Christian Answers for the New Age

Please note that many links go to New Age websites and/or to other spiritual sites promoting the methods that are being warned about. This is done to a) provide information only, and b) to demonstrate the spiritual basis of such techniques and ideas. 

1. “Alternative medicine” is called alternative because the technique/ drug/ herb has not been or cannot be adequately tested, or has been found ineffective, harmful, or dangerous. If it were a safe, tested treatment, it would not be in the alternative category. Many studies cited to support these methods are flawed, short-term, based on anecdotal evidence, conducted by those providing the techniques or products, and often are not published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The terms complementary, blended, and integrated are now being used as well since alternative treatments are being combined with traditional medicine. There is a new category of “functional medicine” which refers to the use of conventional and alternative methods but leans toward the alternatives. All of this makes it more difficult to test the alternative methods or to know what is really working when the patient improves. It should be remembered that the placebo effect accounts for 30% or more for a person feeling better.

2. The term “functional medicine” has made alternatives appear to be credible. Functional practitioners may or may not be medically licensed. But whether they are medical doctors or not, functionial practitioners use untested, unscientific “alternative” treatments. This is partly due to the popularity of such treatments, and so being able to offer them adds to what the doctor can charge for. The other reason is that many medical doctors have themselves fallen for the deception of what is called “alternative healing.” Intellect and degrees do not make one immune to deception.

The founder of functional medicine is not a medical doctor, but a biochemist, Jeffrey Bland. Typical of alternative providers, he is often listed as “Dr. Jeffrey Bland,” although he is not a medical doctor (chiropractors and other alternative providers do this as well).  Functional medicine is characterized by practices that lack scientific merit; functional providers often recommend unnecessary and expensive tests; use unregulated supplements; focus on imaginary conditions (such as “adrenal fatigue,” or “heavy metal poisoning”); and may use scare tactics to convince patients they have conditions needing expensive treatment.

While some nutritional advice from some functional providers might be helpful, it is taking a risk to see a functional doctor (or dentist). In the United States, functional medicine practices have been ruled ineligible for course credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians because it considers they may be “harmful” and  “dangerous.”

3. Proponents of alternative medicine are often hostile to the medical establishment and/or what is called “western thinking,” that is, rational thinking. There is often a bias against science or belief in a conspiracy amongst physicians. This prejudice prevents them from objectively viewing the evidence against alternative healing. More doctors are now allowing or advocating these treatments because of patient demand so they can stay in business. But remember, doctors can be deceived, too.

4. The term “Western medicine” is often used by alternative healing practitioners in order to disparage scientifically based modalities. However, the term “Western medicine” has no logical meaning because there is only “medicine” and “non-medicine.” Much of what is called “Eastern medicine” includes the spiritually based Ayurveda practices based on Hindu beliefs, and/or TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), also based on spiritual beliefs in the universal life force, chi.. Ayurveda and TCM are not scientifically tested and may offer dangerous products which contain metal toxicity.

5. Many of the new healing techniques are being called energy medicine since there is an assumption that one is dealing with channeling, transferring or altering energy. This energy is not measurable or biological; it is believed to be the energy of a universal force/life force pervading all. The belief in this type of energy is foundational for sorcery, pantheism, monism, some Eastern religions, many New Age-related beliefs, and most of the occult. Sometimes this energy is seen as being an impersonal God, a god-force, or an innate divine intelligence which infuses all parts of the universe and our bodies. These are spiritual, not medical, views.

6. Techniques such as acupuncture, acupressure, tai chi (not a medicine but often prescribed for people recovering from illness), and Tapping (also called EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique) are based on the belief that a universal force called chi (also spelled as qi, ki or ji) which pervades everything and everyone must be flowing to achieve good health. There is also the belief in two universal energies, yin and yang, which must be balanced. If anything is blocking the chi or unbalancing the yin and yang, then illness and/or pain results. The chi is believed to flow through invisible channels in the body called meridians. In this case, treatment is based on a spiritual belief system, not on medicine or objective fact.

Reiki, reflexology, cupping, acupressure, Touch for Health, and shiatsu are also based on Taoist beliefs in chi and meridians.

So far, no clear medical or biological basis as been discovered for Tapping/EFT or acupuncture, which are based on similar principles. There are theories that the needles trigger the release of endorphins or affect a neural pathway, causing a temporary relief of pain. If indeed this is what is happening, then it is no longer actually acupuncture, since acupuncture is not based on the physiology of neural pathways or endorphins. For a more detailed Christian view of acupuncture, see “Evaluating Acupuncture” by Steve Godwin.

7. Homeopathy is based on the belief that a vital force in the body has been disrupted. Treatments which would produce the symptoms of the illness in a healthy person are used to treat the sick person. However, since these treatments often contain poisonous substances, they are diluted until nothing of the original compound is left. It is believed that when the mixture is shaken, some of its “energy” transfers to the water in diluted form in an occult process called “the memory of water.” Homeopathic practitioners do not apologize for being unable to explain how these remedies work. Treatments vary from person to person.

