Eliot Miller's Paranoia and Inattention to Academic Scholarship
by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

The Christian, Energetic Medicine, "New Age Paranoia" by Elliot Miller

According to a recent Time/CNN poll, about 30 percent of Americans have resorted to some form of "unconventional therapy," "half of them within the past year."1

Commentary by Brian Benjamin Carter, MSci, LAc

Another figure is that at least 42% have used alternative medicine therapies, according to a 1998 Journal of the AMA article.

"Conventional" depends on your frame of reference. What is conventional in modern American biomedicine is not what is conventional in modern European biomedicine, nor is it what was conventional in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Perhaps more significantly, "holistic health" approaches have been steadily working their way from the New Age health care fringe into mainstream medical practice. Therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and "Therapeutic Touch" (the laying on of hands to channel "Universal Life Energy" to the patient) are increasingly accepted and utilized by physicians hospitals, and clinics across the country. The use of meditation and visualization are commonly prescribed to reduce stress. Chiropractic, long considered anathema by orthodox medicine, has recently acquired a new respectability.2 And at the local chiropractors office, spinal adjustments are not infrequently combined with more exotic forms of "energy balancing."3

In the view of many evangelical cult watchers - including John Weldon, Paul Reisser, M.D., and myself - this trend is providing the New Age movement with one of its most strategic opportunities to convert our culture.4 For many holistic health modalities pack pantheistic/occultic philosophy and spiritual experience that can beguile and win over the often unwary and vulnerable patient. But not all evangelicals share this concern.

THE CHRISTIAN HOLISTIC HEALTH MOVEMENT

There is a growing movement of Christian practitioners of holistic (or "wholistic") health, and of Christians who turn to such treatments for their physical maladies.5

Perhaps the most articulate and vigorous spokesperson for this movement is Monte Kline, Ph.D., a former staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ who became a nutritionist and "wholistic health practitioner" after a personal bout with cancer.

In his March/April 1988 Christian Health Counselor newsletter, for example, Kline devotes six pages to the subject of "New Age paranoia" in the church. He argues that Christians have often been more hysterical than rational in their approach to the New Age movement, with the result that many innocent people and legitimate ideas and practices have been tarnished with the label "New Age." He acknowledges that "there is much, much spiritual error in the New Age movement,"6 and Christians need to be discerning about these elements.

But the opposition of many Christian authors to certain holistic health therapies represents what he calls "flat earth Christianity." Flat Earth Christianity Flat earth Christianity is the too-often-prevalent Christian mentality that considers heretical and even demonic any theory that does not fft in with its traditions and present knowledge (e.g., for many medieval Christians the idea that the earth is round and not the Center of the universe was Considered anti-Christian). Kline explains: Their assumption is that anything outside their knowledge of the creation is supernatural in the demonic sense and therefore to be denied

Not sure why holistic health is in quotes. For a definition of holistic medicine, read this article.

Acupuncture is not just a therapeutic modality, but part of a system of medicine.

Meditation can be Christian- contemplative prayer, as described by Thomas Merton and Richard Foster is the most meditative kind of prayer.

Visualization can be a simply psychological exercise. Sports players often visualize their movements before executing them. This helps them think through something difficult before doing it, and improves performance.

It is true, many holistic health practitioners do have new age beliefs.

True - but a modality is a therapy - it is not the therapy that is pantheistic or occultic, but the ideas of the practitioner, or the system the therapy is based upon.

True - Christian need to be well-rooted in Biblical doctrine to wield the sword of scripture and wear the armor described in Ephesians 6.

Holistic is the proper term.

Nutrition is the scientific study of what we eat and how it affects our health. Studies have proven that vitamins, amino acids, foods, etc. can affect neurotransmitters in the brain and our moods- this would be an example of holistic nutrition- how does food affect our whole body, mind, emotions, and life.

I've seen this. They don't apply it to thing like atoms, molecules, or quarks, however. Double standard.

The ontology (study of what is) of the Bible as regards spirituality divides spiritual forces into good and bad. Paul enjoins us to "test the spirits" against the Bible. Logically, some spiritual forces, revelations, and experiences could be deceptive and evil while seeming to be good.

Thus, the Ch'i energy of acupuncture, auras, and chakras could not possibly be just another part of God's creation, only unknown to them...

Yet man is called to exercise dominion over His [God's] creation (Genesis 1:28), and how can man do that without exploration and discovery? True science is merely the processes of discovering, quantifying, and applying what God has built into His creation.7 Kline argues that the concept of holistic health is legitimate and much needed. While agreeing that New Agers have attached unchristian philosophy to its practice, he affirms that we should not "throw the baby out with the bath water" but rather provide a biblical framework for holistic health. There are senses in which I could agree with everything in Kline's position as represented above. I am glad that he recognizes the unchristian nature of New Age philosophy. And I can agree with many of his criticisms of certain Christian critics of the New Age movement. A number of innocent people and legitimate ideas and practices have been unfairly labeled New Age.

