of disruption or imbalance in one's "life energy." A Reiki practitioner effects healing by
placing his or her hands in certain positions on the patient's body in order to facilitate the flow of
Reiki, the "universal life energy," from the Reiki practitioner to the patient. There are numerous
designated hand positions for addressing different problems. Reiki proponents assert that the
practitioner is not the source of the healing energy, but merely a channel for it.5 To become a
Reiki practitioner, one must receive an "initiation" or "attunement" from a Reiki Master. This
ceremony makes one "attuned" to the "universal life energy" and enables one to serve as a
conduit for it. There are said to be three different levels of attunement (some teach that there are
four). At the higher levels, one can allegedly channel Reiki energy and effect healings at a
distance, without physical contact.
B) Reiki as a Natural Means of Healing
5. Although Reiki proponents seem to agree that Reiki does not represent a religion of its
own, but a technique that may be utilized by people from many religious traditions, it does have
several aspects of a religion. Reiki is frequently described as a "spiritual" kind of healing as
opposed to the common medical procedures of healing using physical means. Much of the
literature on Reiki is filled with references to God, the Goddess, the "divine healing power," and
the "divine mind." The life force energy is described as being directed by God, the "Higher
Intelligence," or the "divine consciousness." Likewise, the various "attunements" which the
Reiki practitioner receives from a Reiki Master are accomplished through "sacred ceremonies"
that involve the manifestation and contemplation of certain "sacred symbols" (which have
traditionally been kept secret by Reiki Masters). Furthermore, Reiki is frequently described as a
"way of living," with a list of five "Reiki Precepts" stipulating proper ethical conduct.
6. Nevertheless, there are some Reiki practitioners, primarily nurses, who attempt to
approach Reiki simply as a natural means of healing. Viewed as natural means of healing,
however, Reiki becomes subject to the standards of natural science. It is true that there may be
means of natural healing that have not yet been understood or recognized by science. The basic
criteria for judging whether or not one should entrust oneself to any particular natural means of
healing, however, remain those of science.
7. Judged according to these standards, Reiki lacks scientific credibility. It has not been
accepted by the scientific and medical communities as an effective therapy. Reputable scientific
studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to
how it could possibly be efficacious. The explanation of the efficacy of Reiki depends entirely
on a particular view of the world as permeated by this "universal life energy" (Reiki) that is
subject to manipulation by human thought and will. Reiki practitioners claim that their training
allows one to channel the "universal life energy" that is present in all things. This "universal life
energy," however, is unknown to natural science. As the presence of such energy has not been
observed by means of natural science, the justification for these therapies necessarily must come
from something other than science.
C) Reiki and the Healing Power of Christ
8. Some people have attempted to identify Reiki with the divine healing known to
Christians.6 They are mistaken. The radical difference can be immediately seen in the fact that
for the Reiki practitioner the healing power is at human disposal. Some teachers want to avoid
this implication and argue that it is not the Reiki practitioner personally who effects the healing,
but the Reiki energy directed by the divine consciousness. Nevertheless, the fact remains that for
Christians the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the
essence of Reiki is not a prayer but a technique that is passed down from the "Reiki Master" to
the pupil, a technique that once mastered will reliably produce the anticipated results.7 Some
practitioners attempt to Christianize Reiki by adding a prayer to Christ, but this does not affect
the essential nature of Reiki. For these reasons, Reiki and other similar therapeutic techniques
cannot be identified with what Christians call healing by divine grace.
9. The difference between what Christians recognize as healing by divine grace and Reiki
therapy is also evident in the basic terms used by Reiki proponents to describe what happens in
Reiki therapy, particularly that of "universal life energy." Neither the Scriptures nor the
Christian tradition as a whole speak of the natural world as based on "universal life energy" that
is subject to manipulation by the natural human power of thought and will. In fact, this worldview
has its origins in eastern religions and has a certain monist and pantheistic character, in that
distinctions among self, world, and God tend to fall away.8 We have already seen that Reiki
practitioners are unable to differentiate clearly between divine healing power and power that is at
human disposal.
III. CONCLUSION
10. Reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian
belief. For a Catholic to believe in Reiki therapy presents insoluble problems. In terms of caring
for one's physical health or the physical health of others, to employ a technique that has no
scientific support (or even plausibility) is generally not prudent.
11. In terms of caring for one's spiritual health, there are important dangers. To use Reiki
one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that
undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science.
Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts
his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man's-land that is
neither faith nor science.9 Superstition corrupts one's worship of God by turning one's religious
feeling and practice in a false direction.10 While sometimes people fall into superstition through
ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church to eliminate such
ignorance as much as possible.
12. Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific
evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care
facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to
promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy.
Most Rev. William E. Lori (Chairman) Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt
Bishop of Bridgeport Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair Most Rev. Arthur J. Serratelli
Bishop of Toledo Bishop of Paterson
Most Rev. José H. Gomez Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of San Antonio Bishop of Oakland
Most Rev. Robert J. McManus Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl
Bishop of Worcester Archbishop of Washington
1 "Obviously, recourse to prayer does not exclude, but rather encourages the use of effective natural means for preserving and restoring health, as well as leading the Church's sons and daughters to care for the sick, to assist them in body and spirit, and to seek to cure disease." 2 3 4 lacking. 5 Some Reiki teachers explain that one eventually reaches the realization that the self and the "universal life energy" are one, "that we are universal life force and that everything is energy, including ourselves" (Libby Barnett and Maggie Chambers with Susan Davidson, Reiki Energy Medicine: Bringing Healing Hospice [Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press, 1996], p. 48; see also p. 102). 6 Reiki" at http://areikihealer.tripod.com/christianreiki.html and the website www.christianreiki.org. 7 significant financial remuneration. The pupil has the expectation and the Reiki Master gives the assurance that one's investment of time and money will allow one to master a technique that will predictably produce results. 8 between and the self and Reiki. "Alignment with your Self and being Reiki is an ongoing process. Willingness to continuously engage in this process furthers your evolution and can lead to the sustained recognition and ultimate experience that you are universal life force" (The Reiki Healing Connection [Libby Barnett, M.S.W.], http://reikienergy.com/classes.htm, accessed 2/6/2008 [emphasis in original]). Diane Stein summarizes the meaning of some of the "sacred symbols" used in Reiki attunements as: "The Goddess in me salutes the Goddess in you"; "Man and God becoming one" (Essential Reiki Teaching Manual: A Companion Guide for Reiki Healers [Berkeley, Cal.: Crossing Press, 2007], pp. 129-31). Anne Charlish and Angela Robertshaw explain that the highest Reiki attunement "marks a shift from the ego and self to a feeling of oneness with the universal life-force energy" (Secrets of Reiki [New York, N.Y.: DK Publishing, 2001], p. 84). 9 introduces the further danger of exposure to malevolent forces or powers. 10
Catholic ping!
http://www.in-unity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=1
Nice post. The bishops are spot-on here. Although the white paper doesn’t mention the words “pantheism” or “New Age”, the criticism hints at it, and rightly so. Reiki is very New Age, very pantheistic, and thus, distinctly non-Christian, even anti-Christian. It is good to keep such stuff out of the church. We have a perfectly good Gospel that needs no adjuncts.
bump
Next up should be a rejection of “labyrinth walking,” another pointless pagan exercise masquerading as spirituality.
When I first began working on people it was often a practice handed down to pray for protection and the power to heal (the God of course chosen to pray to was our personal choice.) I was born and raised a Christian and did pray to help healing before every massage.
However on specific clients I was physically and later came to realize psychically ill after working on them. I later found out a few things regarding each client that made me ill and this really showed me that the spirit of a person when touched--if one does not pray for active protection from Christ--can easily be transferred to another. From that point on I always prayed for Christ's protection and guidance before doing any massage as well as after and I unfortunately had to stop working on specific people for my own spiritual health.
When one feels like physically vomiting after working on someone, and while having a solid relationship with Christ, there is no doubt about psychic transference through touch. It was the Holy Spirit in me that rejected whatever or whoever I came into confrontation with during those times. I have many other stories that are fairly shocking really to continue on to prove the point that all of this work is very, very powerful spiritually and psychically and can be used for ill. Also for healing if used rightly--think of the story of Mary washing Jesus' feet. I also now pray (I have not worked in body work profession for decades now) before I ever get a massage for Christ's protection and for Christ's healing touch if He so wills it. I recommend to fellow Christians to always pray for protection no matter where and what, but especially when having such close interaction with another. We are always confronting demons and evil energy everyday in little and big ways.
I am so very sensitive (always have been) to this that I can feel physically ill upon a person I have never met before walking into the room. My husband too has this but he doesn't get ill. He just knows right away, something is spiritually off about this person and that he will stay away. No one has to tell him anything and this is part of what attracted me to him is his natural connection with the Holy Spirit and his whole hearted trust of that guidance in all things.
