Speaking of New Age… Reiki No Good

Since I used to be very into New Age teachings, and learned first hand how destructive it is, I’m always interested in helping spread the word on true enlightenment.

The US Catholic Bishops Conference just issued a report on Reiki: Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy. It’s quite timely. The Vatican released it’s report in August, 2003: Jesus Christ: the Bearer of the Water of Life. (For an earlier source on New Age healings, see The Bible.)

The report references these websites: Reiki: Gentle Healing in an Ungentle World and Reiki for Christians. (One wonders where the Turabian Styling is in the footnotes!)

The conclusion:

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.

We All Need True Healing

True healing comes from God — Reiki ultimately puts the power into the hands of the human individual.

Not that we aren’t “fearfully and wonderfully made” Ps 139:14, because of course we are. And not that some individuals are not gifted with charisms of healing, because of course they are.

But the difference in manipulating a universal natural energy, which of necessity needs further study and definition, and sacrificing our self in pure love is very profound.

Towards Enlightenment

What we need to know for healing and enlightenment is revealed in our inmost house, through pure love, “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5. (Yes, we also rely on science — Fides et Ratio!)

A lot of Catholic institutions have been teaching Reiki; at least they have been in the past. One of the clearest speakers on the phenomenon of New Age and it’s inherent spiritual harm is Fr. Richard McAlear, whose work I was introduced to via Christian Healing Ministries. There’s a lot more to be writ about the matter, but it’s great to know the Bishops are addressing it clearly.

Jesus Christ is “the radiance of the Father’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”Hebrews 1:3

That’s profound.

We are created in the image and likeness of God, and the creator wishes to help us in ways far more powerful than any created phenomena.

1 thought on “Speaking of New Age… Reiki No Good”

  1. Father, you don’t know how excited I was to see the bishops take a stand on this! I have been fighting Reiki in religious orders on Long Island for years, and they kept saying to me, “the Church hasn’t forbidden it, and it works”. Now I have an authority to quote.
    New Age is a big problem on Long Island. Maybe you should come and give a talk here.

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The Rev. Kenneth Allen