I would further agree with Kline that the basic concept of a holistic approach to health care is legitimate and needed, and that in certain respects the contemporary holistic health movement has contributed toward meeting this need. (Not all of its approaches are occultic or medically unsound; some, such as the emphases on exercise and nutrition, can be truly beneficial.) And, I strongly concur that a "Christian holistic health movement" is needed, if only it will stay clear of New Age error and medically unsound practices. Finally, I would agree with Kline's defini­tion of true science and his characterization of many Christians (past and present) as having a "flat earth" mentality concerning things they do not understand.

WHAT IS BIOENERGY?

Despite these areas of agreement, I strongly disagree with Kline about certain holistic health theories and practices which he advocates and employs. At the heart of the difference is the practice of "energetic medicine." Energetic medicine encompasses dozens of diverse therapies and diagnostic approaches, including meridian therapy (e.g., acupuncture, acupressure), Applied Kinesiology (both practiced by Kline - he uses electroacupuncture as a diagnostic technique), homeopathy, reflexology, polarity therapy, Therapeutic Touch, and (at least in its original theory) chiropractic. All these approaches are concerned with balancing or releasing energy in the body for the advancement of health and the treatment of disease. The energy that is the concern of these therapies has been given many names, including bioenergy, vital force, the life force, universal life energy, cosmic energy, chi (acupuncture), and Innate Intelligence (chiropractic). If these therapies necessarily involve the practitioner and patient (at least on the level of belief, and perhaps much more) with this energy, it is crucial for the Christian to carefully consider whether it is a scientifically explainable energy (i.e., a physical energy) or whether it is a psychic or occultic energy (i.e., a spiritual, supernatural, and demonic power). As will be explained in what follows, it is my view that the latter explanation is best supported by the available evidence. Although the view I'm advocating is exactly what inspired Kline's term "flat earth Christianity," I do not believe the label applies in this case. For Kline has not brought all the relevant factors into the discussion. He argues that "to say that invisible energy forces are the common denominator of creation is not scripturally heretical; it's only offensive to our traditionally accepted world view; yet we're all involved everyday with invisible energy forces through television, radio, and household electricity "8

To be sure, some Christians have imprecisely objected to the idea of "invisible energies," but that is not really the issue. Energy is often invisible without being occultic. Obviously, the "invisible energies" of micro, radio, and television waves can be and have been scientifically explained. Though they are not "physical" in the sense of visible or tangible, they are physical in the sense that they are a part of the space-time-matter-energy continuum that composes this world. Therefore they operate according to natural laws that can be scientifically measured and demonstrated.

Ch'i (qi) is not energy. See this point/counterpoint on the controversy surrounding the translation of that Chinese character. The mistake here is misrepresentation of CM by new-agers, and thinking that qi has a discrete physical existence. It does not. It is a metaphor. Two good scholar/ historians agree with me on this- Paul Unschuld, and D.E. Kendall.

Acupuncture, auras, and chakras should not be grouped together. Acupuncture is part of Chinese medicine. Auras are new age. Chakras are part of the Yoga tradition from India.

Ok, and science is not only discovery, but theory and philosophy, and the testing of them.

True.

Me too.

Yes.

In which respects? Sounds like an empty qualification- hedging without substance.

Yes!

Acupuncture is not energy medicine. It has been misunderstood as such. It should not be grouped with systems like therapeutic touch.

The use of of the word chi has been misused here.

See? Here is the ontological issue. Chinese medicine does not claim that it is a physical energy. It merely uses the concept of qi as a metaphor for diagnosis and treatment. That makes a lot of the rest of this argument germaine for such therapies as therapeutic touch, but not for acupuncture, qi, and Chinese medicine.

Don't know what I think about this one.

True.

True.

Devilish Energy - An Operative Reality

The issue Kline ignores, however, is this: If devilish (not to mention divine) supernatural energy is operative in the world (and Scriptures like 2 Thess. 2:9 compel us to affirm that it is), then it is not true that all energetic phenomena have a scientific explanation and are among those parts of God's creation that we are to "take dominion" over. We therefore cannot afford to assume that all phenomena are spiritually safe for us to explore - even if certain good effects are associated with them (2 Cor. 11:14).9

What if the practice is not condemned by name in the Scriptures (a point Kline makes in defense of acupuncture, Applied Kinesiology, and "most" holistic health practices10)? If it can be shown to be a part of or intrinsically related to something that is specifically condemned (in this case, spiritism - Deut. 1 8:11),

or if it tends to involve or encourage unbiblical (in this case, occultic) concepts or behavior, it should still be avoided (1 Thess. 5:22). I recognize that in matters of discernment such as these - where a practice is not specifically named in Scripture - a Christian's judgment cannot always be foolproof. It could be that a concept or practice we currently consider occultic will later be shown to be scientific. But if after careful objective examination of the available evidence something appears to be occultic, we do well to avoid it. This is prudence, not closed-mindedness or paranoia.