It is good the Catholic church is starting to address these metaphysical battles as they have always been here but many churches have not really addressed them head on and offered Christ filled guidance--although the bible does in a multitude of ways.
Great point!
Thanks. I just read your long post and empathized with it on many points. However, I am not familiar with the story of Mary washing Jesus’ feet. Is that a tradition? Or in one of the pseudepigripha?
Ah, on second thought, I AM familiar with the story of the Mary (perhaps Magdalene), when she was anointing Jesus’ feet, and kissing them, and wiping her tears with her hair. Is that the incident you meant?
The woman is not named in Luke's Gospel, but she is traditionally Mary Magdalen.
Bingo.
I had to stop attending a yoga class because the instructor kept on blethering about the "life force" and "channeling" and it made me very uncomfortable.
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead.
2 They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table.
3 Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard,
and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair;
the house was filled with the scent of the ointment.
Boy do I hear that!
I used to subscribe to The Whole Dog Journal because it does great reviews of dog food and treats, and had useful training articles as well.
Somebody on the editorial board went crackers and started including in EVERY issue all these weird articles about crystal healing and aromatherapy and reiki and stuff. Never any scientific studies -- just anecdotal evidence and blether. I cancelled my scrip and told them why -- they didn't get it at all.
There's certainly some evidence for the existence of some sort of vital force in the body -- the entire system of traditional Chinese medicine is based on it, and a Harvard physician went to China and studied it and is apparently trying to get together some sort of empirical study.
But it's a far cry from that to all these New Age loons running around doing stuff without knowing what they're doing.
37 suddenly a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment.
38 She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is and what sort of person it is who is touching him and what a bad name she has.'
40 Then Jesus took him up and said, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' He replied, 'Say on, Master.'
41 'There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty.
42 They were unable to pay, so he let them both off. Which of them will love him more?'
43 Simon answered, 'The one who was let off more, I suppose.' Jesus said, 'You are right.'
44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'You see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in.
46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47 For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.'
48 Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'
49 Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man, that even forgives sins?'
50 But he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'
Powerful stuff. Thanks so much for pointing out this passage as well. Now including my other post in response, we have two biblical passage referencing this arena.
It is interesting as you mentioned traditional Chinese medicine--in which when practiced without any element of new age hooey is something I believe in absolutely as a gift for medicinal practice. Yet the second it intersects with new age philosophy, actions, or interpretations, I believe that is where the evil psychic element is introduced and it then inserted into the psychic realm (where there is only one battle--God against the AntiChrist).
It is almost as if evil (new age) is trying to co-opt a natural element of God's world (traditional Chinese medicinal practice) and shove it into a tool of evil use by inserting such New Agey additions. This is often why when I need acupuncture I have often used only Chinese trained and Chinese acupuncturists that live in the states (although this is much harder to come by in smaller communities).
Many new age types are attracted to this profession in America, some are not motivated by anything other than pure belief in the Chinese medicine. Interpreted and practiced strictly as it originated in China is not new age to me. It is just the hippie co-opt of it in certain cities and towns etc that has dragged the new age evil into it in certain arenas. At least that is my experience of it all. What God made natural evil tries to co-opt. I guess this is true of every gift God has given us.
I hope I wrote this well. I was trying to voice my support for traditional Chinese medicine while separating it out from the new new agey interpretation or co-opt by certain folks (not all) of it. I was also trying to differentiate between the realm of psychic energy--good versus evil--and a whole other realm of natural meridian systems that God made up in our bodies that has been discovered and used for healing in China. They do not naturally intersect to my knowledge at this time (but time and God will tell :-) for who am I? LOL). I do think they are wholly separate just as the practice of Reiki is fully separate from a loving massage given the heart of the Holy Spirit to another for healing.
Yet massage can be co-opted too to introduce evil forces and energies-knowingly or from a useful tool (not physical tool of course. LOL) A bit long winded but I think that it because evil has effectively confused the issue as he often aspires to and it takes teasing the evil realm from the natural Godly realm.
Leaving aside the charlatans who were just trying to make a buck, a number of gurus spoke out quite harshly about Western idiots who were just being trendy and didn't understand the Hindu faith at all.
I wonder if they've ever considered that since they started monkeying with idea of having GOD at the center of the retreat, it's worthless, and most folks don't bother going anymore.
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