8. Therapeutic touch and Healing touch are forms of energy healing. Therapeutic touch is not touching at all, but holding the hands several inches above the patient to feel for “warm” or “cold” spots which indicate a problem. The healer is alledgedly working with a supposed “energy” and removes the bad energy and transmits “healing energy” through their hands. This technique comes directly from the occult and the New Age, and is similar to both psychic and witchcraft techniques for healing.

9. Other New Age/occult healing techniques not covered  above include: polarity therapy, iridology, Applied Kinesiology (sometimes called muscle testing), magnetic therapy, myofascial release/massage, somatic therapies, most massage therapy, and rolfing.

“All energy therapy comes from three basic assumptions:

The magnets in jewelry and belts worn for healing are similar in size & strength to refrigerator magnets which cannot penetrate beyond 10 sheets of paper, much less the skin and tissue of a person’s body. (Washington Post, 9-8-99, p. H3, by Robert L. Park, professor of physics at the U. of MD, author of Voodoo Science).

Massage therapy, as practiced in the United States, is more than massage, and is primarily a form of spiritual healing.  Massage therapy may also include pseudoscientific beliefs that certain parts of the body relate to areas of the person’s past and life, and massage supposedly releases old hurts, rejections, anger, etc. Massage therapy schools, which have existed only since the 20th century, are primarily New Age in their thinking and training. For further information, please see this informative article on Massage Therapy by Steve Godwin.

10. The basis for “natural” remedies comes mostly from New Age thinking which views nature as pure and/or sacred, from other popular pagan ideas about nature, and from pseudoscience. This includes Naturopathy, which is not based on science, biology, or objective data but instead comes from vitalistic views about a life force in the body. There are “natural” remedies which are ineffective and which are dangerous. Most herbs and potions are unregulated, untested and inconsistent in quality and potency. There is no way for the buyer to determine how much of an active ingredient is present (which varies from bottle to bottle), and there is no way to know if the label is even accurate.

In addition, one does not know how the herb or potion will interact with other medications that are being taken. Long term effects of many herbal products and large doses of vitamins remain unknown. A California Dept. of Health Sciences study tested 243 Asian patent medicines, finding that four contained lead, 35 mercury and 36 arsenic, “in levels exceeding those allowed in drugs.” About one-third of the supplements contained “heavy metals” and other “‘adulterants'” ( The Washington Post, 9/17/98, p. A3). Scripture tells us that nature is fallen just as man is (Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8: 19-22). Although traditional medicine can be misused or overused, there is nothing inherently better about “natural” remedies as opposed to regular medication. Buy and take at your own risk.

“Dietary supplements are regulated in the United States by the FDA under the provisions of the DSHEA. Multiple challenges in regulatory enforcement have significant public health consequences, including inadequate evaluation of safety, insufficient requirements for efficacy, minimal surveillance for unsubstantiated labeling and marketing claims, poor quality assurance and control, and gaps in reporting of AEs in the context of a postmarket regulatory framework. Nevertheless, supplements continue to be used at a high rate because most consumers are uninformed about these issues. The US public is not well protected by existing laws, with the potential for harm from supplement use ranging from financial loss to serious adverse health consequences. Whether the public would be better served without the current regulatory system and the false sense of security it provides is questionable.” Source

11. Yoga (see CANA articles on Yoga) is a part of Hinduism and comes from a Sanskrit term which means to unite with the Hindu god Brahman, regarded as a universal principle and the source of all existence. Hatha yoga, as one of many yogas, was devised to aid the practitioner in transcending his body, identity and mind in order to unite with the Hindu godhead. The yoga positions, asanas, combined with breathing techniques (Pranayama), are designed to induce a meditative trance state. Hatha yoga is based on the principle that putting the body in various unnatural positions will help the person, once he/she has perfected it, to become aware that his/her body is not reality so that he/she will no longer identify with it. Then one works on the breath, pranayama, to develop mental discipline; then come concentration, meditation/contemplation, and absorption, called samadhi, which is the realization that there is no distinction between self and others or self and God.

Yoga originated in ancient India where yogis developed it as a technique to prepare for death. The purpose of yoga was never relaxation, flexibility or exercise. There are other methods available to achieve flexibility and toning.

12. The words “holistic,” “natural,” “non-invasive,” and “wellness” are often used by practitioners using New Age/vitalistic/chi-based practices. These words are general and have no specific meaning (except for “wellness” which has a New Age meaning); they also come from and/or used commonly by New Age healers. “Natural” has no clear or consistent meaning in terms of food or medicine since everything has chemicals. “Wellness” means an “active pursuit” of “holistic health;” but “holistic health” itself does not have a clear meaning and is based on the same principles that underly the concepts of “holistic” and “wellness,” which means the definiton is circular reasoning. Wellness views that one is responsible for every pain or health issue they may experience. There is a lot of judgment and expectations in wellness philosophies. (Unfortunately, the term “wellness” has been increasingly used in the medical world as an equivalent to good health, but this is a misuse of the word).