A Mysterious Force

Kline laments that "the Church has a penchant for not accepting any valid scientific discovery until about a century after the world has."11 Even if we accepted this claim, it would be irrelevant to the issue at hand. For the "world" (as represented by the scientific establishment) has not accepted the bioenergy central to the above-named holistic health therapies as a valid scientific discovery. Despite much effort to establish its scientific basis, this force remains enigmatic.12 A few debatable claims to scientific verification for it have been made, but they have not been accepted by the scientific community at large.13 Even many proponents of energetic medicine admit that bioenergy still fails the tests of repeatability and explainability required of an authentic scientific theory).14

Pagan/Occult Connections

While bioenergy has resisted the scrutiny of hard science, it is not difficult to classify it in terms of the sociological setting in which it has historically appeared: it is a fundamental feature of spiritistic paganism. Parapsychologist Thelma Moss, who has extensively researched healing energies, provides a few examples: "Is there a common thread that can be discerned through these various phenomena of healing? I believe so. The Hindus call it 'prana,' the Hawaiians 'mana,' the Chinese 'ch'i,' and Hippocrates called it the 'heat oozing out of my hand.' Mesmer 'animal magnetism,' and Quimby 'mind force.' I believe they were all referring to the same invisible energy."15

Wherever it has appeared - in ancient paganism, modern occultism, or parapsychological research - this "life force" has been accompanied by altered states of consciousness, psychic phenomena, and contact with spirits 16 Additionally, those who are capable of perceiving, and adept at manipulating, this force invariably are shamans (e.g., witch doctors), "sensitives," or psychics, thoroughly immersed in the pagan/occult world.17

In the New Age movement today bioenergy theory operates within the context of pantheism: all reality is God, God is impersonal but conscious energy; therefore, all reality is a manifestation of spiritual energy. And if this energy can be released man will be both healed and mystically enlightened to his true divinity. The actual manifestations of this energy (e.g., healings) have convinced many that New Age pantheism must be true (which provides us with a motive for satanic forces to manifest such healings). Furthermore, the energy system models used to explain these therapies - which Kline himself defends (the meridians of acupuncture, the seven chakras [psychic centers] of yoga, the auras of occultism) - are all imbedded in world views that are intrinsically pagan and antagonistic to Christianity.18

Their intricate structures, and laws are directly related to religious concepts and are not even remotely related to physical science.

It simply will not do to say (as many Christians besides Kline have) that these systems are true aspects of God's creation that were discovered and accurately described or diagrammed, but not accurately interpreted, by pagans.19

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders," - 2 Thes 2:9

I don't see how this verse affirms anything about "energy."

The author hasn't even defined "energetic phenomena" yet.

True.

"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." - Deut 18:11

Spiritism is "The belief that the dead communicate with the living; spiritualism." None of these health practices have anything to do with the dead. This is ridiculous. So far, the author still has yet to make the case.

"Avoid every kind of evil." 1 Thes 5:22

The author has yet to establish that acupuncture is evil. So, we don't know if that verse applies to it.

Acupuncture has already been made sense of by science. See this review of the research.

Of course they haven't. But as stated above, acupuncture and Chinese medicine are not based in these things, no matter what some new age practitioners would like to think.

Again, this misunderstand of qi persists. It is widespread. But you won't find this kind of confusion amongst scholars who translate Chinese medicine. The reference for more info on qi is above.

Her belief is based in what? Actually, that's a much more new age habit- to try to reduce all cultures and belief systems to one faith or religion.

Qi is not associated with these things in authentic Chinese medical literature.

Acupuncture is practiced by trained, licensed health professionals. For more about the education, go here. Chinese medicine did have a historical period of shamanism, but that was long ago, and all of that has been purged from modern Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture and its meridians are part of Chinese medicine, a medical system that grew up in a culture surrounded by Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. These religions and philosophies certainly influenced Chinese medicine doctors and scholars, but these same religious influences were purged by the communists as of 1949 when they took over China. Some of the former religious ideas stayed popular in Taiwan, and the new-agers have certainly adopted them, but the continued practice of TCM as a medicine in China has proven that these religious ideas are secondary to - not essential to - Chinese medicine.

Interesting that the author uses imbedded which means 'sunken into' rather than embedded which means 'an integral part of. I would agree with that word choice, since for many English speakers, acupuncture had been sucked into the realm of new age. It's time to liberate and distinguish the medicine from the spiritual.

Not true of Chinese medicine. For example, the CM concept of heat applies to inflammation, which is defined by western medicine as calor, rubor, and dolor - heat, redness, and pain - and swelling. In Chinese medicine anything hot and red is heat. Heat is a physical phenomenon extended into a medical concept. Most Chinese medicine concepts are drawn directly from the observation of the natural world.

Not sure what the author means here. I see Chinese medicine as a separate, equal, different categorization of natural phenomena. Just as Western medicine recognizes syndromes (groups of symptoms) like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Chinese medicine recognizes common groups of symptoms called patterns.

Oh, and don't forget- many scientists and Western medical doctors are pagans. In fact, Christians and Science weren't always friends- remember Darwin? Now that Christians can no longer deny the sense of Science, we pursue the Philosophy based in Science of Intelligent Design to support creationism.

A Vital Mistake

To my knowledge, Christians working with meridians and other religious/occultic energy systems have not seriously attempted to reconcile these systems to their faith. But they have at least grappled with the underlying concept of bioenergy. Attempting to demystify this force, Kline identifies it with electromagnetism. Citing the holistic health doctrine that an energy-based model is better for understanding health and disease than one based on matter, Kline comments: "It's not hard, based upon quantum physics to come to this conclusion. Indeed, various frequencies of electromagnetic energy are the common denominator of all things. I acknowledge that as a fact of God's creation. The New Age pantheist, however sees that energy as the 'all is One' that is a non-personal God."20

Endorsing Dr. Harold Saxton Burr's Electrodynamic Theory of Life, Kline concludes that "there is a deeper level of life beneath the physical and chemical levels we normally measure - an electrical level that is ultimately responsible for producing our physical and chemical bodies."21 At the same time, Kline correctly identifies the bioenergy concept with the metaphysical (i.e., philosophical) theory of life known as vitalism. Portraying this philosophy as a scientifically valid alternative to the dominant view of mechanism, he states that "the concept of Vitalism acknowledges that difference, that something extra that distinguishes a living from a non-living being."22

Scripturally, he explains, that "something more" or "vital force" of vital km is the "breath of life" that God breathed into the dust to make man (Gen. 2:7). He concludes: "I believe that Scripture clearly shows the truth of the vitalistic concept of life over the mere mechanistic concept. The scriptural concept of Vitalism is the key to understanding the body's 'invisible energies' and bioenergetic testing methods."23 Although Kline has succeeded at describing bioenergy in nonoccultic terms (in some respects scientific, in other respects biblical), he has done so at the expense of a coherent position. Misunderstanding the meaning of vitalism he has confused several distinct concepts. First of all, the difference between the philosophies of mechanism and vitalism is not the difference between a view of life based on matter and a view of life based on electromagnetic energy. The "vital energy" of vitalism is classically a nonscientific force. It cannot be reduced to the laws of physics (including electrodynamics) any more than it can the laws of chemistry. Thus, ironically, in holding that life can be explained in terms of scientific (i e., physical) energy Kline is actually arguing for a mechanistic view.

Another created inauthentic idea. Chinese medicine does not deny the existence of matter, or rely on energy, or quantum physics to operate.

Perhaps true, but has nothing to do with Chinese medicine.

I have no idea what that is.

Not sure about that. I'm not a physicist.

Don't know if it's scientifically valid- does that mean scientifically proven, or scientifically plausible?

My understanding from quantum physics is that the material universe is not as mechanical as we thought- and my understanding of scripture is that there are "spiritual realms." But I don't know that this has anything to do with qi. I agree that the bioenergy hypothesis is hard to believe. I don't think qi belongs in this discussion. Qi is a metaphor for a number of things- perhaps enzymes, carbohydrates, nerve impulses- depending on the context. I would relate it exclusively to the physical and mental, not to the spiritual. This is because my definition of spiritual as a Christian is more specific than most new-agers' definition of spiritual.

Good point.

Cannot be, or has not been?

True.

Second, and related to the above, while it could be said that the Bible supports a form of vitalism, this does not provide a "key to understanding the body's 'invisible energies' and bioenergeric testing methods." Genesis 2:7 relates that the Lord "formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being [Hebrew: hay nephesh]." The Hebrew Scriptures use the term haya to denote the experience and quality of life; its usage provides no insight into the nature of that life (i.e., pertaining to the vitalism debate). The word nephesh, which in its original usage meant "breath," is used in the Old Testament to cover a range of related concepts including "life," "soul," and "person." In the light of all usages of the word (and the New Testament usages of the parallel Greek word psuché), we must conclude that what God breathed into man was his soul: the nonphysical (and thus nonscientifically testable) part of his nature.24

Because all of man's parts are interrelated, his physical body is animated. But his life is seated within his soul; it is distinct from the electro­magnetic forces at work in his physical being and cannot be manipulated in any therapeutic approach. Third, the form of vitalism that is at the base of all energetic healing models is not the biblical view. Rather, it is rooted in an "emmanational" philosophy that is closely related to pantheism.25 According to this view, the "life force" is the very essence of God, radiating outward from the Divine Center as the inner reality and vitalizing principle of creation. Thus the universe becomes intrinsically alive (its essence being "spirit" or "intelligence"). Many New Agers would agree with Kline that bioenergy is electromagnetism, but in their view it is much more than that. All "physical" energies are manifestations of divine energy. Since pantheists believe that nothing is ultimately physical, they easily blur the distinctions between physical and spiritual entities - distinctions that are critical to the Christian who wishes to avoid demonic involvement. Thus, for them, bioenergy takes on properties beyond anything science has found in electromagnetism: it has a mind of its own and a will to be well (the Innate Intelligence of original chiropractic theory); it is better manipulated and channeled by therapists who have highly developed psychic or intuitive abilities.26

Ultimately, vitalism is considered scientific by New Agers only because the spiritual realm itself is considered scientific in their pantheistic world view.

It would appear that Christians are doomed to failure when they attempt to fit the vital energy of energetic medicine into a Christian context. Yes, there are energies which radiate throughout the universe and permeate and surround our physical bodies, and there are respects in which these energies are significant to health and health care.27 But they are physical, not vital, forces.

Yes, there is a "vital force" which animates our bodies, but this is localized within our souls.