The term “holistic” has migrated from the New Age concepts and other pagan concepts of mind-body-spirit into mainstream healing. The word is automatically accepted as good and valid even though its origins are spiritual. Holistic health is aligned with Hindu Ayurveda, shamanism, the New Age, and other esoteric mystical traditions. The term “holistic” should be viewed as equivalent to “spiritual,” but it is pagan spirituality, not Christian spirituality.

Many times holistic healing involves the “invisible body” which is comprised of the esoteric self: energy fields, auras, and inner components such as chi and meridians (see no. 6 above).

13. What is Pilates? This form of exercise was started by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Pilates, who traveled to Asian, was influenced by Eastern spiritual beliefs. There is no scientific basis to Pilates; it is simply Joseph Pilates’ ideas about health. Today, there are variations of Pilates, often with an admixture of yoga or Tai Chi about which the Christian should be cautious.

14. There are many machines, usually stemming from the pseudoscientific field of radionics, which are used to allegedly diagnose or treat illness. A popular machine that developed from radionics is the Rife machine, which has spawned many variations under many names. Please see warnings here, and here.

Due to the fact we are in a post-truth age where the idea of absolutes and checking out facts is vanishing, too many things like alternative and functional medicine are flourishing. This is one reason there is a profliteration of New Age ideas and practices.

Selected terms and phrases in healing which usually indicate a New Age or occult belief:

Alexander Technique
Applied Kinesiology
Aura
Auric field
Balancing
Bioenergy
Biofield
Bodywork
Bowen Therapy
Breathwork
Chakras
Channels of energy
Chi (qi, ki, ji)
Chiropractic
Cleansing of toxins

Cosmic force

Craniosacral therapy
Divine breath
Energy
Energy field
Energy healing
Energy points/centers

Feldenkrais Method
Healing powers
Holistic
Intelligence/wisdom of the body
Life force

LifeWave patch
Meridians
Myofascial release, see no. 9 above
Natural (no standard for natural since everything has chemicals and some products or modalities called “natural” are dangerous), see no. 10 above

Natural Healer, see no. 10 above

Natural Medicine, see no. 10 above
Pilates
Polarity Therapy, see no. 9 above
Prana/Pranayama, see no. 11 above
Psychic centers
Psychic energy
Reflexology
Rolfing

Somatic/Somatic Therapies, founded by Peter Levine, very influenced by Buddhism and who believes in the Vitalistic, New Age principle of “the wisdom of the body”

Spirit

Trauma therapy (while there are legitimate forms of treating trauma, this field is saturated with spiritually based and untested methods and philosophies)
Universal force
Vital force

Wellness (this does not mean health; it means you are responsible for everything that happens to your body and well-being), see no. 12 above

“Western medicine, see nos. 3 and 4 above

Yin Yang,  see no. 6 above

Teachers/writers/healers in the health and psychology fields who endorse alternative/New Age healing, in whole or in part: chiropractor Josh Axe, chiropractor Bradley Nelson, Swedenborg follower Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Bernie Siegel, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil, Carolyn Myss, Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Peter Levine, John Bradshaw, Dr. Brian Weiss, Buddhist John Kabat-Zinn, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Daniel Amen, and functional doctors like Dr. Mark Hyman. This list does not even begin to include the number of popular people who fit this category.

OTHER RESOURCES:

(Links often change, so if these links do not work, please do a search via a search engine)

Want more information on energy concepts? Read article, “The Christian, Energetic Medicine, New Age Paranoia,” by Elliott Miller

See CANA article on beliefs and practices based on concepts of Life Force Energy and other energy concepts

Video “Cracked Science” critiquing functional medicine

See the website for CINAM, Current Issues in Alternative Medicine, operated by Christian nurse Janice Lyons

A book, Examining Alternative Medicine: An Inside Look at the Benefits and Risks, by Paul C. Reisser, M.D., Dale Mabe, D.O., Robert Velarde [InterVarsity Press, 2001]. Available from Amazon. A free download of this book can be found here.

This site allows you to choose a vitamin or mineral supplement, an herbal or other supplement, or a nutritional food or beverage on the market and see what it is supposed to be and do, as well as seeing the results from tests done on these various products. For example, you can click on Vitamin C, Echinacea, ginseng, etc., discover where it comes from and what it does, then see how these have held up in having what they claim to. The site also reports warnings on contaminants, such as pesticide, found in some supplements.

Excellent and thorough article on Applied Kinesiology (Muscle Testing):
“Evaluating Applied Kinesiology”

“Applied Kinesiology and Nutritional Muscle Response Testing: A Christian Perspective,” by Janice Lyons

Short link: https://shorturl.at/11HiQ