It is not a cosmic energy that flows into our bodies, passes through various channels (e.g., meridians, chakras), and then flows back out into the universe. Thus, it cannot be obstructed; nor is there a need to "release" or "balance" it. The idea that the universe is energy, that this energy is alive, and that this vital energy needs to be manipulated in our bodies to promote health is the basis of energetic medicine; it is essentially a pantheistic view and cannot be conformed to biblical theology. Pantheistic vitalism - since it makes no radical distinctions between spirit and matter - can have applications to health care. A biblical vitalism (if we may use the term) cannot. Clearly, Kline has missed the differences between scientific and nonscientific energies and lumped them all together under the misleading heading of "invisible energies." Once these various concepts are sorted out we find no solid reason to believe that the energy of energetic medicine is physical and scientific, but several good reasons to strongly suspect that if it exists at all (and I believe it does), it is supernatural and demonic. The risk is great, therefore, that it cannot be utilized without the utilizer becoming the utilized (i.e., a pawn and victim of satanic forces and deception). In fact, my wide-ranging research of occultism emboldens me to suggest that this energy is part and parcel of the occult - where the occult appears, it can be found; where it is found, the occult will inevitably appear. ARE THEY THEIR OWN BEST ARGUMENT? We might expect Kline and other Christian practitioners of these arts to reply that they themselves are the best argument against what has been presented above: they are Bible-believing Christians, not New Agers. Thus this energy does not always appear in the context of paganism, and it does not always lead to occult involvement and New Age beliefs. All that has really been proven so far, however, is that Bible-believing Christians can attempt to utilize this energy within a nonoccultic context. If this energy is inherently occultic (and thus demonic) then all their good intentions will not prevent Christians involved with it from becoming confused and compromised. Continued involvement could gradually lead to further involvement with the occult, and the deterioration of Christian faith and life. I am aware of cases where this scenario has indeed been lived out, and I find no assurance that the same will not ultimately hold true for all who become deeply involved with this energy.

If the practice is occultic, then Kline's advice to "seek committed Christian practitioners"28 will not suffice.

In summary, Kline's "flat earth" analogy fails because it overlooks one all-important factor. While he rightly notes that Christians have opposed legitimate science in the past because its theories contradicted their traditions, this is not the case here. The concern of evangelicals like myself is rather the clear-cut historic connection between this unvalidated "science" and spiritistic paganism.

Christians who believe in the supreme authority of Scripture must also believe in the biblical doctrine of Satan and his pervasive influence in this present world system. If "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), how much more the kingdom of the occult, his unique domain! Thus Christians have every reason to be cautious concerning phenomena that has had a long and strong connection to the realm of occultism and paganism.

True.

This one I wonder about - off the topic, but my own curiosity: can spiritual sin cause physical disease? Not sure, but I think the spiritual can determine the physical. I'm less sure if the physical can affect the spiritual. It seems that the mental and spiritual communicate, though- in prayer to God, and in the Holy Spirit giving us mental understandings.

Weird.

Weirder.

Good point.

Hard to believe. I'm pretty sure the body has some normal ability to move toward homeostasis- the immune and nervous systems probably play a dominant role here- but once in too diseased a state, it can no longer get healthy by itself. That's the reason for medical intervention. If the body could get itself well, we wouldn't need healers or medicine. If it has to be helped along by others, how "intelligent" is it? I do think that intuition in itself is a valuable skill often used in medicine and psychology.

Don't understand this statement, and wonder about the source of it.

True, pantheistic intelligent energy does not fit with Christian doctrine.

Is there a Bible verse to support this statement?

This is a misunderstanding of stagnation, a Chinese medical concept.

I think when you get right down to it, many new agers say spiritual but mean mental and emotional- or perhaps they think it's all the same.

I'd agree with that- again qualifying that qi does not belong in this category of energy medicine.

If it is. I wonder if it isn't all just placebo, tho- which is also dangerous in its deception.

I hear stories about this slipping into the occult, but I don't see how a Bible-believing, Church-going, Kingdom-seeking, Holy-Spirit-sealed Christian can get there. In fact, my experience has been that the Holy Spirit has enabled me better to see what ideas and people are involved in new age or the occult, and to resist it. I don't tolerate any of that. Of course, I do not practice energy medicine... Someone who did try to work with chakras, etc. might get confused.

A doctrinally sound Christian who practices Chinese medicine as a body-mind medicine, not a religion or faith, is perfectly fine.

Obviously not referring to acupuncture, which has been supported by science.

Of course.

NOTES

1Claudia Wallis, "Why New Age Medicine Is Catching On," Time, 4 November 1991, 68.
2See, e.g., Elisabeth Rosenthal, "Hands-On Back Therapy Is Winning Respectability," New York Times, 3 July 1991, sect. A.
3Many chiropractors disavow such energy balancing, however. For example, see the Christian Chiropractors Association's "Policy Statement on New Age Healing" (CCA, 3200 S. Lemay Av., Fort Collins, CO 80525-3605).
4See, e.g., John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Can You Trust Your Doctor? (Chattanooga, TN: Global Publishers, 1991); Paul C. Reisser, Teri K. Reisser and John Weldon, New Age Medicine (Chattanooga, TN:Global Publishers, 1988) and chapters 2 and 5 of Elliot Miller, A Crash Course on the New Age Movement (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989). A European evaluation along the same lines is found in Samuel Pfeifer, M.D., Healing at Any Price? The Hidden Dangers of Alternative Medicine (Milton Keynes, England: Word Publishing, 1988).
5See, e.g., the preface of Reisser, Reisser, and Weldon.
6Monte Kline, Ph.D., "New Age Paranoia," Christian Health Counselor, March/April 1988,1-2.
7Ibid., 4.
8Ibid., 3.
9Although Kline acknowledges the need to test potentially occultic activity (Ibid., 5-6), the tests he recommends are insufficient. While "direct scriptural reference" is invaluable, practices unnamed in Scripture can still be unbiblical. Testing the fruit of an activity in someone's life is also an important criteria, but requiring subjective judgments as it does, this test can never be conclusive on its own.
10Ibid., 5.
11Ibid., 3.
12See, e.g., John Taylor, Science and the Supernatural (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1950), 42-43: Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, 2d ed., s.v. "Psychical Research."
13For example, Kirlian photography is constantly cited as providing the long-awaited proof of an aura of life ener­gy surrounding the human body. Yet in scientific literature the phenomenon has long been sufficiently explained in terms of the moisture content of animate and inanimate objects - without reference to any vital energy. See, e.g.. Taylor, 43-44.
14See, e.g., Bernard Grad, "Healing by the Laying on of Hands: A Review of Experiments," in Ways of Health: Holistic Approaches in Ancient and Contemporary Medicine, ed. David S. Sobel (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979), 283-85: and Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, s.v. "Emanations."
15Dr. Thelma Moss, The Probability of the Impossible: Scientific Discoveries and Explorations of the Psychic World (New York: New American Library, 1974) 84.
16See e.g., Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, s.v. "Vitality."
l7See, e.g., the discussion of Baron von Reichenbach's experiments in Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, s.v. "Emanations."
18In a longer version of this article I devote over 700 words to expounding and demonstrating this position, using meridian therapy as a case in point. The interested reader may obtain a copy by writing me at Christian Research Institute.
19This is not to say that all forms of energetic medicine are unscientific and unbiblical in every respect. Acupuncture and chiropractic both appeal to a life force as the basis for their practice. Through manipulating this energy they supposedly can heal all manner of disease. They have not lived up to this claim. Nonetheless they are popular forms of alternative medicine Why? They have proven effective at relieving certain kinds of pain. But this success can be explained in orthodox medical terms, without reference to any life force.

20Kline, 3.
21Monte Kline, "Bioenergetic Testing," Christian Health Counselor, May/June 1988, 3. 22Ibid., 2.
23Ibid.
24Scripture also informs us that other animals have souls (nephesh - see Gen 1:20, 21, 24), the difference being that only man's soul is created in the image of God and thus survives death. While the word soul is not used for the lower life forms, we may legitimately infer that their life too is not reducible to the laws of physical science.
25See, e.g., the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, s.v. "Emanations."
26For example, acupressurist Diane Black explains that while theoretical knowledge and technique are important, "the chi dance is the thing." That is one must intuitively tap into "energies from the core of our beings and from the universe around us....it is the primordial skill of exchanging life's energies, of opening to the universe's energies that we can't possess but can use, channel and build with as a tool for life." ("Chi - The Life Force," Handtools: Acupressure Quarterly, Winter 1984, 6.)
27See, e.g., Harold M. Schmeck, Jr., "Magnetism: Promising New Tool in Diagnostic Medical Research," The Orange County Register, 7 February 1981.
28Kline, New Age Paranoia, 6. Glossary Applied Kinesiology: A diagnostic method based on the premise that various muscles are related to various organs and glands, and that by testing for weakness in these muscles dysfunctions in the related organs and glands can be detected. energetic medicine: Any of several therapeutic approaches which are based on the view that good health consists of proper energy flow in the body, and a blockage or imbalance of this flow constitutes disease.

meridian therapy: Any health care method which, on the assumption that health consists in the balanced flow of chi (vital energy) through twelve bilateral channels (meridians) in the human body, seeks to balance this chi by stimulating - via puncture (acupuncture) or pressure (acupressure) - various acu-points along the meridians' courses.

spiritism: The voluntary possession of a human being by an invisible entity (usually thought of as a spirit) to obtain information, healing power, and so forth. vitalism: A metaphysical doctrine of the nature of life which states that life is a substance that is not exhaustively composed of nonliving substance (i.e., physical matter/energy). The term is often asso­ciated with a vitalistic concept of the universe itself in which evolution is guided upward by a vital impetus.

CRI, P.O. Box 7000, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 Phone (949) 858-6100 and Fax (949) 858-6111

Again, it must be an understanding of meridian therapy as explained by new-agers that you are using.

No. See above.

Acupuncture can treat many diseases. Not all have been proven, but not all have been tested, not all of the research is based on good Chinese medicine, and finally one maxim in all research is that lack of proof does not equate to proof against.

True to some extent. If you really studied the literature on pain, you'd find that just explaining why pain happens in scientific terms is an ongoing process. See the book Complications, written by an MD.

Whatever. Acupressure is itself a modern creation, not neccesarily authentic Chinese medicine. Tui na is Chinese medical massage, but not the same as acupressure.

Chi, or qi, is not vital energy. This is a mistranslation. See either Paul Unschuld or D.E. Kendall

ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE AND ACUPRESSURE IS A NATURAL HEALING SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY THE CHINESE AND SUCCESSFULLY PRACTICED IN THEIR CULTURE FOR MANY CENTURIES (CLAIMED TO BE OVER 5,000 YEARS OLD.) THE EARLIEST TEXT IS FROM HUANG-TI-NEI-CHING SU-WEN (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine or Nei-ching) COMPILED FROM 2500 TO100BC. Acupuncture was first introduced in Europe about 200 years ago by Jesuit priests who served as Catholic missionaries in the East. Most of its modem popularity in America and Europe followed the normalisation of relations between the West and the Peoples Republic of China (Healing At Any Price? p. 28). THE TECHNIQUE IS USED TO UNBLOCK AND REDIRECT ENERGY FLOW THROUGH THE INSERTION OF NEEDLES- -ACUPUNCTURE, OR USE OF PRESSURE-ACUPRESSURE, AT KEY POINTS ON THE BODY TO BALANCE THE ENERGIES.

MANY OF THE PLACES THE NEEDLES ARE INSERTED HAVE NO NERVE ENDINGS .

IT IS BASED ON THE OCCULTIC SYSTEM OF TAOISM OFTEN CALLED YIN/YANG,CHI OR KI. A COMMON FORCE THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE UNIVERSE.

'The Nei Ching states that 'The entire universe is an oscillation of the forces of Yin and Yang.'... In terms of medicine, the interaction of Yin and Yang is the basis of the energy pervading and activating the body, and an imbalance in the relative amounts of Yin and Yang energy Is seen as the root of all pathology" (The Holistic Health Handbook, pp. 47-50).

THESE SPECIFIC POINTS RUN ALONG WHAT ARE CALLED MERIDIANS (zones). THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS OF HOW MANY OF THESE MERIDIANS THERE ARE.

HOLISTIC HEALERS CLAIM 10, ACUPUNTURISTS SAY THEIR ARE 12 MERIDIANS OR ZONES CORRESPONDING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANS OF THE BODY. THE MERIDIANS RUN UP AND DOWN THE BODY FROM THE TOP OF THE HEAD TO THE TIPS OF THE TOES.

THEY BELIEVE THAT DISEASE RESULTS WHEN THE BODY'S ENERGY FLOW BECOMES UNBALANCED;

THEY INSERT LONG, VERY FINE NEEDLES INTO SPECIFIC SPOTS ON THE BODY, OR USE FINGERTIP STIMULATION TO BRING THE ENERGY FLOW INTO BALANCE OR RELEASE THE BLOCKAGES.

THIS FREES THE ENERGY OF THE UNIVERSE TO FLOW FREELY(CHI) GIVING HEALTH TO THE ORGANS AND BODILY SYSTEM.

ACCUPRESSURE WAS INVENTED FOR THOSE AFRAID OF NEEDLES!

TRUE CHINESE ACUPUNCTURISTS DO NOT NAME SPECIFIC DISEASES IF YOU GO TO THEM FOR TREATMENT-THEY WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE A BLOCK IN A CERTAIN MERIDIAN AND TREAT YOU. THE NEW WESTERN ACUPUNCTURISTS DO NAME SPECIFIC DISEASES-THEY'VE ADAPTED THAT IN RESPECT TO TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE.

THEY ARE WORKING WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN --- AND IS A SPIRITUAL CONCEPT FOR PHYSICAL AILMENTS.

True.

False. Not energy, but qi.

Not energy, but qi.

Source? Cytologic studies I've seen show that acupoints have more nerves than other areas in the body. Plus, they often have more measurable electrical activity.

False. Who told you this? Some new agers.

Looks like the typical misunderstanding of yin and yang, which are categories, not forces. These terms are used conceptually, not ontologically.

True. Not zones but lines.

False. There are 12 each of main, divergent, and luo channels, and 8 extra channels. Not all channels have their own points, however.

As above, they are not zones, but lines, or channels. The 12 main channels do correspond to the 12 main organs. Not all channels traverse the entire length of the body. Whoever wrote this has been reading secondary sources, and was not trained in Chinese medicine.

A simplification of the truth- again it is qi, not energy. And it's not really "unbalanced" per se, but abnormal.

Each point has specific functions and indications chosen according to complaint and diagnosis. The goal is not to affect energy, but qi- balance is a simple way to say it, but not technical or particularly accurate.

This is ridiculous. Who said this?

Not sure about that. Talked about this above.

False. Again, where does this ridiculous information come from? Chinese medicine has historically used two major systems of classifying disease- one is disease names, the other is patterns. It's true that since Western medicine came to China, disease names have become more important. But they never have been sufficient without a pattern diagnosis.

Not true, and well-rebutted many times above.

Not true, and well-rebutted many times above.

Dr. Chang, author of The Complete Book of Acupuncture states "According to the Law of the Five Elements, the lungs (metal) support the kidneys (water). If the lungs are indisposed and consequently must use all their energy to sustain their functions, the kidneys must become polluted. Because they do not have enough energy to function. To revitalise the kidneys, one must treat the lungs" (the five elements are earth, metal, fire, wood, water)

Dr. Chang himself accepts the metaphysical, Taoist basis for acupuncture, he mentions some non-religious explanations. That the needles, "block the impulse from reaching the brain... or generate an Impulse that will preoccupy the nerve centre in the brain. The nerve centre, being preoccupied with the surrogate impulse, fails to attend to the original pain, which has become secondary and will eventually subside" (The Holistic Health Handbook, p. 46). this very well could be the accurate reason why it works.

As Christians we should not seek practitioners who offer metaphysical cures that manipulate invisible energy.

The Acupuncture theory is noncompatible with both scientific evidence and diametrically opposed to the Christian world view of the human body and spirit.

The Bible never describes energy zones or meridians in the human anatomy.

While admittingly there is much unknown, this has always been the practice of metaphysical and occult practitioners.

The following "explanation" by an acupressure therapist shows why Christians should have no part in this. The Holy Spirit is not a "force" in us, as they say, which we can manipulate.

WHAT IS PROCESS ACCUPRESSURE ? Process Accupressure is a unique process of therapeutic touch developed by Aminah Raheem, PhD. "The procedure applies principles of traditional acupressure, Zero Balancing, and chakra energy work to help us understand and empower the whole person, body, mind and spirit." (Raheem, 1991). The net result of combining these modalities is to restore free flowing vital energy throughout the body. This brings harmony and balance. Process Acupressure employs the wisdom and applied knowledge of the ancient healing arts that have been in use in India for over 2500 years and in China for over 5000 years. These ancient arts focus largely on the flow of energy through the meridians and energy centers of the body. In Oriental traditions this flow is referred to as chi, qi or prana. Christians, however, would know it as the movement and power of the Holy Spirit within us.

A better translation of "xing" is phase, not element. They are not physical substances, but characteristics, or qualities. Also, these lungs, kidneys, etc. are the Chinese medicine organ-systems, not the Western medicine organs. They are usually capitalized Lungs, Kidneys, etc. to differentiate them as organ systems.

It's not metaphysical, it's conceptual, or philosophical.

This is old information, and wrong.

It's not. See my research brief.

True.

False. See above.

Nor does it describe coronary arteries, nerve axons, quantum physics, cars, or jet airplanes.

False. This energy medicine may be metaphysical or occult, but it's not Chinese medicine.

I'm always suspicious of new inventions. Therapeutic touch is a hoax, and should not be combined with anything.

As above, acupressure is not traditional. Tui na is- but again it works with qi, etc. not with energy or chakras.

It's a creation- it's not authentic Chinese medicine.

Wrong.

Also wrong.

All "holistic" heatlh care practices are under the umbrella of alternative health. But not all alternative health care is holistic. The best way to recognize holistic health practices is to recognize the common characteristics that bind them together.

1. Altered States of Consciousness This is a method used in a vast number of therapies. Examples include therapeutic touch, psychic diagnosis, dream work crystal healing, and higher mind healing.

2. Maya This concept maintains that illness is only an illusion and that healing comes only through proper thinking, meditation, visualization, or positive affirmation.

3. A Magical Worldview/divination Under this belief, the practitioner uses psychic powers to diagnose, predict, or forecast alleged illnesses.

4. Life Energies The New Age model of holistic health is based primarily on its conception of energy, not matter. To enhance the flow of 'healing energy in the body, we are told that one must 'attune' to it and realize one's unity with all things. Most New Age therapies are based on this premises. Illness is not seen as a physical problem, but as an imbalance of energy in the body or as a by-product of unenlightened consciousness.

If contemplating an alternative medical practice use the following Biblical principals to determine if they are New Age.

Determine if the practice is inherently unbiblical. Does it involve, immorality, idolatry, demonic forces, mediums or Eastern mysticism. Better to continue to be physically sick than to become spiritually diseased. (Deut 18:10-13)

If acceptable in a Biblical worldview, does it really work? Be a pragmatist. Don't just accept stories and testimonies which do not prove anything by themselves. Controlled studies are the best means of determining the effectiveness of any therapy. If studies show that it is ineffective, it would be wise to avoid them.

If acceptable in a biblical worldview and scientifically feasible, make sure that the practitioner does not influence you with a mystical world view.

Holistic is not pantheistic, but means looking at all bodily systems, plus the mind and emotions. I suppose new agers may have a different definition than I do. All alternative or holistic medicines are not related, do not share the same historical origins, do not have equal validity.

Weird. Not a part of Chinese medicine.

Similar to the Christian Science heresy. Good orderly thinking, positive thinking, and positive emotions do enable the immune system to function better, but illness is not only an illusion.

Weird.

Probably true, but Chinese medicine and acupuncture are not energy medicine.

Eastern mysticism should be better defined. I think there are Christian mystics, but we cannot know the mind of God, we are too small- So trying to know God based on eastern religions, is that eastern mysticism? Neither Buddhism nor Taoism have gods- so I don't understand this.

Very good point. Chinese medicine hsa been vindicated by science- others have not. For example, a 12 year old girl disproved therapeutic touch with a randomized controlled trial.

Yes! Demand a practitioner who is primarily medical in orientation, and best if they are Christian.